Weekend Family Fun: Cinderella, Pinocchio, Free Kids Jazz Concert and More!

The weekend is upon us so it’s time for some family fun. We’ve rounded up plenty of things to do in the area and beyond. Check ‘em out!

Montclair Public Library (50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair) will host “Era Uma Vez, na Biblioteca”: Storytime in Portuguese on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The program will be run in Portuguese and is oriented toward families with children from newborns to 9-year-olds. The stories will be interwoven with little songs and rhymes, all in Portuguese. Registration is recommended.

South Orange Performing Arts Center will present The Gruffalo on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Songs, laughs, and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups. Running time is 60 minutes. Tickets are $20 for children, $25 for adults.

Also on Saturday, Presby Memorial Iris Gardens (474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair) will host a Family Garden Party sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreations and Cultural Affairs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This free community event includes entertainment, crafts, face painting, Master Gardeners information, booths from the Essex County Environmental Center, and various food trucks. Rain date is Sunday, May 20th.

Reeves-Reed Arboretum (165 Hobart Avenue, Summit) will host Discovery Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Make a discovery and enjoy a unique family experience. Drop by the Stackhouse Education Center for an interactive exploration of nature. This week’s topic is “Sensational Scents.” Admission is free for RRA Members and $5 per child for nonmembers.

Barnes & Noble at Clifton Commons (395 Route 3 East, Clifton) will host Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century Storytime on Saturday at 11:00 AM. In celebration of the Royal Wedding, this book is about weddings big and small. Fancy Nancy helps out the bride and attends a fabulous party. Stop in for storytime with activities to follow.

WBGO continues its Free Kids Jazz Concert Series on Saturday with Jerome Jennings at Newark Museum (49 Washington Street, Newark). This series brings world-renowned jazz musicians to concert halls and venues throughout Essex County. These hour-long concerts give young listeners the chance to discover the enjoyment of jazz, improvisation, and musical collaboration. Jennings performs music from NJ-born artists such as Whitney Houston, Lauren Hill, and Bruce Springsteen, and rearranges songs for a jazz setting, demonstrating the interchangeability and power of music. This concert is best for children ages 7 to 11. Adults must be accompanied by a young person. Register online.

Also on Saturday, Michaels of Clifton (348 Route 3 West, Riverfront Center, Clifton) will host a Kids Club Pineapple Crafts workshop from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Children between the ages of 3 and 8 can make a quick project. Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. Parent or guardian must remain on premises. Cost is $2 per child and includes supplies. A similar workshop is available for children ages 6 and up at the same time, with a cost of $5 per person.

Newark Museum (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host its Creative Play Program on Saturday at 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Three- to five-year olds and their caretakers can enjoy a special time before the Museum opens to the public to explore the art and science collections through storytelling, song, play activities, and an art-making project. May’s theme is Free to Be Me and this week’s theme is Magical Mystery Boxes. The Museum will also host its Family Gallery Program on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Through storytelling, music, movement, and/or sketching, families with children of all ages engage with the Museum’s diverse collections. New activities every week highlight a different collection. This week’s theme is Plein Air Drawing. Meet in the Lobby. Then, on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the Museum hosts its MakerSPACE Drop-in Programs. Inspired by the Museum’s collections and special events, monthly themes are designed for visitors of all ages to drop in and experiment.

Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morris Twp) will host Beloved Personalities in 1920s Children’s Books on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Become acquainted with Winnie-the-Pooh, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Dr. Dolittle, and Cuffy Bear, whose adventures were loved by children a century ago. Cost is $6 per adult, $5 per senior (65+), $4 per child age 4-16, $2 per child age 2 & 3, and free for children under age 2.

On both Saturday and Sunday, Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp) will host Spring Weekend Photo Scavenger Hunts. Families are welcome to participate any time between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Grab a camera or a phone and stop by the Hagerty Education Center for a nature photo scavenger hunt and win a prize. Scavenger lists change every month and May’s theme is “Magic In The Air.” Cost is $10 per family; cash only. Exact change requested.

Merseles Studios at Jersey City Theater Center (339 Newark Avenue, Jersey City) will present Pinocchio by Puppetworks on Sunday at 1:00 PM. This adaptation of the classic 1883 adventure tale of a marionette puppet come to life is sure to be a delight. Tickets are $11 to $12.

Mayo Performing Arts Center will present New Jersey Ballet’s Cinderella on Sunday at 1:30 and 4:30. The classic fairy tale comes to life with lavish sets and costumes, performed with New Jersey Ballet’s original “storyteller” narration so little children can follow the story. Tickets are $15-$25. This performance is recommended for children ages 4 and up.

Also on Sunday, the Drop-In Studio at Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) continues between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The Helen & Bill Geyer Art Studio will be stocked with a range of art materials to explore with a seasoned MAM studio instructor. Open ended activities are designed to spark creativity in artists of all ages and abilities. This is free for members and included in Museum admission for non-members.

Sundays are for families at the Rubin Museum (150 West 17th Street, NYC). Drop into the Education Center between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM for some art-making, enjoy the 2:00 PM family exhibition tour, and go on your own thematic gallery search. May’s theme is Transcendent Tales.

For more upcoming events, check out Baristanet Calendar.