Close out the month with a fun-filled weekend that includes a monster truck show, a fire and ice festival and an apple tree celebration!
WEEKEND
Discover Boating New York Boat Show
Javits Center, New York
Thursday – Sunday
Experience the best of the boat life with cooking and cocktail demos by award-winning chefs and cocktail experts, a new indoor paddle sports pool, and the biggest selection of new boats and marine gear in the tri-state area.
Antique Toy Train Show
The Museum of American History, Deptford
Thursday – Sunday
This antique train show features O and O-27 gauge toy trains from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Lionel, Marx and American Flyer engines with adjoining cars will race on two diverse platforms. Vintage Plasticville buildings from the 1950s will further augment the display. Vegetation and auxiliary structures will give the platforms a traditional holiday appearance.
Newark Winter Village
Mulberry Commons Park, Newark
Thursday – Sunday
This much-loved holiday tradition transforms downtown Newark into a winter wonderland. Come to the park for ice skating, Go-Karts, games and activities, an open-air holiday marketplace featuring local vendors, and cozy heated private igloos to enjoy hot cocoa and treats. There will be many “Instagram-worthy” photo-ops available throughout the village.
Garden State Winter Fest
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta
Saturday – Sunday
Comics, toys, collectibles, artwork, cosplay and food trucks will be the stars of the show during this annual festival.
Monster Jam Arena Championship
Prudential Center, Newark
Friday – Sunday
You’ll feel your heart pounding and adrenaline racing as you watch the athletes compete against each other at fast speeds, showing off their crazy skills – during the battle for the Event Championship you’ll watch the drivers in Freestyle, Skills, Donuts and Racing competitions.
Small Business Bazaar
Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill
Friday – Sunday
Shop from small and local businesses, crafters, artists, and more inside the mall.
Mid-Winter Antique Show
WheatonArts, Millville
Saturday – Sunday
Explore a wide selection of unique furniture, books, ceramics, glass, jewelry, linens, memorabilia, paper, toys, pottery primitives, vintage accessories and more.
Jersey Art Book Fair
Mana Contemporary, Jersey City
Saturday – Sunday
Set in the state where the offset press was first invented, Jersey Art Book Fair celebrates the broad art form of bookmaking. JAB Fair features over 60 exhibitors, with art books, zines, posters and other print, as well as a packed program from zine-making workshops and riso-printing demos to book signings and kids activities.
FRIDAY
Montclair Improv Comedy Series
Cinema 505, Montclair
It’s time to laugh again! Montclair Improv Comedy is made up of improv veterans from the comedy stages of Chicago (iO, Annoyance Theatre, Second City), LA (The Groundlings, iO West) and NYC (Upright Citizens Brigade, The Magnet & the PIT).
Elvis Birthday Bash
Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood
You’ll be rocking in your Blue Suede Shows when two Elvis Presley impersonators play his greatest hits from when he was younger and later in his career.
Artistic Expressions
The Shakespeare Theater at Drew University, Madison
Dance Innovation’s Performance Foundation’s winter dance performance features 30+ students performing ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern styles from a variety of NJ and NY choreographers.
SATURDAY
Groundhog Day Celebration
The Watershed Institute, Pennington
Make your way around the Watershed Reserve in search of clues to find Wally the Woodchuck. This program is part treasure hunt, part nature hike. Meet the naturalists, try your hand at chucking wood with a catapult or trebuchet, and search for groundhog holes on this festive winter morning.
Fire & Ice Festival
Village Idiot Brewing Company, Mount Holly
Enjoy some hot eats while observing frozen works of art and other activities. This year’s festival will feature more ice carvers than last year.
Fire & Ice Festival
Courtyard by Marriott, Westampton
There are great chefs already lined up for the chili cookoff! Of course, beautiful ice blocks will be carved as well.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Metuchen Town Plaza, Metuchen
Expect music, dancing, performances and other cultural festivities to bring in the Year of the Rabbit.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville
In partnership with Huaxia Chinese School, this festival for the Year of the Rabbit will feature an array of festive entertainment throughout the afternoon, including performances, games, red envelopes and more. Performances will include the dragon dance, Guzheng, Chinese dance and Chinese folk songs.
