Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend September 7-8: Cockpit Day, Monarch Festival, Apple Breakfast and More!

9/4/13 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

Even though school is in full swing for most of us, the weather is still balmy, so why not enjoy just a little more outdoor fun? Check out beautiful butterflies at Pyramid Mountain’s Monarch Festival or learn all about planes and helicopters at the Aviation Museum’s Open Cockpit Day. Or get into the autumn spirit with a day of apple picking and hay rides at Alstede Farms. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

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Block Party at Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ)
We’ve been singing this exhibit’s praises all summer and if you still haven’t checked out the biggest block party around, this weekend is the perfect chance before it closes on September 15th. Using over 1,600 oversized blocks, cubes, cogs, curves, cylinders, and even arches, kids can create whimsical buildings, ocean-going vessels, space-bound rocket ships, futuristic cities, and fabulous forts in this engineering fun fest. Different play areas for different ages (including a special space for kids 5 and under with no big kids allowed). All ages welcome. Saturday & Sunday 9am-5:30pm. Entry included with museum admission. 201-100-1000

Saturday, September 7th

Open Cockpit Day (Teterboro, NJ)
Got a little airplane lover? Then Open Cockpit Day is a must do this Saturday! Five times a year, the Aviation Museum opens the cockpits of their planes and helicopters to kids and their families, providing hands on learning experiences from professional pilots. They’ll learn all about the function of each control and instrument and maybe even put those tiny hands to the steering wheel! Children will also get a kick out of the fire truck and are welcome to climb inside for awesome photo ops. All ages welcome. 10am-4pm. $7/Adult, $5/Children & Seniors. 201-288-6344

Monarch Festival (Boonton, NJ)
Celebrate all things butterfly this Sunday at Pyramid Mountain as they welcome the beautiful Monarchs. Start with a guided ‘Bug Safari,’ and venture through the butterfly garden. Then travel through the lifecycle stations and experience monarch metamorphosis firsthand. Little ones will be in awe as they witness the tagging and exciting release of live monarch butterflies and older kids will keep busy with butterfly origami. Kick back to live music and browse the gift shop filled with gardening kits, educational crafts and butterfly souvenirs. All ages welcome. 12-4pm. $4/Adult, $3/Children (2-10), Children under 2 are free. 973-334-3130

Family Beach Walk (Long Branch, NJ)
The weather is still warm and sunny so if you find yourself still in a summer frame of mind, take the Family Beach Walk this Saturday! Join a naturalist and take a stroll along Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, where you’ll learn there’s much more to the beach than just sand. Explore the wonderful world of sea stars, moon snails, clams and an array of other exciting creatures that live near the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Participants will discover the major players on the beach, investigating plants on the dunes and animals found on the beach and in the water. The walk is perfect for families with children ages 5 & up. 12-1pm. $7/Person. 732-229-0924

Sunday, September 8th

Apple Pancake Breakfast (Chester, NJ)
Fall is upon us and that means apple season is here! Stuff yourself silly at Alstede Farms during the annual Apple Pancake Breakfast this weekend. Begin the morning with a scenic hay ride around the sprawling farm and then indulge in a country-fresh breakfast that includes pancakes with homemade apple topping, scrambled eggs, apple cider and more. Afterward, everyone is invited into the fields to pick the first apple crop of the season to take home. Stick around the farm for more fall fun including a petting zoo and wagon rides. All ages welcome. 8am-12:30pm. $9.99/Adult, $4.99/Child. 908-879-7189

1920s Country Fair & Harvest Festival (Morristown, NJ)
Enjoy the latest trends, (1920s-style that is!), at the award-winning 1920s Country Fair and Harvest Festival at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm. Go for a spin in an antique car or take a tractor-pulled wagon ride, give your best guesses at a cow judging and lend a hand at cider pressing. Or head on over to the fields and watch the amazing sheep dogs herd the sheep around the fences and gates and witness a side saddle riding demonstration. You can even attempt to dance the Charleston and tap your toes to the rhythms of the Long Hill String Band! And no country fair would be complete without handcrafts, baked goods and delicious food concessions. All ages welcome. 12-5pm. $8/Adult, $7/Seniors (65+), $6/Children (4-16), $4/Children (2-3), Free for children under 2 and members. 973-326-7645

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month! GO SEPTEMBER is hot off the presses!

And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar. And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend make sure you visit the New York City Mommy Poppins events calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had NYC-style.