Spring days are full steam ahead, and you know that means—family festivals that bring the fun and celebrate the best of the season. See daffys, play spring-themed games, make crafts, and listen to live music at the Daffodil Day Festival in Summit, enjoy access to tulip fields, tractor rides, and interactive dinosaurs at the Dinosaur & Tulip Festival in Manalapan, or step into a day of history with a petting zoo, sheepshearing demonstrations, and a magic show at Spring Festival and Earth Day Celebration at the Red Bank Battfield. And for fun without breaking the bank, make sure you check out our guide to free things to do this month, too. (featured photo credit: Reeves-Reed Arboretum)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Holland Ridge Farms Spring Spectacular
Opens first weekend in April, depending on blooms
Holland Ridge Farm bursts into bloom each year with over 8 million tulips in 15 varieties. During their Spring Spectacular festival, you can climb a windmill, see farm animals, learn about Dutch traditions, snap gram-worthy photos, take a pony ride, and sample delicious foods. Tickets will go on sale about a week before the event begins, so check on their website or sign up for alerts.
Cost: $17 per person on weekends and $15 per person during the week
108 Rues Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Spring Fling Family Fun Day in Sea Isle City
April 4 at 1 PM
It’s time for some Easter fun and dresses to impress at the Easter Stroll, enjoy music, take photos with the Easter Bunny, participate in a Jelly Bean Guessing Contest, try Easter crafts, and more.
Cost: Free
Excursion Park – JFK Boulevard & Pleasure Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243
Dinosaur & Tulip Festival
April 9-May 3
Dinosaurs and tulips? Yes please. At this event, you will have access to the tulip fields, photo ops, a scenic tractor ride around the farm, a meet-and-greet with the dinosaurs, a dino dig site, and the chance to observe 30+ animatronic dinosaurs throughout the farm.
Cost: $27.50 per person
Arrowhead Farmstead, 135 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
7th Annual Hoboken Mac & Cheese Festival
April 11 at 1 PM
Get ready to dig into everyone’s favorite dish at the 7th Annual Hoboken Mac and Cheese Festival. Take a tour around Hoboken and sample all kinds of Mac & Cheese creations from some of the city’s best spots. This event will be held rain or shine.
Cost: $15-$40
Locations throughout Hoboken, NJ 07030
Ocean City Con 2026
April 11-12 at 10 AM
Join comic book and memorabilia enthusiasts in Ocean City. Special guests, artists, vendors, comics, games, and more will be present. There will even be a Super Hero Run, a Dash, and a Super Hero Obstacle Dash.
Cost: Free
Ocean City Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Daffodil Day Festival
April 12 at 11 AM
Head to this festival, which features one of the largest daffodil collections in New Jersey. Over 50,000 bulbs are in bloom in the glacially carved Daffodil Bowl. Spring-themed games, crafts, a story trail, music, food, and the Green Goats will be included.
Cost: $15 per person, children under 3 are free
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ 07901
Crawfish & Jazz Festival – A Taste of New Orleans
April 18 at 11 AM
Can’t travel to New Orleans? Don’t worry – they are bringing New Orleans to you at this festival. Spend the day diving into mountains of live, spicy crawfish and delicious seafood, plus other Southern-flavored food vendors. There will also be brass bands, jazz, and cocktails. While you sip your drink, let the kids enjoy the activities planned for them.
Cost: $7 per person in advance, $10 at the door, and all kids under 5 are free.
Washington Lake Park, 626 Hurffville Crosskeys Road, Sewell, NJ 08080
Fur Baby Festival
April 18 at 12 PM
Together with the friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter, you will help find forever homes for some amazing dogs, cats, and other small animals. This event will feature 15+ food vendors, live music, games, a pet costume contest, and much more.
Cost: Admission is $6 for anyone 5 years old or older. Tickets are $5 in advance (plus a service charge), or you can purchase them at the door.
