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Best Spring 2020 Events for New Jersey Toddlers and Preschoolers

There’s lots of Easter fun happening at Alstede Farms. Photo courtesy of the farm
There’s lots of Easter fun happening at Alstede Farms. Photo courtesy of the farm
3/12/20 - By Laurie Rein

Spring is just around the corner, and a fresh crop of events for toddlers and preschoolers is blooming around New Jersey. We've rounded up the best things to do with the under-6 crowd from mid-March through the end of May, and they're sure to put some spring in your steps.

From amusement park openings to Easter activities to family-friendly performances, there's something for everyone in your family to enjoy. Read on for our top spring event picks for NJ toddlers and preschoolers. And be sure to sneak a peek at our Spring Fun Guide for even more great events.

NOTE: Events are subject to change due to the constantly evolving coronavirus situation in New Jersey, and we are continuously updating our event calendar to reflect those changes. If you're planning to attend an event, we strongly recommend contacting the host venue directly to confirm it's still on.

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Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 22. Photo courtesy of Mayo Performing Arts Center
Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 22. Photo courtesy of Mayo Performing Arts Center

March 2020 Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Read & Explore: Getting Ready for Spring

Tuesday and Saturday, March 17 and 21 – Princeton
Terhune Orchards Read and Explore Program is a winter education series, following the popular seasonal Read and Pick Program. This program is about Getting Ready for Spring. READ MORE

DiDonato's Easter EGGspress

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, March 20 – April 11 – Hammonton
Take a ride on this festive train all decked out for Easter. Your ticket includes a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt, Easter prizes, the Spring Hedge Maze, an inflatable obstacle course, and more. Plus, score a free bowling game. READ MORE

10th Annual Kidfest- CANCELED

Saturday, March 21 – New Brunswick – FREE
Magic 98.3 presents a fun-filled day of live entertainment, games, contests, giveaways, a climbing wall, bounce houses, and more, held at Rutgers University.  READ MORE

9th Annual Spring Model Railroad Show- POSTPONED

Saturdays and Sundays, March 21-29 – North Haledon
Founded in 1953, the Garden State Model Railway Club has been in North Haledon since 1957. They open the doors to the public in the winter and spring. READ MORE

Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure- CANCELED

Sunday, March 22 – Morristown
The creators of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live want to take your family on an all new adventure – this time to the bottom of the ocean. Explore unknown ocean depths, where prehistoric marine reptiles lived eons ago - and maybe live still today. READ MORE

Easter and Springtime Family Festival at Alstede Farms- POSTPONED

Saturdays and Sundays, March 28 – April 19 – Chester
Come and celebrate spring on the farm. Enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny, hunt for eggs, visit adorable baby farm animals, participate in children's activities including pony rides, moon bounce, scenic hay wagon rides and much more. READ MORE

Brunch with the Easter Bunny at Alstede Farms- POSTPONED

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March 28 – April 11 – Chester
Brunch includes a delicious all-you-can-eat spread, photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny, and all activities in the Easter and springtime festival area. READ MORE

Harborside JC Spring Festival- CANCELED

Saturday, March 28 – Jersey City
Stop by the annual JCFamilies' Spring Festival. For the 4th year in a row, this event will take place inside the beautiful and light-filled Harborside Atrium, close to the PATH train and Light Rail stops. READ MORE
Hoboken Grace Community Church's 2020 Easter egg hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 4. Photo courtesy of the church
Hoboken Grace Community Church's 2020 Easter egg hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 4. Photo courtesy of the church

April 2020 Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Friday, April 3 – Madison
Bring your favorite stuffed animal or doll for a sleepover at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. Stay for a snack and storytime, then tuck your friend in for the night.  READ MORE

Hoboken Grace Community Church’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 4 – Hoboken – FREE
Hudson County's largest egg hunt includes games and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Groups are split into morning and afternoon time slots, starting every 30 minutes.  READ MORE

Easter EggstravaganZoo at Cape May County Zoo

Saturday, April 4 – Cape May – FREE
All are invited to Cape May County Park and Zoo for its annual EggstravaganZoo, featuring the Easter Bunny. Visitors can have their picture taken with the popular rabbit on Saturday, March 30. READ MORE

The Easter Bunny Train Ride & Easter Egg Hunt

Saturdays and Sunday, April 4-11 – Phillipsburg
All aboard the Easter Bunny train ride! Guests visit with Mr. E. Bunny as the train winds along the scenic Delaware River after departing from the historic district of Phillipsburg.  READ MORE

7th Annual Sonny the Bunny's Colossal Carrot Adventure

Saturday, April 4 – Freehold – FREE
Sonny the Bunny is back for the 7th Annual Carrot Adventure. There will be free pictures with Sonny the Bunny, a bunny trail you can hop along to collect eggs filled with treats, fun activities like face painting, photo booth, and crafts. READ MORE

Easter Egg Hunt in Seaside Heights

Saturday, April 4 – Seaside Heights
The Easter Bunny has lost his eggs on the beach in Seaside Heights and he needs lots of help finding them. Kids can search with others in their age group to find more than 10,000 eggs hidden in the sand. READ MORE

Storybook Land Opening Weekend

Saturday-Sunday, April 4-5 – Egg Harbor Township
Storybook Land opens for the season, ready to entertain little ones in a fun and educational atmosphere. Guests can expect many terrific family rides like the Bubbles Coaster, Zip Zap Racers, and Work Zone. READ MORE

