Bowcraft Playland, 2545 Route 22 West, Scotch Plains, (908)389-1234, www.bowcraft.com. Turn an ordinary day out with the family into something truly memorable with a trip to Bowcraft! Home to an awesome array of rides and attractions, Bowcraft has so much to offer fun-lovers of all ages! Take an amazing ride on the park’s brand new new Crossbow Roller Coaster, or take a spin on the new Muzik Express! In addition, there are plenty of old favorites, including The Drop Zone, Crazy Submarine, Galleon Pirate Ship, Frog Hopper, Scrambler, just to name a few. And younger visitors will love the Merry Go Round, Train, Bumper Cars, and Tilt-A-Whirl. Open weekends through the end of October.

The Premier Baby n’ Toddler Expo!, Sheraton Mahwah Hotel, Mahwah, www.premierbabyntoddlerexpo.com. Moms and dads, grandparents and even soon-to-be parents are invited to pay a visit to this insightful day-long event that includes tons of free giveaways, exciting children’s activities, helpful information and guest speakers, a large number of vendors, “Cutest Baby and Toddler” contest, special areas dedicated to beauty, health and nutrition, an assortment of the latest baby and toddler apparel, child care services and much, much more! 10/4. Visit them online for directions and more info.

Walking With Dinosaurs - The Live Experience, The Izod Center (formerly the Continental Airlines Arena), East Rutherford, (201)935-3900, www.meadowlands.com. Dinosaurs walk the Earth again in an all-new live theatrical arena show based on the award-winning BBC Television Series! You won’t believe your eyes as fifteen roaring, snarling “live” dinosaurs mesmerize the audience through the use of amazing robotics and puppetry. Representing ten species from the entire 200 million year reign of the dinosaurs, the show includes the menacing Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Plateosaurus, Stegosaurus and many, many more! 10/8 - 12. Call for times and prices.

Open Houses!, Families are invited to tour the facilities, speak with instructors, explore the diverse curriculum and have all of their questions answered during upcoming Open House Programs at some of your finest area schools. Locations include: * MONTCLAIR COOPERATIVE SCHOOL, Montclair, (973)783-4955, www.montclaircoop.org, 10/10 and November 11/14. KENT PLACE SCHOOL, Summit, (908)273-0900, www.kentplace.org, 10/15 at 9am (Grades K - 5). 10/16 at 9am (Nursery & PreK). * FAR BROOK SCHOOL, Short Hills, (973)379-3442, www.farbrook.org. * THE PINGRY SCHOOL, Short Hills Campus (grades K - 5), (973)379-4550, www.pingry.org, 11/19. *THE ORCHARD SCHOOL, West Caldwell, (973)575-8787, open houses offered daily.

The Ultrasonic Super Fantastic Kids Day Weekend, PNC Bank Arts Center, located just off the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel, (732)442-9200. Get ready for an out-of-this-world weekend filled with non-stop fun and excitement when this annual family event makes its long-awaited return to the New Jersey area. Parking and admission are both free for this spectacular annual event that offers plenty to do for children and adults! Highlighting the weekend festivities will be an endless array of live entertainment rocking the kids’ stage, as well as performances from some of your favorite Radio Disney artists. 10/11 and 12. Call for times and more info.

The 5th Annual Natural Living Conference and Anniversary Celebration, Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, 1 International Boulevard., Mahwah, (877)HOL-MOMS, www.holisticmoms.org. The Holistic Moms Network invites you to join them for a day to become informed and empowered, to renew your passion for holistic health and green living, and to celebrate their five-year anniversary at this day-long event. The day will feature guest speakers such as author and environmentalist Annie B. Bond, and Barbara Loe Fisher, Founder of the National Vaccine Information Center. New to this year’s conference will be Breakout Sessions on Homeschooling, Eco-Action Plans, Stress and Health, and Nonviolent Communication. 10/18, 10:30am - 4:30pm. Space is limited, register today!

The 71st Annual Toms River Halloween Parade!, Toms River, (732)349-0144, www.occis.com. Toms River Fire Department No. 1 gets family into the “spirit” of the season when they proudly present this annual family event. The parade begins at 7pm from the Toms River Center on Main Street, travels south along Main Street, and then moves east along Washington Street to come to a close on Cooper Avenue. Awards will be handed out in a variety of categories and families are encouraged to come in costume. Registration will be accepted at the fire house on Robbins Street from 9am - 5pm for anyone who would like to participate in the parade. 10/31.

