January weekends don’t have to mean staying in. As you get back into a routine, here are some fun events worth checking out this weekend!
WEEKEND
Disney’s Frozen
Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn
Wednesday – Sunday
The beloved movie starring Elsa, Anna and Olaf comes to the main stage. Certain dates will accommodate those needing ASL interpretation, open captioning and autism sensitivities.
Festival of Trees
Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
Wednesday – Sunday
Seventeen trees and mantels will be decorated and displayed throughout the museum, created by local community groups. Themes include All Aboard to Movie Magic; Family Game Night; A Tribute to Pollinators; and Fruit of the Holiday Spirit.
A Longwood Christmas
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Wednesday – Sunday
Stroll through floating floral designs, marvel at festive trees and step into an extravagant floral shop. Outside, take in stunning light displays and treehouses. There are a half-million lights across hundreds of acres, plus fountain shows.
Holiday Train Show
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
Wednesday – Sunday
Either during the day or on select Holiday Train Nights, catch model trains as they zip through a display of almost 200 replicas of New York landmarks, each re-created from natural materials such as birch bark, pinecones, palm fronds and cinnamon sticks.
Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Thursday
The Elton John and Billy Joel tribute is by Yellow Brick Joel, formerly known as Face2Face.
Let It Glow
Bergen County Zoo, Paramus
Thursday – Sunday
As you walk through the zoo or ride on the train, you’ll see 30 larger-than-life scenes decorated with animal-themed lanterns.
Mickey’s Search Party
Prudential Center, Newark
Thursday – Sunday
Kids will follow Mickey Mouse and his pals on a quest to find Tinker Bell using Captain Hook’s treasure map during this version of Disney on Ice.
Super Pet Expo
New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison
Friday – Sunday
Everything here is pet-centric: the marketplace, the activity courses, the adoption booths, the displays, the catwalk and the cat judging area, the animal talent agencies and even the celebrity guests. You’ll see dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and arachnids. Leashed dogs are allowed.
Fishing and Boating Expo
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Friday – Sunday
There’s 80,000 square feet of indoor space set up for vendors selling boats, rods, reels, lures, sporting equipment, sporting gear, accessories, clothing, and state-of-the-art marine electronics. Free seminars will be held throughout the weekend.
Holidig Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show
Diggerland, West Berlin
Saturday – Sunday
Marvel at the lights, holiday displays and tunnels as you drive along 1.25 miles inside America’s only construction-based theme and water parks.
FRIDAY
Jupiter and Saturn
Hoffman Park, Union Twp.
View the Solar System’s two biggest planets: Saturn and its rings; and Jupiter, “King of Planets,” which will be at opposition, meaning it is at its closest distance to the Earth. You should be able to view the bands on the planet and its four largest moons. You’ll scan the sky for other celestial objects.
Jimmy and The Parrots
Cooper’s Riverview, Trenton
The Jimmy Buffett tribute band will transport you to the islands alongside DJ John Rossi. You can come by early for happy hour or dinner.
Winter Wonders Storytime and Puppet Show
Princeton Public Library, Princeton
Early Childhood faculty from the Waldorf School of Princeton will put on a seasonal storytime and puppet show for winter, geared toward kids ages 6 months to 5 years old. Amy Shor will use songs, rhymes and fingerplays, using simple handmade puppets and other surprises from the natural world.
SATURDAY
Winter Wonder Walk
Schermann Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Join a Naturalist for an informal and informative outdoor walk to explore winter’s wonders.
Parlor Games for Wintry Weather
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Play Halma and Basilinda, two long-forgotten 1890s board games; plus old-time favorites like Backgammon, Checkers and Dominoes.
In The Words of Dr. Martin Luther King
Two River Theater, Red Bank
There will be a constitutional sound bath, a discussion on Dr. King’s book “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” and remarks by The Fortune Tellers, Ranney School Diversity Club and New Jersey Orators. Dr. Aaron X. Smith from Temple University will speak about African American studies and Africology. Presented by the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center and Two River Theater, and sponsored by the New Jersey Martin Luther King Commission.
SUNDAY
Snow Sisters Brunch
The Bistro at iPlay America, Freehold
Spend a morning with the Snow Sisters. There will be food, meet-and-greets, photo ops, and a coloring book for all kids.
Sunday Afternoon Bird Walk
Schermann Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Grab a pair of binoculars and look for the sanctuary’s winter resident birds.
Make-and-Take Victorian Dolls
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Drop in for a quick lesson on crafting two styles of homemade Victorian dolls: corn husk dolls and rag dolls.
Transition Your Wardrobe Sewing Workshop
Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
In partnership with Out Montclair, you can upcycle a piece of your own clothing into a new design, reflecting your gender identity and style.
New Year, New Beach Clean Up Event
Great Bay Boulevard, Tuckerton
The litter cleanup will focus on the stretch of road that gets trash from local travelers, as well as garbage that washes ashore from Atlantic City.
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.
Nature & Stories
Plainsboro Preserve, Plainsboro
Thursdays, January 8 – 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.
Fire & Frost Fun Winter Festival
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
January 9-10, 16-17
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.
Soup Stroll
Rahway
January 10, 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 10, 17, 24, 31
Drop in to explore a work of art, play with different materials, and exercise your imagination. Themes include bold landscapes on January 10, African masks on January 17, color play on January 24, and sculpture forms on January 31.
Vintner Wonderland
Renault Winery & Resort, Egg Harbor City
Fridays – Sundays, through January 19
The winery grounds are open to families for ice skating, a holiday market, fire pits and live music. Special events include the Festival of Trees, live music at the rink, Stories with Santa, Cookies & Cocktails and an hors d’oeuvres masterclass.
Antique Toy Train Show
The Museum of American History, Deptford
Thursday to 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.
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.
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 9-11, 2026)?
A: This weekend (January 9-11, 2026) features family-friendly things to do across New Jersey and in NY and PA. Highlights include the Super Pet Expo in Edison, Disney on Ice at Prudential Center in Newark, and the Fire & Frost Winter Festival at Peddler’s Village in Pennsylvania.
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)
The Best Free Things To Do in January
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