UPDATED: Coronavirus Closings at NJ Venues: American Dream, Liberty Science Center, More

Liberty Science Center announced Thursday that it will close through the end of March. Photo courtesy of LSC
Liberty Science Center announced Thursday that it will close through the end of March. Photo courtesy of LSC
3/13/20 - By Michelle Vames

Updated Monday, March 16 at 6pm.

More NJ-area museums, theaters, and other cultural and entertainment spots have closed their doors and canceled public events in response to the CDC's latest recommendation that public gathereings of 50 or more people be canceled for the next eight weeks. In addition, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday that all performing arts centers and movie theaters must shut down "indefinitely" beginning at 8pm Monday.

Among the many institutions and venues that have closed are Liberty Science Center, American Dream Mall, Great Wolf Lodge, Mayo Performing Arts Center, and the Montclair Art Museum.

The closures in New Jersey join a growing number of cultural and entertainment institutions closing around the country and the world, from Broadway to Disneyland to the Louvre.

We will continue to update this list, so check back often. Also check out our list of NYC-area corona virus closings, including the New York Public Library, the New York Hall of Science, and the American Museum of Natural History. And see our Coronavirus Guide for Parents for the latest on the virus, plus tons of options to keep kids busy during these unprecedented shutdowns.

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NJ Play Space and Sports Center Closings

Branchburg Sports Complex – Branchburg
Closed through Friday, March 27

The Busy Bee – Millburn
Will close to the public Sunday, March 15 through Friday, March 27. Scheduled birthday parties will go on as planned or can be postponed to a later date. Busy Bee will be open for play Saturday, March 15 from 10am to noon.  

Codey Arena – West Orange
Will be closed beginning at 10pm Friday, March 13 through Saturday, March 28.

Fun Lot Indoor Play Center – Bayonne
As of Saturday, March 14, open play is by appointment only. A group of 10 children and one accompanying adult will be allowed to play for two hours at a time, and toys will be heavily sanitized every hour.

The Funplex – Mt. Laurel and East Hanover
Closed for two weeks beginning Monday, March 13.

Genius Gems — Millburn
Announced on Thursday, March 12 that it will close until further notice, "out of an abundance of caution and based on expert guidance," according to a message on its website. It will offer spring classes online

Kidville: all NJ locations following local school district closings
Montclair: Closed through Sunday, March 29; plans to reopen Monday, March 30.
Closter: Closed through Sunday, March 29; plans to reopen Monday, March 30.
Summit: Closed through the end of spring break; plans to reopen Monday, April 13.
Denville: Closed through Sunday, March 29; plans to reopen Monday, March 30.

Lily & Liam Kids' Indoor Playground and Cafe – Englewood
Closed until Saturday, March 21.

Play City – Weehawken
Closed and tentatively scheduled to reopen on Saturday, March 21.

Tay + Te Imaginative Play – Northvale 
Closed as of Saturday, March 14 until further notice.

Woodland Indoor Playground – Cedar Grove
Closing for two weeks starting Saturday, March 14.

XL Sports World – Cherry Hill
No public skating events Friday, March 13 – Sunday, March 15. Birthday parties and all sporting events are on as scheduled.

Xtreme Energy – Englewood
Closed for open play until Thursday, March 19.

NJ Museum Closings

Hoboken Historical Museum and Fire Department Museum – Hoboken
Currently open, but all programs and events are suspended. The Fire Department Museum asks that you call ahead before visiting.

Hunterdon Art Museum – Hunterdon
Closed and all programs/events canceled from Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 29.

Liberty Science Center – Jersey City
Closed through March 31. LSC plans to release online and broadcast programming. 

Montclair Art Museum – Montclair
The museum and all programs are closed through March 31. 

Morris Museum – Morristown
Postponing live performances and film screenings through the end of March. The museum remains open at this time.

Newark Museum – Newark
Closed beginning Saturday, March 14; reopening Thursday, April 16.

New Jersey State Museum – Trenton
Currently operating on its regular schedule, but all public events through April 30 have been canceled. This includes NJ Makers Day and the Small Explorers series. 

Old Barracks Museum – Trenton
Closed through Monday, March 30.

NJ-Area Indoor Water Park, Amusement Park, and Resort Closings

Aquatopia at Camelback Resort – Tannersville, PA
Closed Tuesday, March 17 through Wednesday, April 1.

American Dream Mall – East Rutherford
Attractions and stores will be closed beginning Monday, March 16 through the end of the month. Scheduled preview opening of the DreamWorks Water Park and several retailers on March 19 has been postponed.  

Coco Key Water Resort and Hotel ML – Mount Laurel
Closed beginning Monday, March 16.

Great Wolf Lodge – Scotrun, PA
Will be closed starting at 2pm on Sunday, March 15 through Wednesday, April 1.

H2Ooooh! Indoor Water Park at Split Rock Resort – Lake Harmony, PA
Closed through March 31. 

iPlay America – Freehold
Closed until Friday, April 3.

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions – Poconos Mountains, PA
Closed effective 4pm on Tuesday, March 17; scheduled to reopen on Thursday, April 2.

Sahara Sam's – West Berlin
Closed effective Monday, March 16, with tentative plans to reopen on Thursday, April 2.

Woodloch Resort – Hawley, PA
Closed Tuesday, March 16 through the end of the month. 

NJ Farm, Zoo, and Aquarium Closings

Adventure Aquarium – Camden
Closing Monday, March 16 – Friday, March 27

Cape May County Park & Zoo – Cape May
Open with regular hours, but all indoor enclosures closed to the public until further notice. All education programs canceled through March 31.

Duke Farms – Hillsborough
Closed to the public until further notice, and all events and programs canceled or postponed.

Turtle Back Zoo – West Orange
Closed Saturday, March 14 through Friday, March 27.

NJ Garden and Arboretum Closings

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum – Short Hills
Closed through Monday, March 30. Trails will still be accessible, but the building will not be open to the public.

Grounds for Sculpture – Hamilton
Closed through Sunday, March 29. Programming canceled through May 5.

NJ Theater Closings and Postponed/Canceled Kids' Shows

Bergen PAC – Englewood
All performances through March 31 are postponed. No kids' shows are affected at this time; performances of Scooby-Doo, Llama Llama Live, and Baby Shark Live, all scheduled for April and May, remain on as of now. 

Mayo Performing Arts Center – Morristown
All performances, classes, and events are suspended through March 31. Postponed performances include The Cat in the HatErth's Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure, and the Peking Acrobats. MPAC is working to reschedule all of the affected performances.

McCarter Theatre – Princeton
All performances, classes, and events are suspended through March 31. Postponed performances include the Peking Acrobats.

NJPAC – Newark
All performances both on and off the NJPAC campus are suspended through April 13. This includes family programs Books on the Move & Jazz in the Stacks and Music Together.

Paper Mill Playhouse – Millburn
Performances postponed through May 11.

Prudential Center – Newark 
All events postponed through the end of March.

South Orange Performing Arts Center – South Orange
All performances are suspended from Friday, March 13 through Friday, April 17. This includes performances of The Amazing Max on Sunday, March 22 and Cinderella on Saturday, April 4.