There is a jam-packed weekend of spring events waiting for you and the fam! Six Flags Great Adventure and Jenkinson’s Boardwalk are opening their rides, there are dozens of Easter egg hunts across the state and flowers are blooming everywhere so get ready for some fun!
WEEKEND
Princeton Environmental Film Festival
Princeton
Wednesday – Friday
Films will be presented in public screenings and also available to stream online, on demand.
Après-Ski
Auburn Road Vineyards, Pilesgrove
Wednesday – Friday
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
Wednesday – Friday
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.
Hobbstown: Past, Present and Future
Bridgewater Commons, Bridgewater
Thursday – Sunday
This exhibit will pay tribute to one of the most unique and historical African American communities in Bridgewater, celebrating the centennial of the establishment of this district. There will be a vast collection of historical items, heirlooms, photographs and videos collected by the Hobbs Family over multiple generations, as well as interactive family activities. On Saturday, there will be a panel discussion on the role that cultural heritage and its preservation play in the growth of our communities. And on Sunday, an Honor and Praise Service will be hosted by Macedonia Baptist Church.
Night Forms: Infinite Wave
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Thursday – Sunday
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. Final weekend!
Daffodil Days Festival
Historic Village of Allentown, Allentown
Thursday – Sunday
More than 5,000 daffodils will be planted by volunteers all across town. A parade on March 25 kicks off a full slate of more than 30 activities (many free) and boutique shop specials. Meet King Alfred Daffodil and his court amongst the blooms of Sensi Park with free activities for children. Join in the Welcome Spring Gala for an elegant evening in the Olde Mill set to the music of the McAllister Trio. You can meet the Easter Bunny and witness chocolate making, too.
Wanna Dance With Somebody?
Axelrod Performing Arts Center, Deal
Saturday – Sunday
This totally radical ’80s concert/dance event will feature live performances of songs by Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury, Prince, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and more.
Hoboken Literary Weekend
Little City Books, Hoboken
Friday – Sunday
Meet your favorite authors in person or virtually. There is a lineup of guest speakers. Plus, the Girl Scouts will be selling cookies over the weekend.
Model Train Show
Garden State Model Railway Club, North Haledon
Saturday – Sunday
There will be fun for the whole family, including Thomas the Tank Engine, a kiddie layout and refreshments.
Opening Weekend, East Jersey Old Town Village
East Jersey Old Town Village, Piscataway
Saturday – Sunday
Engage with living history interpreters depicting a British occupation from the Revolutionary War. Stop in the General Store for local treats and treasures. Cheer on the Liberty Base Ball team as they start the season. Enjoy crafts and hands-on learning that the whole family can enjoy.
Easter Bunny Express
Whippany Railway Museum, Whippany
Saturday – Sunday
The Easter Bunny and helpers will be on board the train greeting everyone during the 45-minute round-trip ride along the historic Whippanong Trail. Kids will receive a special gift from the Easter Bunny while riding aboard the train.
FRIDAY
Scream Your Dream
American Dream, East Rutherford
Meet Dina El Nabli, editorial director of New Jersey Family! She will be part of one of three panel sessions that will focus on empowering women. This Is It Network presents this mini conference with topics such as Women Supporting Women, The Importance of Knowing Your Why and Ambition and Balance.
Cousin Brucie and Friends
Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center, Carteret
This all-star lineup features special guest host Cousin Brucie, Frankie Avalon, Lou Christie and Jay Siegel’s Tokens for a stroll down memory lane.
German Night
The Mathis House, Toms River
Chef Steffen Scherer, who has a master’s degree from a culinary school in Germany, is preparing a special dinner that will include cream of asparagus soup, beef Rouladen with red cabbage and spaetzle, wiener schnitzel with German potato salad and crème brulée.
SATURDAY
Opening Day of Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Be one of the first to line up before the 10:30 am rope drop and you’ll kick off the 2023 season. Ride the roller coasters, choose your horse on the carousel or ride around on the Fender Benders.
Down the Bunny Trail
Camp Sacajewa, Farmingdale
Whether or not you are a Girl Scout you can come to this event organized by The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. Roast PEEPS s’mores, create an egg-cellent craft, enjoy a fun scavenger hunt around Bunny Village, and hop over to the bunny hutch for a family photo with the Bunny herself. A special after-hour egg hunt will be available exclusively for high schoolers.
Spring Beekeeping & Gardening
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell
Spring is a busy time for bees and beekeepers alike. Meet the honeybees, peek inside their hive, and find out what they do around the farm and in the gardens. Weather permitting, beekeeper Johanna Swartzentruber will open the hives and check the health of the colony by looking at the bees and their work on the comb. If you’d like to learn even more, there will be a presentation about “Life in a Honeybee Colony.”
Springtime and Easter Festival
Alstede Farms, Chester
Take a hayride around the farm, meet the Easter Bunny and go on an egg hunt. Kids can jump in the moon bounce, play in the corn kingdom, learn inside the farm museum, climb the giant hay pyramid, take pony rides and visit baby animals.
