Things to Do This Weekend in New Jersey May 20-22 – NJ Family
The weather is finally warm, and this weekend is packed full of fun family activities! Hit up a fair and enjoy some rides (from mild to wild!) and get competitive playing some games. See an outdoor production of Alice in Wonderland or learn about women’s history at the historic Crane House. The best part is being out with your crew. Let the good times roll!
ALL WEEKEND
New Jersey Seafood Fest
Belmar Mall Parking Lot, Belmar
Friday – Sunday
Enjoy lobster, shrimp, clams and other delights from sea at the 34th annual New Jersey Seafood Festival. Don’t miss the food trucks and live music. With plenty of children’s activities it’s fun for the whole family.
Our Lady of Peace Country Fair
Our Lady of Peace Parish, New Providence
Wednesday – Saturday
There’s something for everyone at the fair including rides for young children, family and thrill seekers. There will be raffles with great chances to win valuable prizes such as a TV, iPad, grill, gift certificates, and more. Don’t miss the delicious food including hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, cheese steaks, sausage and peppers, calzones, shish kabobs, zeppoles, ice cream and much more.
The Trip to Bountiful
The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, Maplewood
Friday- Saturday
Join the Maplewood Strollers in celebrating their 90th season with the heartwarming tale of an elderly woman who yearns to see her hometown of Bountiful, Texas one last time. The Maplewood Strollers are the theater company in residence at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood.
43rd Annual Bordentown Street Fair
Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown
Saturday – Sunday
This free 2-day event on the streets of downtown features artists, crafters, food, music, local businesses and fun for the entire family. Free parking and shuttle buses. Event is weather permitting; no pets, service animals only.
Alice in Wonderland at Historic Smithville
Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway
Saturday – Sunday
An exciting, new way of presenting live theater will be rolling into Historic Smithville again this spring! The premier of “Riddlesbrood’s Alice in Wonderland”, an original, rollicking, musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic nonsensical novel, ‘”Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, by Riddlesbrood Touring Theatre Company, will be the featured free outdoor attraction at their annual 2-day Fantasy AdventureFest.
FRIDAY
Jazz in the Garden: Don Braden Quartet
Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills
Don Braden, a world-class saxophonist, flutist, and composer, takes the stage with his quartet. This is the first in a series of three intimate outdoor jazz concerts set on the West Terrace of historic Greenwood Gardens, a 28-acre formal garden and former estate built during the Jazz Age.
Dinner & Dancing in the Park: Kids night
Memorial Park, Gibbstown
Grab your blankets and chairs and bring your family to enjoy a night of delicious food and live music! Featuring Mr. C’s Water Ice, $5 Fresh Burgers and much more.
SATURDAY
Free Outdoor Armed Forces Day Concert
Jacobus Vanderveer House, Bedminster
The Whitehouse Wind Symphony, a community band under the direction of Branchburg resident James P. Sheeley, Jr., will present a free outdoor concert to commemorate Armed Forces Day. The program will feature patriotic selections such as “America the Beautiful,” marches by John Philip Sousa and selections from the Broadway musical “Les Miserables.”
Volunteer Day
The New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation, Ringwood
Volunteers (individuals, families, groups, clubs, scouts) are welcome to stop by and help with some much-needed cleanup in the gardens and grounds. This may include weeding and invasive species removal, raking, planting, pruning, spreading woodchips/mulch, litter abatement and special projects. Bring a rake and gloves if you have them.
Lake Hopatcong Block Party
Hopatcong State Park, Hopatcong
The Lake Hopatcong Block Party offers a unique Main Street-style experience in a beautiful lakeside setting. Hosted by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, this event brings visitors together with businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, crafters and food vendors for a community day like no other featuring activities, entertainment, raffles, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more.
Guitar Bob’s May Kids Concert
Cedar Bean’s Coffee Joint, Cedar Grove
Join us for a spectacular, family-friendly, kid’s performance with the magical “Guitar Bob” Messano!
Spring Wildflower Walk
New Jersey Botanical Gardens, Ringwood
Join Darlene Nowak in checking out the many delightful spring bloomers in the woodlands of the Wildflower Garden! Meet at the Carriage House and wear sturdy shoes.
Arts in the Park
Veterans Community Park, Randolph
Join for 70 crafters, 40 artists, 7 food trucks, live entertainment, a beer tent and much more at this fun event. There will be plenty of activities for children such as art, scavenger hunt and story walk.
