Things To Do This Weekend In And Around NJ This Presidents Day Weekend

Need ideas for the long weekend? Take your crew to the circus, bowling at the new Pinstripes in Bergen County or to a maple sugaring demo

PINSTRIPES PARAMUS

It’s Presidents Day Weekend and there’s lots to do over the long weekend, from snowtubing and chocolate-themed events to ringside tickets for the circus and more!

WEEKEND

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Presents: Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin
February 15, MPAC, Morristown
February 16, Count Basie Center For The Arts, Red Bank
February 17, NJPAC, Newark
February 18, State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
A tribute to the Queen of Soul, this program features Capathia Jenkins and three-time Grammy nominee Ryan Shaw performing such iconic hits as “Respect,” ‘Think,” “A Natural Woman” and many more.

PEDDLER’S VILLAGE

Village of Chocolate
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Thursday – Sunday
Keep the Valentine’s Day vibes flowing with a chocolate & whiskey or chocolate & beer dinner, have brunch in a chocolate factory, or sign up for a chocolate-making workshop. Kids can pick up a Golden Ticket along the Chocolate Trail to collect stickers and win prizes.

New Jersey Wine & Chocolate Trail Weekends
Throughout New Jersey
Friday – Sunday
The Garden State Wine Growers Association will host two weekends of Valentine’s Day-themed events that include wine tastings, artisanal chocolates, live music and more.

DEEP CUT ORCHID SOCIETY

Deep Cut Orchid Society Show
Dearborn Market, Holmdel
Friday – Sunday
A weekend of exhibits, speakers, tours and orchids to view or purchase awaits.

TADA YOUTH THEATER’S ‘B.O.T.C.H.’

‘B.O.T.C.H.’
TADA! Youth Theater, New York, NY
Friday – Sunday
Youth actors will put on this original, jazz-styled musical that follows seven kids on the NYC subway who get lost underground and meet artistic rats, members of B.O.T.C.H. (Bureau of Turmoil, Chaos & Headaches), and find themselves in the basement of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS / Kevin Jonas and his daughters at a Devils game

2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Saturday – Sunday
The outdoor games will feature the New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, and New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders on Sunday. The Jonas Bros. will perform on Saturday, and AJR will perform on Sunday.

New Jersey Film Festival
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Saturday – Sunday
The 42nd Bi-Annual Spring 2024 New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place in person at Rutgers University, plus all films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date.

SPIRIT BRANDS

Spirit Brands National Cheerleading Championship
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Saturday – Sunday
Performances will be choreographed to music and sound effects, and the winning teams will be awarded prizes.

Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Laurita Winery, New Egypt
Saturday – Sunday
Celebrate Valentine’s Day – or Galentine’s Day – by sampling chocolates and wines.

TERHUNE ORCHARDS

Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturday – Sunday
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate baked goods homemade from Terhune’s own bakery, along with their award-winning wines. There will be a special wine and chocolate pairing of chocolate from Pierre’s Chocolates of New Hope, PA. Stay outside by the firepits, or warm up inside the wine barn. Music is by Brian Bortnick on Saturday and Jerry Steele on Sunday.

FRIDAY

Grand Opening Celebration of Pinstripes Paramus
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
The new 30,000-square-foot entertainment complex has 13 bowling lanes, three bocce courts and a two-floor bistro serving Italian-American lunches and dinners. During Opening Week, from February 16-23, you can get discounted food.

Dionne Warwick
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Six-time Grammy Award-winning music legend Dionne Warwick has more than 75 hit songs and has sold over 100 million records. This concert is part of Black History Month programming at MPAC.

Partner Yoga Workshop
Honor Yoga, Manalapan
Bring your spouse, significant other, parent, friend – or even a first date – and be playful, learning how to use yoga poses together to stretch and find serenity.

Movie Night
Five Stars Swim School, Eatontown
Kids can swim for an hour, then change into comfy PJs and watch the movie “Elemental” poolside. There will be pizza, snacks and drinks. Parents can stay, too.

Oh So Sweet Galentine’s Event
Marketfair, Princeton
There will be a candy charcuterie board-making workshop with All Aboard Candy. Step inside Williams Sonoma for mocktails and snacks. There will be a display by Eternal Permanent Jewelry.

SATURDAY

Tots For Sculpture: Sensory Mosaics
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Kids ages 3-5, with their favorite adult, will use color, texture and sound to experiment with sight, touch and hearing while creating mosaic tiles.

Great Backyard Bird Count
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Join Dorothy Smullen, Teacher Naturalist for New Jersey Audubon, to count the birds at the bird feeding station in front of the Welcome Center/Nature Store. You will report the results for the national program, and learn how to count birds in your own backyard. You can also make a pinecone bird feeder.

