Happy Mother’s Day, mamas! We’ve got lots of fun activities for you and the kids – or if you need some R&R alone. If you’re not celebrating, there are other festivals, shows and garden tours happening this weekend.
WEEKEND
Nurses & Teachers Appreciation Days
iPlay America, Freehold Twp.
Thursday – Friday
Nurses and teachers ride free all day, can get 50 percent off ride bands for their family members, and sit down for Happy Hour at The Bistro.
Mizuho Americas Open
Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey City
Thursday – Sunday
Watch as pros from the LPGA, plus 24 of the top junior golfers, compete on the course. There are opportunities for you to volunteer as on the course or behind the scenes.
Spring Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show
Boardwalk, The Wildwoods
Friday – Saturday
Makes and models of cars 15 years and older will be on display along the boardwalk.
Kelly Clarkson
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
Friday – Saturday
The Grammy Award-winning singer and talk show host hits the stage in AC.
Pasión
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, New Brunswick
Friday – Sunday
Dancers from American Repertory Ballet will perform Spanish, Mexican and Cuban dances in a special Mother’s Day weekend performance. Paquita is a classical ballet set in Spain, and Cuban choreographer Luis Napoles will perform live music. You can add on a post-show reception on Friday, or a pre-show artist talk on Saturday and Sunday.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
NJPAC, Newark
Friday – Sunday
For the past 26 years, this has been a Mother’s Day Weekend tradition. Each performance is a slightly different mix of African American cultural heritage set to spirituals, song-sermons, gospel and holy blues.
Mother’s Day Wine Trail
Throughout New Jersey
Friday – Sunday
There are dozens of wineries and vineyards through the Garden State Wine Growers Association that will have events with tastings, food and live music.
Asbury Park Spring Bazaar
Grand Arcade at Convention Hall, Asbury Park – Saturday and Sunday
The Asbury Hotel, Asbury Park – Sunday only
The weekend will feature shopping, arts & crafts and music to celebrate Mother’s Day. Activities include vendor tables, a photo wall, a flower bouquet bar, Mother’s Day brunch at Seahorse, food and drinks at Asbury Oyster Bar, face painting and workshops.
Season Opening of Doo Wop Museum Experience
Doo Wop Experience Museum, Wildwood
Saturday – Sunday
One of the best pop culture museums in the U.S., as voted by USA Today readers, will reopen for the season during Mother’s Day weekend, with its nostalgic displays, giant neon signs, Tiffany lamps and jukebox.
Mother’s Day Open Swim
Five Star Swim School
Saturday: Cherry Hill, East Hanover
Sunday: Deptford, East Brunswick, Eatontown, Edison, Galloway, Princeton
Families can swim together in the heated pool for an hour, with mom having fun for free.
Mother’s Day Celebration
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Saturday – Sunday
The celebration includes the Furry Friends “Mommy & Me” Dance Party, a Mother’s Day craft, and a sticker giveaway. You can reserve a spot at the Mother’s Day Dine with Elmo & Friends.
FRIDAY
Baby Walk
Hoffman Park, Hampton
Get outside with your baby and explore your local trails. There will be some nature education geared toward the adults, and then the group will walk together with their kids.
Car Cruise
Historic Smithville, Galloway
Whether you like to display, talk about or look at cars, this event has lots of Corvettes, GM models and other cars parked throughout the village.
SATURDAY
BBQ and Soul Food Festival
Buccleuch Park, New Brunswick
Support the Rotary Club of New Brunswick while you feast on smoky BBQ and Southern soul food, like BBQ ribs, brisket, fried chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese, collard greens, and more. There will be live music, craft beer and hard seltzers, games and activities, including a free Kids Zone.
90s Wrestling Con
Mennen Sports Arena, Morristown
There will be pro wrestling karaoke, ’90s wrestling trivia, Q&As, a ’90s wrestling cosplay contest, live ISPW wrestling matches, steel cage photo ops, meet-and-greets and more. Name drops include Chris Van Vliet, Jasmin St. Claire, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock, Eric Bischoff, D’Lo Brown, The Head Bangers, The Godfather, Mark Henry, Ron Simmons, Al Snow, Dan “The Beast” Severn, The Berzerker and Mikey Whipwreck.
