Welcome to New Jersey's Guide to
Places and Events for Children, Teens & Families
--Online and In Print for 16 Years--



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Summer/Fall Kids' Guide featuring arts in the parks, pick-your-own farms, water and theme parks, fairs and festivals, outdoor activities and so much more is NOW AVAILABLE. Pick one up for planning your summer as well as back-to-school programs and services for the fall! The Kids' Guide is available at libraries, stores, schools, professional and real estate offices throughout northcentral New Jersey. To receive a copy by mail, send $3.50 for one issue or $9 for 3 consecutive issues to Kids' Guide, Box 892, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.

Scroll down the Index at left to discover thousands of places to go and things to do for kids, teens and adults. Below the "Let's Go" categories, find "Local Activities and Services" including classes, sports, parent info, health and family services, shopping, family restaurants and the 2010 Camp and School Guides.

See HOT PICKS below for new events and listings received after publication and use the convenient links to access the websites of Kids' Guide listings for the most up-to-date information on exhibitions, events and activities. Email entries for HOT PICKS to kids@kidsguide.com.

Be sure to check out NEW TRAVEL DEALS and VACATION IDEAS under FAMILY TRAVEL (new deals will be posted soon)!

Hot Picks
Updates to the Kids' Guide Calendar
& Highlights from the Winter/Spring Kids' Guide

Recent Openings  |  New Events  |  Ongoing Events  |  Open for Registration  |  Stops On The Road

NEW SEASON CALENDARS NOW AVAILABLE

BergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt St., Englewood, 201-227-1030.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra,
60 Park Place, Newark, 800-255-3476.
Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Dr., Millburn, 973-379-3636.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, On the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, 973-408-5600.
Union County Summer Arts Festival See revised concert schedule under Music & Dance­Arts in the Parks.

RECENT OPENINGS

Now Open
New Please Touch Museum
Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, 215-963-0667. Afer an $88 million restoration, the Please Touch Museum opened in the last major building remaining from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The new museum offers a huge array of interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for little ones and their families. Six new exhibits, a toy sculpture, a collection of Philadelphia Childhood Treasures, and a 100-year-old Dentzel Carousel join together with Memorial Hall's rich history and architecture to create a unique family destination that resembles a majestic storybook castle.

Newark Fire Museum, 1784 One-Room Schoolhouse, Japanese Galleries
Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, 973-596-6550. Housed in the Ward Carriage House in the Alice & Leonard Dreyfuss Memorial Garden, the Newark Fire Museum's exhibit, Fire Escapes: Danger & Survival, provides children and their families with the key knowledge they need to survive a fire in their home. Visitors pass through a facade replicating a burned-out house, enter various "rooms" with video presentations, and experience a controlled mock fire drill. Kids can climb in the cab of an actual Newark Fire Department truck and try on bunker gear in a fireman's locker room.
     The 1784 one-room schoolhouse, the oldest in Newark, has been fully restored and rededicated.
     From Meiji to Modern: Japanese Art Goes Global, 19th to 21st Centuries, new installation in the Japanese Galleries, showcases an array of Japanese art drawn from the Museum's own permanent collection of the arts of Asia, a collection consisting of more than 30,000 objects.



Thru June 27
Art on Paper, A Juried Exhibition
Monmouth Museum, On the Brookdale Community College Campus, Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, 732-747-2266. Exhibition focuses on artwork in a range of paper-based media including monoprints and limited edition original prints, artist books, drawings and paintings on paper, photographs and wall-mounted paper sculpture.


Thru August 1
Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., New York, 212-535-7710. Landmark exhibition is the first to focus exclusively on works by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) in the Museum's collection. It features 150 works, including the Museum's complete holdings of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics by Picasso--never before seen in their entirety--as well as a selection of the artist's prints.

Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey
The Jewish Museum, 1100 Fifth Ave., New york, 212-423-3200. Hours before the Nazis marched into Paris in June 1940, the Reys fled on bicycles carrying drawings for their children's stories including one about a mischevious monkey, then named Fifi. Not only did they save their animal characters, but hte Reys themselves were saved by their illustrations when authorities found them in their belongings. The exhibition features nearly eighty original drawings nad watercolors of the beloved monkey and other characters, many have never been on display before.



Thru Aug 15
Traveling the Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. Exhibition brings to life one of the greatest trading routes in human history, showcasing the goods, cultures and technologies from four representative cities: Xi'an, China's Tang Dynasty capital; Turfan, a verdant oasis and trading outpost; Samarkand, home of prosperous merchants who thrived on the caravan trad; and Baghdad, a fertile hub of commerce and scholarship that became the intellectual center of the era. .

