St. Ann’s Festival (Hoboken)

No one parties like the Italians in Hoboken (I know, because I’m one of them).  The Zeppoles are the best, but they’ve got every nationality of food, tons of desserts and an Elvis impersonator.  Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24 from 1pm to 11pm .  FREE.

Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Festival (Middletown)

Yes, there’s music, tons of it, but there’s also Kids’ Activities and a Youth Stage with the best of the area’s youth bands like JSJBF’s Youth Project and Elefunk. Saturday July 23 from 11am to 8pm.  Accessible by NJ Transit for you jazz lovers who don’t drive. FREE.

Junior Zookeeper Day at Space Farms Zoo (Sussex)

Kids aged 5 to 15 get to assist Zookeeper Lori with the daily activities/chores around the zoo, watch the Enrichment Play Time for the bears, lions, tigers and monkeys and receive a certificate for their efforts. Saturday July 23 starting at noon. Free with paid admission of $14/adults, $9.50/kids. Call 973-875-5800 for more information.

Tenafly Street Fair

Test drive ‘green’ cars from Honda and KIA, listen to Nikki Armstrong and the Whole Lotta Blues Band, adopt a pet, and come back again on Sunday for a kiddiepalooza.  Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24 from 10am to 5pm.

Play Ball (Princeton)

A historical reenactment of 19th century baseball (that means no mitts—ouch), the Flemington Neshanock and the Elkton Eclipse will play the old-fashioned way with rules from 1864 at Princeton High School's junior varsity baseball field. The event will also include a short lesson on the history of the game, a recitation of "Casey at the Bat”, hot dogs and ice cream. Saturday July 23 at 11am. FREE. For more info call 609.921.6748 ext. 100.

Kids Corner at XPoNential Music Fest (Camden)

WXPN’s Kathy O’Connell hangs out with the small ones at the Kids Corner Garden on the Camden waterfront. Have Jack the Balloon Man twist you up a balloon pony, hop on the Butterfly Spring Ride or the Arrow River Train, or just play in the three interactive gardens. Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24 from 12pm to 6pm.

Firefly Watch at Duke Farms (Hillsborough)

You and your mini-me can become citizen scientists for a night while you stroll the 1.25-mile Walk on the Wild Side nature trail and count the fireflies (lightning bugs) at designated locations along the way. The data will be used by researchers from the Museum of Science in Boston, Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to track the geographic distribution of fireflies. How cool is that?
Please check in at the Visitors Center when you arrive to pick up a copy of the count form. FREE but needs advance registration. Saturday July 23 from 8 to 11pm. Call 908-722-3700 for more info.