FRIDAY, JANUARY 15
Ice Cutting and Wood Sawing
Where: Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Rd., Morris Twp.
The farm’s new, interactive program will introduce kids to ice cutting and wood sawing. Your family will cut ice and put in on a sled headed for the icehouse, then saw wood to keep the wood stove burning. Registration required.
Weaving Winter Tales
Where: Watershed Institute, 31 Titus Mill Rd., Pennington
Ages 5 and up are invited (along with their masks) for some stories around the bonfire. While kids roast marshmallows, the Watershed’s storytellers will tell tales of winter from around the world.
Giant Bubble Show
Where: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Every Thursday and Friday is LSC Junior Day at Liberty Science Center, which means ages 6 and under can hit the Science Dance Party twice per day, visit the Wild About Animal exhibition and even explore more shows in the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium. And this Friday, they can play at the Giant Bubble Show with Lena Lipavsky, known for her balloons, games, bubble machine and magic tricks.
Friday Friends Story Time
Where: Warren County Library, 40 US Hwy 46 West, Hackettstown
Join Miss Lindsay for a themed story time and craft session with your preschoolers. Registration required.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Where: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Hit LSC for the grand opening of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit based on the PBS television series. Kids can explore Daniel’s neighborhood through immersive experiences that’ll have them solving problems using their imagination, while learning life lessons. Kids can play instruments at the Music shop and sort, deliver and receive packages at the Post Office and more.
Cattus Island Nature Walks
Where: Cooper Environmental Center, Cattus Island County Park, Toms River
Take your kids on a walk at Cattus Island to learn about the island’s animal habitats from a park naturalist. No registration required. Ends March 28.
Monthly Bird Walks
Where: Cloverdale Farm County Park, Barnegat
This free, mile-long walk focuses on how the bird population changes in Cloverdale Farm County Park each month. This two-hour program is suitable for all levels of birders, and is only available to the first eight people to sign up upon arrival.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17
Drive Up Chase & Peppa
Where: Imagine That!!! Museum, 4 Vreeland Rd., Florham Park
Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol’s Chase will visit Imagine That!!! for an outdoor party. Families can get out of the car to watch and dance with the characters, plus kids will be given a gift and receive a dairy-free cupcake. There’s also an event that will feature PJ Masks and Skye from Paw Patrol.
Live Animal Talks
Where: Nature Center, Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood
Families can get a close look at the animals of Jakes Branch County Park, plus learn about each species. Talks are about 20 minutes and only the first eight people to sign up upon arrival will be served. Sessions are at 12:30 and 1:30 pm.
Winter Hike to Caven Point
Where: Liberty State Park, Jersey City
Meet at the park office before setting off on a three-mile round trip hike to Craven Point Beach, making your way along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.
ALL WEEKEND
Holiday Drive-Thru
Where: Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson Twp.
The holiday season doesn’t end with the new year at Six Flags. This drive-thru, with 12 immersive areas, features millions of dazzling lights and seasonal music. Reservations required.
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Where: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Ave., Morris Twp.
Bundle up and have your camera ready for the arboretum’s scavenger hunt. This month’s theme, “Who’s Out There?”, requires participants to take a photo of every item before they receive a prize. Registration required. Ends January 31.
ONGOING IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES
Antique Toy Train Show
When: Now-1/31
Where: South Jersey Museum of American History, 138 Andaloro Way, Deptford
On weekends throughout January, see vintage toy trains and scenes from the beginning of the 20th century.
The Rink at Winter Wonderland
When: Now-2/21
Where: Van Saun Park, Paramus
The Wonderland portion of the event is on hold, but the rink is open, with a regulation-sized rink. You can still take a spin on the carousel or visit the Bergen County Zoo Train for an additional fee. $5 skate (includes rental). Advanced tickets and masks are required.
Skating on the Square
When: Now-2/27
Where: Palmer Square, Hulfish St., Princeton
Palmer Square’s outdoor, eco-friendly synthetic skating rink is back for another holiday season. Bring your own skates or rent a pair.
Blue Cross RiverRink at Winterfest
When: Now-3/7
Where: 101 South Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA
General admission Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is free; ice skating, games and rides are pay-as-you-go.
Winter Market
When: Sundays, now-3/28, 10 am-1 pm
Where: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown
Hit the market for fresh foods like cheese, pie, quiche, seafood, pickles, cobbler, soup and more. A number of full-time vendors will be there every week with other part-time vendors rotating their goods into the market, too.
Beyond Rubik’s Cube
When: Ongoing
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Discover the art, history and skill behind the iconic cubed puzzle. This show has been on a worldwide tour and now returns home to LSC.
VIRTUAL FUN FOR THE WEEKEND
Sew a Pet Bow Tie
When: 1/15
Kids in grades 5 and up can check out an online video from the Chester Library that’ll show them how to create something special for their family pet: a bow tie. These accessories can be made in varying sizes to fit any collar, plus the video will include each stitch and step needed to complete the project. No sewing experience is necessary and the video will be available for an additional 30 days.
Tie Dye Masks
When: 1/15
The Bernards Twp. Library is hosting a virtual YouTube event that’ll demonstrate how to customize face masks using tie dye. Registration is required and families will need to pick up supplies.
Family Art Project: Freedom Quilters of Gee’s Bend
When: 1/16
Honor Dr. King’s birthday with the women quilters of Gee’s Bend, who’s famous quilts helped fund acts of the community’s freedom in the 1960s. Children, along with an adult, can use fabric scraps to create squares which are used to make quilts. Registration required.
Virtual Creative Play
When: 1/16
Ages 3-5 can join this Zoom, hosted by the Newark Museum of Art, to explore the museum’s art and science collections through storytelling, song, art and other activities. Registration required.
Virtual Music and Puppets with Jumpin’ Jamie
When: 1/16
Head to YouTube for kindie rock musician Jumpin’ Jamie and his puppet friends. All ages are invited to listen to music and dance, no registration required.
Virtual Cartooning Class
When: 1/16
Your kids can join the Clarence Dillon Public Library virtually, where they’ll learn to draw cartoons with award-winning cartoonist Rick Stromoski. Registration required.
Santa Monica Symphony: Annual Martin Luther King Day Concert Live Stream
When: 1/16
This live virtual performance by the Santa Monica Symphony features a solo performance by pianist Bethany Campbell who will perform works by Black composers. Registration required.
Virtual Museum Storytime: Tea Party
When: All weekend
Join the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden in New York for a virtual storytime. First, kids ages 6 and under will read picture books about tea parties, then they’ll explore the museum to learn how tea was served in the 19th century. Afterwards, they’ll celebrate with their own virtual tea party.
Milk & Cookies
When: All weekend
The State Theatre is offering a Milk & Cookie (ages 3-10) virtual event, which can be accessed at any point (even beyond the weekend) with a donation of at least $10. Joanie Leeds, a kindie rock singer, will perform her “Mother Earth” sing along, and kids will also learn how to make a fun cupcake snack. Ends February 14.
She Persisted, The Musical
When: Now-1/21
In this virtual production of the Atlantic Theatre Company’s show for young audiences, based on Chelsea Clinton’s best-selling book, fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women overcoming barriers and making waves.
Check our calendar for more events.
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