With less than a week of Spring Break left in New Jersey, this weekend is all about getting the kids out of the house… and into the garden! Head to Dearborn Markets to learn about the garden-to-table process or create your own “See It Grow” box at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. There are 10 free events for your family to enjoy this weekend in NJ Mom’s Weekend Fun Guide this week. Looking for more things to do in NJ this weekend? Visit NJ Mom’s event calendar!
Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales (Featured Event)
Kids young and old will enjoy watching their favorite Disney characters live on stage at the Theater at Madison Square Garden this weekend. Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy as they narrate the stories of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales.
The Theater at Madison Square Garden Four Penn Plaza, New York, NY
Cost: $16-24/ticket
photo via Mayo Performing Arts Center
1) Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Friday April 10th through Sunday April 12th various times
This Academy award winning Disney movie comes to life on stage at the Mayo Performing Arts Center this weekend. Your family will be blown away by the lavish costumes and set and all of your favorite classical songs.
Mayo Performing Arts Center 100 South Street Morristown, NJ
Cost: $49-79/ticket
2) NY/NJ Mineral, Fossil and Gem Show
Friday April 10th noon-9:00pm & Saturday April 11th and Sunday April 12th 10:00am-6:00pm
Over 350 booths of minerals, crystals, gemstones, silver, gold and more at the NJ Convention & Expo for the NY/NJ Mineral, Fossil and Gem Show. Children’s activities include gem sluicing, geode busting, and a free mineral specimen that glows under UV lights.
NJ Convention & Expo Center 97 Sunfield Ave. Edison, NJ
Cost: $10/ages 12+, $5/ages 5-11 and under 5 are free
3) BYOB: Build Your Own Birdhouse
Saturday April 11th 1:00pm
Children ages 6-11 can visit Washington Crossing State Park to build a pineboard birdhouse.
Washington Crossing Start Park 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road Titusville, NJ
Cost: $6/person
4) Welcome Back Weekend at Johnson’s Corner Farm
Saturday April 11th and Sunday April 12th 10:00am-4:00pm
Johnson’s Corner Farm is welcoming you back to the farm this weekend with a festival! Enjoy farm tour hayrides, the discovery barn, and $1 hot dogs all day long.
Johnson’s Corner Farm 133 Church Road Medford, NJ
Cost: FREE
photo via Lowe’s Home Improvement
5) See-It-Grow
Saturday April 11th 10:00am
Head to your local Lowe’s Home Improvement this Saturday morning for their Build & Grow activity. This week, children are building a See-It-Grow kit to help them learn how their seedlings grow
Your local Lowe’s Home Improvement
Cost: FREE
6) Odyssey of the Mind
Saturday April 11th 10:00am-3:00pm
Odyssey of the Mind is an educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Teams solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to creating their own interpretations of literary classic and then compete on the local, state and world level. The public is invited to watch this weekend’s state competition at Haddonfield High School on Saturday.
Haddonfield High School 401 Kings Highway East Haddonfield, NJ
Cost: FREE
7) Prepare to Wear! Babywearing 101
Saturday April 11th 10:00am-11:30am
Princeton-area Baby Wearing Expert Rachel aka: “Quirky Baby” invites you to Prepare to Wear! Babywearing 101. Rachel is a Babywearing Institute Certified Babywearing Educator and Center for Babywearing Studies Trained Babywearing Consultant. This workshop is designed for expectant parents and new parents with infants age 3 months and younger. The class will introduce you to the different styles of carriers and the opportunity to try them on, address comfort and safety concerns and leave you feeling confident to wear your baby!
Quirky Baby Pennington, NJ (Address is specified upon registration)
Cost: $25/couple with a $10 credit being applied to a Quirky Baby carrier or future consultation
8) Oreo the Therapy Dog
Saturday April 11th 11:00am-12:00pm
Join Oreo the Therapy Dog for a special morning of library fun and a reading of Library Lion at the Bayonne Library. This event is a partnership with Therapy Dogs International and although all children are invited to attend and enjoy Oreo, it is specifically designed for young children with special needs. Head to the second floor gallery to participate in this event on Saturday morning.