South Jersey Arts Fest at Appel Farms
Appel Farms, Elmer
Join for fun workshops including Bollywood Dance, Printmaking and Watercolor Mandalas. Don’t miss drop-in activities like the Art of Henna and Pixel Art Self Portraits at this celebration of community and arts.
2022 World Diversity Day Children’s Festival
Lake Topanemus Park, Freehold
The family-friendly outdoor event, with storytellers, sing-alongs, dancing, crafts, choirs, book giveaways and more, will celebrate diverse cultural diversity while teaching acceptance of others. Explore diverse ethnicities, abilities and identities in a fun filled outdoor atmosphere. The festival – which is free and open to the public – will have interactive programs and activities ideal for 5 to 10-year-olds plus opportunities for adults to connect with community resources or register to vote.
Glen Ridge Arts and Eco Fair
GR High School, Glen Ridge
This all-day street fair and art show will take place along Ridgewood Avenue and feature arts, crafts and wellness vendors as well as fair-trade, organic and eco-smart products for sale, including native plants. Attendees will enjoy all-day live entertainment and food concessions.
Allaire Music Fest
The Historic Village at Allaire, Wall Twp.
Join to hear local bands from NJ perform a variety of Bluegrass and Folk music. Multiple stages and jam sessions will take place throughout the day. For children, there will be a special interactive instrument and music session to promote the importance of music: “An Intro to Music & Instruments.”
SUNDAY
16th Annual Junior League of Bergen County Touch-a-Truck
Garden State Plaza, Paramus
The Junior League of Bergen County with Westfield Garden State Plaza present the 16th Annual Touch-a-Truck. Touch-a-Truck is a family-friendly outdoor event that takes place rain or shine and attracts more than 1000 attendees. Kids of any age enjoy climbing on all types of vehicles, beeping horns and participating in a variety of entertainment opportunities (i.e. bounce houses, face-painting, fun bus, etc.), while their parents have the opportunity to learn about new products, services and establishments that are available to them in Bergen County.
5th Annual Great Swamp Music Festival
Giralda Farms, Chatham Twp.
Recharge your batteries on a Sunday afternoon with over 6 hours of live music from Not Enough Jeffs, Lenox Underground, The Big Fuss, The Refugee Dogs, The Step Brothers Band and opener Nick Amling & The Lifeline. Spread out your blankets and chairs and get lost in the music at the beautiful, tree-lined Giralda Farms Preserve. Enjoy food, local merch vendors, beer/wine/cider and so much more at this annual fundraiser in support of clean water and land.
Guided House Tour: Women of the House
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
On this special tour, hear the stories of the women who lived, worked and played in the Crane 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.
Pinkster, A Jersey Dutch Celebration of Spring
Historic New Bridge Landing, River Edge
The Tricorne Dance Ensemble under the direction of dance mistress Denise Piccino will be dancing around the maypole at this event. They will also be performing a collection of 18th century dances throughout the day. On display for viewing in the state historic 1752 Steuben House will be Revolutionary War artifacts from the society’s extensive collection. Be sure to check out the Lost Art Lacers demonstrating their craft of lacemaking in the Steuben House.
Ham it Up!
Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton
Try your hand at textile and needle arts, still-life painting, hat making from recycled materials, cartooning, and caricatures, to name a few of the artistic projects being offered at this fun event. There will be face painting and balloon creations happening throughout the day as well. Enjoy live music compliments of the Somerville School of Rock with Dante Cimino and his School of Rock House Band.
ONGOING
Broadway at Westfield Garden State Plaza
Paramus
Westfield Garden State Plaza is hosting a free 15-week series every Saturday through June 25 that features performances from hit Broadway shows for children in partnership with Bergen Performing Arts Center. Come out and see memorable scenes and songs from your favorite Broadway shows and modern movies — this weekend it’s “Moana.”
May 2022 Train Rides
Whippany Railway Museum, Whippany
Sundays
Passengers can board a caboose and experience an old-fashioned, relaxing way of spending a Sunday afternoon with the family. Children will love swaying to the motion of the old cars while they listen to the nostalgic “clickety-clack” sounds the wheels make as they clatter over the rail joints. During the 45-minute ride, the train travels the route of the historic “Whippanong Trail” through Whippany, East Hanover, Livingston and Roseland in Morris and Essex Counties. The ride also features the thrill of crossing high above the Passaic River over a steel bridge.
Winery Weekend Music Series
Terhune Orchards., Princeton
Saturday – Sunday
Grab a glass of one of Terhune’s award-winning wines, sit back, relax and enjoy live music from local artists each week. Styles range from Jazz and Blues to Folk and Rock. Music is from 1 pm-4 pm.