Easter weekend is here! Gather your little chicks for an egg hunt, train ride or photo with the Easter Bunny. Looking to book a last-minute Easter brunch? Here are some ideas + more fun things to do this holiday weekend in NJ:
WEEKEND
Monmouth Wine & Food Experience
Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
Thursday
Sample food from dozens of local restaurants and caterers, sample fine wines and spirits, check out some hands-on food demos and go home with a swag bag.
LSC After Dark: Battle of the Beers – The Finals
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Every Thursday during March, LSC held its own version of March Madness, with a competition between two NJ breweries during each party. On March 28, the three breweries that won their bracket will compete for the first-ever Hops Hero award. You can also listen to a conversation on “Hops, Barley, Malt…and Bacteria: The Science of Beer Making” with Columbia University Professor Tal Danino. Classic After Dark events include a DJ, vendor shopping and access to all of Liberty Science Center’s exhibits.
Egg Hunt Hayrides
Johnson’s Corner Farm, Medford
Thursday – Saturday
Hop a hayride to the egg hunt grounds, decorate cookies, snap photos with Peter Rabbit and visit the farm market.
The Throne
The Rink at American Dream, East Rutherford
Thursday – Sunday
Head to the court for a four-day single-elimination tournament for high school basketball players. Sixteen of the top men’s teams and eight of the top women’s teams in the country will compete for national titles.
Windows of Understanding
Highland Park, Metuchen, New Brunswick, Rahway, South Plainfield
Thursday – Sunday
This public art project highlights the positive strides made by local organizations, addressing critical social justice issues such as climate change, food insecurity, human rights and violence protection.
An Evening With Jon Stewart
Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton
Friday – Saturday
Comedian Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” fame will appear on stage in a show designed for ages 16 and up.
Peter the Rock: The Musical
Oasis of Grace Assembly of God, Wayne
Friday – Saturday
Ahead of Easter, watch the story of Peter along his journey with Jesus. He narrates his adventures, misadventures and restoration.
Rolling Railway Easter EGGspress
DiDonato’s Family Fun Center, Hammonton
Friday – Saturday
Hop aboard the train that takes you through the Spring Village. Meet the Easter Bunny, go on an egg hunt, and find your way through the Spring Hedge maze. Kids will get a free snack, plus an Easter prize. There will also be a giant slide and an inflatable 40-foot obstacle course. You can add on a game of bowling or eat at the Alley Bar & Grille or the Pin Deck. Toy Market will be on-site at their pop-up snack and toy cottage.
Easter Bunny Breakfast / Bunny Trail Brunch
Alstede Farms, Chester
Friday – Saturday
You have two options to eat with The Easter Bunny: come in the morning for a hearty farm breakfast, or choose the afternoon session and sit down for brunch. Either way, you can enjoy everything the Spring & Easter Festival has to offer, like a hay wagon ride, Bunny Trail Maze and giant hay pyramid. If you come in the afternoon, kids can play in the bounce house, take a wagon train ride or hop on a pony for a ride.
Easter Bunny Express
Black River and Western Railroad, Flemington
Friday – Saturday
Take a round-trip train ride from Flemington to Ringoes and back. Meet Peter Cottontail aboard the train for a brief photo op. There will be an egg hunt when you stop off in Ringoes.
Easter Bunny Express
Woodstown Central Railroad, Woodstown
Friday – Saturday
The vintage train goes through the forests and farmland of historic Salem County before reaching the Easter Bunny’s home at Fenwick Grove. There, kids will hop off for an egg hunt.
Bunny Trail Spring Festival
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturday – Sunday
Kids 2-10 can follow hand-drawn clues around the farm in a self-guided treasure hunt. There will be lots of bunny-themed craft activities as well as a meet-and-greet with Ginger, a real bunny rabbit.
Winery Weekend Music Series
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturday – Sunday
Let your kids make their own s’mores and hot chocolate while you sip on wine by the fire pit. There will be live music all weekend.
FRIDAY
Professor W’s Earth Science Circus
Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, Morristown
Professor Winkleburger and Mr. Meatloaf explore the Earth during the first meeting of their Science Club. The Falloons present this lively show for kids that includes magical disappearing garbage.
Good Friday Dinner
Laurita Winery, New Egypt
Kick off Easter weekend with a meat-free dinner that has fish and eggplant options.
SATURDAY
Henhouse Visits
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell
The farm’s Barred Rock chickens are busy laying eggs. Help the farmer make their feed Then, kids can reach into a nest box and take out an egg to bring home. They can also dye the eggs.
Kids Magic Show
Casino Pier Arcade, Seaside Heights
Favorite magician Steve Woyce will entertain the kids. Then, play games in the arcade and get something to eat on the boardwalk.
Spring Celebration
Pier Village, Long Branch
While you send your kids or your dogs on an Easter egg hunt, or you dine at Maya, you can also take part in the spring-themed festival.
