We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
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Events Not To Miss:
Why: Celebrate with face painter, balloons, bounce houses, fire trucks, ponies and tons more.
When: Thursday July 4, 10 am-2 pm
Where: Richard Rodda Community Center, 250 Colonial Ct., Teaneck
Why: Celebrate freedom with fireworks, games, rides and music.
When: Thursday July 4, performance, 7:15 pm, fireworks, 9:15 pm
Where: Foschini Park, 278 River St., Hackensack
Why: All-day festivities start with a parade and ends with live music and fireworks.
When: Thursday July 4, parade at 10 am, evening entertainment and fireworks at 6 pm
Where: Veterans Field, N Maple Ave., Ridgewood
Why: Cannon firing demo, movie and more celebrations.
When: Thursday July 4, 1-4 pm
Where: Fort Lee Historic Park, Hudson Terrace, Fort Lee
Why: Daytime activities and for all ages, then stay for nighttime music and fireworks.
When: Thursday July 4, activities begin at 8 am, fireworks at 9 pm, ticket admission required
Where: Crestwood Lake, West Crescent Ave., Allendale
Why: A parade and fair with train rides, a petting zoo, bouncing and music to celebrate the 4th.
When: Thursday July 4, 11 am-4 pm
Where: Memorial Park, Continental Ave., River Edge
Why: Celebrate the 4th with the fam at this huge carnival with rides for all.
When: Thursday July 4-Friday July 5, 3-11 pm, Saturday July 6, 12-11 pm, $30 wristbands
Where: Overpeck Park, Fort Lee Rd., Leonia
What: Children’s Sail
Why: Ages 4-12 learn get hands-on sailing experience and an intro to Hudson River sea creatures.
When: Friday July 5, 10 am-1 pm and 2-5 pm, Saturday July 6, 1-4 pm,adult/child pair, $83
Where: Departs from the Alpine Boat Basin, Alpine Approach Rd., Alpine
What: Super Stars of Science
Why: Dino and other experts make a special guest appereance.
When: Saturdays starting July 6 through August 3, 10 am-6 pm, $15.75-$19.75
Where: Field Station: Dinosaurs, 40 Fort Lee Rd., Leonia
What: Captain America Bounce
Why: Have a SUPER fun time bouncing and playing games with Captain America.
When: Saturday July 6, 12:30-2:15 pm, $24.95
Where: Bounce U, 70 Eisenhower Dr., Paramus
Why: Play pilot for the day and take flight in a number of aircraft.
When: Saturday July 6-Sunday July 7, 10 am-4 pm, kids/$9, adults/$12
Where: Aviation Hall of Fame, 400 Fred Wehran Rd., Teterboro
What: State Fair Meadowlands
Why: Rides from toddlers to teens, games, FREE shows and tons more.
When: Now through Sunday July 7, check schedule for daily times
Where: 1 MetLife Stadium Dr., East Rutherford
Why: Entertainment, fireworks and food trucks for a festive fourth.
When: Sunday July 7, 6-11 pm
Where: Cliff Gennarelli Sports-Plex, Garden State Plaza Parkway, Paramus
Why: Nature activities and stories in the great outdoors.
When: Mondays in July starting July 8, 4-5 pm
Where: Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Fycke Lane, Teaneck
Why: Entertaining this summer made easy with a FREE weekly kid flick.
When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August 21, 10 am
Where: Warner Theater, 190 East Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
Why: Make farm-fresh pizzas with love from you and your little one.
When: Wednesday July 10, 10 am-12 pm
Where: Fresh & Fancy Farms, 575 River Road, New Milford
Why: Come out for music under the stars.
When: Wednesday July 10-Saturday July 13, 6-10 pm
Where: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Delafield & Court Avenues, Lyndhurst
What: Butterfly House
Why: Try to catch one on your finger or watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon.
When: Wednesdays-Sundays through Labor Day,11 am-3 pm
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
If you’re heading out of Bergen:
What: 4th of July Celebration
Why: D-Rex and Daisy storytime, dance party, parade of machines and more construction fun.
When: Thursday July 4, 10 am-6 pm, $29.95-$34.95
Where: Diggerland USA, 100 Pinedge Dr., West Berlin
What: Independence Day Bash
Why: Pick your own, live music, BBQ, kids activities and a cider garden to celebrate the 4th.
When: Thursday July 4, 10 am-5 pm
Where: Fishkill Farms, 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, NY
Why: The biggest and brightest fireworks display in the USA.
When: Thursday July 4, 9:20 pm
Where: Brooklyn Bridge, along the shores of Pier 17 at the Seaport District, NYC
Why: An awesome fireworks display over the Hudson.
When: Friday July 5, 9-9:30 pm
Where: Memorial Park, Nyack
What: U-Pick Sunflowers
Why: Bring your own shears to bring home a beautiful bouquet.
When: Begins Friday July 5-Sunday July 14, 9 am-3 pm, $6 admission, $2.50 per sunflower stem
Where: Happy Day Farm, 106 Iron Ore Rd., Manalapan
Why: Join magician Jake Strong for a day of construction and magic.
When: Friday July 5, 10 am-6 pm, $29.95-$34.95
Where: Diggerland USA, 100 Pinedge Dr., West Berlin
What: A Day Out With Thomas
Why: Take a trip on the famous tank engine and dig for gems.
When: Friday July 5-Sunday July 7, Friday July 12-Sunday July 14, train leaves every hour 10 am-5 pm, $21
Where: Delaware River Railroad Excursions, 100 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg
Why: Blueberries ready for picking plus live music and farm activities (and wine tasting for you!)
When: Saturday July 6-Sunday July 7, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
What: Live Butterfly Exhibit
Why: Spread your wings and fly over to the opening of the butterfly exhibit.
When: Saturday July 6-Saturday August 3, kids/$9, adults/$11
Where: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale
What: Jack Horner’s Dino Dig
Why: Play paleontologist for the day, digging for fossils and learning about dinosaurs.
When: Now through Monday September 2, Dino Days of Summer event June 29-July 7.
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Why: Kick your fitness workout up a notch and bring your baby along.
When: Tuesday July 9, 9 am
Where: The Shops at Nanuet, 5101 Fashion Dr., Nanuet
Why: Kids rock out to a variety of entertainers, this week brings fun and music with The Bossy Frog Band.
When: Tuesdays through August 27, 11 am-noon
Where: Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Dr., West Nyack
What: Zoo-Vies
Why: Free movies for animal lovers under the stars.
When: Wednesdays through August 28, 8-10 pm
Where: Turtle Back Zoo, Parking Deck, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
What: Dinosaur Safari
Why: Take a ride back in time to learn about dinos, dig for fossils and enjoy more prehistoric fun.
When: Now through Sunday November 3, 10 am-5 pm, kids/$29.95, adults/$39.95
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Why: Nature takes shape through sculptures designed entirely with LEGOs, plus a play zone where kids create their own LEGO art.
When: Now through Monday September 2, included with purchase of combination or premium pass
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Upcoming:
What: City Place Sidewalk Sale
Why: Indulge in retail therapy plus live entertainment, kids activities, raffles and more
When: Friday July 12-Saturday July 13, 12-5 pm
Where: City Place, 225 River Road at Gorge Road, Edgewater
Why: A weekly series that brings art and science together while exploring the animal kingdom.
When: Saturdays starting July 13-August 31, 11 am-12 pm, $10
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus
