Happy weekend! Looking for some fun and family-friendly things to do? We’ve got you covered!
All weekend, Prudential Center (25 Lafayette Street, Newark) will feature Disney On Ice Presents Dream Big. Believing is just the beginning for your favorite Disney heroes. Miguel follows his musical aspirations through the Land of the Dead, Moana and Maui restore the heart of Te Fiti, Anna and Elsa save their kingdom and the Disney Princesses inspire with stories of strength and kindness. Share every magical moment filled with breathtaking ice skating and beloved songs and stories that give you a reason to believe. Performances are Friday at 7:00 PM; Saturday at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 7:00 PM; Sunday at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, and Monday at 1:00 PM. Tickets are $20 – $210.
Essex County Environmental Center (621-B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland) will host Family Yoga on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For ages 5 and up. Happy Baby, Cats and Cows, Tree, Elephant and Child’s Pose. Share and enjoy an adventure of calming breath, fun asanas/poses, and gentle stretches with your nearest and dearest in a friendly, go-with-the-flow atmosphere. Advance registration and minimum number of participants required. Call 973-228-8776. Cost is $30 per family (up to two adults and two children) or $10 per child and $12 per adult.
Barnes & Noble Clifton Commons (395 Route 3 East, Clifton) will host Storytime and Activities Featuring Nobody Hugs a Cactus on Saturday at 11:00 AM. Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world, and everyone stays away from him. But he is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely. Activities to follow!
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Blvd, Chatham) will host Weekend Family Walk for all ages with an adult from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Discover the unique animals and plants found on the trails while learning new nature facts. Cost is $2 per person age 3 and up. Preregistration is required by calling 973-635-6629.
Also on Saturday morning, enjoy Treasure Trail Hunt at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area (472 Boonton Avenue, Montville Twp) from 1:00 PM to 12:00 PM for all ages with an adult. Enjoy a seasonal scavenger hunt where families work together to solve riddles and answer questions along the trails. Cost is $2 per person age 3 and up. Preregistration is required by calling 973-334-3130.
On Saturday at 2:00 PM, South Orange Performing Arts Center will present Mark Nizer 4D. Whether juggling laser beams at 1000 rpms, or five ping pong balls being thrown 20 feet in the air using only his mouth; or juggling a burning propane tank, a running electric carving knife and a 16-pound bowling ball all at once, you’ll discover for yourself that Mark Nizer is truly one of the greatest entertainment comedians and jugglers performing today. This show is recommended for ages 5+. Tickets are $20.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Blvd) will also host Maple Sugaring Demos on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM and then from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Learn to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Join a taste-test of different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC. Registration is not required, but the even is first come, first served seating. All ages are welcome. Cost is $4 per person age 3 and up.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum (353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp) will host Family Photo Scavenger Hunts on Saturday and Sunday. Participate any time between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM. Bring your camera or phone for this month’s hunt, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Take a photo of every item and receive a prize. Cost is $10 per family.
The Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host Creative Play on Saturday beginning at 10:00 AM. Three- to five-year-olds and their caregivers can explore the Museum’s art and science collections through storytelling, song, playful activities and an art-making project. January’s theme is Seasons, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, OH MY! Children will be introduced to seasons and explore the beauty of all the seasons represented in the Museum’s collection of art. Register online or by calling. Also on Saturday, there will be a MakerSPACE Drop-in from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for ages 6-12. Full STEAM Ahead! Children will be introduced to the different elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics through activities that push their creativity and critical thinking.
The Newark Museum of Art will also host several activities weekly on Saturday and Sundays, from 11:00 PM to 2:00 PM:
- Family Drop-Ins – January’s theme is Self-Care. Explore ways to nourish yourself and your loved ones.
- Imagination Station – Spark your creativity while thinking outside the box. Have fun while achieving the challenge.
- Family Back Pack – A fun self-guided tour for the entire family! Utilize a spy glass, a timer and more, as well as prompts as your family interacts with great works of art to explore Community / Animals / People / Places!
You can find information about all the programs at The Newark Museum of Art on their website.
Just Kidding at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC) will present The Forest of the Witch on Saturday at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Karagoz, the hero of Anatolian shadow plays, learns the importance of nature and protecting the environment in this stunning traditional Turkish shadow puppet performance. Cost is $14 for members and $17 for non-members.
Shooting Star Dance Center (403 Broad Street, Bloomfield) will host Drop In and Dance on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM. Using songs and large and small props, it’s a 45-minute dance adventure not to be missed. Children will get the chance to explore their creativity and even pick up a step or two. This program is designed and best for age 2 to 5 years. Cost is $12 for one child and $20 for two children. Register online.
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary (324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills) will host Lunar New Year Celebration on Sunday at 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM and again from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. Join the CHA and the Chinese Association of Millburn-Short Hill and shake off the winter blues. Celebrate the Lunar New Year by following the lion through the woods. Be prepared to make some noise with games, trivia, crafts, and traditional stories. Cos is $8 per person. Register online.
On Sunday evening, Mayo Performing Arts Center (100 South Street, Morristown) will present Angelina Ballerina The Musical at 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM. Angelina is a little dancer with big dreams! This prima ballerina wannabe will dance her way into your heart in this musical based on the popular book and TV series. Recommended for ages 3-8. The 4:30 PM show is a relaxed performance. Tickets are $12 to $15.
Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) will host their Drop-In Studio on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Get creative in the Drop-In Studio! Each week features a new art-making activity and gallery talk inspired by current exhibitions. Reservations not required and visitors of all ages are welcome! This week make a Par fleche Bag inspired by the one’s found in MAM’s collection of Native American art and artifacts. This event is free for members and included with Museum admission for non-members.
On Sunday, A Sip of Art (235 Prospect Avenue, West Orange) will host The Child (Baby Yoda) Family Paint for ages 7 and up. Everybody has been going nuts and completely losing their mind over Baby Yoda. Or, as he’s really called, The Child from The Mandalorian. Paint this little green cuteness. $25 per seat.
On Monday, Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road) will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Vacation Workshop from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Make a peach dove craft, experiment with what Harriet Tubman would look like on a $20 bill, listen to the I Have a Dream speech, and then participate in an interactive experience in the Museum’s latest exhibit, The Adventures of Baron Von Steubon and Cromwell: a Kinetic Tale by David Bowman. These activities are included with Museum admission.
At 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM, join jazz trombonist Mariel Bildsten and a few members of her ensemble for some musical afternoon fun for the kids with Mariel’s Melodies in the Bickford Theatre. Tickets to this show are $10 for members and $15 for non-members, which includes Museum admission.
Also on Monday, Mayo Performing Arts Center (100 South Street, Morristown) will present Dog Man: The Musical at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Dog Man: The Musical is a hilarious new production based on the worldwide bestselling series from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants. Best buds George and Harold have been creating comics for years, but now that they are in 5th grade, they figure it’s time to level up and write a musical based on their favorite character, Dog Man, the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! How hard could it be? This production is for ages 5-12 and tickets are $12-$15.
The Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Lift Ever Voice from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This free event celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All day long, there will be hands-on activities, planetarium showings, music, performances, and free health screenings. Don’t miss this annual celebration. A full schedule of events is available on the website. Registration can be completed online.
For more upcoming events, check out Baristanet Calendar.