It's Fourth of July weekend and we've got your big lists of Independence Day events, but if you're not into fireworks and parades, here are nine other things to do.
Need some sports? We've got Jackals baseball in Paterson, Big3 basketball in Newark and roller derby in East Rutherford.
Summer concerts in local parks are underway, including some soul music in Rockaway. If you prefer your music indoors, there's an emo night in Rutherford.
If you want to enjoy nature this weekend, there's the Butterfly House in Tenafly and the Falling Waters Hike at Pyramid Mountain.
Plus, foodies can take a tour of South Orange's eateries and art enthusiasts can check out a gallery in Bogota that's kicking off the Creative Bergen Arts Amble.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
See below for more details and for the weather, too! Enjoy your weekend.
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North Jersey weather forecast for July 4 through July 7
According to the National Weather Service:
- Independence Day: Partly sunny with a high in the upper 80s and a 30 percent chance of showers and possible thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Evening lows in the low 70s
- Friday: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. High around 90, low in the mid-70s.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a high approaching 90 and a 60 percent chace of showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening. Low in the low 70s.
- Sunday: Partly sunny with a high around 90. Partly cloudy at night, with a low in the low 70s.
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Butterfly House at Tenafly Nature Center
Looking for a nature-experience for all ages? This is the final weekend to enjoy time among the free-flying native butterflies and moths of the Tenafly Nature Center Butterfly House. Take a peek in the chrysalis box and observe how butterflies create delicate chrysalises; with patience and good timing you may be able to see a butterfly emerge.
The Butterfly House is a 12-by-24 foot structure located outside near the Native Pollinator garden and Visitors’ Center. Open only in the summer, a visit to the Butterfly House offers guests an immersive experience and an introduction to the wonders of metamorphosis. Educational displays help guests understand the life cycles of butterflies and moths, supporting observation of a variety of native species of live butterflies and moths. Observe these winged jewels sipping nectar and taking flight. While you are visiting, chat with staff or volunteers, ask questions, or simply relax and enjoy the space while butterflies flit and fly about.
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Want to see more pollinators in action? Visit the Native Pollinator Garden and observe the diversity of native pollinators such as bees, beetles and, if you’re lucky, hummingbirds. You may even find a few ideas to try in your own garden.
Butterflies are less active when temperatures are cool (below 70° F) or if it is overcast and/or raining. In the event of rain the butterfly house will be closed. Species vary by season and supplier availability. All species in the Butterfly House represent what can be found in the Tenafly Nature Center preserve during the spring and summer months.
Go: Butterfly House at Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave. Visits are available at 1, 1:15, 2, 2:15, 3, 3:15, 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Guests who have missed an admission time will be asked to wait until the next time slot. Free for TNC members; $3 for non-members; free for young children who will be held off the floor by an adult the entire time. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Butterfly house admission does not include trails. tenaflynaturecenter.org. 201-568-6093, info@tenaflync.org.
Jackals baseball at Hinchliffe Stadium
The Jackals are home in Paterson this weekend, with a three-game series against the Lake Erie Crushers.
Friday is Larry Doby Day, with a Larry Doby poster giveaway. Saturday is Star Wars Night, with a lightsaber giveaway for kids age 14 and under, and a Star Wars jersey auction. Sunday is Family Day with $5 tickets for kids age 12 and under and seniors age 55 and over.
Go: New Jersey Jackals at Hinchliffe Stadium, 1 Jasper St., Paterson. 6:35 p.m. Friday, 6:05 p.m. Saturday, 4:35 p.m. Sunday, $5 to $25. jackals.com, 973-746-7434, contact@jackals.com. Gates open an hour prior to the start of the games.
Falling Waters Hike
Explore the wonders of the Yellow Trail at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area in Boonton, Montville and Kinnelon. Explore the different landscapes of Turkey Mountain on moderate to difficult trails. Be sure to pack a snack and plenty of water and wear appropriate footwear. Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. For ages 10 and up with an adult.
Go: Falling Waters Hike at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, 472 Boonton Ave, Boonton. 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The event is free, but advance registration is required. morrisparks.net/events. 973-635-6629.
