Things to Do This Weekend In and Around New Jersey January 24-26

Lunar New Year celebrations, ice festivals, maple sugaring and more fun awaits this weekend

 

NC PHOTOS

From Lunar New Year celebrations to an ice harvest, here’s what’s happening in and around New Jersey this weekend!

WEEKEND

New Hope & Lambertville Restaurant Week
Lambertville and New Hope, PA
Thursday – Monday
Over 20 restaurants from both sides of the Delaware River will offer specially priced prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus.

Glow-N-Fire
CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton
Friday – Sunday
You’ll see Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shar, HW 5-Alarm, Bone Shaker, Bigfoot, Gunkste, and the new Skelesaurus. Look for a special appearance from a transforming robot, plus the high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Freestyle Motocross Team.

The Addams Family
State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
Friday – Sunday
The musical comedy is based on the bizarre and beloved characters by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, who was a Westfield resident.

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
Algonquin Arts Theatre, Manasquan
Friday – Sunday
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and Sally are the stars of this classic musical.

Garden State Comic Fest Winter Fest
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta
Saturday – Sunday
Expect comics, artists, toys and cosplays. Special guests include Lisa Raggio, the voice of Zarana; Bud LaRosa; Ava Schrager; and George Vega. The Empanada Guy will have his food truck on site, too.

AKC Meet the Breeds
Jacob Javitz Convention Center, New York, NY
Saturday – Sunday
Animal lovers can meet, play with and learn about hundreds of dogs.

FRIDAY

Princeton Wrestling: University Day
Princeton University will battle Rider University wrestlers on the mat. All Princeton employees can get four free tickets through NetID.

Paint & Sip
American Hungarian Foundation, New Brunswick
Paint a simplified version of a fisherman’s bastion in winter. All materials will be included.

SATURDAY

Lunar New Year Celebration
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
Come for dragon and lion dance performances, musical and dance showcases, cultural activities, interactive experiences, family-friendly crafts and Asian traditions.

BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY

Student Day
Battleship NJ, Camden
Kids can come to the ship in the morning for a guided tour and classroom-style lesson.

Dessertopia
Morristown Armory, Morristown
Come for the samples of cupcakes, cookies, waffles, ice cream, pastries, pies, puddings and chocolate but stay for the shopping, DJ, face painting, giveaways, photo ops and drinks.

Lunar New Year Celebration
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair
Join AAPI New Jersey for a traditional dragon parade, lion dance, cultural performances, vendor market, crafts and food trucks.

STAFF PHOTO / Rutgers Geology Museum

Rutgers Geology Museum Open House
Rutgers Geology Museum, New Brunswick
The 57th annual open house features crafts, activities, a mineral sale, rock identification, lectures, access to the museum, and lots of learning. The theme for the 2025 open house is New Jersey Geology.

Lunar New Year Celebration
Vizzio’s Institute of Martial Arts, Fairfield
Learn the cultural diversity of this wonderful tradition with traditional Lion Dance performances.

Ice Harvest
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
Howell Farm was once known as the “ice farm” because neighbors could buy ice from the pond to keep their milk cool on the way to the train station on Pleasant Valley Road. You’ll see demos of ice cutting, hauling and handling. You can also help pull ice blocks up the ramp to the ice house, chip ice to make ice cream, and make an ice candle to take home.

Lunar New Year Celebration With Xian Zhang
NJPAC, Newark
Families and children will celebrate the Year of the Snake with Music Director Xian Zhang, pianist Min Kwon, the Peking University Alumni Chorus, the Starry Arts Children’s Chorus, the Edison Chinese School Lion Dance Team, and opera star Michael Fabiano.

South Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Festival
Eden Gardens, Pennsauken
Presented by the New Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Coalition this is an event that includes poetry, cultural performances, art exhibits, global foods and an international bazaar.

Fire & Ice Festival
Mill Race Village, Mount Holly
The highlights of the day are ice sculpture carving and the annual chili cookoff.

Mike Super – Magic & Illusion
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Mike Super is the only magician in history to win a live magic competition on primetime TV and to be voted “America’s Favorite Mystifier!”

Chinese New Year Celebration
MarketFair, Princeton
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with WULA Academy and HX Chinese School. There will be cultural performances, music, dance, games, arts and crafts, and lucky red envelopes with gift cards.

MOMIX-ALICE AT NJPAC

SUNDAY

MOMIX-Alice
NJPAC, Newark
Inspired by “Alice in Wonderland,” dancers transform into Caterpillars, White Rabbits, Mad Hatters, the Queen of Hearts, and other characters from the classic tale through dance, illusion and acrobatics.

Lunar Fest NJ 2025
The Woodland, Maplewood
There will be performances representing Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Southeast Asian cultures, including children’s activities and food.

Muslim Heritage Celebration
Fair Lawn Community Center, Fair Lawn
The Fair Lawn Muslim Community will host an educational experience based on the cultural traditions of 15 Muslim-majority countries. There will be performances, cultural exhibits of clothing and artifacts, crafts, music, live calligraphy, food stalls, henna art and a photo booth.

RICHARD TERMINE / Pinkalicious: The Musical

Pinkalicious The Musical: Sensory-Friendly Show
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
A girl finds herself in a colorful predicament after she eats too many pink cupcakes.

Brigid’s Day and Candlemas
Historic New Bridge Landing, River Edge
Listen to Scottish/Irish Celtic traditional tunes on the bagpipes from members of The Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County. Exhibits and artifacts from the Revolutionary War will be on display. Visit the Jersey-Dutch out-kitchen where interpreters will be demonstrating the 18th century craft of candle making using authentic materials. Activities for families include corn husk Brigid’s cross and doll making available throughout the afternoon.

