Looking for things to do in NJ this weekend with your kids? See their favorite Disney heroes—on ice!—at Prudential Center in Newark, or head to Winterfest 2020 in Franklin Twp. for free pizza, kids’ games and activities and more. If you’ve got Angelina Ballerina fans at home, they’ll want to see MPAC’s show, featuring a variety of this prima ballerina’s dance moves. If you’re looking for a GNO or date night idea, head to the State Theatre in New Brunswick to groove with professional dancers and celebrity Kate Flannery (Meredith from The Office) at Dancing with the Stars: Live!.

If you want to stay inside, take a look at our favorite indoor activities, but if you want to experience the great outdoors, we found some awesome activities the kids will love. Got a bunch of younger kids to entertain? We’ve got activities that cater just to them, plus free events for the whole fam. Check out our calendar for events near you, or browse things to do in NJ this weekend by county below.

ALL WEEKEND

things to do in NJ this weekend
Feld Entertainment

Disney on Ice presents Dream Big!
Newark
It’s not just icy in Arendelle! Prudential Center will host Disney heroes like Miguel, Moana, Maui, Anna and Elsa—on ice skates. Your kids will learn about following their dreams while offering strength and kindness to others.
20+

Vernon Lights Festival
Vernon Twp.
Head to Glenwood Lake Art Park, where your kids can marvel at lantern displays, splurge on food truck fare, listen to holiday music, watch performances and visit the creativity pavilion.
$19.99/adults, $14.99/ages 3-12, free/ages 3 and under

Lambertville New Hope Winter Festival
Lambertville
Celebrating its 23rd year, this nine-day fest includes ice sculptures, a chili cook-off, pub crawl, concert, dance night, children’s events and more.
Prices vary

FRIDAY (JANUARY 17)

Tot Walks
Flemington
Grab your tots for an adventure to find plants and animals with naturalist Laura Bush. This week’s theme is animal tracks. After your outdoor walk, head inside for storytime and crafts. Registration required.
$3/kid, free/accompanying adults

Frozen Bingo
Cherry Hill
Park it at the Garden State Discovery Museum, check out the exhibits and head into the unknown to spend time with Elsa from Frozen.
Included with admission

SATURDAY (JANUARY 18)

SOPAC

Mark Nizer 4-D
South Orange
Ages 5 and up can hit SOPAC for a 4-D show that combines comedy, juggling, music, tech and more.
$20

Winterfest 2020
Franklin Twp.
Think free pizza, kids’ games and activities and local vendors and community services in one spot.
Varies

Behind the Scenes Tour
Point Pleasant Beach
Your marine-loving 5-and-uppers can see what happens beyond the tanks at Jenkinson’s Aquarium. They’ll get a tour of the building and a chance to ask the keepers all their burning questions. Registration required.
$20/adults, $14/kids

Makey Makeys, Scratch Coding and Play-Doh
Haddonfield
Hit the Haddonfield Public Library with your sixth to eighth graders, where they’ll learn to code their own game and make their own working game controller. Registration required.
Free

Queen Elsa Tea Party
Montclair
Ages 2 and up can join a royal tea party with Queen Elsa herself. There’ll also be a storytime, play, sing-along, coloring, face painting, snacks and photos with Elsa. Registration required.
$25

Henrik Lundqvist Meet & Greet
Freehold
Pile your hockey fans into the car and hit iPlay America to listen to a Q&A and meet the New York Rangers’ “King,” goalie Henrik Lundqvist. VIP ticket needed for meet and greet.
$25-225

Lunar New Year Celebration
Paramus
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Garden State Plaza with Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Filipino performances from the Asian American Dragon Lion Dance Association, The Korean Community Center, Haesun Jung Korean Dance Academy and more. You’ll also get a red envelope with special discounts to retailers in the mall.
Free

Planetarium Shows
Branchburg
The RVCC Planetarium has you covered with a variety of shows that’ll keep the lil’ ones entertained. Ages 5-12 are invited to Magic Tree House: Space Mission to learn secrets about the Milky Way and space travel. Then, stick around for First and Farthest (ages 10+) to learn about the Space Race. If your little one’s not into science, take him to Kids Jam Laser Concert (ages 6-12), where they can listen to a mix of songs like “YMCA” by The Village People and “Waka Waka” by Shakira. If they’re still itching for more music, head to Best of Pink Floyd (ages 10+) for an animated laser show with songs like “Comfortably Numb” and “Another Brick in the Wall, part 2.”
$10

SUNDAY (JANUARY 19)

things to do in NJ this weekend
Axelrod Performing Arts Center

Angelina Ballerina the Musical
Morristown
Take your lil’ ones to MPAC to see prima ballerina, Angelina, who will perform everything from hip-hop to the Irish jig for a special guest with her friends. But will Angelina get her chance in the spotlight?
$12-15

Dancing with the Stars: Live!
New Brunswick
Dancing with the Stars fans can get their groove on at the State Theatre, where professional dancers will show off awesome routines alongside celebrity dancer Kate Flannery (Meredith from The Office). Meet and greet packages are also available.
$55-399

Skull Workshop
Flemington
Six-and-uppers can learn about teeth and how they grow, why animals have differently shaped noses and what eye sockets tell us—all using skulls. They’ll also learn how to identify signs of local wildlife. Registration required.
$3

Lunar New Year Celebration
Short Hills
Get ready for Lunar New Year with games, trivia, crafts, stories—and if you see a lion, be sure to follow him through the woods.
$8

Snow Queen Meet and Greet
Cherry Hill
Bundle up and head to the Garden State Discovery Museum to meet the Queen of Arendelle, no matter the chilly weather—the cold never bothered her anyway.
Included with admission

JC’s Clifton High School Flea Market
Clifton
It’s never too early to snag a deal for your valentine. This indoor flea market at Clifton High School boasts collectibles, vintage pieces, records, home decor, clothes, jewelry and more.
Free admission

Trailblazers Volunteer Day
Jersey City
Teach your 10-and-uppers about volunteering at Liberty State Park Nature Center, where they’ll help remove invasive weeds and vines from the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area, plus mulch native shrubs. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring your own water and work gloves (if you have them).
Free

ONGOING

Liberty Science Center

Visit Liberty Science Center
Jersey City
Take your little ones to see the Angry Birds Universe Exhibit, where they can shoot at life-size Angry Birds with massive slingshots ($30-35). After, ages 2-8 can climb aboard the Dinosaur Train and head back to the Mesozoic period, where your tot can check out steam engines, excavate fossils, learn about dino diets and chill in a dinosaur nest (included with museum admission). The Dinosaur Train exhibit ends January 20. Angry Birds ends April 19.

Mega Model Trains
Morristown
Through February 29, head to the Morris Museum where you and the kids can learn the importance of railroads through hands-on activities.
Included with admission

Aerosol: Graffiti
Morristown
Through March 15, view an exhibition at the Morris Museum centered around graffiti and street art from 12 established artists whose work is displayed directly on the museum walls.
Free/members, $7-10/non-members

FIND MORE THINGS TO DO IN NJ THIS WEEKEND

Atlantic

Bergen

Burlington

Camden

Cape May

Cumberland

Essex

Gloucester

Hudson

Hunterdon

Mercer

Middlesex

Monmouth

Morris

Ocean

Passaic

Salem

Somerset

Sussex

Union

Warren

If you have any upcoming events you’d like to add to our calendar, click here!

# things to do in NJ this weekend # things to do in NJ this weekend