It’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend! There are plenty of parades and activities you can enjoy with the whole family. Other fun events include maple sugaring, sawmilling at a living history farm, and a color run to celebrate the coming of spring.
WEEKEND
Disney on Ice: Find Your Hero
CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton
Thursday – Sunday
Watch “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Tangled” come to life on the ice as the Disney Princesses skate around to tell their stories.
Restaurant Week
Jersey City
Thursday – Sunday
Walk along from Grove Street to Greenville and pop in to different restos to see what their specials are. Try everything from a full course dinner to light bites.
Irish Dinner with Bagpipes
The Mathis House, Toms River
Friday – Saturday
While you feast on corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, soda bread and St. Patty’s Day scones with clotted cream, listen to live music played by a bagpiper.
Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic
State Theatre NJ, New Brunswick
Friday – Sunday
Elmo and Abby Cadabby team up to learn how determination and practice are the best ways to reach your goals. Along the way, they are joined by Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Grover, Count and Rosita to discover why it’s okay to make mistakes and real magic can be found when you believe in yourself.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, West Windsor
Friday – Sunday
This Tony Award-winning musical is rated PG-13, so you can bring your teens if you’d like them to watch the stage play based on Monty Navarro, heir to a family fortune, who sets out to eliminate the relatives who stand in his way. He has to juggle his mistress, his fiancée and the constant threat of going to jail.
Maple Sugaring Days
Happy Day Farm, Manalapan
Saturday – Sunday
Farmer Tim is starting the process of maple sugaring the “old-fashioned” way. The maple sugaring tour includes a tractor ride tour of the 130-acre farm to the sugar bush, an educational tour and access to the friendly farm animals. The goats and chickens will be available to feed.
FIRST Mid-Atlantic Robotics District Event
Robbinsville High School, Robbinsville
Saturday – Sunday
Robbinsville’s Robotics Team, Nemesis 2590, will hold the second competition of the year, but the first ever at its home school. Watch as dozens of high school robotics teams from the area compete.
St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl
Haddon Square, Haddon Twp.
Saturday – Sunday
There will be free Jitney service to and from 10 participating locations, where you can eat Irish fare, listen to live music and test your luck at the contests.
Kegs & Eggs Boozy Brunch
The Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Clifton and Ramsey locations
Saturday – Sunday
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with live music and giveaways. For adults only.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Laurita Winery, New Egypt
Saturday – Sunday
Celebrate a weekend filled with Irish charm. The Devrin Academy of Irish Dance will perform. There is a special St. Patrick’s-themed menu as well.
FRIDAY
Fairytales on Ice
Levoy Theatre, Millville
If you have little ones at home, not in school, take them to one of two performances where they’ll see ice skating combined with live singing and cirque performances.
St. Patrick’s Day Irish Dinner
Laurita Winery, New Egypt
Chef Jaime will present a special four-course Irish dinner with offerings such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish whiskey molasses glazed salmon and Irish bread pudding with a whiskey cream glaze.
Student Art Show
The Museum of American History, Deptford
See artwork produced by students from area colleges and universities. While visiting, view the museum’s permanent exhibits which include artifacts from the pre-Columbian through the Colonial eras, American Farmstead, antique hand tools and equipment, the Pine Barrens, glass and a new fossil exhibit.
St. Patrick’s Day Party
Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing, Cherry Hill
There will be a special tapping of the Shamrock Shake firkin and a brand new Irish Red. Or, you can sample a flight of Shamrock Shake, Irish Red Ale, Half & Half (Funnel Cake topped with Gravity Road Stout) and Galloping Ghosts Scotch Ale.
St. Patrick’s Day Party
Berlin Brewing Co., Berlin
Tell All Your Friends will play their alt/emo covers while you sip on your favorite beers.
SATURDAY
Mad Hatter Tea Party
Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill
Meet the Mad Hatter, Alice, the Queen of Hearts, Mary Poppins and Spiderman while partying with live music, sing-alongs, dancing, stilt walkers, face painters, jugglers and a strolling magician. Enjoy trivia games, party games, a coloring station and a bunny craft. There will be a mini petting zoo, sample pretzel treats, a macaroni necklace-making craft station, a Mad Hatter-themed cookie decorating class (there is a fee for this) and photos with the Easter Bunny.
Bergen Philharmonic’s 87th Season Concert II
Syriac Community Hall, Paramus
Listen to beautiful music played by the 2022 Young Artist Competition winner Christy Choi, a cellist, performing Schumann’s Cello Concerto.
Junior Historians Club: Winter Session
Historic Wicoff House Museum, Plainsboro
Kids ages 6-10 learn about historic preservation through fun and immersive activities. Each member receives a JHC notebook and T-shirt.
Buffy Prom
White Eagle Hall, Jersey City
If you loved “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” this is the ’90s-themed prom for you! There will be a photo booth, costume contests, giveaways, a live performance by the Boyfriends and music by Vidal.
Practice Reading to a Pooch
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, NY
Kids can read to a therapy dog in a non-judgmental setting. They can bring their favorite book or borrow one to read to their new four-legged friend.
