Top 15 {kid-friendly} Things To Do in NJ, March 16-18

Put a spring in your step and brush off those winter blues – because it’s the last weekend before the official first day of spring! Spend time with your little ones this weekend channeling your inner superhero at Marvel Universe Live at Prudential Center, rocking out to the psychedelic music and laser light show of Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon at Edelman Planetarium, getting creative at Montclair Literary Festival’s free kids workshops in the Montclair Art Museum, plus so many more kid-friendly things to do around New Jersey this weekend.

Be sure to tag #NJMOM and @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.

Here are 15 Kid-Friendly Things to Do in NJ this Weekend:

1. Marvel Universe Live
Friday through Sunday, March 16 to March 18, 2018 | Times Vary
Spiderman, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and other Marvel characters are taking to the stage for a cutting-edge special effects performance right here in New Jersey. This all-new show at Prudential Center unites some of your child’s favorite superheroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Hulk, and Black Widow against some of the most threatening villains of all-time. Fans of all ages will be captivated by breathtaking aerial stunts and interactive video projection.
Prudential Center
25 Lafayette St., Newark, NJ 07102
Cost: Prices range from $30 to $45 and can be bought on the Prudential Center website.

Button the Hippo’s Birthday Celebration. via

2. Button the Hippo’s 21st Birthday Party
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 16 to March 18 | 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Button the Hippo is about to get legal! Adventure Aquarium’s oldest hippo, Button, turns 21 this weekend and will be celebrating with an St. Patty’s Day themed birthday bash! Watch Button and her gal pal hippo friend, Ginny, chow down on a special, fruit and veggie hippo-friendly birthday cake; sign her “hippo-sized” birthday card; create a hippo-themed party placemat; watch enrichment activities, hippo talks, and more. If you’re hungry as a hippo, birthday-themed snacks like a Hippo Birthday Donut Pack and Hippo Birthday Sundae will be available at the Feeding Frenzy Cafe.
Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ 08130
Cost: Free with purchase of aquarium admission

3. Pizza and Penguins
Friday, March 16, 2018 | 6:00PM to 7:30PM
Did you know penguins are the only flightless birds around? If your little ones love Happy Feet, then they will love a night at Jenkinson’s Aquarium learning all about everyone’s favorite tuxedo-dressed bird this Friday night! Ask the aquarium’s keeper all about penguins, have some pizza and drinks, and take a selfie with their mascot, Perky the Penguin. Pre-registration is required.
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Cost: $20 for adults, $15 for kids

4. St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Events
Friday, March 16 – Sunday, March 18, 2018
St. Paddy’s weekend will be in full swing, and we’ve got you covered with all the best Irish-themed events in the state. Check out our kid-friendly guide of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in New Jersey. From festive parades like the North Wildwood Celebration to a leprechaun-themed storytime at MarketFair Mall in Princeton, you’ll enjoy reveling in this feel-good holiday.

5. Easter Weekend Events
Friday, March 16 – Sunday, March 18, 2018
Hop to it! We’re a couple weeks out from Easter, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate all month long. If you haven’t seen our insider guide to the best Easter egg hunts and breakfasts with the bunny, you won’t want to miss it – because there are a host of fun Easter activities happening this weekend, including Brunch with The Bunny at Garden State Discovery Museum, Black River & Western Railroad – Easter Bunny Express, and the Spring EGGstravaganza at Gymboree Hillsborough.

6. Kid’s Aerial Gloga and Pizza Night
Friday, March 16, 2018 | 6:30PM to 8:00PM
Introduce your kids to a different kind of yoga – aerial yoga, it’s traditional yoga with acrobatic elements while focusing alignment and breath. For one night at Honor Yoga Pennington, you can drop-off your child to enjoy pizza, cupcakes, and glow-in-the-dark aerial yoga while you get out for a date night – new definition of Friday night lit. For ages 6 to 10.
Honor Yoga Pennington
800 Denow Rd., Pennington, NJ 08534
Cost: $25 for general admission, $20 for members

Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon. via

7. Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Friday, March 16, 2018 | 7:00PM to 8:00PM
Pink Floyd may be from the 60s, but don’t miss out on an opportunity to introduce the psychedelic music of the legendary British rock band to your little ones. The Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University will use a new state-of-the-art projection system to treat your eyes and ears to a laser light experience like none other. Rock out with your family to classic songs like Speak to Me, On the Run, Breathe and more – it’ll be almost like the Friday nights of your youth.
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University
Science Hall at 201 Mullica Hill Rd., Glassboro, NJ 08028
Cost: $5 Adults; $3 Children, Seniors, and Rowan University Students

8. Kids’ Art from the Hart
Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 11:00AM to 12:30PM
Spend a chill morning at Medford Company Store doing a mindfulness art activity in the spirit of artist Henri Matisse, whose limited mobility affected his painting and forced him to find another way to create. (He ultimately “drew with scissors” and made imagery which he became famous for!) In this class, children will learn more about Matisse’s cutouts and cut paper into positive and negative shapes. A group discussion will follow to discuss how lives could be affected by various challenges and how we could overcome our issues to do what we love. For ages 6 to 10.
Medford Company Store
134 South Main St., Medford, NJ 08055
Cost: $15, which includes materials and a snack

9. Mercer Green Fest
Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 11:00AM to 4:00PM
Go green or go home, that’s the saying, right? Over 70 eco-friendly businesses will come together under one roof at Rider University for the 12th Annual Mercer Green Fest to offer you information and incentives to help you go green and save money. That’s a win-win for Planet Earth and your family! You’ll learn about exciting community projects such as bike trails, food waste recycling programs, energy efficiency, electric cars, and more. With live entertainment, a farmers market featuring local farms and local artisan food producers, and science fair projects from local schools, the whole family will enjoy a fun, educational day.
Rider University – Student Recreation Center Gym
2083 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Cost: Free

Montclair Literary Festival. via

10. Montclair Literary Festival
Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 1:00PM to 4:30PM
Roll up your sleeves and get creative! The Montclair Literary Festival is offering a series of FREE kids workshops hosted by artists and authors that will explore the synergy between literature and art. From creating collages and designing colorful prints to introducing drawing for comic books and creating original poetry, kids will be immersed in a day of literature and the arts. Pre-registration is required here.
Montclair Art Museum
3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042
Cost: Free

11. Community Science: Reptiles
Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 3:00PM to 4:00PM
Are you and your family animal lovers? If so, head to Poricy Park in Red Bank to get up close with resident animals like turtles, bugs, and guinea pigs. Middletown Recreation will discuss the care and diet of all their animals and be asking for volunteers to help with their feeding.
Poricy Park
345 Oak Hill Rd., Red Bank, NJ 07701
Cost: $3 per child

12. Easter Bunny Arrival and Mad Hatter Tea Party
Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Get egg-cited! Welcome the Easter Bunny back to MarketFair this year with a fun springtime party that will include character appearances, arts and crafts, face painting, giveaways, and more. Put on your best spring pastels and hop on over – there will also be photo opps with everyone’s favorite bunny.
MarketFair Mall
3535 U.S. Route 1 South, Princeton, NJ 08540
Cost: Free

13. Jersey Shore Comic Book Show
Sunday, March 18, 2018 | 10:00AM to 4:00PM
Who can deny the impact that characters like Superman and Spiderman have had in our lives? Our most popular superheroes today all debuted as comic book characters over 50 years ago and now your family can collect comics from the Golden Age to present at the Jersey Shore Comic Book Show. Besides comics, vendors and crafters will also have graphic novels, action figures, tee shirts, collectibles, prints, and more. The 501st Star Wars Legion and the Philadelphia Avengers will be there for photo opps.
Toms River Elks Lodge #1875
600 Washington St., Toms River, NJ 08753
Cost: $3 general admission; Children under age 12 are free

14. Frog Conservation Day
Sunday, March 18, 2018 | 11:00AM to 2:00PM
Not all frogs turn into princes, some will forever remain toads. Head to Bergen County Zoo for Frog Conservation Day and meet real-life Kermits like the Green Frog, Fowler’s Toad, Spring Peeper, and more. Learn about the frog’s key role in nature through artifacts, animal programs, crafts, and stories.
Bergen County Zoo
216 Forest Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652
Cost: Free

15. Espresso Yourself
Sunday, March 18, 2018 | 3:00PM to 5:00PM
Make your own wire and bead trees at a mommy-and-me workshop hosted by Art Across Borders at Cafe Brio in Hillsborough. As a bonus, they will also be demonstrating different Easter egg decorating techniques that you can do in your own home. All materials provided, including two cafe drinks, one for you and your little! Space is limited; pre-registration is required by emailing sam.artacrossborders@gmail.com.
Cafe Brio
220 Triangle Rd., Suite 225, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Cost: $35 for two tickets (one tree each) and two cafe drinks; $15 for each additional ticket and drink combo