It’s the first weekend in June and you know what that means—we’re gearing up for summer with lots of family fun right now. Relax on a lawn chair or blanket and watch colorful hot air balloons float across the sky at the Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival in Washington, pick the sweetest berries and take a look at the sweetest cars at Ort Farms Car Show and PYO Strawberry Festival in Long Valley or enjoy local crafters, food from local vendors and a classic car show at the West Orange Street Fair in West Orange. And for the last blast of seasonal things to do, check out everything spring on our bucket list. (Featured Photo Credit: ballonfestnj.com)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
Concert for Young People: Peter and the Wolf
June 2 at 7 PM and June 3 at 8 PM
Symphony in C presents Peter and the Wolf, a free outdoor concert for the whole family at the Perkins Center for the Arts. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Conductor Kenny Bean leads Symphony in C in Prokofiev’s tale of a fearless boy, a cautious grandfather, a duck, a bird, and a hungry wolf, combining masterful storytelling with musical themes you already know and love, joined by actor Michael Boudewyns to spark the imaginations of young and old alike.
Cost: Free
Perkins Center for the Arts, Perkins Center for the Arts, 395 Kings Highway, Moorestown, NJ 08057
Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival
June 2 – 4 at 2 PM
Take in the spectacular sight of colorful hot air balloons floating across the sky at the Hot Air Balloons, Arts and Crafts Festival in Warren County. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and lawn games to sit and enjoy the bands and balloons. Join in on games and activities with Next Level Ninja and Fun Affairs. Enjoy arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks, music and much more.
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for youth ages 3-12; free 3 and under. $5 Parking
Warren Community College, 475 Route 57, Washington, NJ 07882
Glen Rock Food and Music Festival
June 2 at 4 PM
Welcome the start of June with the Glen Rock Student Council at the Glen Rock Food and Music Festival. This event will feature food trucks, craft vendors, a DJ, and activities for kids of all ages.
Cost: Admission will be $6 for everyone over 5 years old. Tickets are $5 in advance (plus the service charge).
400 Hamilton Ave, Glen Rock, NJ 07452
West Cape May Strawberry Festival
June 3 at 9 AM
Get ready for a delicious festival that’s about all things strawberry. There will be vendors, live music, glitter tattoos, pet portraits, hair braiding, and, if weather permits, real turtles who eat strawberries (yup, you read that right). The rain date is June 5.
Cost: Free
Backyard Park, 732 Broadway, West Cape May, NJ 08204
Ort Farms Car Show and PYO Strawberry Festival
June 3 at 9 AM
Check out the sweetest cars and the sweetest berries at Ort Farms Car Show and PYO Strawberry Festival. Enjoy an antique and collectible car show on the farm, plus food trucks, carriage rides, and more. All regular weekend activities will also be open.
Cost: Weekday Admission is $3.49; weekend admission $5.49. Weekend Admission and Family Fun Pass is $15.00. Picked strawberries are not included with your ticket and will be priced at $4.29 per pound.
Ort Farms, 25 Bartley Rd, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Haddonfield Skirmish
June 3 at 9 AM
The British will invade Haddonfield just like 244 years ago and face opposition from the Continental troops in this reenactment. There will be a Yelling contest, colonial dancing, and character reenactors. Festivities start at 9 AM, and the skirmish begins at 2 PM.
Cost: Free
233 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Fairy and Pirate Festival
June 3 at 10 AM
Bring your family to a magical wonderland overtaking Turkey Brook Park. This festival will include inflatables, face painting, crafts, games, pony rides, vendors, performances, and more. You are encouraged to come in costume. No registration is required to attend.
Cost: Parking and admission are free.
Turkey Brook Park, 30 Flanders Rd, Budd Lake, NJ 07828
46th Annual Hungarian Festival
June 3 at 10 AM
Where else can you see a folk dance performance, cultural programs, and sample Hungarian foods? The Hungarian Festival has vendors, exhibits, live music, and folk art.
Cost: Free
Somerset Street in New Brunswick from Bethany to Division Streets, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Nature Explorers – Spring 2023
June 3 at 10 AM
Watch your budding naturalist ‘go wild’ experiencing woodland adventures at Lorimer Sanctuary. Children will use all of their senses to safely explore and discover the wonders of nature with a combination of storytelling, exploration, and arts and crafts.
Cost: $6 – $8
Lorrimer Sanctuary, 790 Ewing Avenue, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Old Time Baseball Game
June 3 at 10 AM
Watch Howell Farm’s two teams play by 19th-century Town Ball rules and invite visitors of all ages to step up to the plate as “Striker” and face off against the “Thrower.” There will also be a baseball scavenger hunt for the kids at 11 AM.
Cost: Free
Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Ln, Lambertville, NJ 08530
Deep Cut Gardens Open House
June 3 at 10 AM
Bring the family to Deep Cut Gardens and enjoy tours, demonstrations, drop-in activities for children and more.
Cost: Free
Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown, NJ 07748
Science Extravaganza!
June 3 at 10 AM
Take part in a day of fun science activities for the whole family at The Newark Museum of Art. Your family will enjoy an interactive area where kids play, tinker, and create. Reserve tickets.
Cost: Free with general admission tickets.
The Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102
Randolph Food Truck and Music Fest
June 3 at 11 AM
Come support the Randolph Rescue Squad with live music and food trucks. There will be kids’ activities like face painting and sand art too.
