No kidding, the weekend is here! If you’re looking for fun-filled, family-friendly activities in the area, we’ve got you covered. Check out local events!
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp) continues the Family Photo Scavenger Hunt. It runs daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Bring your camera or cell phone for this month’s hunt. It’s the first weekend of April’s theme “April Fool’s Day”! Plants provide the best camouflage in the garden. Use your eyes and camera to find hidden gems in the spring garden. The cost is $10 per family or his group of 6 or less. Advance registration is required.
The Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) hosts Rum Florrick on Saturdays and Sundays at 9am, 10:30am, and 1pm. Meet the latest arrivals to the farm! Help the farmer interact with the lamb by playing her one-on-one with the lamb. Anyone can stroke and hold a lamb. This event is suitable for all ages. Cost is $50 per lamb. Registration required.
The Glen Ridge Public Library hosts Play Groups on Saturdays from 9am to 11am. This play group promotes socialization for children up to age 4. The library will provide age-appropriate toys and books to play with while in the library. Parents must be present with their child while participating in the group. Registration is not required. Open to everyone.
The Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) hosts Science Extravaganza on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy a day of fun science activities for the whole family at the Newark Museum of Art. Activities include MakerSPACE, Chemical Wizardry by Dan “The Science Man”, Planetarium Show, Creative Play: Chemistry Fun, Science Drop-In: Ooblek, Family Drop-In: Owl Pellet Dissection. This activity is free, but pre-registration is required. Check the website for a schedule of activities and shows.
The Essex County Environmental Center (621 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland) hosts a Spring Woods Egg Hunt at 9:30 am and 11:00 am on Saturdays. For families with children from 1 to 6 years old. Celebrate the arrival of spring by reading “The White Rabbit” and picking eggs on the forest grounds of the Environmental Center. Kids can bring their favorite basket and collect eggs to win a surprise! In the spirit of being ‘green’, participants exchange eggs for small prizes. Eggs are sanitized and reused for future events and programs. Light refreshments and a spring craft giveaway per child are included. Registration required. The fee is $15 per child.
Historic Speedwell (333 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains) will be hosting Opening Day Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Historic Speedwell is back for the 2023 season! Explore the fascinating history of the Vail family, the telegraph and life in 19th century Morristown with brand new home tours, lawn games, craft activities and interactive exhibit spaces please. This event is suitable for all ages. The fee is $5 per person.
The New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation (150 Snake Den Road, Ringwood) hosts geological hikes on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. Enjoy moderate forest hikes and explore the landscape for the forces that shaped the land, the minerals that make it up, and geological clues to the region’s unique geological history. This activity is for adults ages 6 and up. The fee is $10 per person.
The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival runs April 1-16. Enjoy Bloom’s Fest at Branch Brook Park this Saturday from 11am to 5pm. Enjoy a family day out at Pink Park! The Cherry Blossom Welcome Center hosts a variety of events including cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, crafters’ marketplaces, dining and more. Additional musical performances are held at the Prudential Concert Globe. Admission is free. We will sell food and miscellaneous goods.
The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (23 Main Street, Madison) hosts Makerspace on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Whether you’re looking for projects for kids or want to do something creative after spending time at the museum, stop by Makerspace for hands-on activities in our new co-working space for kids ages 5-12. Go! Kids will build with Lego, paint, make jewelry, and experiment with engineering and coding robots. Children must be accompanied by a parent at all times. No registration required. This activity is free.
The Van Vleck House & Gardens (21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair) hosts the Sensory Celebration on Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, this event invites you to use your senses as a guide to explore the Van Vleck Gardens. Activity stations throughout the gardens are self-paced and self-chosen, with an emphasis on sensory discovery of nature through art, movement, literature, and exploratory walks.meet and greet animals Eyes of the Wild, exotic animal rescues, and the incredible senses these animals have to survive. Take inspiration from the beauty of the surrounding gardens and enjoy a movement session with Laura Her Marchese. This outdoor family program is an all-inclusive event for all ages and abilities, held entirely outdoors. In case of bad weather, the rainy day is April 15th. The cost is $10 to $15.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (1 SOPAC Way, South Orange) will host The Heart & Soul of Magic: No Smoke, No Mirrors Tour on Saturday at 1pm, featuring Ran’D Shine and Jamahl Keyes. Breathtaking, amazing, amazing are just a few words that describe The Heart & Soul of Magic. The show features two world-class magicians, Ran’D Shine and Jamahl Keyes, creating a unique and immersive experience that weaves a tapestry of psychological illusion, comedy and music. It’s a show the whole family can enjoy! Tickets are $18-$25.
The Montclair Public Library (50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair) is hosting a Spring Drop-In Craft for children in grades K-3 on Saturday from 3-4pm. Enjoy spring crafts throughout April! Registration is not required.
