11 Kid-Friendly Things to Do: May 3-5

This weekend, break out your fanciest hats and say cheers with a mint julep at The Shore’s Biggest Derby Party at Monmouth Park, celebrate family, peace, and love at WildwoodStock Spring Festival at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, or honor the men and women of the Coast Guard and tour a ship at the Cape May County Coast Guard Community Festival in Cape May. Here’s to the start of May and a fun weekend with the fam around New Jersey.

Featured image via Monmouth Park Racetrack

Psst! We love to feature your adventures around New Jersey! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.

Here are 11 kid-friendly things to do around New Jersey this weekend:

Opening Day: The Shore’s Biggest Kentucky Derby Party
May 4, gates open at 8AM
Get dressed up, enjoy mint juleps, and watch the racing – it’s Derby Day with the family at Monmouth Park Racetrack. Enjoy live music and Family Fun Day, which features free activities like pony rides, face painting, clowns, and a bounce house. Don’t be late, the first race starts at 1:45PM!
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Oceanport, NJ
Cost: $5, kids 12 and under free, parking $5

Stranger Things Convention
May 4 – 5
Does your family gush over the thrills, frights, and awesome science behind the hit series Stranger Things? This convention is fully equipped with tons of photo opps, celebrity guest appearances, trivia games, costume contests, and all kinds of Stranger Things gear you can snag. Your littles will love the acoustic performances and karaoke party too!
Meadowlands Exposition Center
Secaucus, NJ
Cost: Saturday GA $25, Sunday GA $45

WildwoodStock Spring Festival at Morey’s Piers
May 3 – 5
You can channel some Woodstock vibes at this 3-day festival celebrating love, music, and fun. Your kids will love the rides, games, live entertainment, themed treats, and free samples. And what’s better than being on the boardwalk enjoying the early season at the shore?
Morey’s Piers
Wildwood, NJ
Cost: free, 1-day ride pass over 48” $24.95, under 48” $19.95

Chester Food Truck Festival
May 4, 11AM – 7PM
Kick off food truck season with all your festival faves. Foodies, eat your heart out at over 20 gourmet food trucks including The Guac Spot, Ma & Pa’s Tex-Mex BBQ, and JerseyRollz. There will be plenty of kids activities and face painting, plus beer and wine gardens. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit back and enjoy the music too.
Municipal Field
Chester, NJ
Cost: $5, kids under 10 free

Cape May County Coast Guard Community Festival
May 4, 10AM – 4PM
This festival honors the men and women of the United States Coast Guard and celebrates the county’s designation as a Coast Guard Community. If that isn’t reason enough to show support, the event features ship tours, trolley tours, cultural exhibits, a helicopter display, live entertainment, a food and beer garden, and so much more. Don’t miss the Kids Zone for face painting, games, kit-building, and a bounce house.
U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
Cape May, NJ
Cost: free

May Day Spring Festival & Pet Expo
May 4, 11AM-4PM
Grab your furballs and kiddos for a fun day at the shore. This festival features a native plant sale, craft vendors, yummy food, music, and tons of fun with your pooch. Stick around for the group dog walk and beach cleanup, meet furry friends, and visit the adoption bus run by the local animal shelter.
Island Beach State Park Swimming Area 1
Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Cost: free

2019 Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
May 4, 12PM – 7PM
Eat, drink, and be merry at Skylands Stadium this weekend. Shop local vendors, sample your way through more than 25 food trucks, and listen to live music. The kids will love the backyard games and fun like KanJam, wiffle ball, and bounce houses, while you can try (responsibly, of course!) over 100 craft beers and other ciders. Parking is free.
Skylands Stadium
Augusta, NJ
Cost: $5, Children 38″ and below are free

2nd Annual Jersey Devil & Fable Festival
May 4, 12PM – 6PM
During this festival, you’ll celebrate and uncover the secrets behind one of New Jersey’s oldest fables, The Jersey Devil. Come dressed in costume and ready to dance around the Maypole. The event features lectures, arts, crafts, free tours, mask making, and more. And mamas with littler ones – we’re told the walk- through exhibit is suitable for all ages.
Paranormal Books & Curiosities
Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: free

Healthy Kids Day
May 4, 10AM – 1PM
Celebrate good health with your community at Healthy Kids Day. At 8:45AM there will be a fun run, and all toddlers, strollers, walkers, and runners are welcome. At 10AM, enjoy bounce houses, a climbing wall, an obstacle course, demo classes, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, a DJ, face painting, and more.
South Mountain YMCA
Maplewood, NJ
Cost: free

Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival
May 5, 11AM – 6PM
Celebrate the arts, music, and spring at this annual festival in Hoboken featuring over 300 artists, crafters, and food vendors. Check out the children’s section on 3rd Street with kids activities, crafts, games, and music. Bring the whole family!
Washington St.
Hoboken, NJ
Cost: free

Spring Fling in Westfield
May 5, 10AM – 5PM
Each year, the streets of Westfield come alive at Spring Fling. Celebrate the spring season this Sunday with a marketplace of over 300 vendors, arts and crafts, games, food, and non-stop entertainment. This is the fling’s 25th year and it’s a favorite festival in the area.
Downtown Westfield, NJ
Cost: free

Psst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.