Snack, Snap ‘n’ Paint Spring Spectacular
TiLT Museum, American Dream, East Rutherford
Paint a spring-themed painting, plus make your own flowers, and then check out the cool exhibits in the museum.
All About Solar Eclipses
New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
Learn about solar eclipses during a planetarium show. Find out why eclipses happen, why they don’t happen every single month, and why they’re interesting to astronomers. You’ll get a free pair of special glasses that you can wear on April 8 during the next solar eclipse.
Easter Bunny Fire Truck & Great Egg Hunt
Throughout Trenton, ending in Cadwalader Park
The Easter Bunny will ride through Trenton on a fire truck, passing through each of the city’s wards before ending in Cadwalader Park for the 103rd annual Great Egg Hunt, where 3,000 eggs will be hidden throughout the park. Face painting, a petting zoo, games and music will be part of the festivities. All children at the park will receive a treat from the Bunny Patrol.
Art Classes
Big Bear Gear, Lambertville
Projects include designing a flower pot, painting a landscape on wood, drawing botanicals on rocks, vegetable printmaking and making paper landscape earrings.
Outdoor Skills for Beginners
Big Bear Gear, Lambertville
Expert instructors will help you and the fam (kids age 6 and older are welcome) with outdoor skills like backpacking, camping, navigating with a map and compass, whittling wood into a camp chair, and building a fire.
Easter Bunny Express
Whippany Railway Museum, Whippany
The Easter Bunny and his helpers will be on board the train, greeting everyone during the 45-minute round-trip ride along the historic Whippanong Trail throughout Morris County. All the kids will get a special gift.
Easter Eggstravaganza
G&G Stables, Howell
Admission includes an Easter egg hunt, petting zoo, hayride, barrel ride and games. Pony rides, animal feed, face painting and snacks will be available for purchase.
SUNDAY
Easter Egg Hunt, Games, Craft and Prizes
First Presbyterian Church, Cranford
Start with a family-friendly Easter celebration service. Following the worship service, kids 5 and under can wait inside the church for an egg hunt on the front lawn. Kids 6 and up will have lots of games, crafts and prizes to choose from inside the gym.
Holi Hungama
Akbar Banquet, Edison
There will be a live DJ, Dholi, unlimited vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods, a shopping bazaar, kids’ activities, a photo booth, prizes, raffles, and organic dry colors.
Photos With the Easter Bunny
Casino Pier Arcade, Seaside Heights
March 24 and 31
Say “hi” to the Easter Bunny and get photos for the Easter holiday, then play some fun games in the arcade.
ONGOING
Frank V. Marina Flea Market
Frank A. Vincent Marina, Kearny
Second Sunday of every month, March – December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Main Memorial Park Flea Market
Memorial Park, Clifton
Second Saturday of every month, March – December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Tours of Crane House & Historic YWCA
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
Every Sunday
Take a self-guided tour to learn about the women of the Historic YWCA and the Crane family at your own pace. Take some time to walk through the gardens and meadow on site.
Wayne PAL Antique Collectibles Show and Vintage Flea Market
Wayne PAL Athletic League Complex, Wayne
First Sunday of every month, through April
The show features over 150 vendor tables in two large rooms and the front lobby where you can find vintage and sterling jewelry, glassware and Lenox, toys and trains, antique and collectible dolls and action figures, vintage postcards and photos and artwork, military, political and sports memorabilia including cards, magazines and newspapers, vintage coins and watches, classic rock CDs and more.
Tulip Festival
Dalton Farms, Swedesboro
Through April
There will be over one million tulips in full display, from classic varieties like the single early tulip to the exotic ones. Wander through the fields, pick your favorite tulips, and take them home as souvenirs. Kids can meet the Easter Bunny, who will be visiting the farm on March 30 and 31. There are also paddle boats and live music from local artists on the weekends. There will be wineries and food vendors on site.
EGGstravanganZOO
Cape May County Park and Zoo, Cape May
March 29 – April 7
Meet the Easter Bunny, who packed lots of new animal-themed eggs for this year’s hunt. Also take advantage of the educational displays, crafts, animal meet-and-greets and the scavenger hunt. Pictures with the Easter Bunny take place on March 30.
Eggstravaganza
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
March 29-30, April 6-7 and 13-14
This fun-filled day includes a visit by the Easter Bunny, an egg scavenger hunt, carnival rides, farm animals, hayrides, photo ops, wine tasting, games and paintball.
Delsea Drive-In 2024 Season
Delsea Drive-In Movie Theatre, Vineland
Fridays – Sundays, March 29 – September 3
Watch two movies back-to-back while sitting in your car, just like they did in the ’50s.
Springtime & Easter Festival
Alstede Farms, Chester
Through April 7
Explore the farm on a hay wagon ride, and visit with the adorable baby farm animals. Go on an Easter egg hunt and take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Wander through the Bunny Trail Maze or the evergreen maze, then climb on the giant hay pyramid. Note: The farm is closed on March 31 for Easter.
