Six Flags reopens, monsters do battle at Starland, and one of A.C.'s oldest traditions headline this weekend in the Garden State.
SIX FLAGS: GREAT ADVENTURE RE-OPENS
The 2016 season at Six Flags: Great Adventure kicked off Wednesday. The period from March 23-April 3 is dubbed "Spring Break," as the park will be open every day. Attractions such as Nitro, Kingda Ka, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, El Diablo, and SkyScreamer will be open, as will Safari Off Road Adventure. If you're looking to get on line for its latest coaster, the 4D free spin roller coaster known as The Joker, you're going to have to wait until Memorial Day as the ride is still under construction. If you plan on going on Saturday March 26, you can take part in the special Easter Egg Hunt event before the park opens up. $44.99-$69.99 Open every day until April 3, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, 732-928-2000.
BIG HITS THROWBACK FEST AT THE ROCK
Throwback hip-hop and R&B shows seem to be all the rage these days. On Saturday, the Prudential Center will host the Big Hits Throwback Fest, sponsored by New York dance music station 103.5 KTU. The festival will feature performances by Rob Base, Rockell, Robin S, Kevin Lyttle, C&C Music Factory, Naughty by Nature, Lisa Lisa, Stevie B, Bobby Brown, Ja Rule, Shaggy, and headliners TLC. So in essence, you're going to hear from everyone who had a super radio-friendly hit from the early '90s through the early '00s. $55-$115. Saturday, 7 p.m. 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, 973-757-6600.
KAIJU BIG BATTEL AT STARLAND BALLROOM
This is one of the most insane live shows you will ever attend. Kaiju Big Battel is essentially a Japanese monster movie taking place inside of a pro wrestling ring. However of humans doing battle, it's monsters going one-on-one in the squared circle. Yes, monsters such as D.W. Cyclotopuss, Gambling Bug, Dr. Cube, Claw, Dai Hatch Hatch, and more going at it in the ring and sometimes inside the confines of a steel cage. The experience of Kaiju Big Battel is absolutely surreal, but also enjoyable for the 21+ crowd because this is, at its heart, a goofy stage show. $20-$25. Saturday, 9:15 p.m. 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville, (732) 238-5500.
Prior to Kaiju, Pro Wrestling Syndicate will be holding an women's wrestling show dubbed "PWS Bombshells" and will feature veteran women's wrestlers like NXT alum Leva Bates (Blue Pants) and Deonna Purrazzo, and current TNA stars Mia Yim and Marti Belle. $20-$25. Saturday, 9:15 p.m. 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville, (732) 238-5500.
SEASIDE HEIGHTS EASTER EGG HUNT
The Seaside Heights Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt is one of the finest family traditions in Ocean County. Last week's inclement weather forced town officials to reschedule the event to this Saturday March 26. The event will begin at 1 p.m., and children ages 1-10 will try their best to find the 15,000 Easter eggs buried under the sand on the Seaside Heights beach. Inside the eggs are prizes such as tickets for free food, rides and games, and some lucky kids who find the "golden egg" can score a free beach badge to Seaside Heights for this summer. The hunt is divided into age brackets, so there will be no issue of little ones bumping into bigger kids. There is also an area special needs children as well. Free. Saturday, 1:00 p.m., Seaside Heights Beachfront (Hancock Avenue-Lincoln Avenue).
THE 140TH ANNUAL ATLANTIC CITY EASTER PROMENADE
"In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it/You'll be the grandest lady
in the Easter Parade." You can live these lyrics from Irving Berlin's classic "Easter Parade" at the 140th Annual Atlantic City Easter Promenade. Men, women and children will don their finest Easter duds, and parade down the A.C. boardwalk. Those chosen as best dressed can receive prizes from Tropicana, Carmine's, James Candy and Old Farmer's Almanac General Store. Atlantic City Mayor Donald A. Guardian and 2015 Miss New Jersey Lindsay Giannini will be some of the celebrity judges. If there is rain on Easter Sunday, the promenade will be moved indoors to The Quarter at The Tropicana. Free. Sunday, 3 p.m. Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, 888-228-4748.
MARGARET CHO AT THE STRESS FACTORY
Grammy- and Emmy-nominated actress and comedian Margaret Cho will take up a three-night, five-show weekend residency at The Stress Factory in New Brunswick. The audacious and insightful comedienne, known for her frank views on politics, race and sexuality, will perform Thursday through Saturday at the famed comedy club. The shows are part of Cho's "There's No I in Team but There's a Cho in Psycho" Tour. $35. Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday (second show) 9:45 p.m. 90 Church Street, New Brunswick, 732-545-4242.
MOUSETRAP AT THE MCCARTER THEATER
The classic Agatha Christie whodunnit "The Mousetrap" will conclude its 2016 run at Princeton's McCarter Theatre this weekend. The play, known for its twist ending, has been running in London since 1952, and in 2012, it notched its 25,000th performance. The McCarter's production of "The Mousetrap" will feature a special dinner theater-style show and a post-show discussion on March 24. $25-$89.50 Thursday (7:30 p.m.), Friday (8 p.m.), Saturday (3 p.m., 8 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) 91 University Place, Princeton. 609-258-ARTS (2787).
Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.