SATURDAY ONLY

Early 19th-Century Spring Festival at Historic Allaire Village (Farmingdale)

Those Easter bonnets’ll fit in perfectly at the Historic Village at Allaire this weekend   Your family re-creates rural American history at the annual Spring Festival, side-by-side with authentically costumed Historic Interpreters.  Catch a jelly-making demonstration, twirl to19th century music, march in militia drills, or simply wander through the Open Air Village Market.  Children may plant their own bean plants, and assist in preparing the gardens, planting, watering and weeding using 19th Century tools and methods.  Silhouette cutters, blacksmiths, carpenters, tin smiths and wheel wrights also ply their trades throughout the village. Don’t forget to swing into the Howell Works Bakery and General Store for some of that homemade jelly   Saturday, April 23. Noon-4pm. (Auction at 2pm)  FREE. For more information, call 732-919-3500.

Bash the Trash at Liberty Science Center (Jersey City)

Oscar the Grouch meets STOMP in this performance at the LSC’s Joseph D. Williams Science Theater. Bash the Trash takes on this grubby subject in an upbeat show—it’s fast-paced, it’s funny, it’s (BONUS) educational.  Your kids will learn scientific basics of sound, instruments, and instrument building, while also getting the environmental message of  “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Following the show, audience members make amazing instruments and parade through the Science Center, none-too-quietly. Saturday, April 23. 1pm. $4.75/participant plus general admission of Adults (13+) $15.75; Juniors (2-12) and Seniors (62+) $11.50. For more information, call 201-200-1000.

Biome in a Bag at the Morris Museum (Morristown)

If the last thing your kid grew in a bag was mold on the bologna sandwich he left in his lunchbox in the school lost-and-found, it’s time for a new look at this everyday household object. Drop in this afternoon and try your hand at a growing a plant you’ll never have to water  Appropriate for ages 5-and-up. Saturday, April 23. Noon-2pm. $3/child plus museum admission: $10/Adults; $7/Children and Seniors. Children under 3 years FREE.  For more information, call 973-971-3700.

A Fairy Tale Princess Tea Party at Pax Amicus Castle Theatre (Budd Lake)

It’s a princess-palooza. Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Jasmine, Rapunzel, The Frog Princess, Sleeping Beauty and Pochahantas take the stage for a tea party with The Fairy Godmother, Tinker Belle, The Blue Fairy and Glinda in this new play at Pax Amicus. The theater expects this event to sell out, so order your tickets early, or you may be sentenced to the dungeon. Saturday, April 23. 11am and 1:30pm. Tickets $12. To order tickets, and for more information, call 973-691-2100.

The Great Cloth Diaper Change Guinness World Records Event (Denville)

You take pride in your ability to change a diaper in a tiny airplane bathroom during turbulence while helping your 2-yr old wipe their booty. You’ve simultaneously changed a diaper while talking on the phone and folding laundry.  You’re ready.  You know it. Head to The Birth Boutique Saturday to help put cloth diapers in the Guinness World Record Books. The North American and International cloth diaper community is attempting to set the record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously in order to raise awareness about the benefits of using cloth diapers. This global event allows you to benefit the earth while demonstrating those abilities you’ll never find on a resume.  Let’s just hope there’s lots of incense involved.  FREE, but diaper-changers must pre-register. Visit the above event link, and click on the Get Your Tickets NOW button. Saturday April 23. 11am-12:45pm. For more information, call 973-627-8850. (NOTE: Too far for you? Take heart (or, well, heiny): additional New Jersey locations are hosting this event–please visit the link above for the most updated information.)

SUNDAY ONLY

Egg-citing Animals Walk and Egg Hunt at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area (Kinnelon)

Forget the indoor egg hunt–take the kids to Pyramid Mountain for an egg HIKE.  Search the forest for hidden eggs and clues during this easy walk, while learning which wild babies hatch from eggs.  Appropriate for children 3 years and up.  Sunday, April 24. 10am-11:30am. $2/person. Preregistration required, please call 973-334-3130.

Bounce with the Easter Bunny at R’Bounce (West Long Branch)

Headless chocolate bunnies litter the floor. Sticky marshmallow chicks adorn the coffee table.  Jellybeans abound.  Phase II: Destruction of home due to sugar overload. But wait! Bring the kids to R’Bounce Sunday morning to hop out those carbs during an Easter Bunny Bounce instead. There’s prizes, an egg hunt and...huh? MORE treats? Will it NEVER end???? Sunday, April 23. 10:30am-noon.  $10/person.  Call to reserve your spot: 732-483-6971. 

Hocus Pocus and Paleo-possibilities at the Newark Museum (Newark)

Had it up to your long, furry ears with bunny activities? Head to the drop-in art and science activities at the Newark Museum. This Saturday, explore fossils from the Teaching Collection and learn what a fossil footprint can tell us about the dinosaur that left it behind.  Or, view tiny talismans from Ancient Egypt and make a lucky charm. Maybe you can ward off more April showers   Sunday, April 24. 1pm-4pm. FREE with general admission of $10/Adults, $6/Children, Seniors and Students with Valid I.D. For more information, call 973-596-6550.

And don’t forget to check out our listings of NJ Earth Day Events (Friday)  Button's Birthday Bash (Saturday) and your last chance to hop on an Easter Bunny Train!