SATURDAY, JANUARY 23
Drive Up Petting Zoo
Where: Imagine That!!! Museum, 4 Vreeland Rd., Florham Park
Kids can get out of the car and head to the outdoor petting zoo to feed animals and hop on pony rides. Registration required.
Maple Sugaring Demo
Where: Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twp.
Your family can learn how to identify and tap maple trees, plus collect sap and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. This year’s program will be completely outdoors. Registration required. Every Saturday through March 13.
Winter Geology Hike
Where: New Weis Center, Ringwood
All ages are invited on this easy to moderate walk, led by a naturalist, through the forest to find unique geological features. Masks are required.
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.
Eaglemania
Where: MPAC, Morristown
This tribute band, known for its five part harmony, will perform the Eagles’ greatest hits, in addition to select songs from the solo careers of Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh. This event will be capped at 150 patrons to keep social distancing measures in place.
Great Horned Owl Walks
Where: Cloverdale Farm County Park, Barnegat
Head to the park at dusk to listen for Great Horned Owls in the Upland Forest of the farm. The owls are currently setting up their territories and preparing for an early nesting season.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
Stony Brook in Winter
Where: Watershed Institute, Princeton
Ages 6 and up can grab their masks and meet at the border of Lawrence and Princeton to explore winter life in and around Stony Brook. Kids will learn about the water cycle and how it slows because of ice. They’ll visit the skunk cabbage patch to search for winter stoneflies and learn about the Watershed’s clean water mission. Registration required.
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 at Cheesequake State Park
Where: Hooks Creek Lake, Matawan
Join a Cheesequake park naturalist for a one- to two-mile walk beginning at the Hooks Creek Lake parking lot. Be sure to bundle up and don’t forget your mask.
ALL WEEKEND
Big Snow Walk
Where: Thielke Arboretum, Glen Rock
Follow the story of an excited and frustrated boy who watches hopefully as wintry weather slowly develops into a big snow. The story begins at the playground entrance at the pool parking lot. This StoryWalk will be up throughout the winter.
Barnyard Zoo
Where: Abma’s Farm, Wyckoff
On Fridays and Saturdays, head to Abma’s with your little ones for a visit with goats, sheep, alpacas, donkeys, ponies, bunnies, pigs and more. Masks are required.
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Where: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Ave., Morris Twp.
Get 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.
Antique Toy Train Show
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. Ends January 31.
ONGOING IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES
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, but many time slots are already sold out. 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
Let’s Cook: Orange Breakfast Muffins
When: 1/22
Kids in grades 3-5 can learn to create zesty orange breakfast muffins filled with Vitamin C, perfect for winter days. No registration required, just make sure you have all the necessary ingredients.
Wonders of Wildlife: A Tech Adventure
When: 1/22
Grades 4-10 can spend an hour learning about animals and nature, plus how technology is being used to preserve the wilderness and protect planet Earth. Dr. Dave Thau from the World Wildlife Foundation will talk about cutting edge technologies in AI, remote sensing and more, plus introduce your kids to some innovative projects. Kids will learn how scientists study nature and gain some tools of their own to explore.
Music, Bubble and Comedy Show
When: 1/23
Little ones of all ages and developmental abilities can watch this show, which features classic and original children’s songs and stories. They’ll be encouraged to sing, dance, laugh and use their imaginations.
Stay at Home Science
When: 1/23
Future scientists in grades K-3 can make their own weather vane to figure out which way the wind is blowing, plus learn about the seasons and how scientists forecast the weather. No registration required, just make sure you have all the necessary materials.
Coding for Good
When: 1/23
Teens and younger children can learn how coding works and explore algorithms in this workshop, plus they’ll learn about famous women in computer science, design a game, develop their own app ideas and try to code those ideas to life.
Take and Make Birdfeeders
When: 1/24
Along with your family, build a bird house for your feathered friends to eat and learn to identify the birds in your own backyard. Stop by the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum for a kit that includes a bird house, seeds, instructions and information of bird identification.
Monster Dance and Draw with Guy Gilchrist
When: 1/24
Grab a paper, pencil and colored pens or markers for this virtual workshop with Muppets cartoonist Guy Gilchrist. Draw characters from his latest book, Monster Dance, and listen to a read-aloud of the multimedia story, designed to help children under age 6 cope with lifestyle changes brought on by the pandemic.
Culikid’s 1/24 Chicken Salad Sandwich Cooking Class
When: 1/24
This free virtual event is designed to be accessible for children with special needs, and all ages and abilities are welcome to learn how to make a raspberry pecan chicken salad sandwich. You’re free to make substitutions to the recipe to fit your likes and allergies. Make sure you have all the necessary ingredients before the Zoom.
Sewing Basics: Repairs & Mending
When: 1/24
Learn how to make basic repairs and adjustments for tears in your jeans, buttons that have popped off your shirt and even how to adjust the waist of your pants. Registration required, materials provided.
Virtual Family Drop-Ins
When: 1/24
Ages 5-10 can join this Zoom, hosted by the Newark Museum of Art, to explore movement, art making, science experiments and stories. This week’s program is focused on pocket solar systems. Registration required.
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.
Check our calendar for more events.
If you have upcoming events you’d like included in our digital calendar or considered for future things to do stories, please submit it here.
