All Weekend

NJ State Fair (East Rutherford, NJ)
Okay, the NJ State Fair can be expensive and crowded but having put that up front, heck, it's the New Jersey State Fair and everyone should probably go once in their lifetimes if nothing more than to gawk at the excess! If you know what you're in for, you can have a good time with the giant Kiddieland amusement park, the open-air circus and the 35 acres of fairground food (fried Oreos and peanut butter balls, anyone?).

Italian-American Festival (North Wildwood, NJ)
A Shore favorite, the 20th annual North Wildwood Italian-American Festival celebrates the Italian-American heritage and features vendors, live entertainment, dancing, a meatball relay, Little Miss Italy Pageant and an abundance of food. You’ll probably want to come on an empty stomach!

Grease (Millburn, NJ)
"A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop A-wop-bam-boom!" For a Broadway scale show without the trek into the city, catch the last weekend of Grease at the historic Paper Mill Playhouse. A rock & roll celebration of growing up and falling in love set in the fabulous fifties, parents will remember all the songs and have a ball introducing kids to this classic musical.

Saturday, June 28th

Puerto Rico Family Festival (Camden, NJ)
Camden Children’s Garden is once again hosting another family friendly festival filled with culture! This colorful celebration includes Hispanic arts and crafts, games, Puerto Rican activities and delicious tropical fruit. You can also enjoy live music in the nearby Piney Woods Amphitheatre as part of the annual Camden festival.

Garden Time (Jersey City, NJ)
Get your hands dirty at Liberty State Park with a morning of family gardening. The park’s Nature Interpretive Center is still working to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy, so spend a couple hours of your time weeding, watering and planting as your group spruces up the area around the educational building.

Whitesbog Blueberry Festival (Brown Mills, NJ)
Celebrate all things blueberry at this old fashioned festival at Whitesbog Village.  Enjoy blueberry picking, live country music, lots of children’s activities, exhibits, great food, historical presentations and tours and pinelands artists. Be sure and stick around for the famous blueberry pie eating contest too!

Sunday, June 29th

13th Annual Hoboken Baby Parade (Hoboken, NJ)
Hoboken’s babies venture out in their finest attire, toddlers flaunt their cutest costumes and parents create amazing mini-floats balanced atop carriages and wagons along the waterfront to Pier A. Parents are encouraged to dress up their babies, toddlers and older siblings—and, of course, themselves and their strollers. Trophies are awarded for Best Dressed Child, Most Creative Carriage, and Best Dressed Family.

Princeton Show Jumping Family Days (Princeton, NJ)
If you’ve got little equestrian lovers in the family, definitely check out Family Days at Hunter Farms North. Take in a horse show with top equestrians and then let the kids enjoy free pony rides, a petting zoo, an agility dog demo and face painting. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Children of Honduras foundation so it’s a win-win all around!

Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could (Netcong, NJ)
Brady Rymer, a 2009 Grammy Nominee, and the Little Band That Could return to the historic Palace Theatre to celebrate their new CD release, “Just Say Hi!” Just Say Hi! is bursting with catchy hooks, happy sing-a-long choruses and hip-shakin’ rhythms, thanks to the chug-chug-chugging of the amazing Little Band That Could.

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month; GO JUNE 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.