Thru August 29
The "Shoe" Must Go On
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973-971-3700.Major shoe exhibition features shoes from many different walks of life including fancy feet, what's hot now, shoes for work and play, sports and recreation, "green" shoes, cultural connections and smart shoes.


Thru September 6
Lizards & Snakes: Alive!
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. Returning exhibition showcases more than 60 live lizards and snakes from five continents.


Thru Sept 6
Late Renoir
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, 215-763-8100. Landmark exhibition follows the Impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir through the final--and most fertile and innovative--decades of his legendary career. Approximately 80 paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Renoir will be displayed alongside works by younger artists--Aristide Maillol, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso.


Oct-May 31
The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. This annual favorite exhibition features up to 500 live, free-flying tropical butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The butterflies are housed in a vivarium that approximates their natural habitat and includes live flowering plants that serve as nectar sources.

Thru Jan 2
Race to the End of the Earth
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. Exhibition recounts one of the most stirring tales of Antarctic exploration: the contest to be the first to reach the South Pole in 1911-1912. Interactives and hands-on activities will help visitors of all ages understand what it would have been like to travel to the coldest place on earth 100 years ago, as well as what it is like to conduct research there today.

NEW EVENTS

3-11 Jul
Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival

Kutztown Fairgrounds, Rt. 222, Kutztown, 888-674-6136. 9-6. Admission, 12 & under free. A celebration of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Juried folk artists, crafts, quilts, living history, antiques and collectibles, entertainment, kids' activities and Pennsylvania Dutch food.



6-11 Jul
Freedomfest

Horse Park of New Jersey, Rt., 524, Allentown, Ex. 11 off I95. Wed.-Thurs. 5-11, Fri.-Sat. 10-12, Sun. 12-10. Family entertainment, showcase for 4-H projects, animal and pet shows. Carnival and concerts.


7 Jul
Kids Day at the Physick Estate

Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May, 800-275-4278, 609-884-5404. 10-3. A day of discovery for kids of all ages, activities in tents around the grounds of the Estate, Cape May's only Victorian house museum.


7-8 Jul
Revolutionary War Days

Red Mill Museum Village, 56 Main St., Clinton, 908-735-4101. Sat. 10-4, Sun. 10-3:30. 18th century camps, weapons, drills, skirmishes and educational demonstrations.


8-11 Jul
Black Potato Festival

Red Mill Museum Village, 56 Main St., Clinton, 908-735-4101, blackpotato.com. Admission. Independent music festival features diverse acts from national, regional and local levels.


10 Jul
Waterloo Canal Days

Allamuchy Mountain State Park, Stanhope, 908-852-3790, www.CanalSocietyNJ.org. 10-5pm. Free. Morris Canal tours with Canal Society of NJ. Pre-register.

Bluegrass Festival & Pig Roast
Gazebo Park on Main St., Chester. 11-7. Free admission. Door prizes, food, vendors. Bring a lawn chair and blanket. All donations benefit BYG Work Camp, a group of six local churches traveling to Central Appalachia to work with Appalachia Service Project.

Jazz on the Terrace
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, 908-273-8787. 7pm. Bring a picnic and enjoy music under the stars.



10-11 Jul
Maplewoodstock Music & Arts Festival

Memorial Park, Maplewood. Free. All day rock concert. Food, vendors & crafts.


11 Jul
Amber Pizzo Race

Memorial Park, Berkeley Heights. 5K walk/run, kids sprint, live entertainment, 11:30-4. Registration 8am.


11-16 Jul
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Feast

Mt. Carmel field, Springfield & River Rd., Berkeley Heights. 6-Midnight. Annual feast by Mt. Carmel Society features fair rides, games, food and spectacular fireworks finale. Kids Kingdom July 11.


13-18 Jul
Ocean County 4-H Fair

Robert J. Miller Airport, Rt. 530 Berkeley Twp., Toms River, 732-914-9466. Fee. Under 12 free. Country fair showcases 4-H activities. Agricultural competitions, arts & crafts, food vendors, exhibits and music.


14 Jul
Sandcastle Contest

16th-19th Ave. beaches, Belmar, 732-681-3700. Registration and building begins at 8am. Judging 12-1pm.


14-15 Jul
Frenchtown Bastille Day Festival

21 Bridge St., Frenchtown. Weekend celebration of French tradition with crafts, food, art, puppet shows, music, historical tours & lectures.