Brunch & Bingo
Inn of Cape May
Compete for prizes during bingo, check out cool new clothes at the fashion show by Lace Silhouettes/Cotton Company, and sit down for a breakfast buffet.
Rawhide Rescue Alumni & Friends Day
John W. Lupu Memorial Post 306, Middlesex
Bring your leashed pets to this outdoor event, which will include pet adoptions, a blessing of the animals, craft vendors and food.
Lilac Garden Splendor
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Lilacs are blooming in the garden, and staff from NJBG will tell you all you want to learn.
Azalea Festival
Sayen Gardens, Hamilton Twp.
The annual Mother’s Day weekend event includes a magnificent display of over 250,000 flowering bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendrons, which you can see as you do some vendor shopping, order from food trucks, listen to live music, and take a tour inside the Sayen House. Mothers can head inside the house for free family portraits.
Walk Like MADD
Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg
Impaired driving survivors, victims’ families, law enforcement, and advocates will rally during this walk to raise money for MADD’s 24/7 free victim services.
Disney’s Aladdin Jr.
bergenPAC, Englewood
Young performers from bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School present the hit movie as a stage play musical.
Mother’s Day Planting Make n’ Take
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Young gardeners will pot and decorate a flower (or herb) pot, and make a handmade card, as a gift for their mom or grandmom.
Wildwoods Spring Fling Festival
Byrne Plaza, Wildwood
Electric Beach Band, 99 Reasons and ICandee will play throughout the day. There will be an award ceremony for the Top 40 cars from the 2025 Spring Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod and Muscle Car Show. There will also be food, unique crafts and a beer garden.
Cultural Festival
Woolsey Park, Hopewell Twp.
All of the vendors, food and performances will represent the different cultures of Hopewell Twp. residents.
Mothers’ Day Crafts & Collectibles Show
Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May
Shop for – or with – your mom from a selection of handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts from the vendors at this outdoor crafts & collectibles show. You can also purchase a ticket to the Garden Tours of Cape May and enjoy a wine tasting on the grounds. Live music will be played by C. Lynne Smith.
Artisan Market
Bergen Town Center, Paramus
Take a stroll through this market in the mall, featuring 25+ artisans and vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, home decor, pet products, sweet treats, handmade gifts and more.
LBI Historical Psychic & Wellness Fair
LBI Historical Museum, Beach Haven, Long Beach Island
There will be tarot readers, oracle card readers, angel readings, palm readings, astrology, numerology, love and relationship readings, aromatherapy, mediums, psychics, reiki energy healers, reflexology practitioners and shopping.
Gardens of Cape May Tour
Cape May
During the self-guided tour, you’ll visit two private homes, the Colonial House and the Emlen Physick Estate. At Emlen you can walk through the gardens of the Victorian estate and museum, shop from local vendors, talk with Rutgers master gardeners, and have some free wine courtesy of Cape May Winery.
May Blooms Sip & Shop Vendor Market
Garden State Distillery, Toms River
This free local craft and vendor market – in time for Mother’s Day gift-giving – brings together local makers, artisans and small businesses where you can shop for one-of-a-kind items while sipping craft drinks.
Mother’s Day Carriage Rides
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
Spend time with Mom as you’re pulled around the pasture in a horse-drawn carriage.
Gold Star Families Memorial Dedication
Angelsea Drive and Weeks Avenue, North Wildwood
Everyone is welcome to join Gold Star families from around the country to dedicate the memorial, and reopen North Wildwood Veterans Memorial Park.
Resin Cheese Board Workshop
The Bloomin Cottage, Phillipsburg
Plan a fun activity, making a resin cheese board designed like the ocean at a workshop. Every mom will get a flower and a crystal to take home.
Downtown Hopewell Mocktail Crawl
Downtown Hopewell
Take Mom to 15 different businesses that will be serving alcohol-free drinks while shopping local.
Pied Piper of Hamelin
Roxey Ballet, Villa Victoria Theater, Ewing
This is a sensory-friendly showing of the German folk tale where a rat-catcher is dressed in multicolored clothing and has to scare away a plague of rats with his magical pipe.
Career Carnival for Kids “All Careers Tour”
Montclair Public Library, Montclair
Kids ages 8-13 will meet industry pros about their types of work – architecture, healthcare, physical therapy, dentistry, engineering, public safety, technology, etc. There will be demos, games and giveaways.
