We’ve rounded up some of the best local events near you, and make sure to check out the best places to take your preschoolers and free things to do this month and egg hunts for the best bunny hopping around. Looking for more? Search for additional events in your county in our calendar.
Atlantic
Saturday, April 13
Art Walk
Where: Historic Smithville, Galloway
Price: Varies
Deets: Stroll through 40 local artists’ displays in Historic Smithville, then hit one of seven eateries, hop on a train or carousel ride and stop by the arcade, too.
Bergen
Friday-Sunday, April 12-14
Overpeck Park Carnival
Where: Overpeck Park, Ridgefield Park
Price: $2/ticket, $30/unlimited wristband
Deets: Come out for amusement rides, games, food, prizes and more excitement for the family.
Saturday, April 13
Celebrate Spring at the Bergen Zoo
Where: 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack
Price: Free
Deets: Visit live animals, listen to storytime, plus work on spring-themed crafts and activities. Kids can also take pictures with characters.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Where: 25 S. Island Ave., Ramsey
Price: Call for info
Deets: Head to the Ramsey Fire Department to meet up with the Easter Bunny and snap some photos. Then dig into bagels, donuts and refreshments.
Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Evelyn Street Day School, Paramus
Price: Free
Deets: Ages 10 and under can go egg hunting, then grab a photo with the bunny of the hour. There’ll also be a free brunch and Easter-themed crafts.
Sunday, April 14
4th Annual De Novo Harriers 4×2 Mile Relay
Where: Saddle River Park, Rochelle Park
Price: $50/team, $60/race day
Deets: Round up your family and friends for a two-mile run for groups of four (all ages and abilities welcome). Medals will be awarded to winners in seven different categories, like runners under age 18 and best team name.
Daffodil Festival & Earth Day Fair
Where: Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, Ridgewood
Price: Free
Deets: The kids can hop on pony rides, visit the petting zoo and check out the Daffy Dog Parade. Don’t forget to point out the educational displays, where the kids can learn about conservation efforts and the environment.
Burlington
Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14
Easter Egg Hunt on the Farm
Where: Paws Discovery Farm, Mount Laurel
Price: Included with admission
Deets: Kids can pick up eggs and redeem them for prizes in the welcome center, then check out the rest of the farm.
Ongoing
Egg Hunt Hayrides
Where: Johnson’s Corner Farm, Medford
Price: $9/egg hunting rider, $4.50/non-egg hunting rider
Deets: Jump on a hayride before searching for precious eggs filled with various goodies. After, hit the Discovery Barnyard for more animal fun. Ends April 20.
Camden
Ongoing
Berlin Farmers Market
Where: Berlin Farmers Market, Berlin
Price: Free admission
Deets: Every Saturday and Sunday, stop by to check out wares from more than 85 stores including Amish baked goods, furniture, jewelry, footwear, antiques, collectibles and more.
Cape May
Saturday, April 13
Mariner’s Amusement Pier Opening Weekend!
Where: Mariner’s Amusement Pier, Wildwood
Price: Varies
Deets: Hit Mariner’s Amusement Pier for rides like the wave swinger, kite flyer, super scooters, kiddie swings and more.
EGGstravaganZOO 2019
Where: Cape May County Park Zoo, Cape May Court House
Price: Free
Deets: Snap a photo with your kids’ favorite bunny, check out educational displays, work on crafts, visit animals and compete in the scavenger hunt. Pick up as many animal themed eggs as you can.
Ongoing
Crafts with Critters
Where: Cape May County Park Zoo, Cape May Court House
Price: $5/craft
Deets: Ages 3-12 can race to the Discovery Outpost, where they can meet a different ambassador animal every week and create a craft. Every Sunday.
Cumberland
Saturday, April 13
City of Vineland Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Various locations, Vineland
Price: Call for info
Deets: Ages 8 and under can bring their baskets and get to work collecting the Easter Bunny’s eggs.
Essex
Saturday, April 13
Essex County Family Day
Where: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Newark
Price: Free
Deets: Watch the kids hula hoop, hop in a paddle boat, work on crafts, get their faces painted and try some snacks from vendors. Top it all off with a fishing derby.
Sunday, April 14
Bloomfest!
Where: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Newark
Price: Free
Deets: This beautiful event is a feast for the eyes. Check out Japanese cultural demos, hit up kids’ activities, listen to live music, visit the crafters’ marketspace, dig into food and more.
Millburn Street Fair and Craft Show
Where: Millburn Ave. and Main St., Millburn
Price: Free admission
Deets: Boogie down with live music and a DJ, plus visit the children’s rides, petting zoo, game trailer, martial arts exhibitions, arts and crafts and more.
Walk. Talk. Taste. Montclair
Where: Various locations, Montclair
Price: $45
Deets: This three-hour tasting will take you around town snacking on samples from 6-8 Montclair restaurants and your mind with town history. Registration required.