14-18 Jul
Passaic County Fair

Garret Mountain Reservation, West Paterson, 973-225-5382. Free. Parking fee. Musical entertainment, multi-cultural performances, historic site exhibits, crafts show, exhibits, rides, 4H exhibits & food.


15-19 Jul
Sidewalk Sale Days

Streets of downtown Westfield, 908-789-9444. For more information, call Downtown Westfield Corp.


17 Jul
Annual Garden Party

Colonial Park Perennial Garden (Lot F), 1 Mettlers Rd., Franklin Twp., 732-873-2459. 11-3. $1 suggested donation. Lectures, workshops, horticulture staff on hand, musical entertainment.

New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival
Washington St., Toms River, 732-341-8733, www.downtowntomsriver.com. 11:30-5. Free admission. Games, rides, food, entertainment and ice cream tasting, craft vendors. Rain or shine.


17-18 Jul
Family Fun Weekend

Historic Cold Spring Village, 720 Rt. 9, Cape May, 609-898-2300. ext 18. 10-4:30. Family activities, crafts and music. Native American Programs.


18 Jul
National Ice Cream Day

NJ Museum of Agriculture, off Rt. 1S, North Brunswick, 732-249-2077. 1-3. Museum admission.


19-24 Jul
Rotary Club of Hillsborough Fair

At the field adjacent to Lowes at the Hillsborough Promenade. 315 Rt. 206, Hillsborough. 6-11. Rides, food, games, vendors, raffles and nightly entertainment.


21 Jul
Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! A Free Teddy Bear Clinic
Saint Barnabas Health Care System Corporate Offices, 95 Old Short Hills Rd., West Orange, 973-322-4331. 1-2:30pm. Free. Saint Barnabas Medical Center invites children between ages 4 and 8 to bring their teddy bears or favorite stuffed animals to this clinic to learn about medical equipment and procedures to become comfortable with visiting a hospital. Arrive anytime to experience the interactive play stations at your leisure. Free parking and refreshments. Registration is required, 973-322-4331.


22-25 Jul
Monmouth County 4-H Fair

East Freehold Park and Fairgrounds, Kozloski Rd. Freehold Twp., 908-842-4000. 5-11 weekdays, open weekends at 11. 4-H animals, hot air balloons, entertainment, competitions, home & garden displays, midway rides, stage shows, food.

Gloucester County 4-H Fair & NJ Peach Festival
275 Bridgeton Pike, Route 77 South, Mullica Hill, www.nj4h.rutgers.edu. Free. Petting zoo, horse shows, exhibits, tractor pulls, animals shows, music and food.


22-26 Jul
St. Ann's Italian Street Festival

St. Ann's Church, 7th and Jefferson Sts., Hoboken, 201-659-1114. Weekdays 6-11, weekends 1-11. Nightly headline entertainment and international foods.


23-25 Jul
Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

Solberg Airport, Thor Solberg Rd., Readington, 1-800-HOT AIR9, 973-882-5464. Discount advance tickets. Arts & crafts, entertainment, air show, food, fireworks. Balloons ascend 6:30am and 6:30pm. Headline concerts.

Morris County 4-H Fair
Chubb Park, Rt. 24, Chester, 973-285-8301. Free admission, $5 parking donation. Family entertainment, showcase for 4-H projects, animal and pet shows.


24 Jul
Red Wine & Blues Festival

Tuckerton Seaport, 120 W. Main St. (GSP exit 58), Tuckerton, 609-296-8868. 3-8. Live blues music and wine tasting from New Jersey wineries. Food, crafts, more.

Karavan of Kids Fun Fest
Sussex Skyhawks Baseball Stadium, Augusta, 973-300-1000.Family festival with activities and entertainment geared for the 3-12 yr. old crowd. Main stage performance, art project, nature and science activities, special appearances.


25 Jul
Freedom Tour

Downtown Stirling, 908-647-2010. 9am. Annual bike race.


28 Jul
Warrenbrook Pool Kids Night Out

Warrenbrook Pool, Warrenville Rd., Warren, 908-754-8404. 6-10. $10 per family, $5 season pass holders. Swimming, entertainment and movie under the stars. Bring a blanket and pjs.


29-31 Jul
Denville Sidewalk Sale Days

Downtown Denville. 10-5pm rain or shine.


30-1 Jul-Aug
Red Bank Sidewalk Sale

Red Bank business district, Broad St., Red Bank, 732-842-4244.

Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams State Park, Newport, 866-468-7619. Indoor and outdoor concerts by chart-topping performers with new performers carrying on the folk music tradition.



31 Jul
Rutgers Gardens Open House

Rutgers Gardens, Cook College, Ryders Lane (east of Rt.1), North Brunswick, 732-932-8451. Free. Tours, gardening lectures, demonstrations, educational displays plus children's activities. Parking donation.

Summit Street Fair
Downtown Summit, 908-277-6100.



31-1 Jul-Aug
Family Fun Days

Four Sisters Winery & Matarazzo Farms, 10 Doe Hollow Lane, Belvidere, 908-475-3671. 12-5. $10, $6 ages 11-20, 10 & under free. Hayrides, corn maze, wine tasting and tours, barefoot grape stomping, live music.

Mercer County 4-H Fair
Howell Living History Farm, 101 Hunter Rd., Titusville, 609-989-6833. Free admission, parking donation. Family entertainment, showcase for 4-H projects, animal and pet shows.


1-7 Aug
73rd Annual Warren County Farmers Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival

Fairgrounds in Harmony Twp., Rt. 519 (3 miles north of Phillipsburg), 908-859-6563. Admission prices that won't make you have a cow! Adults $5, ages 5-12 $3, 4 & under free. Weekday specials on admission and rides.   
      Elvis impersonator Ryan Pelton on Monday night in the main arena. Grandstand tickets on sale now for $15 chairs and $10 grandstand seating. 10th Annual Balloon Festival with tethered balloon rides and launches every night. Livestock exhibits and shows, the Kids' Corral, midway, car and tractor shows, horse shows and more. Other main arena events: Mud Bog Competition, Tractor and Truck Pulls, Demolition Derby. For advance tickets call 908-859-6563. For a free brochure and schedule of events, group rates, or to schedule a balloon ride email info@warrencountyfarmersfair.org or call 908-454-3431. Kid Friendly, Family Friendly, Wallet Friendly!
Aug 2
      Elvis Impersonator Ryan Pelton, Monday night in the main arena. Tickets on sale now for $15/$10.


28 Aug
Karavan of Kids

Vasa Park, Mount Olive. 12-5pm.Great family fun, designed for children ages 3-12. Activities include "Main Stage" music, dance and theater; art project, hula hoop extravaganza, science activities, vendors and special appearances. Sponsored by Newton Memorial Hosptial, GBW Insurance and Kids' Guide.


9 Oct
Karavan of Kids

Wild West City, Byram Township. 12-5pm.Great family fun, designed for children ages 3-12. Activities include "Main Stage" music, dance and theater; art project, hula hoop extravaganza, science activities, vendors and special appearances. Sponsored by Newton Memorial Hosptial, GBW Insurance and Kids' Guide. For ticket info, go to Wild West City or call 973-347-8900.

ONGOING EVENTS

Delaware River Tubing
2998 Daniel Bray Highway, Frenchtown, 908-996-5386. Enjoy a day floating down the Delaware River in a tube, raft, canoe or kayak. A free BBQ meal is included with each rental halfway on the trip at "The Famous River Hot Dog Man." Enjoy your lunch next to a beautiful private island with picnic tables in the water. Pick up a Kids' Guide for discount coupon.

High 5 Tickets to the Arts
Provides teens 13-18 with access to the arts by offering $5 tickets to dance, theater, visual arts, music and more. High 5 also offers 2-for$5 museum passes to New York City's most prestigious museums, including MOMA, the Gugenheim, Rubin Museum of Art, Jewish Museu, International Center for Photography and American Folk Art Museum. For a complete listing of High 5 events and programs or to purchase tickets for the spring season, visit website and sign up for High-5's weekly newsletter.



Star Shows & Laser Concerts
Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd., North Branch, 908-231-8805. $5 per person per show. $9 per person for two shows in one day. Reservations recommended.


Workshops for Children & Families
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973-971-3700.
Open Art Workshops
Thursdays 4-7pm. All ages. Non-members $5 per child; members $4 per child. Join museums educators to create your own art project. Drop in any time during the session to participate.
Tot Tours
Third Friday of the month, 10am. Free with museum admission. Program for very young children and their caregivers. Activities include mini gallery tours, story reading in the galleries, and an art project. Pre-registration is not required.
Super Science Saturdays
Saturday 12-2pm. Ages 5 & up. Free for members, $3 per child plus museum admission non-members. Children can stop by and participate in the scientific method as they do experiments and observe the results.

