Make the most of the long Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend by heading to a Frost Fest, braving the Atlantic in a Polar Plunge, raising a glass at a wassail brunch celebrating the harvest, or giving back to the community in honor of Dr. King’s memory.
WEEKEND
New Brunswick Free Public Library, New Brunswick
Thursday
Kids in kindergarten to sixth grade can come for storytime followed by a group art project.
Newport Centre, Jersey City
Thursday
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with activities that include red dragon crafts, personalizing wooden star ornaments, and drawing your wishes for the new year ahead.
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Friday – Saturday
Watch as artists carve blocks of ice into sculptures, while others breathe and juggle fire. The kids can go on the Find Jack Frost scavenger hunt, while you grab them hot cocoa or cider from the Village Green. The shops and restaurants will be open late.
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Friday – Sunday
During the opening weekend kickoff of a month of winter sports, meet a real sled dog team, then learn the science behind sliding, gliding, spinning and skating.
Downtown Haddonfield
Friday – Sunday
Creative ice sculptures will be spread out throughout Downtown Haddonfield. Haddonfield restaurants will be serving their best soups. Live ice carving will take place in Kings Court on Sunday.
Renault Winery & Resort, Egg Harbor City
Friday – Sunday
This is the final weekend the winery grounds are open for ice skating, a market, fire pits and live music.
Downtown Cranford Souperhero Stroll
Cranford
Saturday – Sunday
View the life-sized superhero balloon sculptures by Dream Factory Balloons while sampling soups offered by local restaurants. Kids are encouraged to dress up in superhero costumes or wear their favorite capes.
Totally Rad Vintage Fest
Meadowlands Expo Center, Secaucus
Saturday – Sunday
Go back to the ’80s, ’90s and Y2K and check out the nostalgic clothes, toys and home goods. There will be a free-play vintage arcade, the Rad Rewind Museum and throwback photo ops.
Havana Hop
Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday – Sunday
Young Yeila dreams of being a superstar, but her lack of confidence gives her awful stage fright. She travels from Washington, D.C., to Cuba to find her roots, gain confidence, and discover her unique rhythm. Kids are encouraged to move, dance and respond freely during the show. Sunday’s show is a sensory-friendly performance designed for those with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other needs.
Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend 2026
Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday – Monday
Activities this weekend will cross the service and legacy of Dr. King with the lessons learned during the American Revolution. Learn about the Declaration of Independence, listen to talks on influential Black women Phillis Wheatley and Elizabeth Freeman, hear about civil rights, unpack a sea chest, look at objects that were used in protests, and take a tour of the galleries dedicated to Black voices of the Revolution.
The Civil Rights Movement: Finding Justice Weekend
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday – Monday
The activities this weekend are dedicated to the legacy of Dr. King, such as a Finding Justice self-guided tour, hands-on activities inspired by The Civil Rights Movement, poetry, a family story station, and an immersive 2-hour experience on MLK Day.
FRIDAY
Parents’ Night Out
Iron Peak Sports & Events, Hillsborough
Kids get to have an action-packed night of climbing, games, and nonstop fun while you get to have some peace and quiet at home. Kids will get a chance to meet Bubbles from The Learning Experience before having dinner and some snacks. The kids will be treated to a movie, too.
Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Manchester Township High School, Manchester
The Manchester School District Gospel Chorus will perform after a discussion on the impact of Dr. King.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast
Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club, Farmingdale
The YMCA of the Jersey Shore has put on a community breakfast for the past 37 years, inviting community leaders and honorees to share their thoughts. This year’s keynote speaker is children’s book author and playwright Carmen Rubin.
SATURDAY
Your Brain is Magic Tour Live
NJPAC, Newark
Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten from the popular kids’ science podcast Brains On! take to the stage for a high-energy, science-themed show with magic tricks, dance moves, mystery sounds, out-of-body experiences, and a full-on game show.
