Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend September 21-22: Autumn Campfire, Moon Festival, Downtown Fair & More!

9/18/13 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

Is that a chill in the air? Cooler September evenings are upon us and some great autumn events are starting to pop up on our radar. Take a hay ride during Fall Family Weekends at Horse Sleigh Farm, cozy up to a campfire after an Autumn Night Hike at Tenafly Nature Center or learn about Chinese culture at the Mid Autumn Moon Festival at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

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Fall Family Fun Weekends (Washington, NJ)
It’s a Jersey tradition to do the fall farm thing – especially when you’ve got little ones. Check out the first of the family fall weekends at Horse Sleigh Farm for all things autumn, like pumpkin patch picking, hay rides, a huge corn maze and barn animal petting. And just to make sure the kids keep busy, you can have them paint bird houses to take home or even go gem mining. And as usual, you can refuel with delicious eats at the grill station or just take home fresh produce and pies from the farm store. Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm. Cost varies depending on activities. 908-267-5313

Saturday, September 21st

Morning Craft Time (Trinton Falls, NJ)
Head to the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center this Saturday and start your morning off right – spend some quality time with the kids as you make hands on crafts. This weekend’s craft will be Peter Pan hats! After your session, head outside and enjoy the beautiful early fall weather at the awesome Challenger Place playground or hike the paved trail on the north side of the park. Recommended for ages 4 to 7. Pre-registration is recommended. 9:30-11am. $5/Child. 848-456-4278

Nature Cruise (Howell, NJ)
Relax and enjoy nature during the best time of the day - early morning - on a Nature Cruise at the Manasquan Reservoir. A Park System Naturalist will be on board to narrate your tour as you depart on a scenic and educational boat ride from Manasaquan Reservoir Environmental Center. You might even catch a glimpse of their resident Bald Eagles! All ages welcome. Pre-registration required. 8-9am. $6/Person. 732-751-9453

“All About Downtown” Street Fair (Jersey City, NJ)
Celebrate Downtown Jersey City this Saturday with the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District's Third Annual "All About Downtown" Street Fair. Savor tasty treats from local food trucks while listening to live music. Then browse handmade wares from over 100 vendors. Special kids activities such as face painting and train rides will keep everyone entertained. All ages welcome. 11am-6pm. Free admission (Some kids activities/vendors may have an additional charge).

Autumn Campfire and Night Hike (Tenafly, NJ)
Time to get cozy and enjoy the chillier temps! Gather ‘round the campfire to explore seasonal changes, listen to stories and roast marshmallows for s’mores. Tenafly Center educators will lead participants on a short walk along the trails in the forest without flashlights to develop night vision, play games and listen for animals. Recommended for families with kids ages 5 & up. Pre-registration required. 6:30-8:30pm. $5/Person (Members), $10/Person (Non-Members). 201-568-6093

Sunday, September 22nd

New Jersey Storytelling Festival (Trenton, NJ)
Enjoy a fun-filled day of storytelling at the fantastic Grounds for Sculpture. Listen to enchanting tales from seasoned storytellers at both indoor and outdoor sites.  Those interested can also sign up for two different storytelling workshops. And of course, don’t miss out on a stroll through the beautiful Grounds of Sculpture Park. All ages welcome. 12-6pm. $12/Adult, $10/Senior, $8/Child (Children under 5 are free). Admission includes access to Grounds for Sculpture.

Mid Autumn Moon Festival (Morristown, NJ)
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival began centuries ago in China as a way to give thanks for a good harvest. Celebrate this pan-Asian event with a performance of “Chang-er Flies to the Moon” by the Chinese Theatre Works at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum this Sunday. This acclaimed New York based theater company uses shadow puppets to tell the story of the origins of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Family-friendly Mandarin language tours, as well as English language tours of the Arboretum will be offered. Crafts and refreshments will be available after the play. All ages welcome. 12:30-4pm (Show seating begins at 1pm). $3/Adult, $2/Children ages 3-16, Children 2 & under are free. 973-326-7600

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