All Weekend

Day Out With Thomas: The GO GO Thomas Tour (Phillipsburg, NJ)
This is the last weekend that Thomas the Tank Engine will be pulling into The Delaware River Railroad Excursions, so hop aboard the 15-ton replica and take a ride! A ticket for Day Out With Thomas includes the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as Thomas & Friends themed entertainment (including Storytelling and Video Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with Arts & Crafts and more). Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor. The train pulled by Thomas leaves every hour on the hour, 10 am to 5 pm. Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. $15-36. 866-468-7630.

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (Hoboken, NJ)
Our beloved Mile Square Theatre, Hudson County’s premiere professional theatre company, returns to Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken with a free, open-air production of Shakespeare’s beloved cross-dressing comedy of true love, Twelfth Night. Set in 19th century Hoboken, the production imagines a resort destination where Orsino and Olivia leisurely while away summer hours in the name of love. Saturday, July 13 and Sunday July 14 at 8pm. FREE.

Freedom Fest State Fair (Allentown, NJ)
Come join in the fun with tons of attractions including a huge carnival midway, international food court, nightly horse shows and animal petting farm. Special events this weekend include Hypnotist Catherine Hickland and concerts by The Little River Band. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 10, free for kids 4 & under. Parking is $5 per car.  Saturday, July 13 from Noon to 11pm, Sunday, July 14 from Noon to 10pm. 609-610-0910.

Ocean County Fair (Berkeley Township, NJ)
The Jersey Shore is offering up this six-day festival chock-full of family fun—rides galore, delicious food, 4-H shows and live entertainment are all on the schedule.  Admission is $7 for adults, free for children under 10 (On Sunday pay just $20 for unlimited amusement rides.)  Saturday, July 13 from 11am to 11pm, Sunday, July 14 from 11am to 5pm.

BlueBEARy Blast and Celebrate NJ Day Family Festival (Camden, NJ)
Join Mum Bear and Garden staff for crafts and a planting activity, celebrating this delicious and nutritious fruit as well as the great state of New Jersey. Families can get their fill of NJ’s official State Fruit at the Very Berry Blueberry concession stand. Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 from 1pm to 4pm. $6, free for children 2 years and under. 856-365-9741.

Saturday, July 13

4th Annual Fairy Festival (Pennington, NJ)
All hail the return of Rainbow Fairies, Woodland Fairies and Forest Elves to the Watershed Reserve. In honor of this momentous event, you can dance around a maypole, create magical crafts, construct villages along the Fairy Trail and play in the stream with the Water Sprites (and don't forget to wear your fairy finery). Registration requested but not required. Saturday, July 13 from 10:30am to 1pm. $5 per person, $15 per family. 609-737-3735

Sunday, July 14

2nd Annual Butterfly Release (Wagner, NJ)
Okay, this is one of those things that will either be incredibly cool or Hitchcock-movie-scary (we're betting on "incredibly cool"). Hundred of Painted Ladies and Monarch butterflies will be released into the Wagner Arboretum at 11am and 1pm on Sunday, July 14th. The event is free, but you do have to pay for your b'fly, pre-order here. 908-350-7383.

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