The Best Things To Do in NJ This Weekend, January 3-5

From meeting live raptors to outdoor ice skating, there’s plenty to do with your crew.

Looking for things to do in NJ this weekend with your kids? Kick off the first weekend of 2020 with live performances from the famously talented Harlem Wizards. If you’re a music lover, see rapper Ja-Rule and R&B singer Ashanti, known for their early 2000s hits, live at the NJPAC in Newark. And if you’re looking to burn off some holiday calories, head to Palmer Square in Princeton for ice skating with the family. If it’s too chilly, head indoors for roller skating at Cape May Convention Hall.

If you want to stay inside, take a look at our favorite indoor activities. 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.

things to do in NJ this weekend
Vernon Lights Festival

ALL WEEKEND

Vernon Lights Festival
Vernon Twp.
Head to Glenwood Lake Art Park for the last weekend of the Vernon Lights Festival, 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

Christmas in the 1885 Ballantine House
Newark
Stop by the Newark Museum of art to experience a holiday in Newark during the Victorian era and learn about past traditions.
$15/adults, $8/kids, free/members

Skating On The Square
Princeton
Through February 29, make memorable moments with your family at Palmer Square’s eco-friendly, outdoor ice skating rink. Registration required.
$10

Harlem Wizards
Multiple locations
Now’s your chance to see the infamous basketball team perform live at four NJ shows this weekend. On January 4, head to the West Essex High School in Roseland or the Waldick High School. On January 5, head to the Upper Township Middle School in Ocean View or the Hammonton Middle School to see the team perform their basketball stunts up close.
$18-40

62nd Annual Model Railroad Show
North Haledon
The Garden State Model Railway Club will showcase a 1,200-square-foot layout of steam and diesel locomotives, featuring Thomas the Train and friends, freight trains and passenger trains with working signals.
$6/adults, free/ages 12 and under

Holiday Light Show
Galloway
Head to Historic Smithville for the last weekend of its annual celebration. You’ll see more than 100 Christmas trees float on Lake Meone and light up to music. Don’t leave until you’ve checked out The Magical Talking Tree, Christmas train and storytime with Mrs. Claus on select dates.
Free admission

Festival of Trees
Princeton
Hit the Morven Museum & Garden for this fest, where you can see Christmas displays from the 18th through 20th centuries.
$10, free/members

Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights
New York
This is your last weekend to visit the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights, a dazzling walk-through experience with themed LED displays, custom Asian lanterns and light shows. There’ll also be ice carving demos, caroling, train rides and holiday music.
$29.95/adults, $22.95/kids, free/ages 2 and under

FRIDAY (JANUARY 3)

Pizza and Penguins
Point Pleasant Beach
Have some pizza while the kids’ favorite tuxedoed birds and their keepers make an appearance. They’ll get to meet Perky the Penguin, too. Registration required.
$25/adults, $18/kids

SATURDAY (JANUARY 4)

Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Tribute Show
Englewood
Head to bergenPAC for a tribute show to one of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands featuring some of the Rolling Stones’ greatest hits.
$29-39

The Eco-Friendly Home
Roseland
Bring the lil’ ones to the Essex County Environmental Center where they can learn how to reduce waste at home, or make an eco-friendly food storage wrap and reusable crafts.
$30/family, $12/adults, $10/kids

Penguin Painting Party
Chester
The ARTsi Studio will hold a penguin-themed event where kids ages 5 and up can paint a colorful penguin. Registration required.
$25

SUNDAY (JANUARY 5)

The Ulysses Quartet
South Orange
You might have attended a few of your kids’ orchestral shows this holiday season. Take them to see an award-winning quartet live at SOPAC.
$15-20

Remarkable Raptors
Tenafly
Visit the Tenafly Nature Center for this bird-themed event where your kids can meet a live hawk and owl, plus learn what makes them tick.
$5/members, $10/non-members

things to do in NJ this weekend
RVCC

Planetarium Shows
Branchburg
The RVCC Planetarium has you covered with a variety of shows that’ll keep the lil’ ones entertained. On January 4, ages 5 and up are invited to Magic Tree House: Space Mission to learn secrets about the Milky Way and space travel. Then, stick around for Astronomy Tonight and take a guided tour of the night sky using the Planetarium’s DigitalSky theater. If your little one’s not into science, take them to Kids Jam Laser Concert 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 Laser Beatles for an animated laser show with songs like “Twist and Shout” and “Revolution.”
$10

ONGOING

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). Exhibit ends January 20.

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!

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