Family Fun Easter Bunny Train Ride

Saturdays and Sundays, April 4- 11 – Wall Township
Kids are invited to take a ride on the Pine Creek Railroad with the Easter Bunny on this special Easter Express ride. READ MORE

Jenkinson's Boardwalk Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday, April 5 – Point Pleasant – FREE
Jenkinson's invites children ages 10 and under for this unofficial kickoff to the summer season, featuring an egg hunt in the sand. Limit three eggs per child. Rain or shine. READ MORE

Helicopter Easter Egg Drop

Sunday, April 5 – South Brunswick – FREE
5000 Easter eggs drop from the sky in the 4th annual unique egg hunt.  READ MORE

Kids Break: For The Dreamer

Friday, April 10 – Short Hills – FREE
Swing by Indigo at 11am or 2pm for demos and PAW Patrol and Peppa Pig activities. Then get creative and make your own Play-Doh sushi. READ MORE

Bunny Chase Weekend

Saturday, April 11-12 – Princeton
Look for treasure hunt clues around Terhune Orchards farm, leading to a spring surprise at the end of the hunt. This fun event is free to families. READ MORE

Brunch with the Easter Bunny at Camden Children's Garden

Saturday, April 11 – Camden
Enjoy a buffet brunch with the Easter Bunny, then head out to the garden for an Easter egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, crafts, and rides. READ MORE

Morey's Piers Easter Celebration- CANCELED

Sunday, April 12 – Wildwood – FREE
Morey's Piers is hopping with Easter Sunday celebrations and activities that include pictures with the Easter Bunny, an Easter egg contest, a balloon artist, and strolling entertainment. READ MORE

Ort Farms Storytime: Hoppin' Around Bunnyville

Tuesday, April 14 – Long Valley
Enjoy this first storytime of the year, with stories featuring bunnies. Plus, have a light snack, make a fun craft, play with bunnies in Bunnyville, and then visit all the other animals on the farm. READ MORE

Easter Parade

Sunday, April 12 – Galloway – FREE
Put on your Easter best and stroll the Village in style. Begins at the Smithville Inn at 1:00 p.m., and awards are given for best outfits.  READ MORE

Essex County Family Day at Branch Brook Park

Saturday, April 18 – Newark – FREE
Stop by the concert grove in Branch Brook Park to enjoy an afternoon outdoors with your family. Enjoy live performances, children's activities, a fishing derby, food vendors and more. READ MORE

Dino Day at the Morris Museum- CANCELED

Saturday, April 18 – Morristown
This weekend, travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed New Jersey. Kids can handle real fossils, meet a dinosaur expert, participate in a hunt for fossils in the Museum's dig pit, and make dinosaur-related crafts in the museum's galleries. READ MORE

Earth and Arbor Day Family Festival

Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26 – Camden
Celebrate Earth Day at Camden Children's Garden. During this festival, families can anticipate many engaging activities. Kids who dress as Mother Earth, Fred the Fish or a Truffula Tree receive $1 off of admission. READ MORE

Daffodil Day at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Sunday, April 26 – Summit
Relish the arrival of spring with flower power and see more than 50,000 bulbs in bloom. Expect green-themed games and crafts, music, food trucks, and story walks. This extra-special year marks the 50th anniversary of the arboretum. READ MORE

May 2020 Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Kite Day

Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3 – Princeton
All are invited to explore Terhune Orchards during this spring festival. Bring a kite or choose a ready-made kite from the wide selection in the store, then test fly the kite in the wide-open 10-acre pasture with all the farm animals looking on. READ MORE

The Laurie Berkner Band Live! The Greatest Hits Tour

Saturday, May 2 – Morristown
MAYO Performing Arts Center welcomes children's music superstar Laurie Berkner for an all-new music and dance party. READ MORE

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Live

Sunday, May 3 – Newark
Daniel Tiger and all of his friends from the PBS KIDS animated series are hopping aboard Trolley and coming to NJPAC with a new, live musical adventure. READ MORE

Ort Farms Storytime: Mother's Day Planting

Tuesday and Thursday, May 5 and 7 – Long Valley
Honor all mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and all the other special ladies in your life. Guests are invited to listen to stories and then paint a pot to plant a flower to give as a gift. READ MORE

Children's Festival

Saturday, May 9 – Galloway – FREE
Get ready for a family fun-filled day with Historic Smithville's annual Children's Festival. READ MORE

Fairy and Pirate Festival at Turkey Brook Park

Saturday, May 16 – Budd Lake – FREE
The wee folk and swashbuckling buccaneers are back at Turkey Brook Park, turning it into a magical wonderland of games, rides, entertainment, and activities. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Queen Elsa Tea Party

Saturday, May 16 – Montclair
You are cordially invited to a special tea party with Queen Elsa. Dress-up is encouraged but not mandatory. Local character actress Nola Bunny will be portraying Queen Elsa. READ MORE

Roxey Ballet's Pied Piper of Hamelin

Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17 – Ewing
Roxey Ballet Company proudly presents its productions of Pied Piper of Hamelin and The Carnival of Animals. These are family-friendly productions highlighting the talents of local student dancers complemented by fully professional and international ballet company. READ MORE

Garwood Fire Department Wet Down

Saturday, May 16 – Garwood – FREE
The truck wet down event features food, beverages, entertainment and rides. Plastic mugs will be sold, and also plenty of t-shirts. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Garden State Model Railway Club
Harborside Atrium
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts
Cape May County Park and Zoo
Delaware River Railroad Excursions
Seaside Heights Beach Locations
Mayo Performing Arts Center
The College Of New Jersey’s Kendall Main Stage Theater
Garwood Fire Department