Festivals
Holland Ridge Farms’ Tulip Festival is expected to start in mid-April. Courtesy of Cynthia Soler/Holland Ridge Farms
Tulip Festival
April Tiptoe through 50 acres of vibrant fields of tulips at Holland Ridge Farms. Once a dairy farm, the property is now owned by fourth-generation tulip growers from Holland. Welcome spring as you visit the tulip market, u-pick fields, restored barns with furry friends, and a picnic area.
9 am-6 pm; $5-$10 online, $7-$12 at the door.
Cream Ridge.
Jersey Shore Restaurant Week
April 5-14 Get a three-course meal for either $22.19 or $32.19 at one of the many participating Shore restaurants. Special events include the Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest and Craft Beer Fest at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como on April 6; Burgers, Bloodies & Brews at Waterman’s Tavern in Brielle on April 13; and Bourbon, Bacon & Blues at Kennedy Park in Asbury Park on April 14.
Tuckahoe Craftsmen & Home Event
April 6 You’ll find everything you need for spring decorating and remodeling, from wreaths to woodworking, at this indoor event.
10 am-4 pm.
Upper Township Community Center, Tuckahoe
856-765-0118.
Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market
April 6-7 Held inside the historic Roebling Wire Works building, this flea market features food trucks, live punk rock and hundreds of vendors. Browse vinyl, vintage toys, horror memorabilia and more.
10 am-5 pm; $5
Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival
April 6-14 Branch Brook Park turns pink with thousands of blooming cherry trees. Special events include the Cherry Blossom Challenge Bike Race on April 6 and Essex County Family Day on April 13. The festival culminates with Bloomfest on April 14, complete with Japanese culture demonstrations, live music and craft vendors.
Free.
Newark.
April in Paris
April 10-14 Bonjour! Enjoy a French-themed wine tour, an art exhibit, music, language lessons and a French toast competition during this annual Somers Point event.
Times and prices vary.
The Grand Tasting at the New Jersey Wine & Food Festival. Courtesy of Geoff Mottram
New Jersey Wine & Food Festival
April 12-14 The New Jersey Wine & Food Festival showcases top culinary talent. Event highlights include the Wine Cellar Dinner with chef Gabriel Kreuther on Friday; the Grand Tasting on Saturday; and a Champagne Brunch on Sunday.
Tickets for each event range from $30- $631.
Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg.
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
April 12-14 At the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, music lovers stroll from venue to venue soaking up sounds from performers such as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Grammy-winning jazz great Chick Corea with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade; and singer Lizz Wright.
$28-$219.
Various Cape May locations.
Green Festival
April 13 Join the growing sustainability community at the 11th Annual Collingswood Green Festival. Buy rain barrels, shop at the farmer’s market, sign-up for the bike-share program, and drop off old electronics in the recycling area.
9 am-2 pm
Irvin Avenue, Collingswood
Catsbury Park Cat Convention
April 13-14 At the Catsbury Park Cat Convention, there will be adoptable cats, vendors, presentations and more. Headliners include animal advocates such as the Kitten Lady and Lil Bub. Proceeds go to Catsbury Park, a nonprofit rescue, and other charities.
Sat, 10 am-7 pm; Sun, 11 am-5 pm; $15-$45, meet and greets cost extra.
Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre.
Asbury Park Music & Film Festival
April 25-28 Peter and Bobby Farrelly, David Crosby, Jakob Dylan, Cat Power, Cameron Crowe and Danny Clinch headline the festival, which features screenings, panel discussions and performances. Funds raised support music programs for underserved children in Asbury Park.
Times and prices vary.
New Jersey Folk Festival
April 27 The 45th annual event features music, food, crafts and children’s activities. Listen to tunes from Roger Deitz, Spook Handy, Frank Watson and Pete McDonough.
10 am-6 pm; free.
Great Lawn of Eagleton Institute, Douglass Campus, Rutgers-New Brunswick.
Allaire BBQ & Brew Fest
April 27-28 Visit Allaire Village for two days of hops and hogs, featuring a beer garden, food trucks and craft vendors. Play 18th- and 19th-century games and experience hearth cooking. Have fun at the blacksmith, carpentry and fiber-art demonstrations, too.
Sat, 11 am-4 pm; Sun, 11 am-5 pm; $4-$12.
Farmingdale.
Renaissance Faire
April 27-28 Travel back to the days of yore in olde England. The good Duke of Northumberland has declared merriment for all. Experience sword fighting, dance, music, shopping and more.
11 am-5 pm.
Historic Smithville.
Music
See John Lloyd Young in Hackettstown. Courtesy of Alex Hoerner
Don Felder
April 6 The former lead guitarist of the Eagles is releasing his first solo album in seven years this month. American Rock ’N’ Roll consists of 11 high-energy rockers and touching ballads.
8 pm; $29-$174.
Sound Waves, Hard Rock Casino, Atlantic City.
