Spring Fling, Sleeping Beauty in your Grab & Go Kids Planner

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

This week we’ve got the first of what’s sure to be a long line of traditional summer street fairs, a wild celebration at Trailside, Rutgers Day festivities at three local campuses, and more!  If the weatherman is to be trusted, the weekend’s supposed to be beautiful, so why not take in some of these exciting outdoor activities?

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!

• Wild Earth Fest at Trailside Nature & Science Center; 452 New Providence Rd., Mountainside; 908-789-3670; Price: $3, kids under 6 free; Sunday, 11 AM – 5PM.

Trailside was one of my favorite activities as a kid (and a favorite place to bring my friend’s six-year-old as well), and it’s events like this that were my favorite.  Wild Earth Fest features live animals, musical entertainment, facepainting, refreshments, recycling demonstrations and games, Rizzo’s Reptiles, spring trail walks, and more.  A great chance to get out and explore the great outdoors with folks who can answer all of your questions.  And of course, the Trailside museum, featuring live turtles, bird and dinosaur exhibits, and a nature-at-nighttime show is always worth checking out.

• Spring Fling Street Fair at downtown Westfield; Woodbridge; 908-789-9444; Price: Free; Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM

The weather’s finally getting warm enough, which means it’s street fair time again!  The annual Spring Fling street fair in Westfield will feature arts & crafts, live music, all kinds of vendors, a children’s pavilion, and of course, lots of food of all different types. 

• An Afternoon of Reading at Crème de la Crème; 794 US Highway 202, Bridgewater; 908-566-9718; Price: Free;  Saturday, 2-6 PM

Crème de la Crème Learning School in Bridgewater is hosting an afternoon of reading activities Saturday.  Five guest authors (including Danny and Kim Adlerman, Jackie P. Taylor, and children’s book illustrator Leeza Hernandez) will talk and read books for children and families.

• Rutgers Day at Rutgers University; 83 Somerset St, New Brunswick (also on the Piscataway campus and the Cook/Douglass campus); Price: Free; Saturday, 10AM – 4 PM

Performances, tours, hands-on exhibits, live music, an archeological dig, science experiements, a mock crime scene, the Scarlet Knights, the New Jersey Folk Festival and more highlight the annual Rutgers Day festivities.  With so much to do across so many campuses, you’re best bet is to check out the website and figure out which campus has what you and the kids want to check out – there’s just so many things going on, it’d be nearly impossible to get to them all in one day!

• Sleeping Beauty at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St., Rahway; 732-499-8226; Price: $15-22; Sunday, 3 PM

Be sure to check out “Sleeping Beauty” at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway this Sunday.  Performed by the New Jersey Ballet, the matinee performance features classic characters such as Princess Aurora, the Handsome Prince, Puss in Boots, Red Riding Hood and more.  With a narration-style storytelling, the ballet will be entertaining and easy for children of all ages to follow along.