Spring Cruisin’ the Boards Car Show
Boardwalk, Ocean City
This all-new event for car lovers showcases cars from 1990 and on. There will be family-friendly activities and food.
SUNDAY
Mother’s Day at Casino Pier
Casino Pier, Seaside Heights
Moms whose kids want to treat them to a day on a boardwalk get to ride most of the rides for free.
Mother’s Day Express
Woodstown Central Railroad, Woodstown
Bring Mom on an old-fashioned train ride, where you’ll travel 18 miles round-trip between South Woodstown and Mannington, traveling over Salem County’s first railroad line that dates back to 1863. You can sit in coach or in the caboose, and opt for a Continental brunch or Charcuterie BYOB.
Sussex County Miners Mother’s Day Barnyard Brunch
Skylands Stadium, Augusta
Before the Minor League Baseball team takes the field against the Trois-Rivières Aigles, let Mom chow down on a pre-game brunch at the stadium’s newest restaurant, The Barnyard. After the game, kids can run the bases and get autographs from their favorite team members.
Plant & Sip Terrarium Workshop
Fern & Fossil in Newark
Spend Mother’s Day designing your own succulent and crystal ornament.
Architecture Tour of Liberty Hall
Liberty Hall at Kean University, Union
Learn how Liberty Hall transformed from a 14-room colonial home into a 50-room mansion.
Moms Climb Lighthouse & World War II Tower
Cape May Lighthouse and World War II Tower, Cape May
Climb the 199 steps up the original, cast-iron spiral stairway to the top of the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and see a beautiful view of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean, Cape May Point State Park, and Cape May Point Borough. You can also climb the World War II Tower to see the sixth-floor spotting gallery. You’ll see a Wall of Honor that pays tribute to local residents who served during World War II.
Mother’s Day at The Track
Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport
Free activities include admission to the track for moms, clowns, face painting, pony rides and a bounce house in the picnic area.
Mother’s Day Jewelry Making Party
Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
You and the kids can design a necklace, bracelet, earrings or keychain together using colorful beads, charms and accessories.
ONGOING
Self-Guided Tours of Sawmill & Packing House
Double Trouble State Park, Bayville
Wednesdays – Saturdays in May
The Sawmill & Packing House will be open for self-guided tours.
Storytime on the Green
Palmer Square, Princeton
Saturdays in May
Bring the family to sing, dance and explore the world of books with JaZams’ Jeff Trainor and special guest readers. Geared toward infants to 8-year-olds.
Sunday Fundays
Double Trouble State Park, Bayville
Sundays in May
The programs include Neat Nifty Nature on May 4, where you will meet Milo the therapy dog and then go for a short hike; Shell-ebrate Turtles on May 18; and a sunset hike from Veterans Rock on May 25.
Festival of Fountains
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
May 9 – September 28
Come for the newly reopened Waterlily Court but stay for the Rose Garden, Flower Garden Walk, Peirce’s Woods, Idea Garden, Ornamental Kitchen Garden, Meadow Garden and indoor West Conservatory. You can visit on any day, but special events are planned for the Fireworks & Fountains Shows, as well as Fountain Fest Weekends.
L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival
XScape Theatres Howell 14, Howell
Through May 11
L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence, will hold its carnival with food, rides and entertainment for kids.
Free Guided Garden Tours
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Sundays, May 11 – October 16
A docent will lead you on a tour of what’s blooming around the gardens.
Kiwanis Karnival
East Northfield Road, Livingston
May 13-17
This five-day carnival features rides for all ages, festival food and treats, and carnival games with prizes.
The Spring NJ Gem Show
New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison
May 14-18
There will be a showcase of rare gemstones, precious minerals, prehistoric fossils, crystals, meteorites and more from paleontologists, miners, gemologists and artisans. There will be a Kids Zone, benefit for Asheville artists impacted by Hurricane Helene, fossils from the Green River Formation, and a rubber ducky scavenger hunt.
The A.J. Meerwald
South Riverwalk Park, Trenton
May 14-18
The oyster schooner-turned-educational vessel will be docked behind the Trenton Thunder Ballpark for a few days, and you can schedule a 2-hour sail to learn about boating and conservation.