Marc Cohn
April 6 The Grammy-winning “Walking in Memphis” singer strolls into Hackensack.
8 pm; $40-$60.
Hac PAC.
John Lloyd Young
April 6 Young originated the role of Frankie Valli in Broadway’s Jersey Boys, for which he won a Tony Award, and reprised the role in the 2014 film adaptation of the show. His solo concert at Lackland PAC is a celebration of hits from the ’50s and ’60s, along with tracks from Young’s debut album, My Turn.
8 pm; $40-$45.
Hackettstown.
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox
April 6 & 25 The Jersey native known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band performs rock ’n’ roll classics chosen in real time by the audience. Join the party on April 6 at SOPAC in South Orange (7 pm; $48-58) and April 25 at Hopewell Theater in Hopewell (7:30 pm; $69.84-$80.50).
The Secret Sisters
April 7 Laura and Lydia Rogers went from touring with Bob Dylan to losing their label, purging their team, filing for bankruptcy, and almost trading harmonies for housecleaning. Their most recent album is You Don’t Own Me Anymore.
7:30 pm; $48.51-$53.85.
Hopewell Theater.
Chick Corea Trilogy with Christian McBride and Brian Blade
April 12 Acclaimed keyboardist Chick Corea, bass powerhouse Christian McBride and drum master Brian Blade share the NJPAC stage. Fifteen-year-old pianist Joey Alexander opens the show.
8 pm; $39-$79.
Newark.
Kenny Loggins
April 12 The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for hits such as “This Is It,” “Celebrate Me Home” and “Footloose” stops in Atlantic City.
8 pm; $61-$81.
Ovation Hall, Ocean Resort.
Jon Pizzarelli: A Centennial Celebration of Nat King Cole
April 13 & 26 The Jersey bred singer/guitarist celebrates the timeless music of Nat King Cole on April 13 at SOPAC in South Orange (8 pm; $46-$60) and April 26 at the Grunin Center for the Arts in Toms River (8 pm; $45-$49).
See Southside Johnny in Englewood. Photo courtesy of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
April 13 The iconic Jersey Shore band visits Englewood.
8 pm; $29-$79.
Bergen PAC.
Rodney Atkins
April 13 The country singer is gearing up for the release of Caught Up in the Country, his first studio album in eight years.
8 pm; $29-$59.
MPAC, Morristown.
Chicago
April 13, 15 & 16 Sing along to hits like “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” and “You’re the Inspiration” on April 13 at the Borgata Event Center in Atlantic City (8 pm; $70-$100), April 15 at the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick (8 pm; $55-$450) and April 16 at NJPAC in Newark (7:30 pm; $49-$375).
(theborgata.com, stnj.org; njpac.org)
Ryan Bingham
April 22 The singer/songwriter cowrote “The Weary Kind,” the theme song for the 2009 film Crazy Heart. The track earned him an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy Award.
7 pm; $30.
Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park.
Stage
See the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company at NJPAC. Courtesy of Christopher Duggan
Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour
April 2-4 See Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning musical that centers on a year in the lives of seven struggling artists.
8 pm; $35-$98.
State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick.
Benny & Joon
April 4-May 5 This new musical is based on the 1993 film starring Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson. Joon is a young woman with mental illness; her big brother Benny is determined to take care of her. When a charming stranger comes into their lives, he throws their world off-kilter—maybe for the better.
Times vary; $32-$112.
Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
April 5-21 Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this musical about Joseph, a prophetic dreamer who journeys from Canaan to Egypt. Country-western, calypso, pop and rock ’n’ roll- provide plenty of foot-tapping rhythms to enjoy.
Times vary; $25.
Music Mountain Theatre, Lambertville.
Catch a performance of Coppélia in Englewood. Courtesy of American Repertory Ballet
American Repertory Ballet: Coppélia
April 6 Coppélia mixes classical dance with comedy. Franz, a soon-to-be married man, becomes infatuated with a lifelike doll created by an eccentric inventor. Hilarity ensues over love and mistaken identity.
7 pm; $29-$59.
Bergen PAC, Englewood.
Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company
April 6-7 New Jersey’s Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company is coming to NJPAC. The performance features repertory favorite Odisea. The work commemorates Jewish refugees who were exiled from Brazil and journeyed to what is now the United States in 1654.
Sat, 7 pm; Sun, 3 pm; $15-$45, Saturday night gala costs extra.
Newark.
Thank You For Coming: Space
April 11-14 In this world premiere by choreographer Faye Driscoll, performers reanimate historical and contemporary images, from scratches on a cave wall to photos in an Instagram feed, forcing us to consider how we create ourselves and our worlds when we make an image.
Times vary; $30.
Peak Performances, Montclair State University.
Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company
April 11 The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company was founded in 1982. Known for a dance repertory varied in subject matter and movement, the company’s performance at State Theatre New Jersey will include A Letter to My Nephew, a piece referencing a troubled life in show business and the sex trade.