NJPAC (1 Center Street, Newark) presents Beijing Acrobatics featuring Shanghai Circus on Saturdays at 3pm and 7:30pm. A breathtaking sight after 3000 years! Traditional Chinese acrobatics are combined with traditional music and high-tech special effects for a spectacular and breathtaking show. Beijing Acrobatics joins the Shanghai Circus to perform thrilling stunts including juggling, tumbling, contortion, rope walking and trick cycling. They push the limits of human capabilities. They defy gravity right in front of you. They make you ask, “How did you do that?” Experience a showcase of athletic precision and dazzling artistry for the whole family. Tickets are $49-$59.
The Reeves-Reed Arboretum (165 Hobart Avenue, Summit) hosts Discovery Weekend on Sundays from 9am to 3pm. Explore the arboretum when the gardens and grounds come to life with the sights and sounds of spring. Stop by the Stackhouse Education Center any Saturday and Sunday for this self-guided program for families and kids ages 3 and up. Borrow a magnifying glass (don’t forget to return it when you’re done), pick up an interactive activity guide, and head out to see what wonders big and small await. There may be a surprise or two. There are clues to follow, mysteries to solve, opportunities to create and natural activities that are always fascinating. New discoveries every weekend!
The Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Avenue, Newark) also hosts Family Sundays in March from 10am to 5pm on Sundays. Activities include MakerSPACE for kids of all ages. This is a fun interactive area for children to play, tinker and build their own. There’s a family drop-in: Painting Illusions for kids ages 5+ where kids can paint in reverse! Check website for schedule. This event is free for general admission.
Cooper Gristmill (66 Route 24, Chester) will be hosting an opening day on Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Celebrate the reopening of the Cooper Gristmill for the 2023 season. A time tour of the factory takes place throughout the day. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn while the kids conduct science experiments, build crafts with the educational team, and enjoy a walk along the scenic Blackhe River Trail. This event is suitable for all ages. The fee is $5 per person.
At the Montclair Museum of Art (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair), explore contemporary Plains Cree Nation artists with Emily Kensselaer at Sensory Sunday Studios with Emily Kensselaer on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Stop by the first Sunday of every month for a special time at the Sunday Studio designed for families with members of the autism spectrum and other sensory sensitivities. Stop by Geyer Studio for an art-making activity inspired by the current exhibition. Each month features a variety of projects designed by MAM Teaching Artists that are accessible to artists of all ages and abilities. This program is ideal for those who learn best in small groups with extra support in a controlled environment. Inspired by a new exhibition, Meryl McMaster: A Chronology, the family uses oil pastels and watercolors to paint colorful compositions influenced by contemporary indigenous artists. This activity is free with museum admission, but registration is required.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (1 SOPAC Way, South Orange) hosts The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety on Sundays at 1pm. The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety is a fast-paced, energetic circus show for all ages that includes juggling, hula-hooping, unicycles, circus stunts, contortions, magic and audience interaction. The target age is 5 years old or older. Tickets are $23-$28.
At the Montclair Museum of Art (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair), explore contemporary Plains Cree Nation artists with Emily Kensselaer on Sundays at 2:00pm and 3:00pm Sunday Studio: With Emily Kensselaer. Visit the museum every Sunday for fun, family-friendly art-making activities inspired by current exhibitions. Explore resources, learn new techniques, and interact with other community members while enjoying creative time with your family. Each week features a different project designed by MAM Teaching Artists to spark the imagination and encourage conversation, depending on the work displayed in the museum’s galleries. The program is aimed at families with children ages 5 to her 12, but anyone is welcome to join. Inspired by a new exhibition, Meryl McMaster: A Chronology, the family uses oil pastels and watercolors to paint colorful compositions influenced by contemporary indigenous artists. Admission to the museum is free for this event. Advance registration is required.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center (100 South Street, Morristown) presents Dragons and Mythical Beasts on Sundays at 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The 5pm show is a sensory performance. Call on all brave heroes! Enter the magical world of dragons, myths and legends in this fantastic new show for the whole family. Uncover countless dark secrets and face the most majestic monsters and terrifying beasts that have ever walked the earth. Discover giant stone trolls, mysterious indriks, and Japanese baku. Tooth Fairies (not as sweet as you think), adorable unicorns and majestic griffins. Join the ranks of legendary heroes and don’t wake the dragon… Tickets are $15-$30.
The Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown hosts Spark!Lab Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Spark!Lab offers a new, informal approach to hands-on learning for all children (and their adult companions), ages 5 through her 12. Created by the Smithsonian, Spark!Lab ignites children’s ingenuity with fun, hands-on challenges. Instead of following instructions, kids let their natural creativity shine through engineering and design challenges in Spark!Lab’s project station. Designed specifically for the youngest inventor (age 1 to her age 4), Spark!Lab’s new Young Inventor Space features a train and exploration table filled with unique tools to inspire creativity and learning I’m doing it.
