All Weekend

Bob the Builder – Project: Build It! (Jersey City, NJ)
“Can we build it? Yes, we can!” Liberty Science Center is rolling out their fall exhibits and if you’ve got little guys that are Bob the Builder fans, this one’s for you! Children will join Bob the Builder and friends to make everything better in Sunflower Valley as they build, fix, plant and improve, using team efforts. They’ll climb on large construction machines, assemble a garage to keep them in, plant flowers in Wendy’s garden, use wrenches to fix a sink, operate kid-safe workshop machinery and even run a “water pump.” All ages welcome. Saturday 9am-5pm & Sunday 9am-5:30pm (Runs daily through April 27, 2014). Entry included with museum admission. 201-200-1000

Pumpkin Palooza (Cherry Hill, NJ)
The Garden State Discovery Museum is teaming up with Springdale Farms for their annual Pumpkin Palooza! Purchase an all day pass and check out fun fall activities at both the museum and the farm. Kids can take a pony ride, burn off some energy in the always popular Moon Bounce or romp through the corn maze. And if you’re feeling creative, try your hand at fall crafts or paint a pumpkin to take home. All ages welcome. Saturday & Sunday 11am-5pm. $15/Person for an all day pass. 856-424-1233

Saturday, September 28th

Make Your Own Scarecrow (Far Hills, NJ)
Usher in fall with a little rustic fun by making your very own scarecrow at Leonard J. Buck Garden this Saturday. Perfect for your garden this harvest season, all you’ve gotta do is bring a long-sleeved shirt, pants and a pillow case. The garden will provide leaves, stakes and easy step by step instructions. After your class, be sure and take a stroll in this beautiful, one of a kind rock garden filled with exotic flowers and plants. All ages welcome – a great fall activity for the whole family. $18/Scarecrow.  10-11:30am. 908-234-2677

Fall Festival (Short Hills, NJ)
Drop by the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary’s Fall Festival to enjoy the cool crisp air and the signs of fall in the woodlands. Learn about busy bees during the beehive presentation and check out a working observational beehive. Then stick around for a live animal show and let the kids run and explore during the arboretum scavenger hunt. Hungry? Take a break with some cider from their homemade press or grab some vegetarian chili and cornbread (& more!) at the concession stand. All ages welcome. Pre-registration recommended. 11am-2pm. Free admission (small fee for food purchases and pumpkin painting). 973-376-3587

Volunteer Beach Clean-Up (Jersey City, NJ)
Celebrate National Estuary Day by heading to Liberty State Park for some beach clean up. This much-loved park on the Hudson is slowly but surely rebuilding itself after Superstorm Sandy and in just a few hours, you’ll be amazed at how much a group of hard workers can do! Volunteers will meet at the park’s Nature Interpretive Center and head down to the shore area with garbage bags. After you're finished, definitely stick around and enjoy this awesome park! Grab a picnic table and have some lunch, play on the recently reopened playground and take in spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. All ages welcome (but recommended for ages 5 & up). Pre-registration is required. 10am-12pm. Free. 201-915-3402 x 109.

Sunday, September 29th

Apple Cidering (Tenafly, NJ)
Experience the taste of fresh & crisp apple cider at the Tenafly Nature Center this Sunday. Participants will help to make cider using TNC’s apple press and learn about the history of apple cultivation and cider making. TNC will provide the apples, but more apples mean more cider, so feel free to bring a bushel of your own too! Afterwards, stick around and take a refreshing fall hike on one of the many trails. Recommended for families with children ages 2 & up. 12:30-3pm. $5/Members, $10/Non-Members. 201-568-6093

Hoboken Arts & Music Festival (Hoboken, NJ)
Enjoy the beautiful weather at the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival. Over 300 artists, crafters, local businesses, restaurants and food vendors will be there! Kids will love music from Preschool of Rock, founded by a longtime member of the Blue Man Group as he uses puppets, drum circles and dramatic play to entertain the crowd. Also be sure and head on over to 3rd street for children’s activities including face painting, sand art and balloons. All ages welcome. 11am-6pm. Free (some activities and vendors may require an additional fee). 201-420-2207

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

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.