Seussical the Musical: Neuro-Inclusive Production
ART/NY The Mezzanine Theatre, New York, NY
Wednesday – Sunday, May 8-18
To make the shows more accessible to individuals with disabilities, there will be ADA seating, assisted listening devices, access devices, and a relaxed atmosphere. ASL Interpreted Performances will be held on May 11.
Bank of America Golf With Us
Throughout New Jersey
Through May 24
This new initiative for young golfers ages 6 to 18 lets you register for free (registration ends May 24) and then pay only $5 at 30 different golf courses around the state for an entire year after registration.
The Hobbit
Arden Children’s Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
Select dates, through May 25
J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved book comes to life on stage for families with kids ages 7 and up.
Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens
Wildfair, Chester Twp.
Through May 31
Wildfair is a nearly 9,500-square-foot fieldstone and tile-roofed neo-Colonial country estate house that’s over 220 years old. As a fundraiser for Morristown Medical Center, 36 interior designers have decorated the house and landscaping for you to see. Each ticket comes with a tour of the estate and meet-and-greets with the designers.
World War II Exhibit
The Museum of American History at Deptford, NJ, Deptford
Thursdays – Sundays, through June 1
Celebrate the lives and memories of our veterans and fallen heroes through weapons, equipment, uniforms, flags, and coinage of both the Allied and Axis powers in the Pacific as well as the European theatres.
Best of the Nest Birdhouse Competition & Display
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Through June 8
Area residents created dozens of beautiful birdhouses that will be on display in the Visitors Center.
Philadelphia Marketplace
Dilworth Park, Philadelphia, PA
Fridays – Saturdays, through June 28
Makers and crafters from the tri-state area will bring their handmade artwork, home goods, plants and more to the outdoor market every weekend. The pop-up shops will be set up alongside activations and events set up by the Center City District. You can also skate on the Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink.
Spring Winery Weekend Music Series
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Weekends, through June 29
Bring the entire family for some fresh air on the farm. Stop into the farm store, take a stroll around the property, listen to live music, and try some of Terhune’s own wine.
Hoboken Tern Parade
Throughout Hoboken
Through June 30
Thirty businesses in Hoboken will display a decoy statue of the Common Tern, which is Hoboken’s official honorary bird. Activities throughout the next few months include library storytime, an Earth Day celebration, bird walks, scavenger hunts and a special RigaTERNi pizza.
Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags
The Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, PA
Through August 10
As America gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday, take the kids to see a collection of 16 flags that flew during the Revolutionary War.
Picnic in the Park
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Through the summer season
You can order a curated picnic lunch that you can eat with the family in the Acer Courtyard (where the peacocks hang out) or anywhere within the 42-acre sculpture garden.
The Longest Yarn
NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum, Cape May
Through September 1
The Longest Yarn is a 3D wool exhibit, knitted and crocheted by hundreds of volunteers worldwide. It measures 80 meters (265 feet) and honors the 80 years since D-Day and the 80 days of battle it took for the Allies to liberate Paris. It’s coming from the UK to New Jersey for a few months.
Slow Motion
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton
Through September 1
Five artists from Monument Lab in Philadelphia created gigantic, creative, introspective monuments that will be on display for their beauty, but also to address political, cultural and social issues.
Sesame Place Philadelphia 45th Birthday Celebration
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Through September 7
The season-long birthday party features the daily Sesame Street Birthday Parade and meet-and-greets with characters dressed in their birthday outfits. The park will be decorated with bright balloons, colorful garland and birthday presents. From July 25 to August 2, a slate of birthday celebrations will be announced. July 30 is the “C…is For Celebrate!” fireworks show.
Topiaries at Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
Through October
As part of a garden redesign inside the zoo, you can see five beautiful, giant, 3D shrubbery sculptures, in addition to planters that will change throughout the season. The topiaries include giraffes, fish, a butterfly, a peacock and a snail.
Hometown Pride: The Power of Sports in Middlesex County
Cornelius Low House Museum, Piscataway
Select dates, through December 31
Middlesex County’s sports connections include the first-ever college football game played between Rutgers University and Princeton University and professional athletes and Olympians, Paralympians, and Special Olympians. You will see high school trophies from the 1930s to the present, NFL golden footballs for pro athletes, balls from the highest-scoring high school athletes, uniforms from the 1930s to the present, and more.
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