Magic of Lyn
Shea Performing Arts Center, William Paterson University, Wayne
Lyn Dillies is a female illusionist who puts on a family-friendly show filled with mystery, comedy and audience participation.

Mardi Gras Bingo Brunch
Asbury Ale House, Asbury Park
Bring your friends and family for brunch, and try to win prizes, including a trip for two, as you play bingo.

Chinese New Year Celebration
Princeton Public Library, Princeton
The program features Chinese painting, calligraphy, musical instruments, paper cutting, traditional dances, Chinese Yo-yo and Chinese knotting.

Freestyle Explosion
Starland Ballroom, Sayreville
Flashback to the ’90s with performances by freestyle stars TKA-K7, George Lamond, Judy Torres, Coro, Noel and Lisette Melendez. Vic Latino and Speedy are the hosts.

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL – SOMERSET / Go Red Fashion Show & Family Health Festival

Go Red Fashion Show & Family Health Festival
Bridgewater Commons, Bridgewater
Bridgewater Commons and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset will present a health-focused family festival and a red-styled fashion show. The fashion show will feature heart disease survivors and healthcare practitioners modeling clothing provided by the shopping center’s stores. RWJUH Somerset cardiologists Sharan Mahal, MD, and Sanjukta Sanyal, MD, will provide information about how to promote your heart health. Family festival activities will include children’s fitness sessions, friendship bracelet workshops, heart-healthy nutrition, a Teddy Bear Clinic, and face painting.

Valentine’s Critters: A Sensory-Safe Reptile Encounter
Bierman Autism Centers, Princeton
Get ready for an up-close experience with reptiles from Snakes-n-Scales in a sensory-safe environment. Then, kids will create a reptile-themed Valentine’s card.

At Your Own Pace Sensory-Friendly Tours
Macculouch Hall Historical Museum, Morristown
Families and care partners with neurodiverse children and teens are invited to experience the historic house, with plenty to touch and time for questions. Explore the new garden sensory pathway through sight, sound, touch and smell.

Mommy & Me Valentine’s Tea Party
Casino Pier Arcade, Seaside Heights
Bring your special Valentine princess to a tea party with special guests, The Snow Sisters. There will be singing, dancing, storytime and photos, plus food and snacks.

Origami Basics Workshop
Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
Learn how to fold paper into cranes, hearts and flowers. No experience necessary.

Movie Night
Five Stars Swim School, Princeton
Kids can swim for an hour, then change into comfy PJs and watch the movie “Elemental” poolside. There will be hot cocoa, snacks and drinks. Parents can stay, too.

Guided Nature Therapy Walk
Montclair Community Farms, Montclair
Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing, has you explore nature, slow down, be present and connect with your senses. You take a walk outdoors and listen to the sounds of the animals, feel the wind, touch the trees and sip on hot tea.

Family Winter Trail Walk
Plainsboro Preserve, Cranbury
Everyone in the family can hike and explore what winter has to offer on the trails at the Plainsboro Preserve.

Red, White & Brew Fest
CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton
In the late 1750s, George Washington wrote down a recipe “to make small beer” in the notebook he carried as colonel of the Virginia Militia during the French and Indian  War. To mark that moment, during Presidents Weekend you can try over 50 beer, wine and liquor samples. There will be music from Nine Deeez Nite, interactive games, contests, and more.

Great Backyard Bird Count
Point Mountain Central River Trail, Washington
Take a walk to go over some bird IDing tips and record what species are out there and how many of each. This is part of a nationwide citizen research project.

Black History Month Reading Event
McDonald’s, Neptune City
Listen to books read by Black authors, teachers, principals and community members. As part of the celebration, you can get a tote bag, book and/or Happy Meal while supplies last.

SUNDAY

Stephanie’s 30th Birthday Bowling Bash
Howell Lanes, Howell
The late Stephanie Parze was 25 years old when she became the victim of domestic violence from an ex-boyfriend. Celebrate what would have been the Freehold resident’s 30th birthday by bowling for a good cause, since you’ll be fundraising for The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation created in her honor to help other people and families affected by domestic violence, sexual abuse and abduction.

Lunar New Year Event
Menlo Park Mall, Edison
For the first time, the mall will partner with the Center for Cultural Exchange for a lion dance performance, calligraphy, crafts and more.

MONTCLAIR HISTORY CENTER

Guided House Tour: Eyewitness to Black History
Crane House and Historic YWCA, Montclair
Explore 200 years of Black history in Montclair and New Jersey through rare firsthand accounts, and primary and secondary source documents at the Crane House & Historic YWCA. Artifacts include a bill of sale for an enslaved person in the household, an 1800s newspaper, census data, personal letters, oral histories, and mid-century Jet and Ebony magazines.