Cost: $5; under 5 is free. Please bring an item for the food pantry
214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ 07869
The 5th Annual Arc of Warren County Food Truck Festival
Jun 3 at 11 AM
Come to the farm for a day of delicious food, good music, and family fun. This event will feature an incredible selection of food trucks, Czig Meister Brewing Company’s award-winning craft beer and Czeltzers, live music, games, and activities for all ages.
Cost: Advance Tickets: $7/person (Ages 7 and up); Same-Day Tickets: $8/person (Ages 7 and up); Free for children under 7 years old’
Donaldson Farms, 358 Allen Road, Hackettstown, NJ 07840
West Orange Street Fair 2023
June 3 at 11 AM
Join one of the biggest events of the year in West Orange. The Street Fair features local crafters, food from local vendors, street performers, a classic car show, beer and wine garden, a rock-climbing wall, free all-day admission to the Thomas Edison Museum and more.
Cost: Free
Downtown West Orange NJ 07052
Sparta Day 2023
June 3 at 11 AM
The Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta hosts, Sparta Day 2023. This community event features over 100 vendors, live entertainment, a food plaza, a special Kid’s Country with activities and amusements, and much more.
Cost: Free
Station Park, 100 Station Rd, Sparta Township, NJ 07871
Walk, Run, Stroll, Dance 2023
June 3 at 11 AM
Families, individuals, and walking clubs will participate in a morning of fun, interactive learning and movement activities. Local businesses and health organization will also provide educational information and health screenings for eventgoers.
Cost: Free
Pennington Park, 801 Creek Road Delanco, NJ 08075
Allaire Arts Festival
June 3 at 11 AM
The Historic Village at Allaire and the Art Society of Monmouth County will host its first annual fine art festival. Visit various artists from around the state, select one-of-a-kind pieces of art from vendors, enjoy live demonstrations of various art mediums throughout the village during the entire day, and much more. The historic buildings will also be open to visitors along with the General Store and Bakery.
Cost: $3 – $6
The Historic Village at Allaire, Allaire State Park 4263 Atlantic Avenue Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Makerspace Saturdays
June 3 at 11 AM
Are you looking for a kid-friendly project or something creative to do after spending time at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts? Drop by Makerspace for hands-on activities in a new collaborative workspace for kids ages 5 to 12. Your kids will build with Legos, paint, make jewelry, experiment with engineering and coding robots, and more. Children must be accompanied by guardians at all times. Registration is not required.
Cost: Free
METC Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940
65th Annual Model Railroad Show
June 3 – 4 at 12 PM
All aboard for a fun time at the 10th annual model train show hosted by the Garden State Model Railway Club. This event features trains, old and new, passenger and freight, and special appearances by Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. Your kids can try running trains on their children’s layout or check out a new railroad currently under construction.
Cost: $8 for adults. Children 10 and under are free with an adult.
575 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, New Jersey 07508
Save the Monarch Butterfly
June 3 at 12:30 PM
Learn about the perils faced by the Monarch butterfly and how you can help by planting milkweed plants. Each family will go home with a free milkweed plant for your garden. This educational seminar will be conducted by County Entomologist, Lauren Bonus.
Cost: Free
508 Lakeland Road Gloucester Township, NJ 08012
NJ Audubon River Ramble
June 3 at 1 PM
Explore a stream for crayfish, water striders, water pennies, and more at the NJ Audubon Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary. Please wear sturdy closed-toe water shoes for this event. Registration is required by 6/2 at 4:00 PM.
Cost: $10 member family, $15 nonmember family.
NJ Audubon Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, 11 Hardscrabble Road Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Lacemaking Demonstration at Historic Longstreet Farm
June 3 at 1 PM
Watch lacemaking in action as a demonstrator shows the historic techniques of crochet, bobbin and shuttle work used in the Victorian era.
Cost: Free
Historic Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel 07733
Under Cover Music Fest
June 3 at 2 PM
Enjoy great music as nine cover bands take the stage at Under Cover Music Fest. There will be food and drinks available for purchase from local eateries and kids activities in the Y-Zone from 2-6pm courtesy of the South Mountain YMCA.
Cost: Free
Sloan Street Parking Lot, 12 Sloan Street South Orange, NJ 07079
Jersey City Night Market
June 3 at 3 PM
Try delicious international food, enjoy music from a DJ, and shop from artists and artisans at this family friendly event.
Cost: Free
179 Montgomery Street, Jersey City,07302
Mermaids Under The Sea
Now – June 18
Bring the kids to see real-life mermaids diving beneath the waves at Adventure Aquarium. Enjoy a magical adventure as your family discovers shimmering mermaids swimming among 15,000 amazing animals including the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast.
Cost: Prices vary
Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ 08103
Sunday Farmer’s Market
Now – October at 9 AM
Bring your appetite, family, and friends to enjoy Westfield Garden State Plaza’s Sunday Farmer’s Market. This event features 25+ unique local vendors. A combination of vendors and food trucks will attend each week.
Cost: Free
Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652
LEAD FEST Carnival
May 31- June 4
Head out to this lively festival, including carnival rides and a show with the amazing Anastasini Circus. Children must be 36″ to ride most rides.
Cost: $5 and up
One Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652
Garwood Rocks 2023
June 4 at 11 AM
Bring the whole family out for live music, classic cars, food trucks, a beer and wine garden and fun for the whole family.
Cost: Free
Center St. Garwood, NJ 07027
Climb Time at Turkey Swamp Park
June 4 at 12 PM
Try the Park System’s 25’ portable climbing wall. You must be 42” or taller to climb. Open to ages 8 and up; under 18 must attend with an adult.
Cost: Free
Turkey Swamp Park, 200 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728
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