Another weekend is upon us! Looking for family fun? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve rounded up some things to do in the area. Check them out!
On Saturday, the Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host MakerSPACE from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Newark Museum of Art’s MakerSPACE returns on select Saturdays! Be part of a fun and interactive space where visitors of all ages play, craft and create by making connections between the materials, processes and concepts of works of art and natural science objects in the collections of the Museum and their own creativity. View the artworks in the galleries, learn more about them, then experiment with the materials and processes in the MakerSPACE. Register online. This program is included in admission to the Museum.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will host How Does Your Garden Grow for children ages 9 and up on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Winter is the perfect time to sow vegetable seeds! Help farmers grow crops for the spring season. The cost is $10 per person and pre-registration is required.
Maple sugaring demonstrations will be held at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Blvd, Chatham Township) Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap and making real maple syrup on a wood-fired evaporator. This year the program will take place entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather. Spiles and syrup will be available for purchase, while supplies last. The cost is $5 per person. You must pre-register and select your time slot.
Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange) will host Wonders of the Wild! Winter edition on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This program provides students with the opportunity to participate in additional science and nature programs and projects that facilitate lifelong science literacy and environmental stewardship. Available for students ages 6-12, the program includes a visit to the South Mountain Zoo or Preserve, weather permitting. This week’s session is called “Water Quality”. The cost is $30 and you must purchase in advance.
The Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) hosts Spark!Lab on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Spark!Lab offers any child (aged 5 to 12 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 solve problems and overcome real-world obstacles. Spark!Lab offers many unique, project-specific stations where inventors can tackle engineering and design challenges head-on. There is also a newly created space with a train and an exploration table filled with unique tools to help stimulate creativity, thinking and learning for children ages 1-4). Cost is included in admission, $12 for adults, $8 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3.
Turtle Back Zoo will also host Family Nature Club: Nature Adventures on Sunday at South Mountain Dog Park (Bear Lane, Maplewood). Nature is a treasure: what will you create? Participate in the collection of natural materials to create interior decoration and search for local wildlife along the way. Tickets are $15.
The Growing Stage (7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong) will present its final weekend of Boogie on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Unable to sleep due to nightmares, Alex tries to end it once they find out the Boogieman is the cause. However, after meeting this famous monster, Alex learns the truth about fears and that it’s okay to be afraid because fears are just a part of us. Tickets are $28.
The Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) will host Sunday Studio on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with sessions starting every hour. Join us every Sunday for a fun family art activity inspired by our current exhibits. Explore materials, learn new techniques, and meet other members of the community while enjoying creative time with your family. Each week features a different project designed by MAM’s teaching artists to spark the imagination and encourage conversation in response to the artworks on display in the museum’s galleries. This program is aimed at families with children ages 5-12, but all are welcome. Inspired by the exhibition Tenacity and Resilience: The Art of Jerry Pinkneyand his illustrations for the book Go somewhere special, families this week will create personalized paper dolls and explore self-expression in fashion, while learning composition and collage. This event is free with entry and registration required.
On Sunday, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host Family Drop-In: Design Your Own Poster. Make a social justice poster that expresses your values and inspires your imagination! We invite you to INSPIRE change! Whether you have 30 minutes or a few hours, stop by anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. This activity is included in general admission, but you must register in advance.
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp) continues to host the Family Phot Scavenger Hunt. Held daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., bring your camera or phone for this month’s hunt. There is a new theme every month and this is the last week of the February theme, which is “Growing Presidential”. There’s nothing like a month full of presidents to get you thinking about plants. Many plants are named for presidents and many more are simply presidential. Thomas Jefferson described botany as “one of the most useful sciences”, so put on your thinking cap and keep your eyes peeled! Get out and explore the gardens with this contactless family photo scavenger hunt. The cost is $10 per family or group of 6 people or less. Pre-registration is required.
Stop by the Liberty Science Center (222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City) for the all-new Minecraft: The Exhibition. It is a 6,000 square foot. multimedia experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, whether they play Minecraft or not. The exhibit offers an immersive experience that includes blocky scenes and characters from the game. Minecraft: The Exhibit will be open until September 5, 2022. The Liberty Science Center is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. Cost is general admission price plus additional fees. Visit the website for more details.