Inauguration Day Free Museum Day
Multiple Locations
Several museums throughout NJ will offer free admission today in honor of the inauguration of Gov. Mike Sherrill.
Pier Village Ice Carving Competition
The Blue Wave (Behind Wave Resort), Pier Village, Long Branch
After watching very talented sculptors mold massive ice displays, spend the day shopping, dining and gathering around oceanfront firepits to warm up and sip hot cocoa.
Freestyle Flashback
BergenPAC, Englewood
The annual freestyle concert features TKA, George Lamond, Alisha, Cynthia, Lisette Melendez, Rockell, Soave, Sammy Zone and C-Bank; with music by DJ Whiteboy KYS. Hosted by Sal Abbatiello and Speedy.
Animal Clues Walk
Hunterdon County Arboretum, Lebanon
You and the group will walk the trails to discover clues about the animal residents. Find out who left that scat, those tracks, or built that home.
Read & Explore: The Gingerbread Man
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Kids will read “The Gingerbread Man,” and then each child will decorate a big gingerbread man cookie to take home, learning how many cookie ingredients come from farms.
Dining in Motion: A Journey with a Meal
Woodstown Central Railroad, Railroad
As you travel along the original Woodstown & Swedesboro Railroad, built in 1883, you’ll go across peaceful Memorial Lake, through historic Woodstown, and over the Oldmans Creek Trestle. Trainmen will share what it was like to travel by rail in New Jersey nearly a century ago. You’ll get a meal provided by “The Quaker Baker.”
MLK Day of Service
RCE of Burlington County, Westampton
You’ll get free pizza and snacks after volunteering on a number of service projects that benefit the community.
Apple Wassailing Brunch
Alstede Farms, Chester
Inspired by centuries-old English orchard customs, apple wassailing was practiced to bless apple trees, give thanks for the past harvest, and encourage an abundant crop in the year ahead. The festive, family-style brunch features apple-inspired dishes and classic fare from the British Isles, including shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, apple wassailing cider, and more.
Special Olympics New Jersey Polar Bear Plunge
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Special Olympics New Jersey Polar Bear Plunge
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Plungers should dress up in costume, break out the plunge props, and make banners and signs before jumping into the icy waters of the Atlantic. After, plungers (and kids under 12) and have lunch inside the convention center.
Pokémon Market
Bell Works, Holmdel
There will be 350+ tables featuring some of the top vendors from across the tri-state area. There will be a Trading Card Game tournament during the event.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Community Cleanup
Alms Center, Bridgeton
Members of the American Littoral Society will lead you in a cleanup of the wooded area along Pamphylia Avenue.
Future Vet Workshop
Galloway Public Library, Galloway
Kids ages 6-11 can learn what veterinarians look for when examining rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other pocket pets. They’ll use real equipment, see animals up close, and get a small gift to bring home.
Science Under the Stars
New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
Inside the planetarium, learn about supermassive black holes and the effects they have on galaxies.
Wild Con
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
There will be artists, vendors and interactive activities at this popular comic book show. Meet actress Sharon Smyth Lentz from TV’s Dark Shadows and Glenn Taranto from The New Addams Family, plus animator Jeff Brennan (Courage the Cowardly Dog).
2026 LADACIN Plunge
Manasquan
Lifetime Assistance for Developmental and Challenging Individual Needs (LADACIN) Network hosts the plunge, which invites you to warm up at Leggett’s Sand Bar and Restaurant for a party after your swim.
Winter Open House at Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck
Battery Gunnison, Gateway National Recreation Area, Highlands
This historic structure in Sandy Hook will be open to the public today, and you can meet members of the Army Ground Forces Association, access the interior of the battery, and learn about the systems that have been restored. Gun No. 2 will be open to visitors; experience the handling of the M1900 6-inch seacoast rifle.
