The weekend is here! As we say goodbye to September and hello to October, there’s plenty to do in and around town! Check out some of these family-friendly and fun activities.
Glen Ridge Public Library (240 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge) will host Coloring Day on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Enjoy the soothing activity of coloring with no pressure to color between the lines.
Newark Arts Festival is happening now through Sunday. This year’s theme is Cross Cultural Perspectives. The Newark Arts Festival 2023 signature exhibition, open to the public from September 27th through October 29th, will provide Cross Cultural Perspectives in a truly powerful way: through the visual arts. This poignant exhibition will enhance each attendee’s cultural experience by providing a rich bounty of diverse viewpoints, artistic mediums and voices to be valued. Events take place at various locations. Visit the website for details.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown) will host Scarecrows in the Garden throughout the month of October from 8:00 AM to 5:00 Pm. Take a stroll through the gardens to see dozens of ghoulish, historic, and colorful scarecrows, including Gary the Gardener and the Lampshade Sisters tasting tea. This activity is free and is suitable for all ages.
Watchung Booksellers ends their week-long celebration of the Grand Opening of The Kids’ Room on Saturday with festivities, popcorn, and giveaways taking place all day.
Montclair History Center and Montclair Community Farms will present Fall Fest on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Enjoy a fun-filled day for all ages full of delicious food and fall activities all around our beautiful gardens and property. Taste food and drinks from local vendors, shop naturally sourced products from local artisans and creators, meet farm animals from around Essex County, and jam out with live music from Montclair’s own School of Rock! Bring the whole family and a picnic blanket to join friends and neighbors from across the community in supporting our first annual Fall Fest Fundraiser. Tickets are $15 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 4:00 PM, bring your camera or phone for this month’s hunt. The theme for September is “Winding Down.” Summer is winding down, but the gardens and plants are still growing strong. Get your camera and search for signs that fall is coming while summer is still hanging on. On Sunday, the theme will change for October to Scarecrows in the Garden. The scarecrows are back! This fun, family photo scavenger hunt challenges you to look for clues to find all the scarecrows and win a prize. The cost is $10 per family or group of 6 or fewer. Preregistration is required.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum (165 Hobart Avenue, Summit) brings back Discovery Weekends on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Explore the Arboretum’s gardens and grounds as autumn brings amazing changes! Drop by the Stackhouse Education Center on Saturdays and Sundays for this self-guided program for families and children 3 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, a clue to follow, a mystery to solve, a chance to create, and always an engaging nature activity. Each weekend is a new discovery!
KW NJ Metro Group will present Harvest Fest on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 237 Lorraine Avenue, Montclair. Enjoy live music, Pro vs Joe Basketball Challenge, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, ice cream truck, pet adoption, and more. There will also be family-friendly food and refreshments.
The Clairidge (486 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) will present a Sensory-Friendly Matinee: Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Sensory-friendly screenings feature relaxed, soft lighting, a lower, more consistent volume, and open captioning when available. Guests are encouraged to spread out and move around as necessary. Tickets are $11. When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The MIGHTY PUPS! For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But things take a turn for the worse when the pups’ arch-rival Humdinger breaks out of jail and teams up with a mad scientist to steal the superpowers for the two villains. With the fate of Adventure City hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pups have to stop the supervillains before it’s too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference.
The Native Plant Society of New Jersey will host Native Shrub Sale and Fall Fest for the Birds on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Essex County Environmental Center (621 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland). Learn how to create a bird-friendly yard, buy native shrubs that help birds, and explore the Essex County Environmental Center on guided nature hikes. There will also be Bookmark Making for Kids.
Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host September Family Saturday on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy a day of fun science activities for the whole family. The day will include planetarium shows, MakerSPACE, Creative Play: World of Colors, Science Drop-In: 3, 2, 1 Blast Off!, and Family Drop-In: Collage and Assemblage. Visit the website for the full schedule. This activity is free with general admission.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will present Fall Farm Fun on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Fall festivities have begun at Fosterfields! Experience the Autumn season the old-fashioned way! Watch apples being pressed into cider, take a wagon ride and pick your own pumpkins! Pumpkin guaranteed with pre-registration only. The cost is $15 per person. Children 2 and under are free.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township) will host Sunshine Yoga for Kids: Dinosaurs on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM. It’s an awesome class for kids who want to play games, use their imaginations, and have FUN! Each class is taught by a licensed yoga instructor and centers around a nature theme. Kids learn 5 yoga poses to use in our games. At the end of every class, we will talk about a “big feeling”, such as being mad, and learn a new tool to help us cope with that feeling. This activity is suitable for ages 4-7. The cost is $12 per child, and pre-registration is required.
