All Weekend

A Day Out with Thomas (Phillipsburg, NJ)
If you have a Thomas fan in the family, this would be like a train-dream come true. A family event that offers children and their grownups the opportunity to ride with classic storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine™ . Parents, grandparents and siblings join their aspiring engineers in the fun. The Day Out With Thomas experience will engineer miles of smiles for the whole family and introduce a new generation to the timeless excitement of railroading.

NY Giants Health Expo (East Rutherford, NJ)
The four-time Super Bowl champion New York Giants and broadcast partner NBC 4 New York team up again to host a free, family-friendly, Health & Fitness Expo at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Giants players will be on hand for meet and greets (and to sign some autographs!). Also check out the family friendly fitness and health exhibits such as “Touch a Truck,” “Be a Diver” scuba lessons and healthy eating demos.

Saturday, July 19th

New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival (Toms River, NJ)
Come on, people, it's a full day of eating ICE CREAM--do we need to say more?  The 12th annual event will feature local bands, vendors and crafters, ice cream eating contests, inflatable rides, face painting, sand art and more. Taste all the ice cream at the festival with a tasting kit and cast your vote for People's Choice.

Nature Story Time (Tenafly, NJ)
For a little education amongst the great outdoors, head to the monthly story time at Tenafly Nature Center for kiddos ages 3 to 7. Enjoy a nature-themed story that focuses on the characteristics of native NJ animals and then get up close and personal with a real live animal (such as a snake, frog or owl!). Lace up your sneakers and hike one of the beautiful trails afterwards.

Rock’n River Sail (Alpine, NJ)
Have yourself an adventure this weekend! Set sail along the picturesque Palisades this Saturday morning and learn all about the geology of this coastal NJ area from expert George Harlow of Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History. Bring a picnic lunch along to enjoy the ride and don’t forget to book ahead of time – each cruise is limited to 40 people.

Point Pleasant Blues and Brews Festival (Point Pleasant, NJ)
Looking for some July fun down the shore? Join the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation for live performances by talented jazz and blues musicians, food, crafter and sponsor exhibits, an Alex and Ani Hospitality Tent, Lagunitas Craft Beer and Wine Garden (for mom & dad!) and family friendly activities for the entire gang.

Aladdin (Pitman, NJ)
What happens when a down-on-his-luck street orphan meets a beautiful princess? Nothing - unless you get the help of an all-powerful genie. Watch as Aladdin discovers the magic lamp and tries to win his princess in this classic tale at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman.

Sunday, July 20th

Treasure Island (Hillsborough, NJ)
Argh! It’s swashbuckling adventure on the high seas at the Somerset Playhouse! In this classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale of pirates and buried treasure and pieces of eight, young Jim Hawkins sails upon the schooner Hispaniola battling the evil Long John Silver in an exciting saga of intrigue, sword-fighting and mutiny.

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