Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend March 8-9: St. Patrick's Day Parades, Toddler Hike, Peter Pan & More!

3/5/14 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

There may not exactly be flowers blooming and birds chirping just yet, but lo and behold, spring events are starting to pop up on our radar! Get an early start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with festive parades in Seaside Heights and Asbury Park. Or take the kids to learn about the first signs of spring through nature with the Reptiles program at the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, a Toddler Hike at Manasquan Reservoir or a Discovery Saturday at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, all about the first flowers of the season. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

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Peter Pan (West Windsor, NJ)
Join The Yardley Players as they fly away to the magical world of Neverland, with the boy who won't grow up! You’ll experience all the charm of J.M. Barrie's timeless classic about lost boys, pirates, fairies and crocodiles, embellished with classic songs like "Never Never Land", "I Won't Grow Up" and "I'm Flying."

Saturday, March 8th

Jersey Moves! Festival of Dance (Newark, NJ)
A true NJ event. The best of the Garden State’s diverse dance companies gather for a showcase at NJPAC featuring excerpts from works that span the globe and dance genres, such as the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company and 10 Hairy Legs, the new company under the artistic direction of Randy James.

Discovery Saturdays (Summit, NJ)
The beautiful Reeves-Reed Arboretum hosts this interactive nature program every Saturday March through May. March is all about seeking out clues from flora and fauna that tell us spring is on the way! This weekend, children will learn all about the first flowers of the season through stories, games and a craft.

Breakfast with Dr. Seuss (Newton, NJ)
Head to Camp IIiff for a Dr. Seuss breakfast and meet some of the zany characters in his book. Enjoy story time while you nosh on what else? Green eggs and ham of course! Kids can also take part in a Dr. Seuss dress up contest and try their hand at roller skating, indoor rock climbing or just have some fun in the bounce house.

Ukrainian Egg Decorating (Pennington, NJ)
Learn this ancient Ukrainian craft from an Arts Council of Princeton instructor after you hike the Stony Brook-Millstone trails for artistic inspiration. The preparation of Pysanky, traditional decorated Easter eggs, is a centuries-old art form that uses a special wax process. Creative teens and adults will transform a plain white egg into a multicolored gem to take home.

Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Seaside Heights, NJ)
So what if it’s still a tad chilly outside? Head down to the shore for an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Seaside Heights! Dress the family in green and watch traditional Irish dancers, musicians and more as they march down the Boulevard. The theme of this year’s parade will be to celebrate the shore and rebuild stronger and better than ever.

Read and Explore: Composting (Princeton, NJ)
Terhune Orchards continues its winter Read and Explore Saturdays with a composting 101 class for kids (and curious moms and dads too!). Your group will learn about turning garbage back into soil as they read about worms and dirt! Each child will make their own compost container to take home.

Reptiles (Short Hills, NJ)
Did you know March is the time when snakes and turtles finally come out of their winter hibernation? Bring the whole gang to the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum to meet resident snakes, lizards and turtles. Then throw on your coats and hike the trails to see who’s slithering in the surrounding woodlands!

Matilda's Tea Party (Morristown, NJ)
We just can't resist a tea party, no matter if it's Matilda's from the famous children's book, or Matilda Frelinghuysen's. When Matilda Frelinghuysen was a child, magic and illusions were a very popular form of entertainment. Add to that a tea, brunch, and a magic show. Afterwards, young people make and learn a magic trick to try on their friends at home.

Sunday, March 9th

Hiking Adventures: A Toddler’s Perspective (Howell, NJ)
Enjoy some early spring fresh air with your toddler as you wander the trails of the Manasquan Reservoir. These short hikes are intended for little legs and short attention spans. Each mini trek will have fun activities to keep everyone engaged, as well as a great park keepsake for each tot to take home.

Maple Sugar Sunday (Westfield, NJ)
One of the most important seasonal tasks of farm life in colonial days was sugar making in the maple woods. The Miller Cory House Museum will teach kids and their families all about the process, from sap to syrup. Stick around after class and take a complimentary tour of the historic 1740 farmhouse.

Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Asbury Park, NJ)
The town of Asbury Park is hosting their 1st annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and it sounds like a good time! Get there early and grab a front row seat to watch floats, marching bands, bagpipes and lots more. Stay after the parade and take a stroll along the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

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

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