We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
Sponsored Post: Looking for something new and fun to do this summer? Bonus if it’s educational? How about taking a trip into the past at Liberty Science Center’s Jack Horner’s Dino Dig. Don your hard hat, grab a shovel or a paintbrush or just use your hands then dig in. Sift through 35 tons of sand to discover more than 60 fossils, including T. rex bones or teeth, a nest filled with dino eggs and a baby Maiasaura, a 6-foot long Triceratops skull or even a dragonfly fossil. New this year is the Dino Dig Raptor Zone with full Velociraptor and Deinonychus skeleton casts. (Open daily through September 16th and FREE with admission, best for ages 4-12, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, 201-200-1000)
Events Not To Miss:
Why: Dig your toes in the sand and rock to the band “The Kootz.”
When: Friday July 13, 7 pm
Where: Spring Lake, Wyckoff Family YMCA, 691 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff
Why: Daniel Tiger comes to your neighborhood for fun and play.
When: Friday July 13, 3:30-5:30 pm, $28 per child, $49.50 two children
Where: The Big Playhouse, 312 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood
What: Children’s Sail
Why: Kids get their feet wet sailing the Hudson and learning about sea creatures.
When: Friday July 13, 9:30 am-12:30 pm, 1:30-4:30 pm, child and adult/$78
Where: Alpine Boat Basin, Alpine Approach Road, Alpine
Why: Cool off paddling on Overpeck Lake.
When: Saturday July 14, 9 am-7 pm, $15 for two hours
Where: Overpeck Park Kayak Center, Overpeck County Park, 50 Fort Lee Road, Leonia
What: 2018 Butterfly House
Why: Try to catch one on your finger or watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon.
When: Open Wednesdays-Sundays through September 2, 11 am-3 pm, 1 adult and 2 children non-members/$5
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly
Why: Try to catch one on your finger or watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon.
When: Open Wednesdays-Sundays through September 2, 11 am-3 pm, 1 adult and 2 children non-members/$5
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly
Why: Carnival entertainment plus a free summer concert.
When: Open through Saturday July 14, 6-10 pm
Where: Town Hall, 299 Delafield Avenue, Lyndhurst
What: Field Station: Dinosaurs
Why: Go back in time and have a roaring good day with the dinos.
When: Open Tuesdays through Sunday through September 2, 10 am-6 pm, $15.50 day pass
Where: Overpeck County Park, 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia
What: Artie Lange
Why: The comedian signs his new book Wanna Bet?
When: Tuesday July 17, 6:30 pm
Where: Bookends, 211 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood
Why: This week, kids explore Australia through science and painting.
When: Wednesday July 18, 10-11 am, $10
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus
What: Adopt a Unicorn Bounce
Why: Bounce then adopt your own plush unicorn.
When: Thursday July 19, 4-5:45 pm, $19.95
Where: Bounce U, 70 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus
Why: Bring your baby for free fun and fitness.
When: Thursday July 19, 9-11 am
Where: Petruska Park, 475 N. Fairview Avenue, Paramus
What: BBQ Thursday
Why: Tons of finger-licking food and music for a perfect summer night on the farm.
When: Thursdays through August 30, 5:30 pm, kids 4 and under/$5.95, kids 5-12/$10.95, adults/$19.95
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
If you’re heading out of Bergen:
What: Mount Carmel Feast
Why: Nightly music plus food, games and rides.
When: Thursday July 12-Monday July 16, 6:30-11 pm (midnight on Friday and Saturday)
Where: 99 Broadway, Jersey City
What: 2018 Firefly Festival
Why: Take a self-guided tour with activities as fireflies light up the sky.
When: Friday July 13-Saturday July 14, 8-11 pm
Where: Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough
What: Houdini Weekend
Why: Escape to the city for this weekend filled with workshops and activities about the legendary escape artist.
When: Friday July 13-Sunday July 15, check schedule of events for hours, free with admission
Where: New-York Historical Society Museum & Library, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way, NYC
Why: Escape to the city for this weekend filled with workshops and activities about the legendary escape artist.