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Food tour of South Orange
The Village of South Orange will launch its first-ever guided food tour on Saturday. These weekly, 2.5-hour walking tours will usher guests behind the counter at some of the downtown commercial district’s eateries, where chefs will provide exclusive tastings and an inside perspective on the town's culinary scene. The weekly tours - hosted by local writer and New Jersey native Max Gray of Chow Town Food Tours - will also visit local landmarks and delve into the history of the community.
Tours include artisanal domestic and international cheeses, handmade small-batch baked goods, authentic Mexican street tacos, and a historic local restaurant featuring American pub fare.
Go: Chow Town Food Tour of South Orange, downtown commercial district. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. $55. Meeting location and tour details provided with ticket purchase. chowtownfoodtours.com, @chowtowntours on Instagram.
Graffiti, street art and pop art at Bogota gallery
Twenty Four River Gallery is an alternative space located in a historic paper mill in Bogota. The gallery is run as a collective featuring New Jersey-based artists working in graffiti, street art, pop art and traditional styles, and will be featured as the opening location for the 2024 Creative Bergen Arts Amble on Saturday.
The artists include Rita Flores (@ritafloresart), Olga Correa (@olgacorrea_art), Marsha Heller (@marshaheller), MariaTeresa Ortiz-Naretto (@mton_193), Leon Rainbow (@aerosoleon), LadyKFever (@ladyk_fever), PK (@pk_official_gallery), Rendawriter (@rendawriter), Myrna Richards (@myrnarichardsart), Angelina Salgado (@angelinapaintsauroras), Sisco (@takart2.tds), Joel Yobe Beleno (@art.yobe), John Zollo (@portraitsNJ) and the Temple of Graffiti Hackensack (@d.smooov.fc) - the majority of whom are New Jersey residents. The curator is Christine DeFazio (@christine_defazio_arts) of Bogota.
This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council of the Arts. Venues and artists are participating under the umbrella event, Arts Amble 2024.
Go: Graffiti, street art and pop art pop-up at Twenty Four River Gallery, 24 River Road, Bogota. 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Rain date is Sunday. @twentyfourriver on Instagram.
Emo Night with Chris Kamrada in Rutherford
Welcome to Emo Night at the Williams Center. This.is.emo and Emo Social present this Saturday dance party blasting the emo and pop punk jams. Chris Kamrada from Dashboard Confessional will even join the party. Special guests also include a Royden reunion show (15 years later), Ashlee Holmes, Aaron Rosa (Palisades) and guest live act Gina Fritz. Get ready to scream your lungs out, mosh and dance. Dress to impress at the Social Fest for Emotional Distress! Bring a date or come solo and make new friends. There will be a photo op area, merch giveaway and music blasting all night.
Go: Emo Night at the Williams Center, 15 Sylvan St., Rutherford. Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday. Age 18 and older. $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $35 for early entry (7 p.m.) for meet-and-greet and photo ops. williamscenter.co.
Big3 three-on-three basketball in Newark
Big3 tips off its seventh season of three-on-three basketball with a 10-week series that will stop at Prudential Center on Sunday.
“The Big3 is coming in hotter than ever for season seven,” said CEO and co-founder, Ice Cube. “Four-point shots, no garbage minutes and players actually playing defense – everyone knows you can only get that in the Big3."
Go: Big3 basketball at the Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark. 1 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at noon. $35.50 to $856. prudentialcenter.com. 973-757-6000.
Soul Groove at the Rockaway Gazebo
The Rockaway Gazebo 2024 Summer Concert Series kicks off Sunday with Soul Groove, playing pop, dance, R&B and soul hits of the current and past.
Go: Soul Groove at the Rockaway Gazebo, Mt. Hope Road, Rockaway Township. 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. soulgrooveband.com.
Gotham Roller Derby at American Dream
Gear up for adrenaline-fueled action and fierce competition, and watch as skaters clash in high-speed battles on the track, with Gotham Roller Derby. Gotham is a founding member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.
Go: Gotham Roller Derby at the Rink, Level 1 at American Dream in East Rutherford. 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. The first game whistle is at 4 and the second game whistle is at 6. $10 to $40. americandream.com, gothamrollerderby.com.
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Write to Daniel Galioto at galiotod@northjersey.com.
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