Bayonne Public Library 697 Avenue C Bayonne, NJ
Cost: FREE
photo via Somerset Patriots
9) Fan Fest
Saturday April 11th 12:00pm-3:00pm
The Somerset Patriots are kicking off their 2015 season with a Fan Fest this Saturday. This free event includes carnival games, activities, clowns, face painters and more. Kids will love running the bases at 2:30pm and meeting Sparkee and Slider. Dad will love getting autographs from baseball legend Sparky Lyle, as well as many Patriots players throughout the event. One-day ticket discounts will be given out to everyone at Fan Fast and there is a Buy One Get One Free offer for all games Sunday through Thursday. The first 500 kids will receive a cinch sak.
The Somerset Patriots 860 East Main Street Bridgewater Township, NJ
Cost: FREE
10) Preschool of Rock
Sunday April 12th 11:00am
Rock your socks off with Preschool of Rock at the Liberty Science Center this Sunday morning! Preschool of Rock includes live music, movement, props and more to make a rockin’ musical experience for the whole family! While you are there check out the new Sesame Street’s The Body exhibit!
Liberty Science Center 222 Jersey City Boulevard Jersey City, NJ
Cost: FREE with museum admission
Photo via The Dressage Experience
11) 4H Equestrian Dressage Event
Sunday April 12th 8:00am-4:00pm
The Burlington County 4H Riders invite you to their spring Dressage Event this Sunday at the Burlington County Fairgrounds.
Burlington County Fairgrounds 1900 Jacksonville-Jobstown Road Burlington, NJ
Cost: FREE
12) Autism Awareness Day
Sunday April 12th 10:00am-4:30pm
The Bergen County Zoo is offering free tours, free train rides, animal demonstrations and more for Autism Awareness Day at the zoo!
Bergen County Zoo 216 Forest Avenue Paramus, NJ
Cost: FREE
photo via The Philly Farm Fest
13) The Philly Farm and Food Fest
Sunday April 12th 11:00am-4:00pm
Whole Foods Market, Fair Food and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture invite you to the 4th annual Philly Farm and Food Fest. Over 150+ exhibitors will be on hand including local farmers, growers and small businesses to help learn how about new foods, CSA’s and more. Participate in the Classroom Takeover sessions starting every hour at 11:15am. Classes focus on topics like Urban Homesteading, Local Cookbook Authors, Kids’ Classroom and Butcher’s Block. Participants will walk away with a better understanding on knowing how to compost, chickens, bees, expanding your meat budget. Families can participate in the kids’ classrooms together. Follow hashtag #PhillyFarmFest.
Philly Farm and Food Fest at the Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $20/ticket (children under 12 are free)
14) Kids Spring Planting Day
Sunday April 12th 11:00am-1:00pm
Children will learn about the garden-to-table experience at Dearborn Market this Sunday afternoon for a one-hour workshop on how to plant your own spring veggies. Children will even get to help garden associates plant seasonal veggies and receive a complimentary lettuce plant to take home.
Dearborn Market 2170 Route 35 Holmdel, NJ
Cost: FREE
15) Barclay Farmstead
Sunday April 12th 12:00pm-4:00pm
Barclay Farmstead is offering guided tours of the historical location. A child’s craft is also being offered from 1:00pm-3:00pm. The craft is making marbles from clay which can be taken home.
Barclay Farmstead 209 Barclay Lane Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: FREE
For Moms & Dads
16) Have an allergy-friendly meal! It can seem impossible to find an allergy-friendly cafe in New Jersey! Find out what makes the Squirrel & the Bee in Short Hills so special!
photo via Yellow Yellow Yellow photography
17) Go on a date! Talula’s in Asbury Park offers a farm-to-table experience from brunch to the bar and makes the perfect date destination. We have 25 more date night ideas for moms and dads who need a night off!
18) Get out and explore with our list of over 275 Parks and Playgrounds throughout New Jersey!
19) It’s never too early to start thinking about what to surprise mom with on Mother’s Day morning. How about a trip to one of our 50 NJ Mom approved spas?
photo via Bertucci’s
20) Kids Eat Free at Bertucci’s through April 12th with the above pass when you purchase an adult lunch or dinner entree! Find more places throughout New Jersey to eat for free 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.
