Happy weekend! It was a short week, but that doesn’t make us any less excited for the weekend. Are you ready for some family-friendly fun? Check out these activities in and around town.
This weekend, the Gas Lamp Players will present The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition at Ridgewood Avenue School (235 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge). Performances will be Friday at 7:00 PM and Saturday at 1:00 PM. Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world! The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny, and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau. An exciting new musical featuring irresistible characters and magical music, this deep-sea pearl of a show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old. The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors.
Throughout July, Watchung Booksellers is hosting Where’s Waldo? 2023. Starting July 1st, participants can grab a passport at Watchung Booksellers. Participants have the entire month of July to find where Waldo is hiding at participating businesses around Watchung Plaza. During the whole month of July, participants will look for Waldo in any of the 20+ locations in the neighborhood. Once a participant finds 10, they will automatically get a Waldo temporary tattoo and a $1 off a Waldo book coupon. When they get 20, they are not only entered for a BIG grand prize but they are guaranteed some prize. Lastly, Watchung Booksellers will host a WALDO party on the afternoon of July 27 at 4:00 PM with more raffles, prizes, games, and maybe a cameo by Waldo himself! This is a great activity for the kids each summer, and each summer the amount of participants grows. This activity is free.
This is the final weekend for the State Fair Meadowlands at MetLife Stadium (1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford). Visitors can enjoy rides, games, food, and performances. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Visit the website for schedules and prices.
Maplewoodstock Music and Arts Festival will be held this weekend in Memorial Park (across from Maplewood Train Station located at Dunnell Road and Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood). The Kid Zone will feature fun activities, including bouncy rides, face painting, arts and crafts, and more. Visit the website for a full schedule of events.
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 July is “Garden Magic.” Fairy houses are on display! This hunt will challenge hunters looking for fairies, fairy houses, and even more important, plants and flowers throughout the garden that bring the fairies here. 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 Sensory Friendly Saturday on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. 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 for this all-ages event is $5 per person.
Macculloch Hall (45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown) will host Dig it! Plant it! Eat it! Family Saturdays. This month’s theme is Beautiful Butterflies. Begin your summer in the garden with activities about the perfect pollinators, butterflies! Through hands-on gardening, a tour of the Museum’s historic rooms, and an art-making experience with a New Jersey artist, participants enjoy nature while learning about life in the past. This activity is suitable for all ages accompanied by a parent or guardian. It will run on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM.
Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) will host a Family Fun Day on Saturday beginning at 11:00 AM as part of their Water Workshop Weekends Series. The event will feature activities from the Museum and the Great Swamp Watershed Association. There will be two special screenings of the Smithsonian movie, Age of Humans: Water, at 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. This film reveals how humans have impacted the Earth’s water, and details what we can do to change the path of our future. The day includes several thought-provoking activities from the GSWA and the Morris Museum; highlights include Spark!Lab’s “Help Clean Up the Ocean,” the game, “A Day in the Life of a Drop of Water”, the “Water-Match Challenge”, and a special art activity. This event is free for Morris Museum and GSWA Members. For non-members, the cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-17.
Field Station: Dinosaurs is back for another season at Overpeck Park (3 Overpeck Driveway, Leonia). The attraction is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM through September 3. 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 our fearless dinosaur wranglers and come face to face with The Mighty T-Rex. On Saturday, Bat-Man Joe will kick off the 2023 season of Super Stars of Science from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Meet a family of bats and some other animal ambassadors from the Wildlife Conservation and Education Center located in Garfield, NJ. Learn about the importance of bats and the impact they have on our environment. This activity is free with Day Pass admission.
Bergen County Historical Society will host Vintage Baseball at Historic New Bridge Landing (1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge) on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Love baseball and history? Then bring your chair and sunscreen to Historic New Bridge Landing as the Bergen County Historical Society hosts Vintage Baseball. Dressed in authentic uniforms, the Flemington Neshanocks and the Enterprise Club of New Bridge will play against each other with 19th-century rules and equipment in a double-header game. Attendees will receive a free HNBL Scorecard. Hot dogs, snacks, and drinks will be available for purchase and an ice cream truck will also be on site. In between games, short walking tours of the grounds will be available by BCHS interpreters. Ticket reservations are encouraged, and the cost is $12 adults for and $7 for students. BCHS members are free.
Turtleback Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange) will host Wonders of the Wild on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Turtle Back Zoo is an amazing classroom! The Wonders of the Wild 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 week’s theme is Digging for Dinosaurs. This activity is for children ages 6-12. The cost is $30 per person.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum (165 Hobart Avenue, Summit) will host a Free Saturday Tour at 1:30 PM. Free guided tours of the Arboretum take place Saturdays at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm from May 6 through October 7 (the 10:30 tour was canceled for July 8). Tours begin at the Visitors Center. No reservations are required, and tours are on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals who would like to learn more about the current season’s highlights. Limit of 10 people per tour. Anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. No groups. Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
Turtleback Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange) will host Family Nature Club: Salamander Sunday on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Family Nature Club (FNC) is all about discovering the world and playing WITH nature, not just IN nature. Experience the sounds, smells, and sights of the outdoors with FNC as we explore the natural heritage within Essex County’s parks. The cost for this activity is $5 per person, and it is best suited for children ages six and up.
The Diversity Coalition of Morris County will host a Diversity Celebration on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the Morristown Green. This event is free and open to the public. It will feature fun for the entire family, including culture, food, live entertainment, door prizes, and more.
New Jersey Botanical Garden (Morris Road, Ringwood) will host Audubon Butterfly Walk on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Join the Bergen County Audubon Society to walk the gardens and fields looking for the many butterflies that visit NJBG. We’ll identify the butterflies and discuss host plants and nectar sources crucial for their survival. Meet at the Carriage House. This activity is free.
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (73 Kahdena Road, Morristown) will host Hitch a Ride on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Take a wagon ride around the farm and see the sights! Learn some history of the farm and its residents from the educators. This activity is suitable for all ages and is included with the price of admission.
Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) will host Spark!Lab on Saturday and Sunday 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.