Things To Do This Weekend, July 27-29

Get the most out of your weekend at these NJ area events. We found more than 30 for you to choose from.

Now that school’s out for summer, it’s time to embrace those long summer days with the kiddos while they last. Chow down at Walk. Talk. Taste Montclair., prep for the holidays at Christmas in July in South Plainfield or celebrate National Day of the Cowboy in the wild, wild west in Stanhope.

If you’re looking for more fun, there are plenty of fairs and festivals, free things to do, places to take your preschoolers and STEM events going on this month.

Bergen County

Saturday, July 28

1st Annual Teaneck Street Fair

Where: West Englewood and Palisades Ave., Teaneck Price: Free admission Deets: Start a new tradition when you stop by the Teaneck Street Fair for food trucks, live music, a beer garden, BBQ showdown and plenty of activities to keep the kiddos occupied.

Cape May County

Saturday-Sunday, July 28-29

Hands on History

Where: Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May Price: $14/adults, $12/ages 3-12 Deets: Take the kids on a blast to the past. Each child will be given a “Pastport” at the start of their Village trip, which can be stamped at the buildings they visit after completing a take-home craft or activity. Turn in your Pastport at the end of the day for a free treat at the Country Store.

Cumberland County

Ongoing

Symbiotic Spheres: The Interlocking Worlds of Glass, Science and Art

Where: Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville Price: $10 Deets: Got lil’ STEM lovers at home? Head to this curated exhibit featuring science-inspired work from more than 20 contemporary artists. You’ll want to check out the glass pieces that magnify, distort and illuminate, each creating different perceptions of the world. Ends December 30.

Essex County

Sunday, July 29

Walk. Talk. Taste Montclair.

Where: Lackawanna Station, Montclair Price: $45/person, $40/members Deets: See Montclair like never before at this three-hour walking tour that’ll let you sink your teeth into the specialties of local eateries. Registration required.

Ongoing

MAM Family Art Adventure

Where: Montclair Art Museum, Montclair Price: Included with admission Deets: Calling all little Picassos ages 6-12. Discuss artwork and engage in a fun hands-on project in the studio. Program ends in August.

Drop-In Studio Every Sunday

Where: Montclair Art Museum, Montclair Price: Free with admission Deets: Visitors of all ages are invited to explore a new activity every week under the watchful eye of a museum instructor and leave with their masterpieces.

Hudson County

Ongoing

Grossology Exhibit

Where: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City Price: $5 Deets: Parents, have no fear: your kids can be gross here! Kids love the ooey and icky, and this comedic exhibition will answer all their questions. From what’s up their noses to what happens in the bathroom, they’ll learn about their bodies in an approachable manner. They’ll even get to play a supersized version of Operation. Ends September 23.

Hunterdon County

Friday, July 27-29

QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

Where: Solberg Airport, Readington Price: $35/adult, $15/kid Deets: Visit one of the greatest balloon festivals in Jersey, which includes up to 100 specially-shaped hot air balloons. Dance the night away with live music and shop ‘til you drop at hundreds of vendors and food trucks.

Mercer County

Saturday, July 28

Picnic Day

Where: Tulpehaking Nature Center, Hamilton Price: Free Deets: Enjoy the warm summer weather with backyard activities and free Rita’s Italian Ice for your little munchkins.

Ongoing

Dinosaurs at Dusk

Where: New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, Trenton Price: $7/adults, $5/ages 12 and under Deets: Join Lucy and her father as they study dinosaurs and discover the origin of flight. Plus, stick around for the dinosaurs’ last day on Earth (and to meet pterosaurs). Every Saturday and Sunday, ends September 2.

Hearth and Home

Where: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton Price: Free with admission Deets: Visitors can explore the homes of Native Americans in the Eastern Woodlands and other environments across North America. Learn how they adapted to the climate and surroundings. Program ends in September.

Embattled Emblems

Where: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton Price: Free with admission Deets: Timed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of America’s intervention in World War I, this exhibition showcases posters, flags and propaganda used to create patriotism and garner support for the war. Head here for a lesson in American history. Program ends August 19.

Sunset Sips and Sounds

Where: Terhune Orchards, Princeton Price: Prices vary Deets: Every Friday, kick back in a climate-controlled wine barn full of jazz, blues, folk and rock music. Go with friends or your SO for a glass of Farmhouse White or Sauvignon Blanc, cheese, chips, salsa and more. Ends August 31.

Middlesex County

Saturday, July 28

Butterflies are Free at Plainsboro Preserve

Where: Plainsboro Preserve, Cranbury Price: $5/members, $7/non-members Deets: Learn about one of nature’s natural beauties at the Plainsboro Preserve, where you can catch butterflies in local gardens and fields. Explorations are designed for nature lovers ages 6 and up.

Christmas in July

Where: Front St., South Plainfield Price: Free Deets: It’s never too early to start dreaming of blankets of fluffy snow and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Now in its sixth year, this Christmas event features local vendors and games for the kiddos.

Thursday-Sunday, July 26-29

Cirque Italia

Where: Woodbridge Center, Woodbridge Price: $0-20 Deets: Check out the world’s first traveling water circus featuring acrobatics, puppetry, contortionists and more.