Storytime with the Easter Bunny
Where: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange
Price: $0-12
Deets: Listen to stories, meet the Easter Bunny and stick around for an animal presentation.
Gloucester
Saturday, April 13
Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Deptford Skating Center, Westville
Price: Varies
Deets: Ages 9 and under can collect eggs, then hit the rink for free skating. Skate rentals and inflatables cost extra.
Scotland Run Park Nature Center Grand Opening
Where: Scotland Run Park, Clayton
Price: Free
Deets: Snakes, salamanders and turtles, oh my! Aside from live animals, the newly renovated center will also provide greet opportunities with park naturalist Dr. Daniel Duran.
Hudson
Saturday, April 13
Jersey City Craft Brew Fest
Where: Harborside Atrium, Jersey City
Price: $15-70
Deets: NJ’s home to a number of breweries and this weekend, you can have a chance to taste more than 150 brews. There’ll be beer and cider, plus live entertainment, food and interactive games.
2019 Hoboken Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Mama Johnson Field, Hoboken
Price: Free
Deets: With more than 33,000 Easter eggs to collect, Hoboken’s largest egg hunt is the place to be. The Easter Bunny will also be in attendance, plus the kids can get their faces painted, work on crafts and play carnival games. Registration required.
Sunday, April 14
Annual Spring Festival
Where: Harborside Atrium, Jersey City
Price: $5
Deets: Think music performances, arts and crafts, an egg hunt and a magic show all geared toward the kids, and at an extra cost, the kids can also hit the bouncy house, jump on the train and try cookie decorating.
Ongoing
Storytime
Where: Fire Department Museum, Hoboken
Price: Free
Deets: Staff and guest readers will read stories and sing songs about living in the city on the first Sunday of each month. After, take a tour of the museum. Reservations not required.
The Lion Guard Exhibit
Where: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Price: Included with admission
Deets: Mini scientists ages 2-8 can hit ecology-themed exhibitions that explore the African Savanna, teach kids about animals in the Pride Lands and encourage interactive play through missions and trainings in the Lion Guard’s secret space. Ends September 8.
Hunterdon
Saturday, April 13
Drag Queen Story Hour!
Where: Lambertville Public Library, Lambertville
Price: Free
Deets: Mix up this weekend’s storytime with drag queens Morgan Kennedy and Vertigo, who’ll spend a few hours reading stories to the kids.
Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14
Easter Bunny Express
Where: 80 Stangl Rd., Flemington
Price: $10/ages 3-11, $16/ages 12+
Deets: Climb aboard the Easter Bunny Express for a chance to meet Peter Cottontail, plus kids get their own goodie bag.
Mercer
Saturday, April 13
Show Up Kids: Interactive Family Friendly Improv
Where: Hopewell Theater, Hopewell
Price: $15
Deets: When the performance’s main act doesn’t show up, Pete will ask kids in the audience to help create a comedy show, giving them jobs in all aspects of theater, from sound and set to plot and props.
Jack & the Beanstalk
Where: Kelsey Theatre, West Windsor
Price: $12/adults, $10/kids
Deets: After trading his family’s last cow for three magic beans, Jack soars to new adventures atop a giant beanstalk. There, he’ll meet a giant and hear its infamous tagline: fee, fi, fo, fum.
Ongoing
Sunday Music Series
Where: Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Price: Free admission
Deets: Fill your glass with Terhune vino, munch on light fare and kick back in the new wine barn for live music from local artists, ranging from classic rock to jazz to blues. Every Sunday through May 26.
Objects Count: A Decade of Collecting
Where: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
Price: Free
Deets: Take a look at objects that collectors have preserved and displayed over the years. See a caribou antler from Ice Age-era New Jersey, a 1930s flight suit from a South Jersey female pilot, Native American projectiles and more. Every Tuesday-Sunday through April 28.
Jersey Crocs Rule!
Where: State Museum, Trenton
Price: Free
Deets: Check out the evolutionary history of crocodiles at the State Museum in Trenton, where you can check out preserved tracks, fossils and skull reconstructions dating back 200 million years, plus see recent discoveries and specimens that once lived in NJ. Ends September 8.
Middlesex
Sunday, April 14
Mary Poppins In Concert with the NJSO
Where: State Theatre, New Brunswick
Price: $35-125
Deets: Check out this showing of Julie Andrews’ iconic film, plus a live rendition of the film’s score by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Pancake Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Where: American Legion Post 119, Dunellen
Price: $8/adults, $6/ages 2-12
Deets: Dress in your Easter best for chocolate chip pancakes, waffles and sausage, plus family photos with the bunny himself. Plus, try your luck at gift basket raffles.