TERHUNE ORCHARDS / Wassailing the Apple Trees

Wassailing the Apple Trees
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Dancing and singing are part of the re-enactments of old English traditional rituals to welcome in the cider-making season. There will be toasts of hot cider and placing gifts of cider-soaked bread in the tree branches. The Handsome Molly Dancers and Kingessing Morris Dancers will perform. There will be a bonfire and live music by the Spiced Punch Quartet playing traditional music using violins and flutes.

Baby B Winter Throwdown
Bury the Hatchet, Freehold
During this charity tournament, all proceeds will be donated to The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at CHOP. The top three finishers will win axes from three different makers.

ONGOING

A Sinner’s Love Affair: Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Bar
Sinner’s Seafood & Steakhouse, Point Pleasant Beach
January 22 – February 23
There will be Valentine’s Day-themed decorations, signature holiday cocktails and festive desserts for Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day.

The Secret Tea Room
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit
Afternoon Tea: Sundays, January 26, February 9 and 16, March 16
Members Tea: Saturdays, February 8 and March 15
Savor English tea in the Wisner House overlooking the arboretum’s beautiful grounds.

Hudson Restaurant Week
January 27 – February 7
Edgewater, Guttenberg, Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken
Visit participating restaurants for special prix fixe menus, whether you want to return to your old favorite or try a new one.

THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY AT DEPTFORD

Antique Toy Train Show
The Museum of American History at Deptford
Thursdays – Sundays, through February 2
See O and O-27 gauge toy trains from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Lionel, Marx and American Flyer engines, with adjoining cars, will race against each other on two platforms. You’ll see Vintage Plasticville buildings from the 1950s, too.

New Jersey/New Sculpture
Morris Museum, Morristown
Wednesdays – Sundays, through February 2
Eleven sculptors who worked with malleable aluminum, cold-worked glass, and industrial robotics join the more traditional media of ceramics, forged iron, and steel in this exhibit that showcases 40 works based on The Garden State.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Aquarium Tour
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Through February 12
Based on the Nintendo Switch video game, kids will interact with game characters while learning more about the real-world animal kingdom from Adventure Aquarium team members. They’ll get to see sharks, sting rays, penguins, and other fish and sealife up close.

Lunar New Year
American Dream, East Rutherford
Select dates, through February 22
Parts of the celebration include traditional lion dances, live bands, dance showcases, a youth talent competition, a photography competition, a student and teacher piano concert, a lighting of the Dream Wheel, a spring festival gala, and then the ultimate Lunar New Year Spectacular.

Outdoor Ice Skating
Veterans Park, North Brunswick
Fridays, through February 28
Skate to your heart’s desire on Fridays, but keep in mind if it’s raining or the temperature is below 35 degrees, the rink will be closed.

Morven Revealed: Untold Stories From New Jersey’s Most Historic Home
Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
Wednesdays – Sundays, through March 2
This special exhibit is part of Morven’s 20th-anniversary celebration and will shed light on lesser-known stories of this historic home and its residents. You’ll see rarely-seen objects and newly discovered photos about American life: childhood, hosting guests, pets, fashion, and more.

ANGELITO JUSAY / Bumper Cars on Ice at Bank of America’s Winter Village at Bryant Park in NYC.

Bumper Cars on Ice
The Rink, Bank of America at Bryant Park, New York, NY
Through March 1
You can reserve a time to bump, slide and spin with friends and family on the ice. The ice skating rink is open (for free!) as well as the Curling Cafe and igloo rentals.

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Bryant Park, New York City
Through March 2
This Manhattan park is home to the largest free-admission ice skating rink in NYC. Relax rinkside at The Lodge, where you can get food and drinks 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.

Maple Sugaring
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Chatham
Sundays, through March 9
This program is held entirely outdoors and will show you how to identify and tap maple trees, plus collect sap and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator.

CANDIE WARD / Longwood Gardens, Cascade Garden

Winter Wonder
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Through March 23
This year’s season will be Mediterranean-inspired, showing off the new 32,000-square-foot West Conservatory and the Cascade Garden.

Winery Weekend Music Series
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturdays – Sundays, through March 30
Weather permitting, you can sit in the historic apple orchard. During cooler weather, seating is inside the wine barn with firepits, outdoor heaters, and hot mulled wine. Tasting flights of Terhune wines are available. All ages can have fun with s’mores and hot cocoa kits. The Barn Door Café will serve lunch. Live music is performed from 1-4 pm.

Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! Exhibit
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 4
There are a series of immersive zones that let kids go on George’s adventures in the city, on the farm and in outer space. The exhibit includes the operation of wheels and pulleys, three holes of mini golf, a space rocket, a sidewalk produce stand, a vacation in the country, a farm visit, a city park playset, a busy wall, and a museum that has the original manuscript.

STAFF PHOTO / Noodle Mountain

Slow Motion
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton
Through September 1
Five artists from Monument Lab in Philadelphia created gigantic, creative, introspective monuments that will be on display for their beauty, but also to address political, cultural and social issues.

Hometown Pride: The Power of Sports in Middlesex County
Cornelius Low House Museum, Piscataway
Select dates, through December 31
Middlesex County’s sports connections include the first-ever college football game played between Rutgers University and Princeton University and professional athletes and Olympians, Paralympians, and Special Olympians. The exhibit features items from Rutgers University, Middlesex College, several high schools, and individuals. You will see high school trophies from the 1930s to the present, NFL golden footballs for pro athletes, balls from the highest-scoring high school athletes, uniforms from the 1930s to the present, and more.

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Read More:
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