The weekend is here! If you’re ready for some family-friendly fun, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up some things to do in and around the area. Check ‘em out!
On Friday at 4:00 PM, Watchung Booksellers (54 Fairfield Street, Watchung Plaza, Montclair) will host Storytime on the Green. Bring a blanket and enjoy a story and activity. Kristen Baluch is the author of One Million Trees: A True Story. In it, Kristen reflects on the forty days they spent living in a tent, covered in mud and bug bites, working hard every day to plant a new forest. Young readers will learn a little French, practice some math skills, and learn all about how to plant a tree the right way!
Westfield Garden State Plaza (One Garden State Plaza, Paramus) continues to host LEAD Fest Carnival now through June 12. Enjoy rides, food, shows, and much more. The carnival will be open Friday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Admission is $5. Passes and ride ticket prices can be found on the website.
Stop by the Skylands Stadium Carnival (94 Championship Place, Augusta) this weekend. Admission is free to this event, but ride tickets require purchase. Rides include Kiddie Cars, Dragon Wagon, Carousel, Ferris Wheel, Scrambler, Round Up, The Thrilling 7 Seas, Super Slide and more. The Carnival will be open on Friday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 Pm, Saturday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Mayo Performing Arts Center (100 South Street, Morristown) will present School of Rock: The Musical this weekend. Performances will be held on Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme…You better get me to school on time! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock – The Musical is a two-hour, two-act show (plus intermission), based on the hit movie. The tuner follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight–A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. But can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out? Tickets are $20-$35.
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp) continues to host the Family Photo Scavenger Hunt. Held daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, bring your camera or phone for this month’s hunt. There is a new theme each month, and June’s theme is “Midsummer Dream.” The magic of summer is here and it’s time to look for winged friends in the garden. Grab your camera and explore the gardens for plants, herbs and flowers that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Who knows? You might even spy a Midsummer Fairy! The cost is $10 per family or group of 6 or fewer. Preregistration is required.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will host Piglet Weigh In on Saturday at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. The piglets have arrived! Help farm staff weigh the piglets by putting them in the crate and onto the scale. How much will they weigh? Find out! The cost is $10 per person. Children three and under are free. Preregistration is required.
On Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will hot June Family Saturdays. Enjoy a day of fun activities for the whole family. Stop in for MakerSPACE, Creative Play, planetarium shows, craft activities, and more. Visit the website for the schedule of activities. This event is free with general admission. Reserve your tickets online.
At 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturday at Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark), catch New Jersey Snake Man. Families will have the opportunity to get up close to animals and learn more during this live presentation. This event is free with general admission. Reserve your tickets online.
The West Orange Street Fair (161 Main Street, West Orange) will be held on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It will feature a classic car show, street performers, beer garden, and more. It also includes free admission to the Edison Museum.
Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation will host their Festival in the TD Bank Parking Lot (223 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. There will be a DJ, live entertainment, food and goods vendors, and family fun. A Kid’s Zone will be open from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM with a game truck, 360 camera, and interactive games.
On Sunday, Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host June Family Sundays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy a day of fun activities for the whole family at The Newark Museum of Art, including MakerSPACE and Family Drop-In: Summertime Fun. You can find the entire schedule online. This program is included with Museum admission. Reserve your tickets online.
The Englewood Caribbean Festival (8 Depot Square, Englewood) will be held on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy live DJ, bounce houses, a petting zoo, vendors, food, games, and more. Register online for this free event.
Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) hosts Spark!Lab on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Spark!Lab offers any child (ages 5-12 years old and accompanied by an adult), a new informal approach to hands-on learning. Instead of following step-by-step instructions, young inventors will be empowered to problem-solve and overcome real-world obstacles. Spark!Lab offers many unique, project-specific stations, where inventors can engage directly with engineering and design challenges. There is also a newly created space with a train and exploration table filled with unique tools to help spark creativity, thinking, and learning for children ages 1-4). The cost is included in admission, which is $12 for adults, $8 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3. Starting Saturday, June 4 through Sunday, August 28. This summer, young inventors will be issued a free Spark!Lab passport during their summer visits to the lab. With each visit they will acquire a stamp and with six stamps they will complete the challenge and earn an exclusive prize. The first ten inventors who complete this challenge will receive the You Topia moving diorama makers kit (pictured above)! Other prizes include a Spark!Lab journal and more!
Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) will host Sunday Studio: Love Mosaic with Nancy Iovino on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with sessions beginning on the hour. Join in each Sunday for a fun family art-making activity inspired by our current exhibitions. Explore materials, learn new techniques, and meet 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 in response to artworks on view in museum galleries. In honor of Pride Month, and inspired by the exhibition Transformed: Objects Reimagined by American Artists, families this week will use recycled materials to create a love positive message mosaic. This program is aimed at families with children ages 5–12, but all are welcome. This event is free with admission and registration is required. This event is free with Museum admission, but you must register separately.
South Orange Downtown will host South Orange Downtown Celebrates Pride at Spiotta Park (20-32 Village Plaza, South Orang) on Sunday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy a DJ, activities and games for kids of all ages, a craft corner, face painting, and more. This family-friendly event is free.
Liberty Science Center (222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City) has several special exhibits. The Pigeon Comes to Jersey City celebrates the art and characters of beloved children’s book author and illustrator, Mo Willems. This young learner exhibition features best-friend duo Elephant and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny, and The Pigeon, the wily city bird best known for his antics in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! It will also continue to present Minecraft: The Exhibition. This is a 6,000-sq.-ft. multimedia experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, whether they play Minecraft or not. The exhibition features an immersive experience that includes blocky scenes and characters from the game. Both exhibits will be open will be open through September 5, 2022. Liberty Science Center is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Cost is the price of general admission, plus an additional fee. Visit the website for details.