Stadium Rock
Rockefeller Center, New York
The Rock and Roll Playhouse presents Stadium Rock, featuring beloved songs from stadium rock artists such as Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Billy Joel. With your ticket, you also get to skate on The Rink at Rock Center!
The Alpaca Experience
Unexpected Farm NJ, Newfield
During this walking tour of the farm, meet and greet the alpacas: take a photo, feed them, have tea or hot chocolate in the greenhouse, then make a craft such as painting a flower pot or coloring an alpaca worksheet.
Royal Comedy Tour
CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton
Comedian and Trenton native Sommore is set to perform with Bruce Bruce, Lavell Crawford, Dominique, Turae and Joe Clair.
Rutgers Geology Museum Open House
Rutgers Geology Museum and Scott Hall, New Brunswick
Mark the 55th annual open house event by taking part in a day of geologic coring-themed lectures and children’s activities, plus a mineral sale.
Snowball Gala
Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood
Break out your dancing shoes and dress to the nines – after a three-year hiatus, the gala is back, doubling as fundraiser to benefit restoration to the historic Scottish Rite Theater and Mansion. Find your most glimmery, shimmery, winter wonderland ready (black-tie optional) attire for a night of music, dancing and drinks.
Yuletide Bonfire
Hunts Mill Park, Clinton
Escape from winter hibernation for a night of hot chocolate, carriage rides, marshmallow roasting, music and a giant bonfire. This year’s event supports the Clinton Fire Department.
Lunar New Year
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with a lion dance; traditional Korean, Chinese and Filipino performances; exclusive offers and more. There will be a DJ and photo booth. The first 500 shoppers will receive a red envelope including special offers.
Chinese New Year Performance
Bell Works, Holmdel
The Jersey Shore Chinese School will offer a beautiful dance performance to usher in the new Year of the Rabbit.
SUNDAY
Wassailing the Apple Trees
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Take part in this ancient British tradition of wassailing the apple trees to protect them from harm. Activities include singing, dancing, playing of primitive instruments, toasts of hot cider and placing gifts of cider-soaked bread in the tree branches while chanting the lively words of praise and New Year. The Handsome Molly Dancers and Kingessing Morris Dancers will lead festive singing and dancing to ensure the orchards have a good harvest in 2023. Warm up by the fire pit and listen to live music.
Making & Cooking with Paneer
Cherry Grove Farm, Lawrenceville
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to make fresh homemade paneer by curdling milk; how to press your paneer and cut it into cubes; and then how to incorporate this paneer into an authentic North Indian dish called shahi paneer. You’ll also make mango lassi. You will end by feasting together on shahi paneer, cumin rice, garlic naan and mango lassi.
Brigid’s Day and Candlemas
Historic New Bridge Landing, River Edge
Join entertainer Richard Stillman in the state historic 1752 Steuben House and listen to Irish storytelling and a musical program that includes step dancing, mandolin, banjo and bagpipes. New exhibits featuring artifacts from BCHS’s collections will be on display, including Seeing the Past Through a Different Light. Activities for families including corn husk doll making will be available throughout the afternoon.
Lunar Fest NJ 2023
The Woodland, Maplewood
Watch the lion dance, listen to Korean drums and marvel at Mongolian dance, plus taste delicious Asian food.
Seashore Open House
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Beach, Long Branch
Take the kids out for winter family fun and exploration at the Jersey Shore. Explore the seashore with hands-on activities, learn about the sea, discuss your shell collection with a Park System Naturalist and view aquatic animals on display.
ONGOING
PAW Patrol CAMP
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
Select dates, through Feb. 4
To celebrate PAW Patrol kids can join their favorite animated K9 rescue team in different themed sections that include interactive games, activities and crafts based on the show.
The Chocolate Makery Experience
Jewish Children’s Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Every day, through Feb. 22
Kids will take part in a five-sense experience related to chocolate. They will harvest pods, grind the cocoa and then make their own creation.
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium, Newark Museum of Art, Newark
Saturdays, through Feb. 25
Explore the myths and legends of one of the most visible constellations in the winter night sky: Orion, the Hunter. This fun-filled, animated production based on Greek mythology is great for kids 6+.
Experience the Aurora
Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium, Newark Museum of Art, Newark
Saturdays, through Feb. 25
See nature’s most stunning light show as the winter sky comes to life before your eyes. This immersive show, filmed over the course of seven months in the Arctic Circle, features spectacular views of the northern lights and examines the science behind it. Great for kids 12 and older.
