Lots of Local Festivals This Weekend for the Family

It’s Grab & Go Kids Planner time!  Stuck for ideas to entertain the kids this weekend?  We’ve got you covered! 

We’ve got a beautiful weekend ahead of us, and with only a few weeks left in school, everyone’s going to be getting antsy to be outdoors.  Luckily, we’ve got tons to do outside this weekend!  You can head down to Point Pleasant or Red Bank for some food, music, games, and activities in the sun at Summerfest and RiverFest, respectively, or head up to Westfield for a Greek Fest 2011.  There’s an open house Saturday morning at Turtleback Zoo, and locally, the Disney Store in Woodbridge Center Mall kicks off a month of events celebrating the release of the movie Cars 2 with a martial arts themed event.  All the information’s here for you, now it’s time to gather the kids and go!

As always, be sure to tell us if you think we forgot something.  And if you know of an event that deserves a mention in this planner in the future, be sure to add it to the calendar!

• Rev Up For Fun at Disney Store at ; 250 Woodbridge Center Dr., Woodbridge; 732-855-0086; Price: FREE; Saturday, 10:30 AM, 12 PM, and 1:30 PM

Disney Stores throughout the country are celebrating the impending release of Cars 2 with a month of fun Saturday morning events.  At Woodbridge Center, there will be three races in the store, featuring a Martial Arts Action theme.  The minimum age to participate is 3 years old, and space is limited, so call the store or drop by and check out the action!

• 9^th Annual Turtleback Zoo Open House at ; 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange; 973-621-4400; Price: FREE; Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM

Turtleback Zoo opens it’s doors for a free Open House day this Saturday morning.  Check out the exhibits, take a pony ride, see the animals, do everything that comes with a day at Turtleback Zoo – for Free! (Admission is free, some activities may require a fee).  In addition, there’s games and family-friendly activities just for the Open House event.

• Summerfest In The Park at Community Park; Beaver Dam and Bridge Ave., Point Pleasant; 732-897-1111; Price: FREE; Saturday, 11 AM – 7 PM (Rain date: Sunday)

Now that it finally FEELS like summer (…maybe a little too much like summer), why not celebrate down the shore?  Summerfest In The Park takes place this weekend at Community Park in Point Pleasant.  Vendors, rides, games, fun festival food, live music, and a children’s parade highlight Summerfest.  And once you’re done there, head over to the beach for some fun in the sun!

• Greek Fest 2011 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church; 250 Gallows Hill Road, Westfield; Price: $3 (under 12 years old Free); Thursday 5-10 PM, Friday and Saturday 12 PM – 11 PM, Sunday 12 PM-7 PM

Did your mouth water looking at the photos of Greek food in the article I wrote recently on a Greek Festival in Highland Park?  Well now, you’ve got a chance to check out Greek Fest 2011 in Westfield.  Try all kinds of delicious Greek food (tip: try the loukoumathes), see culinary demonstrations, check out traditional dancing, and hang out in the Kids Zone for rides and fun activities for the little ones!

• RiverFest at Marine Park, Red Bank; 732-441-0055; FREE; Friday 5 PM, Saturday 11 AM, Sunday 11 AM

Red Bank’s famed RiverFest makes it’s return this year, featuring food and music and fun on the water all weekend long.  Get down to Marine Park and be sure to check out the Children’s Palace, which includes all manner of rides, games, and activities for the kids.  Then, perhaps take a river cruise on the Navesink or grab some food from Ralph’s Italian Ices, The Melting Pot, The Bistro at Red Bank, and other great Red Bank eateries that will be in attendance all weekend.  Food, music, games, sunshine, and the beautiful waterfront?  You can’t go wrong.