   OPEN FOR REGISTRATION/TICKETS


Thru June 27
Captain Marbles and His Acting Squad: Songs, Dances and Laughs for a Young Audience
Where Eagles Dare Studios, 347 W. 36th St., New York (between 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-868-4444. Tickets $15. Performances on Sat. and Sun. through June 27. In addition to an amusing script by famed actor William H. Macy and David Kovacs, in which producer Captain Marbles tries to confince a flaky acting company to mount a production of Romeo and Juliet, the show for ages 3+ features a sprightly score and songs by Alaric Jans. Directed by Kate Gleason. Musical Direction and Choreography by Kara Ayn Napolitano. Starring Patrick Cann, John Curcuru, Amber Dickerson, Troy Gochenour, Kara Ayn Napolitano and Ivan Perez. For tickets, www.smarttix.com.



June-January
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 2010 Season
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, 973-408-5600. The 2010 Season features six Main Stage productions as well as a production on the Theatre's Outdoor Stage on the campus of The College of St. Elizabeth. Full season subscriptions are available.


Wednesday Tea at the Proprietary House
149 Kearny Ave., Perth Amboy, 732-826-5527. 1-4pm. Family-friendly tea is served every Wednesday, except major holidays. Tea includes tea and homemade cakes. Donation of $3.50 per person or child, add $1.50 for historical tour of the house. Children may bring their American Girl doll, any other doll or action figure. Hot cocoa can replace tea. Reservations required for groups over 6.


Ongoing
Shakespeare LIVE! Educational Touring Company

The educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!, travels to schools and other venues throughout the tri-state region with 60-minute versions of two of Shakespeare's most popular plays--A Midsummer Night's Dream for grades 3 & up and Macbeth for grades 6 & up--and Nevermore: The Final Nightmares of Edgar Allan Poe recommended for grades 6 & up. Bookings are now being accepted for all three productions, 973-408-3980.

"J" Crew After School Program for Grades K-4
Shimon & Sara Birnbaum JCC, 775 Talamini Rd., Bridgewater. Contact Ken Kaus, "J" Crew Director, 908-725-6994 x227; KKaus@ssbjcc.org. Homework help, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, fitness programs, cooking, comuters, daily snack and more! High staff-to-child ratio. Register for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Busing available from select Bridgewater schools.


Robocamp & More
Storming Robots, 3322 Rt. 22W, Suite 402, Branchburg Commons, 908-595-1010. 9-4. Visit website and see the printed version of the Kids' Guide for information on workshops, Robocamps, summer programs and birthday parties.


Preschooler & Mom-Infant Walks
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center  247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twp., 973-635-6629. Preschooler walks are 45-min. walks for preschooler with adult at various park locations. Reservations required beginning two weeks prior to date of walk. $5. Mom-Infant walks are free. Bring backpack for infant; no siblings or strollers. Call for upcoming dates.

Kids' Club
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, 9 Main St., Madison, 973-377-2982. 3:30pm. Monthly after-school program for children ages 7-11. Pre-registrationis required. Sessions are $13 for members, $15 for non-members.
Sept-Jun


Girl Scout Programs at Community Children's Museum
Community Children's Museum, 77 E. Blackwell St., Dover, 973-366-9060. Register for 12 new badge programs fro Daisies, Brownies, and Junior Girl Scouts.

STOPS ON THE ROAD

Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA, 617-495-3045. Free and open to the public. Newly renovated Great Mammal Hall, Evolution  and Language of Color  exhibitions. Check website for family programs.



PLEASE NOTE:
Hours, prices, exhibit and event information area subject to change.
Please call ahead or use the convenient website links to get the latest information prior to your visit.

LAST UPDATE 7/7/10

For print advertising, web advertising, subscription and other inquiries, write or call:
Kids' Guide
PO Box 892, Murray Hill, NJ 07974-0892
e-mail: kids@kidsguide.com
phone: 908/665-0607
fax: 908/665-2052

Please include your mailing address and phone number.
     Community organizations and Kids' Guide advertisers who would like to post an event under "Hot Picks" or in the Kids' Guide's printed calendar should e-mail, mail, or fax information to the addresses above. While we will make every effort to do so, we cannot guarantee submissions will be included.

The Kids' Guide, the Kids' Guide logo and the Kids' Guide design are trademarks of PageWorks LLC and may only be used with permission of PageWorks LLC. All material is copyrighted 2010.

Home  |  Camps  |  Entertainment  |  Parties  |  Family Travel   |  History  |  Museums  |  Zoos  |  Outdoors  |  Theatre  |  Music & Dance  |  NY  |  PA