Kids’ Arts Bash
Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts, Burlington
Crafts, karaoke, face painting, costume play and a photo booth will be followed by an interactive live music concert by the award-winning children’s band Big Idea Committee. Stay all afternoon or drop-in for part of the bash.
Challenge Bike Race: Cherry Blossom Challenge
Branch Brook Park, Newark
The park is teeming with cherry blossoms now, so you can bike through the park during this competitive race or watch from the sidelines amidst the beautiful trees.
Colossal Carrot Adventure
iPlay America, Freehold
Sonny the Bunny will lead you along a trail throughout the indoor theme park so you can collect eggs filled with surprises at each stop. Take a seat next to the Bunny and snap your own photos, or go to the Selfie Snapshots photo booth where there will be a selection of props and themed backgrounds.
Easter Bunny Photos
Casino Pier, Seaside Heights
The Easter Bunny will be hanging out in the arcade waiting to take free photos with you and your family. No reservations are required.
Bunny Bash
Rockaway Townsquare Mall, Rockaway
Have fun with the bunny while enjoying an egg hunt, crafts, games, music and more.
Winter Stargazing
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, Glassboro
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
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.
Trot Into Spring
Bergen County Horse Rescue, Mahwah
Visit all the animals and take pictures of your kids with the Easter Bunny and the rescue horses. Then, shop at the equestrian-themed Hoof Prints Gift Shop. Proceeds benefit care needed for the horses who reside on the historic farm.
Peking Acrobats
New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark
Watch the Chinese acrobatics from high above the stage combine with traditional music and high-tech special effects. This performance features acts from the Shanghai Circus as well.
Bubbles 4 Autism Farm Celebration
Reed’s Farm, Egg Harbor Twp.
Tour the farm, visit the animal sanctuary and blow bubbles during this autism awareness acceptance day. The organic farm market will be open as well.
Architects of Dance
Axelrod Performing Arts Center, Deal
Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater will present an evening of dance featuring four world premieres by internationally renowned dance artists Blakely White-McGuire, Andrea Weber and Michael Trusnovec.
Breakfast With the Easter Bunny
Dave & Buster’s, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne
Hop in for breakfast and also take part in crafts, egg hunting and more fun with the Easter Bunny. You can stay and play in the arcade after you eat.
Tenafly Street Fair
Downtown Tenafly
The streets will come alive with music, food trucks, vendors, crafters and lots of fun activities for the kiddos.
Easter Egg-stravaganza
American Legion, Rutherford
Mr. Bunny is coming to town! You can take photos with the big guy himself, while also shopping at this pop-up. There will be face painting for the kids.
Easter Egg Hunt
Michael Debbi Park, Richland
The Buena Vista Township Annual Easter Egg Hunt is for kids ages 2-8. The Easter Bunny will arrive on the firetruck to see all the children and to take pictures. Each child will receive a free small ice cream cone from Mr. Softee. Bring a basket to gather as many candy-filled eggs as you can find.
Frog Call Walk
Plainsboro Preserve, Cranbury
You’ll walk toward the back of the trail to the vernal pool areas and listen to the chorus of frogs that are in residence at the Preserve. See if you will be able to identify any individual frogs.
Wheaton Springs 2023
WheatonArts, Millville
This arts festival kicks off the spring creative season. You can view exhibits in the Museum of American Glass and Down Jersey Folklife Center, showcasing glass collections; watch artist demos throughout the campus, including glassmaking, pottery, paper art, broom-making and large-scale murals; and work on hands-on projects, including pine-needle basket making, coffee filter butterflies and glass-fused magnets.
Sensory Celebration
Van Vleck Gardens, Montclair
In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, this event lets you to explore the gardens using your senses as your guide. Activity stations throughout the gardens are self-paced and optional, and focus on using your senses to discover nature through art, movement, literature and exploration walks. You will also meet some friendly animals.
Freestyle Firefighters
Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, Atlantic City
This freestyle dance concert will include performances by George Lamond, Nyasia, Lime, Soave, 69 Boyz, Denine and George Anthony. Hosted by DJ Slice and Ed Donnelly, president of NJ Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association – it’s a fundraiser for the NJ FMBA so support your local heroes!
Anirudh Live: Once Upon a Time Tour
Prudential Center, Newark
This tour by Anirudh Ravichander, one of the youngest and fastest-rising film composers in the world, features an incredible 360-degree live show experience that is full of music, special effects and high-energy performances.
Transgender Day of VisiblityÂ
Union Congregational Church, Montclair
Out Montclair’s celebration will provide the space and time to come together as a community, participate in conversations, and show up for our families, friends and neighbors. It will be a safe space to enjoy music spun by DJ Jersey; comedy by Jaye McBride, the first openly transgender comedian to perform at Madison Square Garden; panel discussions with local transgender leaders; workshops and more to celebrate transgender people.
