This weekend, take a winter lights walk or check out an orchid show. Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day so gather the kids and join a volunteer opportunity during this Day of Service.
ALL WEEKEND
Alice in Wonderland
South Brunswick High School, South Brunswick
Thursday – Saturday
The Pirandello Players will present this classic story for your family to enjoy.
A Chorus Line
Vanguard Theater Company, Montclair
Thursday – Sunday
Peek in on a day in the lives of seventeen dancers, all vying for a spot in the chorus line of a Broadway musical.
Winter Walk
Taylor Park, Millburn
Thursday – Sunday
The park is lit up nightly with a beautiful lights display.
Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular
Bergen County Zoo, Paramus
Thursday – Sunday
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.
Disney on Ice: Into The Magic
Prudential Center, Newark
Thursday – Monday
Discover why no dream is too big! Your favorite Disney stories come to life through world-class ice skating and transform the ice into a story celebrating bravery, love and adventure.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Exhibit
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Thursday – Monday
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.
Fire & Frost Fun
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Friday – Saturday
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.
North Jersey Orchid Society Show & Sale
Douglass Student Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Friday – Sunday
With approximately 25,000 known species and more than 250,000 hybrids, orchids are the largest family of flowering plants on the planet. The show will feature nearly a thousand blooming orchids originating from all over the world of all shapes, sizes and colors of the rainbow.
The SpongeBob Musical
Scottish Rite, Collingswood
Saturday – Sunday
Head to Bikini Bottom for this underwater adventure perfect for the kids.
Wine and Cheesecake Weekend
Cream Ridge Winery, Cream Ridge
Saturday – Sunday
If cheesecakes don’t sound appetizing enough, how does the release of Cocoa Currant wine? With your ticket, you’ll get to sample lots of sweet treats.
Patcong Valley Model Railroad Open Houses
Patcong Valley Model Railroad, Richland
Saturday – Sunday
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.
NYC Winter Lantern Festival
Staten Island, Queens, Long Island, NYC
Saturday – Sunday
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!
FRIDAY
Together We Are One
North Brunswick Senior Center, North Brunswick
Every year, the Township of North Brunswick brings together community members, dignitaries and kids from the schools to put on a huge MLK Day celebration. Expect presentations, inspirational speakers, music and art.
Day of Service
Cramer Hill Community Center, Camden campus of Rutgers University
Join a community cleanup around the community center in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Day of Service.
Commemorative Breakfast
Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, Eatontown
Reserve your family’s table for this poignant breakfast about the life of Dr. King. Keynote speaker is the Rev. Dale Caldwell. Human Dignity Awardee is Pastor Kerwin Webb. Social Responsibility Awardee is Senator Vin Gopal. Togetherhood Champion is Yulissa and Jayden Gomez.
Twilight Adult Tour
Battleship NJ, Camden
This tour for those 21+ will show off Sailor Art and allow you to experience a range of stories, including the Playboy Bunny’s visit to the USS New Jersey. Grab a cold beer, glass of wine or a soft drink after the tour on the Main Deck.
SATURDAY
Music From the Heart
Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, Monroe Twp.
Music University and Master Park’s Black Belt America will present a musical concert and martial arts exhibition to raise money for Make-A-Wish New Jersey.
Commemorative MLK Breakfast
Princeton Hyatt Regency, Princeton
S.E.E.D. (Servants Endeavoring to Empower and Develop) announced the theme of this year’s gathering is The Power of the Dream: Justice for All. The keynote speaker for this year’s breakfast is the Rev. Charles F. Boyer, the pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. in Trenton, as well as the founder of Salvation and Social Justice, a non-profit organization advocating on behalf of the Black faith community.
Sewing Machine Basics Workshop
The Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
If your child got a new sewing machine for the holidays, this workshop will teach them how to use it! Kids ages 8-14 will learn how to set up their machine, how to use its various functions and how to do a simple project.
Lady Supreme: A Diana Ross Experience
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, New Brunswick
Listen to the classics of Diana Ross, both as a solo artist and as part of The Supremes.
Winter Stargazing
Edelman Planetarium, Glassboro
Educators will 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.
Wild Con Collectibles Festival
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood
There will be comic books, trading cards, toys, manga, anime, Pokemon, movies, artists, writers and costume groups. Guests include Bob Petrecca (Batman, Superman), Philip McNulty (Marvel Comics), Jude Martys, Criss Madd, Tom Schloendorn, Tony DiGerolamo (The Jersey Devil) and Eric Cooper (Knight Seeker) – plus the Star Wars 501st Legion.
Polar Bear Plunge
Wildwood
Presented by Law Enforcement Torch Run, this is a unique opportunity for you to support Special Olympics New Jersey athletes by jumping into the frigid Atlantic waters! You can fundraise, or stand on the beach and watch the brave swimmers for free!
Nature in Winter Walk
High Point State Park and New Jersey Veterans Memorial, Sussex
Winter is a quiet time in nature, but there’s still lots to explore! Take a naturalist-guided and look for tracks and signs of wintering wildlife, dormant trees, plants, insects and more. The walk will cover two miles or less over easy to moderate terrain.
Ice Sculpture Show
Festival Plaza at Pier Village, Long Branch
Watch award-winning sculptors design and carve 14 sculptures in an elimination style “speed carving” format. Enjoy everything Pier Village has to offer including ice skating, food and libations from retailers, shopping, interactive games, carousel rides and more.
SUNDAY
NJ Meadowlands Eagle Festival
River Barge Park, Carlstadt
Celebrate all things eagle with eagle walks, information on eagles and more. Watch the “Return of the Bald Eagle” program where you will learn about the incredible comeback of these remarkable birds. Kids can show off their eagle artwork, too, and possibly win a prize.
Family Woodland Hike
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Join hike leaders on an easy, child-friendly hike in the garden’s woodlands. Learn a bit about the plants, animals and geology around you.
“We Won’t Go Back” March
Martin Luther King Statue, Newark
The march and rally mark the actual birthday of Dr. King on January 15. The purpose is to move forward and progress in the area of civil rights.
Dragons and Mythical Beasts
State Theatre NJ, New Brunswick
Throughout the live stage production, unveil myriad dark secrets and come face-to-face with some of the most magnificent and terrifying beings to ever walk the earth. Discover the Stone Troll, Indrik, Japanese Baku, Unicorn, Griffin and more. Take your place among heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon!
Sunday is National Bagel Day! Get your plain with butter or Doritos bagel with jalapeno cream cheese!
ONGOING
Ridgewood Restaurant Week
At participating restaurants in Ridgewood
January 15-19 and 22-26
See if your favorite establishment is offering a special menu or offer during Restaurant Week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Introduce your budding actors to the stage during one of these live performances.
And be sure to check out these free events throughout NJ! If the weather is on the colder side, treat the kids to one of these indoor activities.
