SATURDAY ONLY

Family Festival Day at the Livingston Oval (Livingston)

Talk about one-stop shopping for the day’s activities!  This 12-hour long family festival packs it all in with non-stop goings-on.  From 10am-3pm, there’s obstacle courses, pony rides, a petting zoo, adopt-a-pet, chalk walk, crafts-and-pottery tents, face painters, fire trucks, the ambulance squad, a robotics demonstration, a classic car show and more.  A “Bike Rodeo” takes place from 1pm-3pm (registration begins at noon)–and you can be sure it’ll be safety first for the wheelers as it’s run by the police department!  From 3pm-6pm, performances take place including The Asian Indian Community (AILIV),  The Livingston Chinese Community, the Children’s Theatre of Livingston, the Livingston Township Dance Troupe and a special appearance by the “Sleepy Man Banjo Boys Band.”  Then, get out the bug spray and the picnic blankets for a movie under the stars from 8:30pm-10pm.  After all this madness, it’ll be a miracle if the kids make it to the end of “How to Train Your Dragon”. (Hey, maybe they’ll even sleep in Sunday!)  Saturday, May 28. 10am–10pm.  FREE.   For more information, contact Alan Karpas at 973-992-6411.

Annual Family Garden Party at Presby Memorial Iris Gardens (Upper Montclair)

Got little ones who believe in flower fairies? Then a walk through a garden blooming with more than 100,000 iris flowers should tickle their fancy! Enjoy live music and light refreshments, view the student iris art exhibit, and let the kids play and craft. You’ll also get to meet and learn about local environmental organizations before heading home to start planting your own fairy flower home. Saturday, May 28. 10am-3pm.  FREE. For more information, call 973-239-2485.

Raptor Trust Tour Talks at The Raptor Trust (Millington)

If taloned creatures are more your kids’ thing, then a trip to the Raptor Trust’ll be right up their alley.  Tour the aviaries while learning the fascinating stories of the fifty hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls that reside at the center.  Then swoop into the Raptor Trust Gift Shop to check out the handcrafted gifts and jewelry. Saturday, May 28. Tours at 11am and 2pm. Adults/$10.; Kids/$5.  Registration required. For more information, call 908-647-2353.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Fit and Fun Family Festival at Camden Children's Garden (Camden)

The focus is on fitness at this weekend’s family festival. Join in crafts, a veggie make-n-take planting activity and educational activities that support healthy living.  Check out the concession stand–your kids may be begging for broccoli by the time you’re through!  Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29.  1pm-4 pm. FREE with admission:  Visitors/$6.;  Children two and younger/FREE.  For more information, call 856-365-TREE (8733).

Space Farms Zoo & Museum (Sussex)

While some of us NJ-dwellers get our daily fill of wild animals up close (for example, the two black bears we busted in my garage last week scavenging the remains of my kids’ lunch boxes), others long to get a glimpse of the wild side.  Space Farms is just the place for that.  This 400-acre zoo-and-museum is New Jersey’s largest, and this weekend offers 1pm snake handling demonstrations; 10am/2pm/4:30pm nursery feedings; and 2:30pm carnivore feedings (lions, tigers and bear.  Just hide the Twinkies from view.  Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29.  Open Daily 9am–5pm. Last entrance at 4pm. Adults (13-64)/$14. plus tax; Children (3-12)/$9.50 plus tax;  Seniors (65+)/$13. plus tax.  For more information, call 973-875-5800.

SUNDAY ONLY

18th Annual African American Parade and Festival (Newark)

If “the more, the merrier” is your mantra, head to this mega-parade and festival Sunday for a jam-packed party! While the festival runs Friday through Monday, the main event is Sunday’s parade and post-parade festival. Up to 1 million people are expected to pack the event to view the massive parade consisting of marching bands, floats, step groups, giant balloons, horsemen, exotic animals, community groups and law enforcement agencies, and military contingents from across the nation. The special signature attraction is skydivers who parachute directly in front of the parade reviewing stand on Broad Street.  After the parade, the festival at Weequahic Park opens with a spiritual concert on the main stage and continues with carnival rides, vendors, a children's village,  a free golf clinic, horse-and-wagon rides, vendor tents, an adventure zoo, food vendors, game trailers and more. (See map for specific festival site locations.) Sunday, May 29. Pre-parade ceremony begins at 11:30am. Sky divers land at noon. Event runs until 6pm. For more information, call 866-273-4441.