Black and White Ball, Short Hills Hilton, Short Hills, www.sjfclub.org. Themed “The Party of the Century,” The Summit Junior Fortnightly Club is proud to host this spectacular black and white ball, designed to benefit the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital. The evening festivities will be highlighted by both a live and silent auction featuring fabulous trips, jewelry, collectibles and a wide variety of other items. 11/1. Visit them online for times and more info., or to reserve your place!

Beading Online!, www.BeadLuxe.com. BeadLuxe, the make-your-own jewelry workshop and boutique with locations in Summit and Bedminster, has proudly announced the launch of its on-line store! Known for stylish, unique and custom-made beaded jewelry, the new BeadLuxe site will make available its most popular items such as the Nomen Sterling Silver bracelets personalized for moms, grandmothers, young ladies or sweethearts, and the Sentiments Charm Necklaces which feature themes such as Mother, Friendship, Luck, Adventure and Baby. All BeadLuxe on-line jewelry is created in it’s New Jersey studios and will be presented in BeadLuxe’s signature gift box and beaded tassel. For details and locations, visit on-line at www.BeadLuxe.com.

Diabetes Talkfest, www.diabetestalkfest.com. You won’t have to go through it alone anymore, thanks to this online support group for people and families with type 1 and 2 Diabetes. The goal of the site is to help people that are having a tough time dealing with diagnosis, finding out information about medicine and technology, or just to offer tips on your daily regimen. If you would like to find out more, email: gcapone1@optonline.net.

Grand Opening - A Brand New Facility!, Jazzberries Center for Music & Art, 1677 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood, (973) 762-6575, www.jazzberries.kindermusik.net. Kindermusik with Susan Leone is proud to announce that they are now in a brand new facility! The new center will house two spacious studios, a classroom and a large waiting area/retail space. The retail space will offer children’s cds, instruments and books and toys related to music and art. The entire space will be very child friendly, with toys, books and games and fun surfaces to explore. The full range of Kindermusik classes will still be offered for newborns through 7 years where children and families come together for weekly classes of singing, chanting, movement, playing instruments and more! Call for hours and more info.

Monthly Meetings, The MOMS Club of Woodbridge, Woodbridge Community Center, Main St., Woodbridge, (732)283-7277. The MOMS Club hosts these monthly support meetings designed to make at-home mothers feel good about their decision to stay home with their children. Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 10:30am. Upcoming meetings include:

Mothers Of Only Children of Northern NJ - Are you a Mother of an Only Child???, Join together with other familes of Onlies!!! Their group has 80+ families from all over Northern NJ. They offer activities such as getting together with the other Moms or fun outings with the kids!!! For more information please contact Joanne at jkowalski_makeovers @yahoo.com

Mothers & More, Union County Chapter, (732)388-4390. This not-for-profit organization features guest speakers, playgroups, mom and tot outings, book clubs and more. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at the United Methodist Church, Lincoln Ave., E. in Cranford. New members welcome. New Jersey Youth Symphony, 570 Central Ave., Murray Hill, (908)771-5544. Celebrating 26 years of talented young musicians. Concerts throughout the year in 3-string orchestras, flute ensembles, etc. Camps and programs offered for musically inclined. Call to inquire.Pegasus Global Helicopters, 1101 West Edgar Rd., Linden, (908)866-PEGASUS. Offer tours throughout New York City and several other locations around the area. Also offer a kids helicopter program to help kids better themselves by providing a place where they can learn and experience new worlds. They will learn about aviation, time, earth, space and our place in the universe. Summit Chorale, Summit, (973)762-8486. Auditions held regularly for this talented singing group of all different ages. Performances throughout the year. Call for audition or concert information.

Union Sports Arena, 2441-A Route 22 West, Union, (908)687-8610, www.unionsportsarena.com. Discover one of the most fun and exciting places for families! Drop in and enjoy Public Skating sessions, Learn-to-Skate programs, Youth Leagues and soccer clinics on the Arena’s impressive new 90’ X 50’ soccer field! They also provide fabulous birthday parties and a wide variety of great hockey instruction, programs and league play for youth, family and adults! So why not score a huge goal with your whole family by paying a visit to Union Sports Arena today.

