Tap into your inner SuperMom or SuperDad this weekend at a Super Hero themed party, a Marvel Hero action show, a fairy & pirate festival or the Circus! Also be sure to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather at one of the eclectic festivals happening around the state or the New York Baby Show for expectant parents.
photo via New York Baby Show
New York Baby Show {Featured Event}
Saturday May 16th & Sunday May 17th
The nation’s biggest show for expectant and new families will be in New York City this weekend. Visit with over 150 of the top baby and family-friendly brands, get hands-on with baby gear, take classes, listen to seminars by experts and have fun! There will be giveaways galore and tons of family entertainment to keep the kids happy too!
New York Baby Show Pier 92 New York, NY
Cost: $30/family or $20/individual [Use code MommaLew10 to save 10%off]
photo via Garden State Discovery Center
1) Calling All Superheroes
Friday May 15th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Meet all of your favorite superheroes at the Garden State Discovery Museum. You can test your super powers with web slinging, zip lining, wall crashing, obstacle courses, and even the Great Villain Capture Contest! Kids will be able to write their own comic strip, take super selfies, create their own disguise, have some snacks and much more!
Garden State Discovery Center 2040 Springdale Road Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: $30/non-member, $25/member (child) and $5/adults
photo via New Jersey Resources
2) Ocean Fun Days
Saturday May 16th Island Beach State Park and Sunday May 17th NJ Sea Grant Consortium 11:00am-3:00pm
Celebrate the Jersey Shore with hands-on exhibits, classes, nature tours and children’s activities such as scavenger hunts, beach-combing, face painting, touch tanks and giveaways! Lunch can be purchased.
Island Beach State Park Route 35S Seaside Park, NJ
Sea Grant Consortium Ocean Blvd Sandy Hook, NJ
Cost: FREE
photo via Sun National Bank Center
3) Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus XTreme
Saturday May 16th 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm and Sunday May 17th 12:00pm and 4:00pm
Be amazed at the Circus Xtreme with all sorts of x-traordinary entertainment at the Greatest Show on Earth! Children of all ages will be amazed with the circus artists and animals of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus! Don’t miss the All Access Pre-Show which starts one-hour before showtime.
Sun National Bank Center Hamilton Avenue & South Broad Street Trenton, NJ
Cost: $10-80/ticket
4) Pirate Day
Saturday May 16th 9:00am
Belmar Recreation invites all children to the 8th Avenue Beach playground for a pirate treasure hunt! Each child will get a pirate bag full of pirate loot. Those who find a buried shovel will go on to another treasure hunt to find the buried treasure chest. The best dressed pirate will receive a prize!
8th Avenue Playground Belmar, NJ
Cost: FREE
5) Princess K.I.M
Saturday May 16th 10:00am and 1:00pm
Based on the Children’s Book Princess K.I.M. and the Lie that Grew
By Maryann Cocca-Leffler, Mile Square Theater is debuting their musical adaptation this Saturday. Princess K.I.M. The Musical is about a little girl who lets her imagination get away from her and tells a little lie that turns into a big problem.
Mile Square Theater 1408 Clinton Street Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $15/ticket
6) Monarch Discovery
Saturday May 16th 10:00am-11:30am
Learn about the lifecycle of the beautiful Monarch Butterfly at Liberty State Park. The progrm includes hands-on activities and even a nature walk. This event is perfect for children ages 5 and up.
Liberty State Park Nature Interpretive Center Freedom Way Jersey City, NJ
Cost: FREE
photo via Mt. Olive Recreation
7) Fairy & Pirate Festival
Saturday May 16th 10:00am-1:00pm
Come dressed in your favorite pirate or fairy costume to Mt. Olive Recreation’s Fairy & Pirate Festival! Enjoy face painting, bounce castles, a treasure hunt, games, food, pony rides and more!
Turkey Brook Park 30 Flanders Road, Budd Lake, NJ
Cost: FREE
photo via Art Blooms
8) Cookies & Canvas
Saturday May 16th 12:00pm-2:00pm
Spend an afternoon painting with your child at Art Bloom’s Cookies and Canvas. Art supplies, instruction and refreshments are included for children ages 6 to 12.