Causeway CARes Summer in Winter Carnival
Holiday Inn, Manahawkin
Beat the winter blues with games, prizes, face painters, food and a chance to meet reps from local non-profits.

Mommy & Me Superheroes Valentine’s Date
Casino Pier, Seaside Heights
This mommy-and-son date includes meeting your favorite superheroes and face painting. The Special Valentine’s Package includes a personal heart-shaped pizza for Mommy & Son, two medium fountain drinks and a $15 Arcade SURF Card.

MONDAY

Junior Keepers
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Pt. Pleasant
Future marine biologists who are ages 7 to 11 will learn about the aquarium from an employee’s point of view. They will be taught how to provide animal care, including training, enrichment and feeding to a variety of animals. Kids will go behind the scenes, meet live animals, and talk with the care staff.

Open Swim
Five Star Swim Schools, Multiple Locations
Families can take advantage of the indoor heated swimming pool. The Cherry Hill location will have a special Play and Swim: Mom Group meet-up.

School’s Out Superhero Day
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison
Kids can create comic strips and decorate a superhero mask. There will be superhero-themed coloring and 3D printing. The museum will be open so you can check out the exhibits.

ONGOING

Tours of Crane House & Historic YWCA
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
Every Sunday
Take a self-guided tour to learn about the women of the Historic YWCA and the Crane family at your own pace. Take some time to walk through the gardens and meadow on site.

Wayne PAL Antique Collectibles Show and Vintage Flea Market
Wayne PAL Athletic League Complex, Wayne
First Sunday of every month, through April
The show features over 150 vendor tables in two large rooms and the front lobby where you can find vintage and sterling jewelry, glassware and Lenox, toys and trains, antique and collectible dolls and action figures, vintage postcards and photos and artwork, military, political and sports memorabilia including cards, magazines and newspapers, vintage coins and watches, classic rock CDs and more.

COURTESY OF JAMES HOLLENBAUGH / A Life Like This

Thomas Edison Film Festival
James Stewart Film Theater, Princeton
February 16-23
Virtual options available
Seven films represent experimental, animation, documentary, screen dance, and narrative genres will be available to watch in person or on demand.

LATIN BRAND / Flip Circus

FLIP Circus
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
February 16 – March 5
Flip celebrates the great American circus tradition with an international group of clowns, acrobats, jugglers and daredevils. What’s cool is that no seat is more than 50 feet from the ring.

STAFF PHOTO / Howell Living History Farm

Tap the Sugar Maples: Maple Sugaring Event
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
Saturdays, February 17 and 24
Hundreds of sugar maple trees line the banks of Moore’s Creek and the nearby woods at the foot of Baldpate Mountain. Farmers will begin the work of sap collection and maple syrup production. The first step takes place in the sugar bush, and you can join Howell Farm’s expert tree tappers for a lesson on how to tap a backyard maple tree and make syrup at home.

INTREPID SEA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

Intrepid Kids Week
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York, NY
February 17-24
Kids and teens will learn about STEAM from Intrepid Museum educators and NASA scientists and engineers through fun-filled activities, live animal shows, hands-on workshops, performances, special guests and interactive demonstrations designed to educate and inspire. Some of the highlights for the week include author visits, souvenir making, stargazing, LEGO creations, a showing of The Gazillion Bubble Show, and partner activities with local zoos.

SESAME PLACE

Mardi Gras Celebration
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Select dates, February 17 – March 17
The theme park reopens for the season with Mardi Gras fun, including, Cookie Monster & Chef Gonger’s Pizza Party, “Elmo the Musical, Live!”, The Sesame Street Mardi Gras Parade, Mummers Band shows, a Mardi Gras mask scavenger hunt and strolling entertainment like stilt walkers and bead bike brigades.

ESSPY
New Jersey Repertory Company, Long Branch
Thursdays – Sundays, February 22 – March 17
A young medical student is at the top of his class, but he discovers there is more than science to caring for a patient. He meets a young woman working in the Patient Simulation program and they have to figure out: can empathy and compassion ever be taught?

Play & Swim Mom Group
Five Star Swim School, Deptford
Fridays, through February 23
Moms, dads, caregivers, babies and kids, plus homeschooler groups, can come for an open swim for free.

Lunar New Year 
Shops at Riverside, Hackensack
Through February 24
Celebrate with events, exclusive offers and more happenings at the mall. Check each store for the deals and promotions they may be offering. The illuminated cherry blossom tree will be adorned with gold coins to celebrate the Lunar New Year and The Year of the Dragon on level 1 near True Food Kitchen.