Field Station: Dinosaurs is back for another season at Overpeck Park (3 Overpeck Driveway, Leonia). The attraction is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM through November 12. Field Station: Dinosaurs is a world-class family attraction that combines cutting-edge science with the creative minds of great artists to create a one-of-a-kind experience that’s thrilling, educational, and fun. Explore scenic trails featuring over 30 moving and roaring life-size animatronic dinosaurs! Discover the story and science of Dinosaurs with live shows, games, and activities every day. Laugh with the fearless dinosaur wranglers and come face to face with The Mighty T-Rex.
Kean Stage Wilkins Theatre (1000 Morris Avenue, Union) will present DOT DOT DOT: A New Musical on Saturday at 11:00 AM. DOT DOT DOT: A New Musical is based on the Creatrilogy trio of award-winning picture books by New York Times bestselling author Peter H. Reynolds- The Dot, Ish and Sky Color. Adapted by Composers Keelay Gipson and Sam Salmond, the musical, like the series, celebrates the power of originality, self-expression, and opening our eyes to look beyond the expected. When Marisol (Sky Color), a young artist and curator of the Musee de Marisol, decides that her gallery requires more than her own art, her search for emerging talent leads her to Vashti (The Dot), whose dots inspire Ramon (Ish) to become an artist in his own right. The musical follows Marisol’s journey to help her new friends, and her entire community, break free from self-criticism and learn to let their imaginations soar. This production is recommended for children in grades 1 through 5. Tickets are $18.
Halcyon Brasserie (114 Walnut Street, Montclair) will host End of Summer Oysterfest & Luau on Saturday beginning at 1:00 PM. The event will feature liver performances, hula dancers, and a fire show, as well as fun activities for kids. Admission is free. Kids play tent entrance is $15.
Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) will host Spark!Lab on Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Spark!Lab will be closed on Sunday, but you can find them at Morristown Festival on the Green that day instead. Spark!Lab offers any child ages 5-12 (and accompanied by an adult) a new informal approach to hands-on learning. Created by the Smithsonian, Spark!Lab ignites kids’ ingenuity with fun, hands-on challenges. Instead of following instructions, kids tap into their natural creativity to tackle engineering and design challenges in Spark!Lab’s projects stations. Specially designed for our youngest inventors (Ages 1-4), Spark!Lab’s new Young Inventor Space features a train and an exploration table filled with unique tools to spark creativity and learning.
Liberty Hall (1003 Morris Avenue, Union) will host Encanto Fiesta on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The family Madrigal invites you to “casita” Liberty Hall! We don’t talk about Bruno, but you certainly will be talking about this Encanto-themed fiesta! Join us to make charming crafts, play games, dance, and find your own magic powers with some tasty treats! A special guest will also make an appearance, so come dressed as your favorite character! Remember “there is a little magic in all of us!” Reservations are required. Recommended for ages 3 to 10. Tickets are $30 per child and $5 per adult.
Montclair Public Library (50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair) will host Flamenco Para Los Ninos on Saturday from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Admission Nation presents Flamenco, the riveting Spanish dance form with colorful costumes and rhythmic sounds. Children and their families will explore Spain’s rich heritage of Flamenco in this interactive multigenerational program. Registration recommended for updates and reminders. All ages are welcome. Register online.
Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host October Family Sunday on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy a fun day of science activities for the whole family, including MakerSPACE and Family Drop-In: Collage and Assemblage. Visit the website for more details and a schedule. This activity is free with general admission.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township) will host Nature’s Crafty Creations: Leaf Wreaths on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Nature is full of spectacular creations! This series will highlight the changing seasons each month with a story and a craft. This week, discovered why leaves change color and make some dazzling art to match the beautiful fall season. This activity is suitable for children ages 3-5 with an adult. The cost is $10 per child. Pre-registration is required.
The Rotary/Kiwanis Caldwell Street Fair will be held on Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Bloomfield Avenue between Central Avenue and Roseland Avenue. Enjoy fun for the entire family.
Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) will host Sunday Studio: Tape Resist Abstraction with Emily Kenselaar on Sunday at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Visit the museum each Sunday for a fun family art-making activity inspired by our current exhibitions. Explore materials, learn new techniques, and meet other community members while enjoying creative time with your family. Each week features a different project designed by MAM Teaching Artists to spark the imagination and encourage conversation in response to artworks on view in museum galleries. This program is aimed at families with children ages 5-12, but all are welcome. Inspired by the exhibition Taking Space: Contemporary Women Artists and the Politics of Scale, families will learn tape resistance techniques to create unique abstract paintings. A Sensory Sunday Studio session will be held at 12:00 PM designed for families with members on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities.
