Happy New Year! School is back in session and work schedules are back to normal, but there is still lots of fun to be had this weekend. Take the kids to a Fire & Ice Festival, Flamenco dance party or a reenactment of the Battle of Princeton.
ALL WEEKEND
Christmas House
Paramus Park Mall, Paramus; and Menlo Park Mall, Edison
Friday – Saturday
This unique 10-room, walk-through holiday attraction was designed by Hollywood pros. Walk through the North Pole where it’s actually snowing. Stroll down the aisles of a Christmas-themed Blockbuster Video store. Take a selfie with a dancing Santa or lie down on a couch in the Christmas living room. There’s also an indoor Christmas light show and a Christmas gift shop.
Festival of Trees
Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation, New Brunswick
Friday – Saturday
The trees on display will represent several countries and cultures and traditions from around the world.
Holiday Train Display
Monmouth Museum, Lincroft
Friday – Sunday
Check out this nostalgic display of four Lionel Trains winding through a 30-foot exhibit of towns, mountains, cities and more. Alongside the trains, the Main Gallery hosts its 20-foot holiday tree and Pat Brentano’s show “Consider the Trees…”! The Nilson Gallery will showcase a holiday gift shop and artwork available for purchase from museum members.
Festival of Trees
Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
Friday – Sunday
Walk through three floors of the museum to see beautifully decorated Christmas trees and mantles – and then vote on your favorite one!
Super Pet Expo
New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison
Friday – Sunday
Bring your kids and your leashed pets to watch a comedy show, check out the latest in pet fashion, watch your pup run in races, learn how to care for reptiles, meet Hollywood’s trainers for celebrities and more.
Fishing & Boating Expo
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Saturday – Sunday
The 45,000 square feet of indoor exhibitor space will showcase a range of new products, services and programs that fishermen and boaters want for the upcoming season. NJ fishing legend, Capt. Nick Honachefsky from Saltwater Underground, is a special guest and will be hosting a seminar. Don’t miss your chance for a meet-and-greet and learn from one of the best local fishermen.
Model Train Show
Garden State Model Railroad, North Haledon
Saturday – Sunday
Check out all of the cool train exhibits, including Thomas the Tank Engine and a kiddie layout.
FRIDAY
The Little Mermen
House of Independents, Asbury Park
Disney lovers of all ages can sing along to this ultimate tribute band! They’ll be dressed like your favorite characters and princesses for a night of singing and dancing.
Holiday Light Show
Lake Meone, Historic Smithville
Watch in wonderment as over 100 Christmas trees magically float on the lake and light up to the music around you. Historic Smithville offers 50 shoppes, seven eateries, a carousel ride, train ride, paddle boats and arcade so plan to spend the evening having fun.
SATURDAY
Fiesta del Dia de Los Reyes Magos: Flamenco Celebration
Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton
Lisa Botalico of Princeton, who is also head of Alborada Spanish Theatre Company of New Jersey, will lead a live Flamenco performance featuring the youth performers of the Arts Council of Princeton’s Flamenco program in honor of Three Kings Day.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Brunswick Square Mall, East Brunswick
After shopping at the mall, stop by for a lion dance, live performances, music, food and craft vendors.
Polar Plunge and Chili Cookoff
Fortescue Beach, Downe Twp.
After jumping into the Delaware Bay, head inside to warm up with some homemade chili and cornbread.
SUNDAY
Sip, Stretch & Sound Bath
Garden State Distillery, Toms River
Relax, renew and rejuvenate during yin yoga, mindfulness, meditation and sound healing.
Selfcare Sunday: Sip & Spa
Guest Room Event & Expo Center, Piscataway
Unwind after the crazy holiday hustle and bustle and enjoy a spa service, vendors, cupcakes (free), cocktails (also free!), music, giveaways and raffles.
A Place for All Seasons
Sunset Beach, Cape May
This monthly walk includes birding opportunities. Part of the world-famous Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, the area is home to sparrows, warblers, hawks and waterbirds. You’ll also explore nearby areas including the Magnesite Plant, Davey’s Lake and Pond Creek Marsh.
Cutting, Splitting and Hewing
Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Get warmed up using a two-man saw and splitting wedge. Learn how farmers used a froe to rive shingles or a broad ax to hew beams. Open to adults.
NJ Audubon New Year’s Resolution Hike
Hawk Rise Sanctuary, Linden
Start the new year with fresh air and nature. Join an exploration of the trails where you will discuss easy ways to get closer to the natural world. Hot chocolate will be served afterwards.Experience
The Battle of Princeton
Princeton Battlefield State Park, Princeton
The Princeton Battlefield Society will reenact the Battle of Princeton, which originally occurred on Jan. 3, 1777.
ONGOING
Fire & Frost Fun
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 6 – 14
During the last weekends of the holiday lights display, you can go on a village-wide scavenger hunt for Jack Frost, watch live ice carving demos and listen to DJ music.
A Chorus Line
Vanguard Theater Company, Montclair
Select dates, Jan. 7 – 15
Peek in on a day in the lives of seventeen dancers, all vying for a spot in the chorus line of a Broadway musical. After the first round of cuts, Zach, the director and choreographer, asks each dancer to speak about themselves. The audience begins to see each dancer’s individuality.
Patcong Valley Model Railroad Open Houses
Patcong Valley Model Railroad, Richland
Weekends, Jan. 7-15; Feb. 4-5
During the open house events, take in all the sights and sounds of the model railroad exhibits. You can also choose a seek-and-find puzzle, ranging from easy to hard.
Family Sundays at the Nature Center
Tulpehaking Nature Center, Hamilton Twp.
Select Sundays, Jan. 8 – Feb. 26
Each weekend will have a different theme, including sharing stories by the fireside, taking care of some animals and making nature crafts.
NYC Winter Lantern Festival
Staten Island, Queens, Long Island, NYC
Various select dates, through mid-January
Each location has a different variation of the festival but features more than 10,000 LED lanterns created by more than 100 artists, along with live performances and on-site food vendors. Some of the LED lights can reach up to 30 feet high across a total of 60 acres!
Winter Walk
Taylor Park, Millburn
Nightly, through Jan. 15
The park is lit up nightly with a beautiful lights display.
Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular
Bergen County Zoo, Paramus
Select dates, through Jan. 15
More than 30 lanterns will be handcrafted in the shapes of your favorite zoo animals. While you’re there, take the train ride, too, which is also covered in beautifully lit lanterns.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Exhibit
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through Jan. 16
Known as the “heroes in a half-shell,” Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Donatello will share life lessons and team-building skills with their crime-fighting tactics in “Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer.” You’ll be transported to the underground home of the Turtles where you’ll get to see what happens in their secret hideaway. There will be lots of STEM-type activities to challenge your kids.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Yorktown, Westchester, NY
Through Jan. 22
Fans can walk along a lit trail as they take in sights and sounds inspired by the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series. It’ll feel like you’re walking through a movie set. Make sure you try the steak and ale pie and sausage rolls, Aragog’s Lair Cupcake and Deathly Hallows Sugar Cookies for dessert and wash it all down with Butterbeer.
Antique Toy Train Show
The Museum of American History, Deptford
Thursdays – Sundays, through Jan. 29
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
Wednesdays – Sundays, through Jan. 31
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
If your credit card needs a break after the holidays, check out these free events throughout NJ!
