Happy Friday! If you’re looking for some weekend family fun, you’re in the right place! We’ve rounded up plenty of things to do in the area. Check out these great activities!
Family Roller Skate Sessions at Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center
7th Avenue and Clifton Avenue, Newark
Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 6 p.m., 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: $13 ($19 for admission + skate rental)
Bring the whole family out for some roller skating this weekend! Skating sessions are open to all ages.
Bike Bus Block Party at Essex Park
41 Chestnut Street, Montclair
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: $5 per family
Enjoy a spring bike ride followed by a party at Essex Park. Join the bike ride anywhere along the three routes that end at the park. The block party will include snacks, yard games and playground fun, bike repair and maintenance help, and more. Visit the website for the full routes.
Outdoor Adventures: Upcycle at Van Vleck House & Gardens
21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair
Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon
Cost: Free for members. $15 per family for non-members
It’s Earth Day weekend! There are so many ways we can do our part to protect natural resources and be stewards of the land. We do our part by recycling; how about upcycling, too?! Learn more about upcycling and how this can create less waste for our environment. The education team will guide your family through this interactive learning experience focused on the theme. Registration is required.
Montclair Recreation League’s Opening Day at Edgemont Park
Vallley Road, Montclair
Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Bring the family for a fun day celebrating baseball! There will be a parade, an exciting performance by Hillside Elementary School’s famous “Drums of Thunder” ensemble, and carnival games, including a bounce house, a high striker (to test your strength!) and a dunk tank (come dunk your favorite coach!). Then a game of ball!
Community Fun Day at Buzz Aldrin Middle School
173 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Get ready for a day of bonding, making memories, and enjoying some weekend family fun! Here’s what you can expect: a message from the Rapping Professor, kickball, bouncy house, tag football, and basketball. There will also be a game truck, a live DJ, and refreshments. This event is sponsored by the Brother to Brother Mentoring Program and MEA.
Lego Day at Glen Ridge Public Library
240 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The library will provide the LEGOs. Kids only need to bring their creativity. Duplos will be provided for younger children.
Video Game Free Play at Nutley Free Public Library
93 Booth Drive, Nutley
Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon
Calling all gamers! Visit the library for some fun video games. Drop in and play Switch games on the big screen. The event is open to all skill levels and ages, and no registration is required.
April Family Saturdays at Newark Museum of Art
49 Washington Street, Newark
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free with general admission tickets.
Each Saturday, you can enjoy fun activities for the whole family! Activities include Creative Play, planetarium shows, Science Drop-In, and Family Drop-In. See the website for the full schedule.
Earth Day with Greener Bloomfield at Bloomfield Public Library
90 Broad Street, Bloomfield
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day with Bloomfield Public Library and Greener Bloomfield. Visitors can get free seeds, helpful resources, and more. There will also be a kid’s Earth Day craft at the event. Open to Bloomfield residents.
Earth Day 2024 at Essex County Environmental Center
621 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to our annual outdoor festival honoring the beautiful planet EARTH, the sustainer of all life! Enjoy a day filled with crafts, games, and recreational opportunities, such as canoeing and hiking. There will be demonstrations, information, and a local eco-vendors’ sale. Environmental Center staff and partner groups will be on hand to guide you throughout this exciting Earth-centric day!
WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series at Newark Symphony Hall
1020 Broad Street, Newark
Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Altoist Markus Howell leads his quartet, which features some of the most active young musicians on the New York scene today. A graduate of Michigan State University, where he met his bassist Jared Beckstead-Craan and drummer Zach Adleman, Markus brings a fresh voice on the alto saxophone while honoring the influences of the blues, the church, and the spirit of joy within jazz and his music.
Earth Day Craft at Glen Ridge Public Library
240 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge
Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Drop into the library to celebrate Earth Day with a fun craft.
Earth Day Celebration 2024 at Crane Park
Glenridge Avenue, Montclair
Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Enjoy a day of fun and environmental awareness. This event will feature exciting activities, live music, and educational workshops. Learn about sustainable practices, explore eco-friendly products, and connect with like-minded individuals who care about the environment.
Celebrate Earth Day with Montclair Community Farms
108 Orange Rd, Montclair
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: $10/family
Earth Day is a day to stop and appreciate our planet! This event is perfect for the kids in your life! There will be four fun-filled stations, including learning all about bees and a honey taste test, chickens, nature-related crafts, and a mock farm stand!
Guided House Tour: Many Voices at Crane House & Historic YWCA
110 Orange Road, Montclair
Sunday at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.
Cost: $12 per adult, $10 per student/senior, $8 per child under 18. Children under 2 and MHC Members are free
This interactive tour is designed to share the many voices that are part of Montclair’s rich history, using the Crane House & Historic YWCA as a window into different time periods and the people who are part of Montclair. Sharing the many voices within this historic house will shape a tour that connects visitors to part of the past and makes it come to life. The house spans a history from 1796 to 1965, introducing a number of different voices and perspectives that shape the evolution of Montclair’s history for visitors.
Sunday Studio: Sculpture in the Round with Anna Muniz at Montclair Art Museum
3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair
Sunday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Cost: Free for members and with admission
The museum hosts a fun family art-making activity each week. Explore materials, learn new techniques, and meet other community members while enjoying creative time with your family. Inspired by the exhibition, Family, Community, Belonging: Works from the Collection, families will explore unique sculpture techniques using wooden and foam materials to create an abstract human form!
Guitar Bob at Cedar Beans Coffee Joint
575 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“Bobstock” returns on the third Sunday of every month. Go enjoy a fun, family-friendly show with Guitarist Bob Messano.
April Family Sundays at Newark Museum of Art
49 Washington Street, Newark
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free with general admission
Sunday Funday for the whole family! Enjoy activities including Family Drop-In: Indoor En Plein Air. Take inspiration from nature and create your own watercolor landscape.