Family Sundays at the Nature Center
Tulpehaking Nature Center, Hamilton Twp.
Select Sundays, through Feb. 26
Each weekend will have a different theme, including sharing stories by the fireside, taking care of some animals and making nature crafts.
Bergen County’s Winter Wonderland
Van Saun County Park, Paramus
Every day, through Feb. 24
Lace up your skates for open skating time on the rink, or pop into a huge tube for the Ice Bumper Cars.
The Golden Girls Kitchen Pop-Up
Fulton Street, New York
Select dates, through Feb. 26
Immerse yourself in the world of the iconic comedy show, dining in the girls’ kitchen and visiting other memorable sets from the show including the Rusty Anchor Bar where you can order cocktails and mocktails, a full kitchen and lots of photo ops. There’s also a drag brunch on certain Sundays.
Skating on the Square
Hulfish Street, Princeton
Thursdays – Sundays, through Feb. 26
Bring your own skates or rent them so you can spend time skating on the synthetic ice skating rink in the middle of Palmer Square.
Vintner Wonderland
Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City
Through Feb. 26
Go ice skating or shopping, wine & dine, and enjoy live entertainment. During Christmastime, meet Santa Claus and see the Festival of Trees. The Reindeer Fun Run is Dec. 17. Book a fire pit experience or a private cabana.
BATMAN x SPYSCAPE
928 8th Ave., New York
Through March 1
Your teens will love this experience, mostly because it involves a phone app and lots of texting! You’ll be transported into the heart of Gotham City where you’ll have to become your own superhero to solve the mystery! You’ll infiltrate an underworld organization and figure out who is responsible for the kidnappings.
International Juried Exhibition
The Contemporary Center for Art, Bedminster
Juror Esteban del Valle has selected 53 contemporary works representing a broad range of mediums. This is free to attend, so your whole family can indulge in the beauty of art.
Soul of African American Art
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Through March 5
The all-new exhibit featuring 58 selected works of art by 31 artists celebrating African American culture will be for sale.
Maple Sugaring Demos
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Chatham Twp.
Saturdays and Sundays, through March 5
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap and make real maple syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Finish with a syrup taste test!
Winter Walking Club
Plainsboro Preserve, Cranbury
Fridays, through March 10
Grab your winter attire and join the preserve’s manager for a free winter walk.
Junior Historians Club: Winter Session
Historic Wicoff House Museum, Plainsboro
Saturdays, through March 18
Kids ages 6-10 learn about historic preservation through fun and immersive activities. Each member receives a JHC notebook and T-shirt.
Winter Market
Convent Train Station, Morris Twp.
Sundays, through April
Grow it Green Morristown holds a winter farmers market every Sunday through April. There are selections of fresh locally grown produce and microgreens, farm raised meat and eggs, seafood, fresh baked goods, artisan bread and cheese, mushrooms, honey, syrups, sauces, seasonal items, specialty ethic items, prepared food and probiotic drinks. There will be food trucks on site, plus wares by local artisans.
Winter Stargazing
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, Glassboro
Saturdays, through April 1
Listen as educators share the ancient stories of the constellations, take you on a journey to distant planets and stars, and share the latest space news and discoveries. You’ll see something new each time you visit, plus you will learn how to discover the night skies from your own backyard.
Night Forms: Infinite Wave
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Twp.
Select dates, through April 2
This after-hours, multi-sensory light and sound experience uses projection mapping that enhances the art and sculpture park, creating a dynamic show to stimulate the senses.
Trail Riding Program
Mercer Meadows Equestrian Center, Pennington
Saturdays, through mid-May
Kids (and adults) 12 and up can go on a leisurely 45-minute horseback trail ride around the Mercer Stables property. No riding experience is necessary. You must book in advance.
Escape From the Ballantine House
Virtual, presented by the Newark Museum of Art, Newark
Select dates, throughout 2023
Set in the museum’s 1880s mansion, this escape-room style game challenges you and your team to race the clock as you try to find the hidden Ballantine Beer recipe and escape the house before you get caught. This experience will be played on Zoom with a facilitator, so you’ll need both a computer with internet access and a smartphone to play.
Maple sugaring is another fun winter activity! See which farms offer lessons and take home your own fresh syrup.