Weekend Family Fun: Spring Activities, Jazz, Art and More – Baristanet

Happy April and happy weekend! If you’re excited to spend some time with the family, you’re in luck! We’ve rounded up some that are sure to put a smile on your face. Check ’em out!

The Garden State Model Railway Club (575 High Mountain Road, North Haledon) continues its 63^rd Annual Model Railroad Show for the second weekend. This event is fun for the whole family. Children will enjoy the seeing Thomas the Tank Engine and the Kiddie Layout. The show will be open from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults and children under 10 free with an adult.

Pinkalicious the Musical continues at The Growing Stage (7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong) with performances on Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Based on the popular book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, this is the tale of Pinkalicious, who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe–a dream come true for this pink-loving enthusiast. Alas Pinkalicious needs a way out of her pink predicament, and joined by her family, they find unity and appreciation in the quirks that define us all. Tickets are $28 per person.

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp) continues to host the Family Photo Scavenger Hunt. Held daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, bring your camera or phone for this month’s hunt. There is a new theme each month, and the theme for April is “Kind of Blue.” Spring has sprung! Come see the baby animals, learn how they grow and how they help the farm! This activity is geared toward children ages three to five with an adult. The cost is $10 per family or group of 6 or fewer. Preregistration is required.

Reeves-Reed Arboretum (165 Hobart Avenue, Summit) hosts Discovery Weekends on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Drop by the Stackhouse Education Center on Saturdays and Sundays anytime between 9am-3pm for this self-guided program for families and children three and older. Borrow a magnifying glass (please remember to return it once you’re done), grab an interactive activity guide, and head out to see what wonders big and small await.  There may be a surprise or two, a clue to follow, a mystery to solve, a chance to create, and always an engaging nature activity. Each week is a new discovery! The program is free, but donations are requested.

On Saturday and Sunday, Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host MakerSPACE from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Be part of a fun, interactive area where visitors of all ages play, tinker, and create as they make connections between the materials, processes, and concepts of artwork and natural science objects in the Museum’s collections and their own creativity. This program is included with Museum admission.

The Essex County Environmental Center (621-B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland) will host a Spring Forest Egg Hunt on Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM for families with children ages one to six. Celebrate the beginning of spring with a self-guided story walk reading of the “Little White Rabbit” and an egg hunt within the forest grounds of the Environmental Center. Kids, bring your favorite basket to collect eggs and earn surprises! In the spirit of being “green,” participants will exchange eggs for small prizes. The eggs are sanitized and reused for future events and programs. A spring craft giveaway is included. Advance registration is required, and the fee is $15 per child.

Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will also host two Magic Shows with Silly Billy on Saturday with performances at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Join Silly Billy for family-friendly interactive comedy magic! This magic show includes comedy sketches, magic, and storytelling! They are guaranteed to have your family amazed and laughing the entire time. It is recommended for ages five and up, and it is included with Museum admission.

And, on Saturdays in April, you can also see Planetarium: Secret of the Cardboard Rocket at Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Embark on an amazing adventure with two children as they explore the Solar System and learn about each of the planets along the way. This activity is recommended for families with kids ages three to ten, and it is included with Museum admission.

Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township) will host Frog Jamboree Just for Littles on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM for children ages two to five with an adult. Bring your little ones to hear the music of the spring frogs as they call from the forest pools. Spy on them as they try to find mates and learn all about the lives of frogs from a naturalist. Held rain or shine! Cost is $5 per person, and preregistration is required.

Also on Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host Creative Play: Seed Magic. Who doesn’t like to paint and get messy? Every season has its own special beauty! In April, we begin to think about warmer weather and gardens. Join us for storytime and a paper-making project with a special twist! This is a program specifically designed for children ages three to five and their caregivers. Registration is required and space is limited. This program is included with Museum admission.

Van Vleck House & Gardens (21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair) will host Sensory Celebration on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, this event invites you to explore the Van Vleck gardens using your senses as your guide. Activity stations will be arranged throughout the property focusing on different textures, smells, shapes, and colors found in the natural world.  Meet and greet animals from Eyes of the Wild, an exotic animal rescue, and learn how these amazing creatures use their senses. This outdoor family program is an inclusive event, open to people of all ages and abilities and will be held entirely outdoors. In case of inclement weather, a rain date will be announced. Cost is $10 per family for non-members.

Montclair Public Library (50 S. Fullerton Avenue, Montclair) will host All About Pets Storytime on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM. This event is for children ages three to six and will include a fun storytime and craft featuring everyone’s favorite friends—pets! Please register each child separately.

Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange) will host Wonders of the Wild! March Edition on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This program offers students an opportunity to participate in supplementary science and nature-themed programs and projects that facilitate scientific literacy and life-long environmental stewardship. Available to students ages 6-12, the program includes a visit to the Zoo or South Mountain Reservation as weather permits. This week’s session is entitled, “NJ Native Animals.” Cost is $30 and you must purchase in advance.

Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) hosts Spark!Lab on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Spark!Lab offers any child (ages 5-12 years old and accompanied by an adult), a new informal approach to hands-on learning. Instead of following step-by-step instructions, young inventors will be empowered to problem-solve and overcome real-world obstacles. Spark!Lab offers many unique, project-specific stations, where inventors can engage directly with engineering and design challenges. There is also a newly created space with a train and exploration table filled with unique tools to help spark creativity, thinking, and learning for children ages 1-4). The cost is included in admission, which is $12 for adults, $8 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3.

Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will also host Family Drop-In: A Time to Grow on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Welcome spring at the NMOA! Plant some seeds and watch them bloom in the upcoming weeks. Explore a fun way to make paper. Family Drop-ins are movement, artmaking, science experiments and storytelling sessions targeted for kids aged 5-10.  Please note seating is on a first come, first-serve basis.  Register online. This program is included with Museum admission.

State Theatre New Jersey (15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick) will present Peppa Pig’s Adventure on Sunday at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Come join Peppa on an exciting camping trip in the woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep, and Gerald Giraffe. With lunchboxes packed and Daddy Pig driving the bus, Peppa and friends are excited about their outdoor adventure, full of singing, dancing, games, and surprises. Little piggies everywhere will love this live musical experience! Tickets are $25.50-$75.50.

Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) will host Family Day with WBGO Kids Jazz from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Join us for a fun-filled day of art and music inspired by the exhibition Tenacity & Resilience: The Art of Jerry Pinkney, with a special performance of WBGO Kids Jazz. In addition to performances at 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM, attendees can enjoy various art-making activities. This event is free for children, Family-level MAM members and above, and WBGO members. It is $5 for all other adults.

Stop by Liberty Science Center (222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City) for the recently opened Minecraft: The Exhibition. This is a 6,000-sq.-ft. multimedia experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, whether they play Minecraft or not. The exhibition features an immersive experience that includes blocky scenes and characters from the game. Minecraft: The Exhibition will be open through September 5, 2022. Liberty Science Center is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday, and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, and Sunday. Cost is the price of general admission, plus an additional fee. Visit the website for details.