A Carnaval @Ventanas
Ventanas at The Modern, Fort Lee
Celebrate the fourth anniversary of David’s Burke exclusive restaurant with a Brazilian carnival bash. There will be stilt walkers, Samba dancers, percussionists and more. You’ll be feeling the rhythm and joy of Brazilian culture all night.
St. Paddy’s Brewery Crawl
Devils Creeks Brewery, Collingswood
Beer Belly Brew Tours has secured Devil’s Creek, Lunacy Brewing and Eclipse as your St. Patrick’s Day HQ for beer tasting. You’ll get a beer at each brewery with your ticket. Transportation is included.
Hammonton Beer Crawl
Downtown Hammonton
Each group will be joined by an owner of either Chimney Rustic Ales, Vinyl Brewing or Three 3’s Brewing to get an up close and personal experience of all the Hammonton breweries. Groups will rotate every hour and will walk to the next brewery in town.
St. Paddy’s Day Plunge
Carney’s, Cape May
Kids and adults can run a 5K and then jump in the Atlantic Ocean to cool off. You can choose the one mile walking option, too. You’re welcome to join the after party at Carney’s, where a DJ and live band will perform.
Sawmilling and Tree Planting
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
Logger-sawyer Scott Stevens makes his annual stop to check on the barn beams, siding and floorboards for horse stalls. During the day you can help roll logs to the mill with logging tools, cut firewood for the kitchen stove, make pegs for use in barn framing and plant replacement trees in the farm’s woodlot. Helpers will receive a free tubeling to plant at home.
History Kids Club
Howell Iron Works, Historic Village at Allaire, Wall Twp.
Kids will examine flux, which is needed for furnaces. Learn what went into locating, harvesting, processing and storing it at Howell Iron Works back in the 1830s.
Scavenger Hunt for Chocolate
3-6 Main St., Medford
The kids will love popping in and out of businesses along Main Street to get their card stamped. Once you get them all, you’ll receive a St. Patrick’s-themed box of chocolates made by Reily’s Candy.
Lucky Leprechaun 5K
Old Town Pub, Bordentown
Run the 5K or walk the one mile and burn off all the Irish soda bread you ate the night before! There will be race shirts and awards for participants, plus free entry to the pub after for a St. Pat’s party.
SUNDAY
Guided House Tour: Women of the House
Crane House and Historic YWCA, Montclair
On this special in-person tour, hear the stories of the women who lived, worked and played in the house. From the Crane wives, to the enslaved and paid workers of the house, to the women and girls of the African American YWCA, the Crane House & Historic YWCA has seen how a woman’s role in the house and in society has changed over 200 years.
Family Woodland Hike
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Grab everyone’s sturdy shoes and jackets and gear them up for an easy walk around the gardens. Learn about all the plants and animals that surround you.
St. Paddy 5-Mile Race
Tighe Park, Freehold Twp.
Make your way through the park and then cross over the Manasquan River via a country bridge. Stay after for beer and hot dogs. The race supports the Freehold Twp. Parks and Recreation Special Olympics and Freehold Twp. Recreation Challenger Sports for Special Needs.
Music for the Soul
Presbyterian Church, Leonia
The Leonia Chamber Musicians Society will close out its 2022-23 season with this concert featuring the Brahms Piano Quintet. Listen to the music of American composer Jesse Montgomery and French composer Melanie Bonis.
Pond Skim
Mountain Creek Resort, Vernon
Put your ski, snowboard and swimming skills to the test as you race down the slopes and “skim” across a pond of frigid water. Wear your best luau attire, as you will compete for prizes and coveted titles like best skim, best costume and best wipe out. If you’re not up for the challenge, watch from the sidelines.
Color Run
Wicoff House Museum, Plainsboro
Wear your whitest T-shirt and prepare to get doused with colored powder! As you and your kids run or walk through the 1-mile course you’ll be covered in color! After, you can all fly kites, take part in a scavenger hunt and make crafts to welcome the spring.
Holistic Health & Healing Expo
The Westin, Mount Laurel
You can expect inspiring workshops and information covering everything from alternative healing and sustainable living to organic, holistic coaching, homeopathy and integrative medicine. Discover what’s new in chiropractic medicine, integrative medicine, yoga, massage, intuitive readings, energy work and more.
ShopRite Kidz Cook
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, NY
Young cooks will learn new kitchen skills and prepare a fun dish to eat.
ONGOING
Rolling Railway Easter EGGspress
DiDonato’s Family Fun Center, Hammonton
Select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March 18 – April 8
Hop aboard the train through Spring Village where you can meet the Easter Bunny, go on an egg hunt, and giggle through the Spring Hedge maze. Kids will get a free snack, plus an Easter prize. There will also be a giant slide and the inflatable 40-foot obstacle course. You can add on a game of bowling or shop at the pop-up snack and toy cottage.
Restaurant Week
West Orange
March 19-25
Each restaurant will offer a special menu or discount, either a full meal or Light Bites.
Restaurant Week
Downtown Millburn
March 20-26
More than 30 restaurants in five business districts of Millburn and Short Hills will offer prix fixe menus and special offerings, including BYOB pairings and wine delivery, local breads and dessert made in house, and vegan/gluten free/kosher menu items.