Dr. King Read-In & Luncheon
The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City
Read parts of Dr. King’s speeches and reflect on his life and legacy. There will also be a performance by Atlantic City High School’s choir and live jazz band, followed by lunch for everyone who reads.
Cape May Point State Park Invasive Plant Removal
Seagrove Area Parking Lot, Cape May Point State Park, Cape May Point
Bring gardening gloves and hand clippers so you can help clean up the park area from invasive species, native vines and shrubs before the migratory birds and Monarch butterflies return in the spring.
SUNDAY
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company: The Red Firecracker
White Eagle Hall Jersey City
The late choreographer Nai-Ni Chen created this performance to celebrate Chinese immigrant culture and Lunar New Year using vibrant props, costumes, music, acrobatics and dance.
Maple Tree Tapping
Echo Hill Park, Flemington
Meet at the playground and take a ten-minute walk to the sugar bush, where you’ll learn how to ID a sugar maple and see a demonstration on how to tap a maple tree.
Family Pottery Painting Party
All Children’s Art Center, Denville
Kids and parents can create colorful masterpieces together.
MONDAY – DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
Do Not Erase Our History
Columbia High School, Maplewood
The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race will host its 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance. The theme calls attention to the importance of truth, memory and historical understanding in building the Beloved Community. There will be keynote speakers, readings from Dr. King’s writings, music and dance by Columbia High School’s Chorus and Special Dance Company, remarks from local clergy, an afternoon reception, and the lighting of luminaries.
School’s Out Craft
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, Madison
Kids can celebrate community and kindness by making sun catchers, pipe cleaner flowers, pop-up rainbows, and more. The museum will be open as well.
MLK Day of Service
West Windsor Arts, West Windsor
Volunteers can package items that were donated all month for care packages for the community.
MLK Volunteer Day
Animal Welfare Association, Voorhees
Create toys for the shelter pets and learn about ways you can help the animals in your community.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties, Margate
Volunteers are needed in different shifts to pick up and deliver food in Mays Landing, as well as sort-and-stock in JFS’ Margate office.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Camp
All Children’s Art Center, Denville
Kids can splatter paint, play laser tag, play games, make slime, and take part in lots of hands-on activities.
MLK Day Basketball Clinic
Iron Peak Sports & Events, Hillsborough
Sign up your kids for the Dell Bethea Basketball Clinic, a high-level training experience led by Dell Bethea, former senior clinician at Brooklyn Basketball (Brooklyn Nets & NY Liberty youth development programs) and Brooklyn Nets Academy camp director. Your little athlete will learn ball handling, shooting, finishing, offensive moves, strength and conditioning.
MLK One Day Soccer Tournament
Adventure Crossing, Jackson Twp.
8U to high school players will play 25-minute games in a 7v7 format.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Stockton University locations in Galloway, Woodbine, Atlantic City and Hammonton
Over 900 students, community members and community partners take part in roughly 25 projects both on- and off-campus.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2026
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, New Brunswick
The Day of Service agenda includes a community conversation, the packaging of hygiene kits, music, and bagged lunches.
2026 MLK Day of Service
West Windsor Arts, West Windsor
West Windsor Arts sought donations for RISE Community Services, Children’s Home Society, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Letters Against Isolation, Millhill Child and Family Development, HiTOPS, UNICEF of West Windsor and PEI Kids, and now volunteers will assemble care packages.
Community Day: Martin Luther King Jr.: Stronger Together
Newark Museum of Art, Newark
Admission to the museum is free today, so you can explore the theme of “Stronger Together” through performances, hands-on activities, and other special events for the day.
Mozart for Munchkins
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, NY
When visiting the museum, come for this show that’s a mashup of jazz, classical, and swingin’ rhythms. Kids will be treated to improv and musical storytelling.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Matinee
Sony Hall, New York, NY
The Harlem Gospel Choir, one of the most famous gospel choirs in the world, will perform in honor of MLK.
