Happy weekend! There are plenty of family-friendly activities happening in and around town, and we’ve gathered them up for you. Check ’em out!
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. This is the first weekend for the April theme, which is “April Fools!” Plants offer some of the best camouflage in the garden. Use your eyes and camera to spot some of the spring garden’s hidden gems. The cost is $10 per family or group of 6 or fewer. Preregistration is required.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will host Lamb Frolic on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 1:00 PM both days. Meet the newest arrivals to the farm! Help the farmers socialize the baby lambs by playing with them one on one. Everyone will have a chance to pet and hold a lamb. This event is suitable for all ages. The cost is $50 per lamb. Registration is required.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will host Sensory Friendly Saturday on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Visit Fosterfields for the new Sensory Friendly Saturdays. This event is designed to be less overwhelming to those with sensory sensitivities. This hour-long program allows families to come to the farm and enjoy the open, quiet spaces with no crowds. The cost is $5 per person. Preregistration is required. The tour is suitable for all ages.
Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street, Newark) will host April Family Saturdays on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy a day of fun activities for the whole family at The Newark Museum of Art. Activities include MakerSPACE, Planetarium shows, Creative Play: Insects, Science Drop-In: Ooblek, and Family Drop-In: Illusions. This activity is free, but pre-registration is required. Check the website for the schedule of activities and shows.
Glen Ridge Public Library will host Dav Pilkey Book Characters Scavenger Hunt on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Drop in to search the children’s department for Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and more Dav Pilkey’s book characters. Earn a Dav Pilkey brag tag! The scavenger hunt will last all week long!
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (247 Southern Blvd, Chatham Township) will host Kids in the Wild: Track on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Get into the woods, learn different outdoor skills, meet other like-minded kids, and build confidence. In this session, gain some basic tracking skills as you learn about animal tracks, measurements, and gaits. The cost is $10 per child. Preregistration is required. This activity is for children ages 8-13. 
The Family Chiropractors of Montclair will host their annual Watchung Plaza Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Children 6 and under are invited to participate. The hunt will be held on Watchung Plaza Green. Don’t forget to bring a basket.
Presby Memorial Iris Gardens (47 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair) will host their Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at 11:00 AM. Bring the children and a basket.
Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange) will host Storytime on Saturday with sessions at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Wear your favorite holiday seasonal attire, enjoy an animal-themed story, and meet a favorite animal friend. This is a family-friendly event recommended for families with children ages 8 and younger. All attendees must have a ticket. Tickets are $10 per participant, and children under 2 are free. The event takes place at the Berson Family Center on the east side of the zoo complex.
Essex County Environmental Center (621 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland) will host gARTbage Art Workshop on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Join the Center staff to create an entry for the contest! Some materials will be provided; however, it is encouraged to bring personal items to add a unique artistic flair. The g’ART’bage Art Contest takes a creative approach to protecting our planet from plastic pollution by pulling nonrecyclable plastics out of the waste-stream and transforming them into works of public art. Contest participants are challenged to be thoughtful and creative in crafting art made from single-use plastic garbage (nonrecyclable plastics). Team and individual projects are welcome. Projects must be made to withstand the elements, as they will be showcased in an outdoor setting on the grounds of the Essex County Environmental Center. All workshop participants will have their projects entered into our gARTbage Art Contest. Advanced registration is required.
Cooper Gristmill (66 Route 24, Chester) will host Muffin Mania on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM for children ages 4-12 with an adult. Do you know the muffin man? Mix and bake muffins; decorate your own cloth flour bag with us at the Cooper Gristmill. While your muffins are in the oven, join us for a tour of the mill where the flour is ground. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $10 per adult/child pair. Preregistration is required.
Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) hosts Spark!Lab on Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 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.
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary (324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills) will host Draw a Bird Day on Saturday at 12:00 PM. Want to show off your artistic side? Celebrate Draw a Bird Day! Choose your favorite bird and medium and get drawing! Drop off your pictures on or before April 8th to be displayed in the Stone House. You can also email a photo of your creation to the Arboretum staff at info@hartshornarboretum.org. Remember, this day is not about skill. It is about having fun, participating in art, and sharing pictures of pretty cool birds!
Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange) will host Wonders of the Wild on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This program offers students an opportunity to participate in supplementary science and nature-themed programs and projects that facilitate scientific literacy and life-long environmental stewardship. This is for children ages 6-12. This week’s theme is The Aquatic World. The cost is $30 per child.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will host Children’s Tour of the Willows on Saturday from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Step back in time at the Willows Mansion! Learn about the people who lived there, and use your senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch to learn about life in the past. This tour is designed for kids ages 4-12 with an adult. The cost is $10 per person. Preregistration is required.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum (165 Hobart Avenue, Summit) will host Discovery Weekend on Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Explore the Arboretum when the gardens and grounds are alive with the sights and sounds of spring. Drop by the Stackhouse Education Center 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 or two, a clue to follow, a mystery to solve, a chance to create, and always an engaging nature activity. Each weekend is a new discovery!
Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Avenue, Newark) will also host March Family Sundays on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Activities include a MakerSPACE for kids of all ages, which is a fun interactive area where kids play, tinker, and create on their own. There’s a Family Drop-In: Painting Illusions for kids ages 5 and up, where kids can try painting in reverse! Check the website for the schedule. This event is free with general admission.
Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair) will host Sunday Studio: Power Figure Collage with Emily Kenselaar on Sunday with sessions 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 new exhibition, vanessa german: …please imagine all the things I cannot say…, families will use collage techniques to build unique self-portrait compositions with upcycled printed materials. This event is free with museum admission. Advance registration is required.