Roller Skating
Cape May Convention Hall, Cape May
Fridays – Sundays, through March 26
The rink is open for family skating, but you can also plan a birthday party or special event on the weekends.
Scavenger Hunt
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morris Twp.
Every day, through March 26
In this month’s scavenger hunt you will search for signs of spring no matter how tiny they are. Families and groups are encouraged.
Après-Ski
Auburn Road Vineyards, Pilesgrove
Every day, through March 31
Après-Ski means after skiing, and although there is no ski resort here, you can still take in winter in all its glory by sipping a glass of wine and eating tableside s’mores by the fire pits. There are movie nights every Thursday – Sunday.
The Golden Girls Kitchen Pop-Up
Fulton Street, New York
Select dates, through March 31
Immerse yourself in the world of the iconic comedy show, dining in the girls’ kitchen and visiting other memorable sets from the show including the Rusty Anchor Bar where you can order cocktails and mocktails, a full kitchen and lots of photo ops. There’s also a drag brunch on certain Sundays.
Food Truck Experience
Gloucester Premium Outlets, Blackwood
Thursdays – Sundays throughout March
A variety of food trucks will be on site during mall hours. Try BBQ, hot dogs, smoothies, freshly roasted nuts, cupcakes, seafood and more.
Winter Market
Convent Train Station, Morris Twp.
Sundays, through April
Grow it Green Morristown holds a winter farmers market every Sunday through April. There are selections of fresh locally grown produce and microgreens, farm raised meat and eggs, seafood, fresh baked goods, artisan bread and cheese, mushrooms, honey, syrups, sauces, seasonal items, specialty ethic items, prepared food and probiotic drinks. There will be food trucks on site, plus wares by local artisans.
Winter Stargazing
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, Glassboro
Saturdays, through April 1
Listen as educators share the ancient stories of the constellations, take you on a journey to distant planets and stars, and share the latest space news and discoveries. You’ll see something new each time you visit, plus you will learn how to discover the night skies from your own backyard.
Super Volcanoes
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, Glassboro
Saturdays, through April 1
Adults will love the narration by Benedict Cumberbatch, while kids will get a kick out of flying down to Neptune’s frigid moon Triton, Jupiter’s moon Io and Yellowstone National Park.
Night Forms: Infinite Wave
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Select dates, through April 2
This after-hours, multi-sensory light and sound experience uses projection mapping that enhances the art and sculpture park, creating a dynamic show to stimulate the senses.
PEEPS in the Village
Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA
Every day, through April 23
The colorful display dedicated to everyone’s favorite marshmallow Easter candy includes over 90 creations of wall art, dioramas and sculpture, featuring the popular Pennsylvania-made bunnies and chicks, and carefully handmade and contributed by Philly-area residents and organizations.
The Orchid Show
New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx, NY
Select dates, through April 23
During the day, families can view the thousands of orchids on the grounds of the botanical gardens. On select nights, adults 21+ can attend for a special view-and-sip option.
Hidden Gems
Nancy Thompson Learning Commons, Kean University, Union
Through May 8
A geode may look like an “ugly rock” but once they are broken open, there are beautiful crystals inside. The freestanding sculptures in this exhibit are inspired by rock structures created with multiple parts of cast, assembled and carved resin.
Trail Riding Program
Mercer Meadows Equestrian Center, Pennington
Saturdays, through mid-May
Kids (and adults) 12 and up can go on a leisurely 45-minute horseback trail ride around the Mercer Stables property. No riding experience is necessary. You must book in advance.
Morning Walks
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Saturdays, through May 27
Enjoy a quiet morning at the sanctuary walking the trails with an NJ Audubon staff or Associate Naturalist. These walks are informal and informative; birds, trees, tracks, wildflowers, reptiles and amphibians are a few of nature’s wonders waiting for you to discover.
The FRIENDS Experience: The One Near Philadelphia
King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia
Through May 29
Sit on the big orange couch at Central Perk, hang out in Joey and Chandler’s apartment, sit at Rachel and Monica’s kitchen table and read the 18-page letter – front and back – at this awesome experience that brings the Friends set to you!
Growing in the Garden
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Morristown
Second Saturday of the month, through June
This hands-on art program for children age 4 and older and their caregivers includes a story, a visit to MHHM’s gardens, and an art project.
Disney 100: The Exhibition
The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Through August 27
Disney fans will love this behind-the-scenes look at their favorite characters, movies and theme parks. Walk through 10 different galleries that will immerse you in sight, sound and touch.
Thomas and Friends Explore the Rails
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through September 4
Kids can learn, play and solve problems while finding themselves in locations from the beloved TV series. Younger kids can practice counting objects, comparing sizes and learning colors. Older kids can practice their math skills, learn basic engineering concepts, discover science ideas through play, and see how technology works to keep engines running.
Kids’ Night on Broadway is Tuesday, March 21, so check what tickets are left for BOGO free.
You can also start making reservations to meet the Easter Bunny. Certain times are available for kids who are neurodiverse, or for you to bring your pets.