Monmouth County

Thursday-Sunday, July 27-29

Beauty & the Beast

Where: Algonquin Arts Theatre, Manasquan Price: $23-40 Deets: Does this tale as old as time ever truly get old? Grab the kiddos and journey from Belle’s provincial town to the Beast’s castle.

Monmouth County Fair

Where: East Freehold Showgrounds, Freehold Price: $8/adult, free/ages 12 and under Deets: Enjoy some old-fashioned fun with 4-H exhibits, amusement rides, entertainment, fireworks and home and garden competitions.

Sunday, July 29

Disney’s High School Musical

Where: Axelrod Performing Arts Center, Deal Price: $28/adult, $20/student, $26/senior Deets: Come see your fave characters and dance numbers come to life at this live stage performance of this Disney Channel classic.

Morris County

POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 4-5, CALL FOR MORE INFO

Peach Festival

Where: Alstede Farms, Chester Price: Free admission Deets: Life’s just peachy at this local festival, which includes homemade peach ice cream, peach cakes, shakes, peach kuchen and pies. Yum!

Passaic County

Saturday, July 28

New Jersey Jackals Superhero Night

Where: Yogi Berra Stadium, Little Falls Price: Included with ticket Deets: Swing, batta, batta! Grab tickets fast because this evening's about more than just America's favorite pastime. There'll be free superhero masks for the first 1,000 kids (ages 12 and under), a pre-game fan superhero parade, a contest for the best dressed superhero, plus fireworks!

Sunday, July 29

A Dance with Death

Where: Elk's Lodge, Wayne Price: $60 Deets: See a dinner show filled with murder, mystery, deception and, of course, good food. Host your own private party or tag along for one of their scheduled performances.

Ocean County

Ongoing

Strolling Children's Entertainment

Where: Casino Pier, Seaside Heights Price: Free Deets: Every Tuesday and Thursday you and the fam can hit the pier for entertaining acts and events, face painting and balloonists. Who doesn’t want a balloon giraffe? Ends August 30.

Somerset County

Saturday, July 28

Meet the Ponies at Lord Stirling Stable

Where: Lord Stirling Stable, Basking Ridge Price: $15/child, $10/each additional child Deets: Horse enthusiasts ages 7-9 can meet some of the cutest employees at the Lord Stirling Stable. There are activities for equestrians of all levels, even non-riders. Learn how to groom a pony, what ponies eat and what it takes to take care of a pony.

Ongoing

Bound Brook Food Truck Festival

Where: Billian Park, Bound Brook Price: $5, free/ages 10 and under Deets: Looking for food, beer, music and activities? Bring an empty stomach and fill up at more than 20 gourmet food trucks, then bop around to music from a DJ, play activities with the kiddos and indulge in beer, sangria or margs.

Sussex County

Saturday, July 28

National Day of the Cowboy

Where: Wild West City, Stanhope Price: $18/adults, $16/ages 2-11, $13.50/seniors Deets: Mosey on down to Wild West City for this year’s National Cowboy Day. Come out for some sharp shootin' riding, rope spinning and real cowboys. With 22 different live-action shows, stagecoaches, train rides and pony rides this will be a day you and your lil partners won’t forget.

Union County

Ongoing

A Child's View of History

Where: Liberty Hall Museum, Union Price: $8/adults, $10/kids Deets: Want to take your kids to a museum but afraid they’ll be bored? On Tuesdays, Liberty Hall’s 240 years of history is hands-on, which means kids (ages 5-12) can touch the artifacts. Take a tour through the perspective of the Hall’s previous kid residents, plus kids can try farm chores and colonial games. Ends August 28.

Warren County

Ongoing

Radical Rocketeers

Where: Warren County Library, Hackettstown Price: Free Deets: On the first Saturday of every month, all ages are welcome to try their hand at rocket building. Basic supplies will be provided, but you can also bring your own. Registration required.

New York City

Ongoing

Unseen Oceans

Where: American Museum of Natural History, NYC Price: $28/adults, $16.50/kids Deets: Check out the interactive media installations, watch 3-D animations of great white sharks swim by, try the magnetic sand table and visit live marine animals. This experience is all about the ocean and the tech used to explore its unknown depths. Exhibit ends January 2019.

Family Sundays at Rubin Museum

Where: Rubin Museum of Art, NYC Price: Free with admission Deets: Bring your little ones all year long to participate in a new art activity each month at this city staple.

Pennsylvania

Saturday, July 28

Whitewater Dam Release Day

Where: Pocono Whitewater, Jim Thorpe, PA Price: $69.99/person Deets: Paddle down 12 miles of scenic whitewater with your 8-and-uppers. Plan to get wet—you’ll go over 17 rapids during 4-5 hours of rafting.

Ongoing

The Friday Night unWINEd

Where: Shady Brook Farm, Yardley, PA Price: $5 Deets: Spend your Friday nights sipping local craft beer, signature cocktails and wine while listening to live music, playing lawn games and watching the kiddos have fun with jumping pillows, a playground and go-carts. Ends August 31.