Bubble Bash
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Through April 7
The Bubble Bash Party will be poppin’ as the Rotunda transforms into a bubble-filled extravaganza. Learn the science behind bubbles by watching demos that showcase how to use bubbles to make your at-home experiments. Follow clues around the aquarium, anyone who unscrambles the letters correctly to spell the secret word will receive a bubbly prize. Take part in a trivia game show centered around bubbles. Special food selections include a Bubble Sundae and Bubble Tea. As a bonus, you will take home 8 ounces of Bubble Bash.
Elmo’s Eggstravaganza Celebration
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Through April 7
Celebrate Easter with The Bunny, Elmo and friends. Take pictures with your kid’s favorite characters, go on an Easter egg scavenger hunt, join a Bunny Hop Dance Party, grab a seat on the sidewalk for the Sesame Street Party Parade, listen to storytime, and decorate donuts with Cookie Monster.
Spring Model Train Show
Garden State Model Railway Club, North Haledon
Saturdays and Sundays, through April 7
The Garden State Model Railway Club will be running steam and diesel trains of all kinds on the 1,200-square-foot HO scale layout, including Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. The second railroad room will be open, which has a children’s railroad where kids can try their hand at running trains, and for-sale items to complete your collection at home.
Contemporary African Spirituality in Art
South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange
Through April 7
The exhibition features the works of many local artists in mixed media, painting and photos. There’s a mix of tradition and modernity and how it relates to African spirituality.
Night Forms
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Through April 7
You will have nighttime access to the art and horticulture throughout the sculpture park, which will be illuminated in an immersive experience.
PEEPS in the Village
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Through April 14 (closed on March 31 for Easter)
The colorful display includes over 90 pieces of wall art, dioramas and sculptures made out of the famous Easter marshmallow candy.
TROLLS: Save the Humans
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
Through April 15
Thomas Dambo, a renowned recycle artist and activist from Copenhagen, created six ginormous trolls that will be on display at the zoo. They are made from repurposed wood and stand up to 15 feet tall. They ask people to reduce trash, reuse everything and recycle when they can.
Lamb Camp
Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy, Petersburg
Fridays-Sundays, select Tuesdays, through April 21
At this Cape May County farm you can raise your own lamb, caring for it, bottle-feeding it and cleaning it in one-hour sessions. There are separate sessions for kids, families, teens, adults and Spring Breakers.
The Science Behind Pixar
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 5
Learn all about the science behind Pixar’s animated films. Kids can try hands-on experiences like making a short film, creating a robot friend for “WALL·E” and designing a new movie set using props from “Monsters University.” Learn what animation rendering is, then practice it by rendering a scene from “Inside Out.” Create a digital sculpture from an artist’s sketch. Use lights to solve challenges similar to the ones Pixar faced in creating underwater scenes with virtual light in “Finding Nemo.”
Morning Walks
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Saturdays, through May 18
During a quiet morning at the sanctuary, you will walk the trails with an NJ Audubon staff member or Associate Naturalist. The group will look for birds, trees, tracks, wildflowers, reptiles and amphibians out in nature.
Nature-Infused Yoga
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Saturdays, through May 18
Join this nature-based yoga class in person or virtually to spend 75 minutes unwinding from the workweek.
Electric Dandelions
Pier A and Monroe Center Plaza, Hoboken
Through May 24
A series of 10 28-foot LED sculptures crafted from sturdy steel will line Hoboken’s waterfront. When the sun sets, the area along Sinatra Drive and around the Ninth Street and Congress Light Rail Station will be illuminated with light and motion from these gigantic pieces of art.
Micah Williams: Portrait Artist Exhibit
Cornelius Low House, Piscataway
Through June 30
Learn about Middlesex and Monmouth County residents from the 19th Century through the portraits of artist Micah Williams. Adults can work with pastels to create their own portraits, and kids can contribute to the Student Gallery.
150 Years of Washington Association of New Jersey
The Morristown & Morris Twp. Library, Morristown
Through August 31
The self-guided walking exhibit has original photography, artifacts, pins and medals, and commemorative plates dating back to Revolutionary War time. WANJ was founded in March 1874 to preserve the Jacob Ford Mansion, where General George Washington and his troops stayed during the winter.
Apollo: When We Went to The Moon
Intrepid Museum, New York, NY
Through September 2
Climb aboard a lunar rover model, leave your footprints on the Moon and learn about the Space Race through this exhibit at the sea, air and space museum. Starting April 4, you can check out the Concorde super jet that recently underwent renovations and returned to the museum.
Yoga on the Beach
Burk Avenue, behind the Wildwoods Convention Center
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through September 29
A traditional Hatha yoga-style class will be infused with Qi Gong, a variety of healing therapies and lots of modifications.
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