8 pm; $19-$49.
New Brunswick.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra: Mary Poppins
April 12, 13 & 14 Watch Disney’s Mary Poppins while the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performs the film’s delightful score at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on April 12 (8 pm; $20- $88), NJPAC in Newark on April 13 (8 pm; $20-$88) and State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on April 14 (3 pm; $35- $125).
The Belle of Amherst
April 13-May 5 The Belle of Amherst, a one-woman play crafted from diary entries, letters and poems by Emily Dickinson, offers a rare look into the secluded life of one of America’s greatest poets.
Times vary; $20-$70.
Two River Theater, Red Bank.
The Sound of Music
April 16-21 The hills are alive! This spirited musical about Maria and the von Trapp family will thrill audiences with its Tony-, Grammy-, and Academy Award-winning score, including “My Favorite Things, “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and the title song.
Times vary; $48-$68.
Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars, Atlantic City.
See Derek Hough in Red Bank. Courtesy of derekhough.com
Derek Hough: Live!
April 20 This is the first solo tour from the Emmy-winning Dancing With the Stars pro. Hough explores ballroom, tap, salsa and hip-hop.
8 pm; $59.50-$322.
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank.
An Infinite Ache
April 24-May 12 Hope and Charles are about to end an uninteresting first date. Just as they say good night, the myriad possibilities of their futures together flash before them. From their first kiss to their first child, from a horrible tragedy to a second chance.
Times and prices vary.
South Camden Theatre, Camden.
Heathers the Musical
April 25-May 11 Based on the 1989 film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, this dark cult classic centers around Veronica Sawyer, a teenager who hustles her way into the most powerful clique at Westerberg High.
Times vary; $15-$27.
Road Company, Williamstown.
Atlantic City Ballet: Sleeping Beauty
April 28 Get swept away into a world of kings, queens, fairy godmothers and storybook creatures.
4 pm; $45.
Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars, Atlantic City.
Kinky Boots
April 30-May 3 Featuring 16 original songs by Cyndi Lauper, this musical follows Charlie, a struggling shoe-factory owner, and Lola, a fabulous entertainer. They learn to embrace their differences and create a line of sturdy stilettos.
Times vary; $35-$75.
Sound Waves, Hard Rock Casino, Atlantic City.
Art
Courtesy of Arias-Duran D Collection
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Thru June 16 “Michael Nicholas Paras: Shooting Hoops” is a photographic series from the Maplewood resident. Each piece highlights a solitary basketball hoop. The exhibition also includes works from Paras’s ongoing “First Hoops” project, which documents the first basketball hoops famous players used.
Mon-Thurs, 10 am-8 pm; Fri, 10 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am-4 pm; free.
Summit.
Montclair Art Museum
Thru June 16 The exhibit “New Directions in Fiber Art” gathers works created in traditional and contemporary fibrous materials and methods by Jersey artists.
Wed-Sun, noon-5 pm; $10-$12.
Princeton University Art Museum
Thru July 7 “Miracles on the Border: Retablos of Mexican Migrants to the United States” presents more than 50 Mexican retablos, or religious folk paintings, that pay homage to the difficulties of crossing the U. S. border.
Tues-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm; Mon, closed; free.
Morris Museum
Thru Aug 11 In “A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk,” the second installment in a four-year series, you’ll see innovative engineering in moving works.
Tues-Sat, 11 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm; $7-$10.
Morristown.
New Jersey State Museum
Thru Sept 8 Crocodiles in the Garden State? That’s right, learn about the evolution of these scaly creatures in “Jersey Crocs Rule!” See a nearly complete skeleton of crocodylian Hyposaurus rogersii, which lived in what is now Gloucester County about 65 million years ago.
Tues-Sun, 9 am-4:45 pm; suggested donation, $5-$7.
Trenton.
609-292-6464
Comedy
See Bob Saget on April 11. Courtesy of Count Basie Center for the Arts
David Sedaris
April 6 & 8 The humor writer’s most recent works are Theft by Finding, a collection of entries from his diary, and Calypso, a collection of 21 semiautobiographical essays. Hear from the satirist on April 6 at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank (8 pm; $29-$69) and on April 8 at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton (7:30 pm; $63-$79).
Bob Saget
April 11 Bob Saget is best-known for starring as Danny Tanner in Full House and hosting America’s Funniest Home Videos. But he’s also a Grammy-nominated standup comedian who spikes his humor with surprisingly off-color material.
8 pm; $29-$59, recommended for mature audiences.
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank.
Jerry Seinfeld
April 20 The Seinfeld star and creator/host of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee cracks jokes in Atlantic City.
7 & 10 pm; $99-$199.
Borgata Event Center.
Lewis Black
April 26-27 The always-angry comedian, who appropriately voiced the character of Anger in the 2015 Pixar film Inside Out, visits the Borgata Music Box.
9 pm; $65-$175.
Atlantic City.