Dr. King’s Dreams for “We the People”
Temple Emeth, Teaneck
The Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Committee of Bergen County will celebrate Dr. King, the Constitution of the United States, and the Declaration of Independence, with thoughts by Jeremy Feigenbaum, Solicitor General of New Jersey, with the presentation of merit awards and scholarships.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast
The Gibson House Community Center, Marlton
The annual breakfast has the theme: From Declaration to Dream: 250 Years of the American Promise. The event will reflect on the nation’s journey toward equality. Students will honor Dr. King’s life and work.
MLK March of Resistance
Martin Luther King Statue, Newark
Join hundreds of community members for a march from the MLK statue to Newark City Hall and back to the statue.
MLK Jr. Day Camp
Tenafly Nature Center, Tenafly
This winter camp gives campers in pre-K to sixth grade an active way to keep learning through hands-on outdoor activities. They will hike the woods and trails, see animal tracks, meet live animals, make crafts, play games, and explore how plants and animals survive the cold season.
ONGOING
Ballet for Toddlers
Princeton Public Library, Princeton
Ongoing, Fridays
This interactive dance workshop introduces kids ages 2-4 and their adult caregivers to the basics of ballet.
Updike Farmstead Museum and Grounds Tours
Updike Farmstead Museum, Princeton
Ongoing, Fridays and Saturdays
Take a 30-minute guided tour of the headquarters of the Historical Society of Princeton. The late 18th-/early 19th-century farmhouse museum, grounds, renovated barn and recently restored wagon shed include exhibits of Einstein Salon and Innovators Gallery, featuring HSP’s collection of Albert Einstein’s furniture and other personal belongings; and Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection.
Love Bites Pop-Up Bar
Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe, Caldwell
Starting January 14
The Valentine’s-themed pop-up bar will include a selection of themed drink specials, plus lots of pretty décor. There are happy hour, lunch, dinner and bar menu specials, too.
Art Attack
Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, Bridgewater
Fridays, January 16 – March 20
Kids ages 2 to 5 will use clay, paint, papier-mache, pastels and watercolors to express themselves without words, using creativity and emotions.
Soup Stroll
Rahway
January 17, 24, 31
Visit the participating restaurants, ask for a Soup Stroll Sample, and then warm up with a free 4-ounce sample of their featured soup. Walk to the next place, and take photos of your journey.
Creativity Labs: Art for Families
Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton
January 17, 24, 31
Drop in to explore a work of art, play with different materials, and exercise your imagination. Themes include African masks on January 17, color play on January 24, and sculpture forms on January 31.
Penguins & Pajamas
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Pt. Pleasant
January 17, February 7, March 7, April 18
Come in your PJs and listen to stories about penguins before getting to meet one of the resident African penguins. This takes place before the aquarium opens to the public, but then you get all-day admission to see all the exhibits.
Lunar New Year at American Dream
American Dream, East Rutherford
January 17 – March 8
Celebratory events include a youth talent competition, K-Pop dance competition, concerts, fashion shows, a spring festival gala, a Lunar New Year spectacular, the lighting of the Dream Wheel, a photography contest, opera night, and a Sunflower Lantern Festival Gala.
Ridgewood Restaurant Week
Ridgewood
January 18-22
Visit any of 10 participating restaurants that will offer special menus and promos.
Center City District Restaurant Week
Center City, Philadelphia, PA
January 18-31
Dozens of restaurants across Center City will offer exclusive limited-time menus at a discounted price: three-course dinners for $45 per person, with select locations offering a $60 premium option; or a two-course lunch menu for $20.
Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse
January 18: Jersey City Theatre Center, White Eagle Hall, Jersey City
February 4-5: Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, Toms River
February 14-15: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark
The program by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company includes a Lion Dance and a Dragon Dance, live music on Chinese instruments, and then cultural crafts in the lobby.