SUNDAY
ShopRite Kidz Cook
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, NY
Young cooks will practice their kitchen skills and learn how to make a fun and delicious meal.
Adventure Crossing Spring Craft and Food Fair
Adventure Crossing Sports and Entertainment, Jackson
This fundraiser for the NJ Ruthless softball league will feature vendors selling crafts, jewelry, candles, fudge and vegetables.
Antique and Collectibles Show
Wayne PAL Building, Wayne
This will be the last show of the season, so come treasure hunt for collectibles including jewelry, glassware, Lenox, toys, trains, dolls, action figures, postcards, photos, artwork, memorabilia, coins, watches, CDs and more. There will be a special raffle for an Easter basket filled with candy and chocolate.
Autism Awareness Family Fun/Resource Day
Mulberry Commons, Newark
Celebrate incredible families, children and community while highlighting as much awareness as you can to autism.
Bunny Bomb Hot Chocolate Bomb Making Workshop
The Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
Learn how to create an adorable bunny-themed hot chocolate bomb. Work with chocolate melts, use professional molds, and fill, seal and decorate your chocolate bomb. Great for families or friends.
Sensory-Friendly Egg Hunt
Bierman Autism Centers, Eatontown
Go on an egg hunt, snap a selfie with the Easter Bunny, use stickers and paint at the craft station.
Cherry Blossom 10K RunÂ
Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Division, Branch Brook Park, Newark
Run through the cherry tree groves on a beautiful spring morning. This race that is sanctioned by the USATF and is the Women’s Master’s Championship race. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics. If you’d rather watch the runners on their way, you can get into the park for free.
Jenkinson’s Egg Hunt
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Pt. Pleasant
The Easter Bunny has come to the Jersey Shore! Kids up to age 10 will look for eggs, starting at different locations. There will be a special needs egg hunt at the Adventure Lookout Ropes Course, which has no age limit.
ONGOING
Makerspace Saturdays
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts Education Annex, Madison
First Saturday of every month
The new Makerspace offers kid-friendly projects and creative activities to do after spending time at the museum. Drop by for hands-on activities geared toward kids ages 5-12 such as building with LEGOS, painting, making jewelry, experimenting with engineering and coding robots.
The Easter Bunny Express
Tuckahoe Train Station, Tuckahoe
April 1, 2 and 8
Seashore Lines presents this special one-hour holiday train ride with the Easter Bunny.
Petting Zoo on the Midway
Casino Pier, Seaside Heights
Saturdays, April 1 and 8
Enjoy the spring opening weekends with some friendly animals. Bring the kids to feed the animals, take photos and have fun.
Storybook Land Easter Fun Events
Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Twp.
April 1, 2, 7, 8 and 10
Come to play in the park, but stay to meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs. The activities are designed with small kids in mind.
Easter Bunny Express
Black River and Western Railroad: Flemington station
Saturdays – Sundays, through April 8
Hop aboard a round-trip train ride from Flemington to Ringoes, where your kids will go on an egg hunt. They’ll also meet Peter Cottontail aboard the train for a brief photo op.
Rolling Railway Easter EGGspress
DiDonato’s Family Fun Center, Hammonton
Select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through 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.
Bunny Bruch & Springtime Festival
Alstede Farms, Chester
Saturdays and Sundays, April 1-16
Your admission ticket includes scenic hay wagon rides around the farm, feeding the baby farm animals, participating in an Easter egg hunt, and photo opportunities during your visit with the Easter Bunny. Go through the museum and the evergreen adventure maze. Start the day with a farm-to-table brunch with the Easter Bunny.
World War II Exhibit
Museum of American History at Deptford, Deptford
Thursdays – Sundays, April 1 – June 17
Kids and adults who are interested in history will learn about the lives and memories of veterans and fallen heroes from World War II through this exhibit. There will be military and civilian paraphernalia including weapons, equipment, uniforms, flags, and coinage of both the Allied and Axis powers in the Pacific as well as the European theatres.
Super-Sized Sand Sculptures
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Through April 16
You and the kids can view a collection of aquatically-inspired sand sculptures featuring some of the aquarium’s most beloved animals. The sand sculpture exhibits are free with admission to the aquarium, so pop by all the other tanks and exhibits for lots of underwater fun.
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.
Sunday Morning Snuggle Sessions
Coombs Barnyard, Elmer
Sundays, through April 30
It’s been a long winter without human interaction, so brings the kids to hug a donkey, sheep, goats, pig, chickens, bunnies, cats and a goose.
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.
Golden Girls Murder Mystery
The Curtis, Philadelphia
Select dates through April 30
Resorts Atlantic City
Select dates through August 19
Miami’s Fab Four are investigating a potential murder hit – when they become suspects in a completely different murder! Use your detective skills to figure out which character is responsible and what their motive it – could it possibly be one of our favorite friends who is guilty?
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.
If you’re looking to relive music memories from the ’80s and ’90s, see which of your favorite freestyle throwback artists are performing in Jersey.
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