Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend June 15-16: Harbor Fest, Cicada Festival, Father’s Day Walk & More

6/12/13 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

This weekend is all about celebrating that awesome guy in your life and we've already given you some great Father's Day Events in New Jersey; if you want to keep the rest of your gang entertained, check out Harbor Fest down in Cape May, browse the Atlantic Highlands Car Show, or stop by the fun and educational Cicada Festival at the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum. Read on for our top picks and find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

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Strawberry Festival & Hayrides (Washington, NJ)
New Jersey farms are bursting with summertime goodness and you can get your fill of strawberries at Horse Sleigh Farm all weekend. Get your strawberry fix with a hayride out to the ‘pick your own’ fields or sample fresh berry goodies at the farm stand. Kids can burn off energy in the bounce house, go gem mining or have a blast on a paintball ride. Animal loving tots can ride ponies and pet farm animals. Your whole family is bound to go home tired (and happy!). All ages welcome. Saturday & Sunday 10am-7pm. Price varies based on activities. 908-267-5313

Saturday, June 15th

Harbor Fest (Cape May, NJ)
Harbor Fest is a celebration of seafood and song; the sea, its culture, its economy and its ecology. Cape May's beautiful harbor will provide the overall setting for Harbor Fest, while most land based activities will be held at or near the Nature Center. Meander through the street fair, while gobbling up some delicious seafood and dozens of arts & crafts vendors. Mom and dad can check out the beer garden and kids will enjoy music and activities just for them. If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a kayak and get out on the ocean or take part in the scallop challenge. 10am-5pm. FREE. 609-9-884-5508 x102

Atlantic Highlands Car Show (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)
If Dad is an aficionado of all things four-wheeled, then treat him to the Atlantic Highlands Car Show this Saturday.  Both kids and adults will love checking out the classic, exotic and fun cars on display along First Avenue. Throw in live music, games, craft vendors and local eateries and you’ve got a nice weekend outing! 11am-5pm. FREE. 732-872-8711

Cicada Festival (Short Hills, NJ)
We’ve all heard (and probably seen) those much-hyped cicadas that are surfacing from underground and swarming the northeast. To celebrate and educate about these unique insects, the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum will host a “Cicada Festival” this Saturday. Learn all about the lifecycles of cicadas and how they play a vital part in our environment before taking a hike to spot some of the noisy little creatures. Kids can take a break after the nature walk with a cicada themed craft and the whole gang can refuel with lunch from the Boxcar Bar & Grill. All ages welcome. 4-5:30pm. $10/Members, $15/Non-Members. 973-376-3587

Dairy Day (Lambertville, NJ)
If the kids think milk comes from the dairy case at Shoprite, it might be time for them to learn about where their food comes from! Gather up the troops for Dairy Day at the Howell Living History Farm. Visitors to the 130-acre working farm can meet milking goats, and help farmers make cheese, butter and ice cream. Kids can also make glow worm crafts and feed baby goats. All ages welcome. 10am-4pm. FREE ($3/Child for craft time). 609-737-3299

Sunday, June 16th

Father’s Day Walk (Tenafly, NJ)
If the special guy in your life is also an outdoor enthusiast, what better way to spend Sunday than on a Father’s Day Walk at Tenafly Nature Center? Spend quality time with Dad (or maybe even Grandpa!) as you hike along one of Tenafly’s beautiful trails, the trees and flowers in full summertime bloom. A nature guide will be on hand to lead your group and answer any questions about flora and fauna. Make a day of it and pack a big blanket and picnic lunch! All ages welcome. 1-3pm. Free for Members & Dads, $5/Non-Members.

National Marbles Tournament (Wildwood, NJ)
Whether you’ve been looking for an excuse to head down the shore or you’ll already be there this weekend, check out the National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood this Sunday. Professional ‘marble shooters’ will compete on day one of this four day tournament in over 1,200 games. The opening Shoot Off Banquet will take place at the Beach Terrace Hotel at 6pm on Sunday evening and you can enjoy the quirky and fun competition through the following Thursday if you’re still in town. And of course, no trip to Wildwood would be complete without taking a spin on the awesome amusement rides and strolling along the boardwalk with some saltwater taffy or ice cream. All ages welcome. Competition events at various times (see schedule for details). FREE. 609-522-8100

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month! GO JUNE is hot off the presses!

And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar. And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend make sure you visit the New York City Mommy Poppins events calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had NYC-style.