When: Friday July 13-Sunday July 15, check schedule of events for hours, free with admission
Where: New-York Historical Society Museum & Library, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way, NYC
What: July Fair at the Shops at Nanuet
Why: Shop and enjoy food trucks and family fun.
When: Friday July 13, 5-10 pm, Saturday July 14-Sunday July 15, 1-10 pm
Where: The Shops at Nanuet, 5101 Fashion Drive, Nanuet
What: Pirate Quest
Why: Hunt for treasure and keep a lookout for pirates in this digital game.
When: Saturdays through August 25, 10 am-2 pm, kids/ $6, adults/$12
Where: Philipsburg Manor, 381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY
What: Blueberry Festival
Why: Celebrate national blueberry month with treats, pyo blueberries and fun on the farm.
When: Saturday July 14-Sunday July 15, 11 am-5 pm, $17.99 for all activities
Where: Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Why: Grateful Dead music and wine for you, crafts and face paint for the kids.
When: Saturday July 14-Sunday July 15, 12-6 pm, kids 10 and under/$5, adults/$20
Where: Torne Valley Vineyards, Torne Valley Road, Hillburn
What: Kids’ Lab: Keep Cool
Why: Take the temperature challenge at this cool lab experience.
When: Saturday July 14, 12:15 pm and 2:15 pm, free with admission, reservations recommended
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City
Why: Have a splash enjoying boat tours, kids entertainment, fishing, food and more fun by the water.
When: Saturday July 14, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Pier 17, 89 South Street, NYC
What: Passport to the World
Why: Travel around the world without leaving the Bronx in this cultural adventure.
When: Saturday July 14-Sunday August 19, 10 am-5:30 pm (5 pm weekdays), kids/$26.95, adult/$36.95
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
What: The Greatest Day Ever! Music Festival and Carnival
Why: Music vibes with carnival rides in this one-stop shop for fun.
When: Saturday July 14-Sunday July 15, 2-11:30 pm, $79.99
Where: The New York Expo Center, 1108 Oak Point Avenue, Bronx
Why: Bring the family for free kayaking, paddle boarding and water workshops.
When: Saturday July 14, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Hoboken Cove, Maxwell Place Park, Hoboken
What: Family Fun Day
Why: Take the ferry to this festival with a build-your-own playground, games, Story Pirates, food and much more.
When: Sunday July 15, 11 am-4 pm
Where: Governors Island, NYC
What: Stone Barns Center Weekend Admission
Why: Farm activities from meeting pigs and bees to collecting eggs.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am-5 pm, $22
Where: Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills
Why: Farm activities from meeting pigs and bees to collecting eggs.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am-5 pm, $22
Where: Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills
Why: Tons of rides for every age, plus nightly live entertainment.
When: Open through Saturday July 14, 6-10 pm, $30 wristbands each night
Where: 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes
What: Grossology
Why: Explore the grossest parts of the human body, in the coolest of ways.
When: Open through Sunday September 23, premium pass required.
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City
What: Dino Dig
Why: Sift through the sand to uncover dinosaur bones, eggs and fossil.
When: Open through summer
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City
What: Arthur’s World
Why: Join Arthur and his friends and family in this interactive learning exhibit.
When: Open through September 16, free with admission
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City
Why: Swifties: Step inside the life of the hugely popular singer, who hand-picked personal photos, videos and lyrics for display.
When: Open daily through October 19, 11 am-6 pm
Where: GRAMMY Museum Experience, Prudential Center, 165 Mulberry Street, Newark
Upcoming:
What: PYO Peaches
Why: Peach picking season is ON, plus enjoy a hay wagon ride and petting zoo.
When: Begins Friday July 20-Friday August 31, 10 am-3 pm, $5
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
Why: Taco time hits the mall with this fiesta filled with a photo station, raffles and plenty of tacos.
When: Saturday July 21, 1-6 pm, $5
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza Pop Up Event Space (Level 1), Paramus