Monmouth
Saturday, April 13
VIB Breakfast with Sonny the Bunny
Where: iPlay America, Freehold
Price: $14.95-24.95
Deets: While Sonny the Bunny walks around greeting guests, Miss Sheri will perform live songs for the fam to dance and sing along, too. Then, grab a pic with the bunny of the hour and hit the Colossal Carrot Adventure to find eggs filled with treats and prizes on the bunny trail.
Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14
Catsbury Park Cat Convention
Where: Convention Hall, Asbury Park
Price: $25/day for adults, $15/day for ages 11 and under
Deets: Feline friends, this cat-vention has it all: adoptions, activities, art, games, presentations, comedians, tattoos, food, vendors and more. Hit the cat lounge and cafe to interact with kitties, too.
Morris
Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14
Whippany Railway Museum’s 27th Annual Easter Bunny Express
Where: Whippany Railway Museum, Whippany
Price: $17/adults, $12/kids
Deets: Take a 45-minute ride through the Whippanong Trail to meet the Easter Bunny and his helpers. Reservations recommended. You can also hop on the train April 20. 1 to 4 pm at the top of every hour. Check out other Easter themed train rides.
Sunday, April 14
Stirling Street Fair
Where: 393 Main Ave., Stirling
Price: Free
Deets: From empanadas and zeppoles to crafts and collectibles to live music and demos, this street fair is a great way to kick off the season. There’ll also be kids’ activities to keep them entertained while you eat and shop.
Ocean
Saturday, April 13
Annual Easter Egg Hunt 2019
Where: Community Park, Point Pleasant Borough
Price: Call for info
Deets: Residents can grab photos with the Easter Bunny and fill their bags with festive eggs. Registration recommended.
Passaic
Friday-Saturday, April 12-13
The Pirates of Penzance
Where: William Paterson University Shea Center, Wayne
Price: $10-15
Deets: This student performance gives new vigor to the iconic operetta, which follows a young man who accidentally lands an apprenticeship with a pirate.
Salem
Ongoing
Hancock House
Where: 485 Locust Island Rd., Hancocks Bridge
Price: Free admission
Deets: From private residence to tavern to museum, this building has a lot of history in its storied walls. Walk through the Hancock House, an important landmark first built in 1675 by a shoemaker.
Somerset
Friday, April 12
Illusionist Kevin Spencer
Where: RVCC Theatre, Branchburg
Price: $10
Deets: Do you love magic and illusions, or just want to see something that’ll wow the kids and entertain you? Kevin Spencer combines fast-paced magic tricks and illusions to create that wow-factor your family’s been looking for.
Saturday, April 13
Free Community Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Montgomery Evangelical Free Church, Belle Mead
Price: Free
Deets: The kids can get their faces painted, play games, visit the petting zoo and hunt for eggs (there’ll be more than 10,000).
Sussex
Friday-Sunday, April 12-14
New Jersey Wine & Food Festival
Where: Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg
Price: Varies
Deets: Spend some time celebrating food and wine alongside other foodies, chefs and winemakers. From wine yoga to a paint-and-sip and events like Masters of Chocolate & Cognac or Pairing the Coasts (Atlantic seafood and Oregon wines), your taste buds will thank you.
Union
Saturday, April 13
DIY Fairy Garden
Where: Cranford Library, Cranford
Price: Free
Deets: Kiddos in grades 1-3 can use recycled pieces to create their own DIY Fairy Garden Registration required.
Hop
Where: North Avenue Academic Building, Union
Price: $10
Deets: Ages 3-10 can get elbows-deep in Easter-themed arts and crafts, activities and other surprises, plus watch Hop, which follows Fred, who just adopted the rabbit that’s next in line for the role of Easter Bunny.
Astronomy Day
Where: Trailside Nature Center, Mountainside
Price: Free
Deets: Ages 4-16 can craft and join hands-on activities, plus listen to presentations on the final frontier, space. Bonus: They’ll also see real meteorites.
Ongoing
Super Saturday Storytimes
Where: Scotch Plains Public Library, Scotch Plains
Price: Free
Deets: Every Saturday at 11 am, gather round for a fun and interactive storytime with a weekly theme. No registration required. Ends in August.
Warren
Saturday, April 13
3rd Annual Hopped Up Scavenger Hunt
Where: Long Valley Brew Pub, Hackettstown
Price: $25/crawl, free admission/market
Deets: Gather your friends and SO to hit places like Enzo’s, Jersey Girl Brewing, Mama’s Cafe Baci, Pasta Grill, Taphouse Grille, Czig Meister, and Man Skirt Brewing. Don’t forget to check out handmade wares from artisans at Czig Meister.
Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Garrett D. Wall Park, Belvidere
Price: Call for info
Deets: At the sound of the horn, it’s time to hunt! Ages 9 and under are welcome to collect eggs and meet the Easter Bunny.