Croft Farm Arts Center 100 Bortons Mill Rd. Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: $30/parent & child, $10/each additional family member
9) Bayshore Fishing Derby
Saturday May 16th 4:00pm-7:00pm
The 2nd Annual Saltwater Fishing Derby is this weekend at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth. This event is for the whole family, whether you are a beginner or an experienced fisherman. Park System Naturalists will be on hand to teach you to rig and cast your fishing pole, as well as free seining demonstrations to identify your catch. Supply your own fishing poles, bait and tackle for the tournament. Prizes will be awarded for the longest fish for three age categories.
Bayshore Waterfront Park 719 Port Monmouth Road Port Monmouth, NJ
Cost: $8/per person, $4/additional person
photo via Whole Foods Princeton
10) Armed Forces Day Free Spaghetti Dinner
Saturday May 16th 5:30pm-7:30pm
Whole Foods Princeton is inviting all military personnel past and present and their families to a free spaghetti dinner to thank you for your service. Enjoy a famiy-style dinner of Spaghetti & Marinara Sauce, Buttered Pasta (for the kids), Tossed Green Salad, Fresh Baked Rolls, Water and Dessert!
Whole Foods Princeton 3495 Route 1 South Princeton, NJ
Cost: FREE
11) Your First Mud Run
Sunday May 17th 11:00am-2:00pm
Your First Mud Run is the only mud run in the country designed so both parents and kids can run together. The courses are 1.5 – 2 miles and include obstacles like wall climb, tire carry, row of tires, heavy jump rope, tubes, and of course a mud slide. Children must be at least six years old to participate in the race and anyone under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a registered adult.
Speciality Hospitals of New Jersey Foundation 102 Main Street Oceanport, NJ
Cost: $55.05/ticket
12) Sleeping Beauty
Sunday May 17th 1:30pm & 4:00pm
Featuring music by Tchaikovsky and a storyteller narration, this ballet rendition of Sleeping Beauty has told to families for over a century. Recommended for children ages 4 and up.
Mayo Performing Arts Center 100 South Street Morristown, NJ
Cost: $15-25/ticket
photo via iPlay America
13) Marvel’s The Hero Within
Sunday May 17th 12:00pm and 3:00pm
Marvel’s “The Hero Within” is coming to iPlay America this weekend for two shows on Sunday in the event center. Featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Evil Green Goblin — the Mighty Marvel Super Heroes star in this 25-minute educational, humorous, action-packed show that begins with the Green Goblin believing that he has developed a device to steal all powers from the Super Heroes. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite Marvel character’s costume for this high-energy family-friendly show!
iPlay America 110 Schanck Road Freehold, New Jersey.
Cost: $14.95-$27.95/ticket
14) Family Day at Montclair Art Museum
Sunday May 17th 1:00pm-5:00pm
Participate in a day of exploration with many Museum-wide art activities inspired by Come as You Are: Art of the 1990s. Visit the Family Learning Lab for a self-guided tour of art activities and tactile objects.
Montclair Art Museum 3 South Mountain Avenue Montclair, NJ
Cost: FREE
15) Yankee Doodle Celebration
Sunday May 17th 2:00
Children will love become an american patriot in this fun event about Yankee Doodle! Make your own Yankee Doodle hat, march in a parade and more! Enjoy light refreshments as well. The museum is celebrating it’s 275th anniversary with a ceremony, tours and open hearth demonstrations.
Miller-Cory House Museum 614 Mountain Avenue Westfield, NJ
Cost: $3/adults, $2/children ages 3-12. under 2 is free
For Moms & Dads Only:
16) Learn where all of the best parks and playgrounds are in New Jersey so you never let a beautiful spring day go to waste!
17) With almost 2,000 square miles of coastline throughout New Jersey, the beach is never too far away! Find out where and when to get your beach badges to be beach-ready all summer long.
18) Find some place to enjoy “Kids Eat Free” specials all weekend long!
19) Spring is the perfect time to try something new with someone you love. Find some of our very best ideas for a unique date here!
20) Host a lemonade stand! Alex’s Lemonade Days is an annual 3-day fundraiser where supporters from coast to coast hold lemonade stands to raise funds for childhood cancer research on behalf of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). Lemonade Days is held each year during the second weekend of June – the time of year when Alex always held her lemonade stand – to honor Alex and all of our childhood cancer heroes. Hold your own Lemonade Stand! Each Lemonade Days stand host will receive a special edition Lemonade Days fundraising kit. Register for your free fundraising kit here.
In search of more things to do this weekend in New Jersey? Visit NJ Mom’s event calender for more events happening around the state. Remember to use hashtag #NJMom this weekend for your chance to be featured.