Sap to Syrup (Maple Sugaring)
Tenafly Nature Center, Tenafly
Sundays, January 18 to March 15
Learn about how sap becomes syrup, and which local trees can be tapped for their own unique flavors. You’ll stay outside to identify trees, learn how sap flows, and practice using real tapping tools.
Nature & Stories
Plainsboro Preserve, Plainsboro
Thursdays, through January 29
Kids ages 2 to 7 will listen to stories about nature and animals, followed by crafts or activities. Every week will be a different winter nature theme.
Winter at Dilworth Park
Dilworth Park, Philadelphia, PA
Select dates, through February
The heart of Center City comes alive with outdoor ice skating, a topiary garden, the Wintergarden, a chalet-style cabin, charming fire pits, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market, and Breakfast with Santa.
Antique Toy Train Show
The Museum of American History, Deptford
Thursday – Sunday, through February 1
See toy trains from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, including Lionel, Marx and American Flyer engines. Plasticville buildings from the 1950s will give the platforms a vintage holiday appearance.
Behind the Scenes at The Giraffe Barn
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, South Orange
Select Saturdays, through February 28
You’ll take a tour, meet the keepers, and learn about conservation efforts.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center, NYC
Through March
Ice skate or chill in a rinkside chalet while looking at the magnificent tree, which stays lit through mid-January.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Bryant Park, New York City
Through March
This Manhattan park is home to the largest free-admission ice skating rink in NYC. Relax rinkside at The Lodge while taking in the splendor of the giant Christmas tree. Shop more than 180 vendors selling gifts from around the world. And check out the bumper cars on ice.
Outdoor Winter Wonderland
Middletown Sports Camp, Middletown
Through March 8
This will be the place to skate, sip and shop during the holiday season, with its new winter festival that includes festive music, lights and décor; vendors; fire pits; igloos; and the center of it all, the outdoor ice skating rink.
Springsteen in Long Branch: An exhibition telling the story of Born to Run
Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center, Long Branch
Ongoing through 2026
Fifty years ago, Bruce Springsteen wrote the “Born to Run” album in West End, Long Branch. A new exhibit showcases his life at the Jersey Shore through photos, posters, album promo materials and mementos – like his green drum set from his first band, and a replica of the guitar used on the album cover.
SUE The T. Rex Experience
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 25, 2026
The world’s most complete, most well-preserved T. rex skeleton is making a stop at LSC so you can see her bones, hear her growl and smell her breath (seriously!). There will be fossils on display, projection mapping of other prehistoric creatures, and a life-sized fleshed-out replica to show what the creature’s life was like in the Cretaceous era.
Editor’s Note: Always check times, dates and weather updates before heading out.
Got questions about this weekend’s events?
We pulled together a quick FAQ to help.
Q: Do I need tickets or reservations?
A: Some of the bigger attractions (musicals, outdoor light shows, Santa trains) do require tickets, and popular times can sell out. It’s important to check the event link in our guide for details, times, date, pricing, availability and weather before you head out.
Q: Does the list include both indoor and outdoor events?
A: You’ll find a mix of indoor shows, markets, and museums, along with outdoor winter light displays and festivals.
Q: What are some of the best things to do in New Jersey this weekend (January 16-19, 2026)?
A: This weekend (January 16-19, 2026) features family-friendly things to do across New Jersey and in NY and PA. Highlights include events for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Winterfest in Haddonfield, the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge in Wildwood, an Apple Wassailing Brunch at Alstede Farms in Chester, and Maple Tree Tapping in Flemington.
Q: What parts of New Jersey do these events cover?
A: We include family events happening throughout North, Central, and South Jersey, plus more events in New York and Pennsylvania.
Q: Where can I find more events near me?
A: This weekend’s roundup is a comprehensive list, but you can also browse more upcoming events on our calendar.
Q: How can I stay updated on more things to do in New Jersey?
A: Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Read More:
The Best Things to Do Indoors in New Jersey (2026)
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