Lunar New Year Festivities
American Dream, East Rutherford
Select dates, through February 25
To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, stop by on different days for a fashion show, runway pageant, dance-off, gala, youth competition, Dream Wheel lighting ceremony, opera and orchestra concert.

Bergen County Winter Wonderland
Van Saun County Park, Paramus
Through February 25
Rent an ice bumper car and slide around the rink, or choose to go ice skating, before checking out the food trucks.

Vintner Wonderland
Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City
Fridays – Sundays, through February 25
Kids can go ice skating, have lunch by the fire pits or check out the cool items at the market. Adults can go inside for some wine sampling or an elegant dinner.

Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Through March
The famous ice-skating rink returns to Rockefeller Center in NYC for its 87th season. This year will be the first time you can enjoy alcoholic beverages in the chalets, with a menu of drinks by Other Half Brewery, served alongside a menu of après-skate bites.

West Orange Classic Film Festival
AMC Theatre, Essex Green Shopping Center, West Orange
Through March 3 (no showing February 11)
Catch movies on the big screen in the town where Thomas Edison invented movies. There will be an intro before each movie and an interactive Q&A session after. The schedule is In The Heat of the Night on January 28, Laurel & Hardy at Work on February 4, The Conversation on February 18, The Quiet Man on February 25 and The In-Laws on March 3.

NYC Off-Broadway Week
New York, NY
Through March 3
There are more than 30 shows performed Off-Broadway that will offer 2-for-1 tickets, including Blue Man Group, Gazillion Bubble Show, The Office! A Musical Parody and Perfect Crime.

Contemporary African Spirituality in Art
South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange
Through April 7
The exhibition features the works of many local artists in mixed media, painting and photos. There’s a mix of tradition and modernity and how it relates to African spirituality.

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Bryant Park, New York, NY
Through March 3
The rink is the largest, free ice skating rink in New York. You can relax at The Lodge, where you can eat and drink while watching the skaters. Through next week you can rent a Rosy Igloo, decorated specially for Valentine’s Day.

Traditions and Transitions: Historical to Contemporary Perspectives in Black Art
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Through March 5
The annual art exhibit by Art in the Atrium will present a range of still life, portrait, landscape, and fiber art, as well as optical art, and abstract expressionistic and non-objective styles. A free public reception will take place on January 28 at 3 pm.

Newport Skates
Jersey City
Through March 15
JC’s only outdoor ice skating rink is not only available for open skating but for lessons and parties, too.

Windows of Understanding
Highland Park, Metuchen, New Brunswick, Rahway, South Plainfield
Through March 31
This public art project highlights the positive strides made by local organizations, addressing critical social justice issues such as climate change, food insecurity, human rights and violence protection.

Roosevelt Park Family Skating Rink
Roosevelt Park, Edison
Through March 31
There is open skating as well as skating lessons.

DAVID MICHAEL HOWARTH PHOTOGRAPHY / Night Forms at Grounds For Sculpture

Night Forms
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Through April 7
You will have nighttime access to the art and horticulture throughout the sculpture park, which will be illuminated in an immersive experience.

TROLLS: Save the Humans
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
Through April 15
Thomas Dambo, a renowned recycle artist and activist from Copenhagen, created six ginormous trolls that will be on display at the zoo. They are made from repurposed wood and stand up to 15 feet tall. They ask people to reduce trash, reuse everything and recycle when they can.

The Science Behind Pixar
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 5
Learn all about the science behind Pixar’s animated films. Kids can try a bunch of hands-on experiences like making a short film, creating a robot friend for “WALL·E” and designing a new movie set using props from “Monsters University.” Learn what animation rendering is, then practice it by rendering a scene from “Inside Out.” Create a digital sculpture from an artist’s sketch. Use lights to solve challenges similar to the ones Pixar faced in creating underwater scenes with virtual light in “Finding Nemo.”

Micah Williams: Portrait Artist Exhibit
Cornelius Low House, Piscataway
Through June 30
Learn about Middlesex and Monmouth County residents from the 19th Century through the portraits of artist Micah Williams. Adults can work with pastels to create their own portraits, and kids can contribute to the Student Gallery.

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Read More:
30+ Things To Do With The Kids Over Presidents Break
Plan a Presidents Weekend Getaway to Crystal Springs Resort
Black History Month Events and Celebrations in New Jersey
Celebrate the Lunar New Year in New Jersey

50 Things to Do Indoors in NJ
Where to Try Maple Sugaring in NJ

 

 

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