Burlington County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Jobstown, NJ 08022
Bloomfest
April 19 at 11 AM
It’s a family day in New Jersey’s pinkest park, with Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. Experience Japanese cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, a crafter’s marketplace, and food.
Cost: Free
Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Mill Street Entrance, Belleville + Prudential Concert Grove, Clifton Avenue Entrance, Newark 07104
Spring Festival and Earth Day Celebration
April 19 at 11 AM
Step into a day of history and family fun at the annual Red Bank Battlefield Spring Festival, with games and crafts for children, a petting zoo, sheepshearing demonstrations, and a magic show.
Cost: Free
Red Bank Battlefield, 100 Hessian Avenue, in National Park, NJ 08063
Go Green with Hope
April 25 at 10 AM
The 11th Annual festival, with an environmental theme, has something for everyone, including free seedlings, crafts, vendors, free raffles, a meet-and-greet with the Antler Ridge Mascot, over 40 tables of old favorites, a painted rock treasure hunt, and giveaways.
Cost: Free
Hope Township School, 20 Johnsonburg Road, Hope, NJ 07844
Rutgers Day
April 25 at 10 AM
Bring the whole family to New Jersey’s State University, where everyone can enjoy exhibits, interactive activities, demonstrations, performances by faculty, staff, and students, and kids’ activities.
Cost: Free
Busch Campus in Piscataway and the Cook/Douglass Campuses in New Brunswick
Randolph Food Truck & Music Festival
April 25 at 11 AM
Grab the family and head to this fun event benefiting the Randolph Rescue Squad. There will be food trucks, music, kids’ activities, and a beer garden for the over-21 crowd.
Cost: $5 per person, kids under 5 are free
County College of Morris, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ 07869
Pickle Palooza
April 25 at 12 PM
Head to the first-ever pickle festival, where you will find pickle vendors, pickle-themed foods, a beer garden with pickle cocktails, live music, and local artisans. For the youngest family members, visit the family fun zone for games and contests.
Cost: $10 at the door, $8 for seniors and veterans, and kids under 5 are free
Teaneck Armory, 1799 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Shadfest
April 25-26 at 11 AM
Celebrate 43 years of family, fun, and fish in Lambertville. This year’s Shad Fest will feature the region’s finest artists and crafters, a kids’ zone with games, face painting, entertainment, and a farmer’s market. Local’s Lane will showcase artists from the Lambertville and New Hope areas.
Cost: Free
Lambertville, NJ 08530
Hawthorne Art in the Park
April 25-26
Visit nearly 50 vendors selling their artwork and handcrafted goods. There will also be food, desserts, drinks, local musicians, live demonstrations, children’s activities, and more.
Cost: Free
Passaic County Arts Center-Goffle Brook Park, 675 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ 07506
Red Bank Street Fair and Craft Show
April 26 at 11 AM
Head to Red Bank for a day filled with music, dancing, food, and lots of family fun. Littles will have a ball on the children’s rides and get a chance to play games.
Cost: Free
Downtown Red Bank, NJ 07701
ACUA’s 34th Annual Earth Day
April 26 at 10 AM
It’s the annual Earth Day Festival, full of free, fun games and educational activities for everyone. The celebration features a full day of exciting events and entertainment, with more than 150 vendors, crafters, and food vendors participating.
Cost: Free
ACUA Environmental Park – 6700 Delilah Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Paramus Food Truck Festival
April 26 at 11 AM
Kick off the season with food, music, and fun. There will be over 20 Gourmet Food Trucks, music, pony rides, a petting zoo, knockball, hatchet tossing, inflatables, face painting, sand art, mini golf, and vendors with a beer and margarita tent for adults. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets.
Cost: Please bring a canned or boxed nonperishable item to support the Paramus Food Pantry. Tickets are $5 for admission, and those 5 and under are free.
Paramus Park Mall, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ 07652
Want the inside scoop? Sign up for the NJMOM bi-weekly newsletter to get the lowdown on everything for your family in NJ (think of it as the ultimate cheat sheet for NJ Moms). And don’t forget to tag your photos #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured.