 

Season Three Continues, The South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, (973)382-1032, www.sopacnow.org. Three delightful musicals take center stage this fall as the exciting third season continues at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange. FATHER GOOSE. Kids music superstar Father Goose drops in to turn the music scence upside down with an afternoon of nursery rhyme sing-alongs! 10/5. THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (ABRIDGED). Travel through 600 years of history in just 6,000 seconds when the Reduced Shakespeare Company roller-coasters through American history in the hilarious production! 10/7. THE RUSSAIN-AMERICAN KIDS CIRCUS. The amazing members of this world-renowned circus will dazzle audiences with their amazing theatrics. 11/16. For a full schedule of performances, along with dates, times and prices, call the box office at (973)382-1032 or visit www.sopacnow.org.

Fall Family Performances, The Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)376-4343, www.papermill.org. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. Prepare yourself for the chance to see your favorite movie brought to life with everything you love about the Disney original plus a few surprises, live on stage at the Paper Mill Playhouse from 11/5 - 12/7. Other upcoming family productions coming to the Paper Mill stage include: MADELEINE & THE BAD HAT, 11/15 & 16. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!, 11/22 & 23. THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE, 11/29 & 30. Call for show times and ticket prices.

Celebrate Halloween - Punpkin Patch Weekend!, The Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave., Union, (908)527-0400. Halloween is right around the corner once again, and Liberty Hall Museum is getting families into the “spirit” of the season by presenting the Pumpkin Patch Weekend on October 25. Reservations in advance are a must for this autumn tradition that offers something for everyone! Family and friends enjoy a daylong adventure that includes testing your creative talents with pumpkin carving, painting and other Halloween crafts, relaxing with a hayride along the historic grounds, taking part in house tours and other fun family activities. The Pumpkin Patch Weekend will be ongoing from 10am - 4pm.

Workshops and Events, The Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Ave., Westfield, (908)232-1776. The museum is open on Sunday afternoons from 2 - 4pm. Costumed docents are on hand to guide visitors through the 1740 farmhouse. Families are encouraged to ask about their weekly tours for groups and their showcase of 18th century skills, which visit local schools with an outreach craft and lecture program. Admission: $2.50 for adults, $1 for students, children under age 4 free.

Crane Phillips Living Museum, Cranford, (908)276-0082. A preserved Victorian cottage turned museum with artifacts dating back to Colonial times.

Eclectic Entertainment, Summit, (908)222-7632. A cultural marketing company, visitors can observe culturally diverse sculptures, paintings and other works of art, with exhibitions changing throughout the year. Visitors must call for an appointment. Miller-Cory House, 614 Mountain Ave., Westfield, (908)232-1776. A nationally recognized living history museum, named in honor of its two 18th century owners who were farmers.

NJCVA Maple Street Gallery, 34 Maple Street, Summit, (908)273-9121. Features works by local artists; assorted art shows throughout the year. Call for more info.

Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, (908)273-8787. Displays trees, shrubs, unusual plant species and herbaceous plants conserved and identified in their natural state for all visitors to study, observe or simply appreciate. Call for hours. Roselle Park Museum, 9 West Grant Ave., Roselle Park, (908)245-1776. Hours are Monday 7-9pm; and Wednesday, 10am-2pm. Learn about the history of the area, dating all the way back to when the land was purchased from the Lenape Indians.

Watchung Arts Center, 18 Stirling Rd., Watchung, (908)753-0190. A diverse array of performance art, offering concerts in jazz, classical, improv, comedy and acoustic folk, as well as an array of art exhibits, including still life, sketchings, unique vision, classic art and photo forum. Call for more info.

On The Trail, The Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, (908)789-3670, www.ucnj.org/trailside. Spend some fun and educational quality time with your family this year with a visit to The Trailside Nature & Science Center, nestled on the breathtaking grounds of the Watchung Reservation, a 2,000 acre preserve containing forests, three ponds, swamps, streams, springs, fields and over fifteen miles of color coded hiking trails. Call times, prices and more info., or for a full schedule of upcoming events.