It’s beginning to feel like the holiday season in New Jersey as this weekend features an array of holiday craft shows, pop-ups, and flea markets. Celebrate the festival of lights with Diwali on the Hudson in Jersey City, meet your favorite writers, artists, and actors at the New Jersey Comic Expo in Edison, or have your little one pair up with a Princeton University student mentor for the day at Princeton Disability Awareness Fall Children’s Carnival.
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are our top picks for family events in NJ this weekend:
1. Holiday Lights Spectacular at Turtle Back Zoo
November 18 – 20, 2016 | 5:00PM – 9:00PM
Kick off the holiday season with a crisp, autumn stroll through Turtle Back Zoo’s Holiday Lights Spectacular. Your little one’s will be ooing and ahhing as they are dazzled by over 50 sparking winter animal characters. Bring canned goods, new toys, and gently used coats to donate to the holiday charity drive.
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ
Cost: Free
2. Winter Market at Holy Innocents in Hoboken
November 19, 2016 | 9:00AM – 2:00PM
This indoor holiday market for kids and adults features the region’s favorite “Rummage and Ruffage” vendors, plus emerging vendors. Find the craftiest artisans, meats, flowers, and more. Pick up your Thanksgiving goodies for guests or hosts. Come with friends and family, enjoy the live music, beer, and wine as you shop.
Church of the Holy Innocents
Willow Ave & 6th St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Cost: Free
3. Winter Festival & Craft Show
November 19, 2016 | 9:00AM – 3:00PM
The 7th year of this family-friendly volunteer event features of 100 booths of food, crafts, and wares – including cool things for kids! The first 1000 adults to enter the event will get a chance to win free gift cards to local businesses. By supporting local vendors at this event, you will also be making a difference by contributing to the Voorhees High School Music Program.
Voorhees High School
256 Route 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826
Cost: Free
4. 3rd Annual Handmade in America Professional Craft Show
November 19, 2016 | 9:00AM – 3:30PM
This special craft show is “invitation only” for seasoned and emerging vendors alike, assuring the highest quality of handmade craftsmen for local shoppers just weeks before the holidays. Other activities at this event include live music, a 50/50 raffle, and Chinese auction. a “Kids Can Craft” area, and food refreshments.
Upper Township Community Center
1790 Route 50, Tuckahoe, NJ 08250
Cost: Free
5. 21st Annual Indoor Holiday Craft Fair in Ocean Grove
November 19, 2016 | 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Enter the historic, oceanside town of Ocean Grove for the 21st year of this indoor holiday craft event. Free admission grants you access to over 60 tables of high quality, handmade goods. The youth group will be selling lunch and baked goods for your convenience.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
80 Embury Ave, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756
Cost: Free
6. Flea Market & Collectible Show
November 19, 2016 | 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Enjoy this outdoor event for collectors and lovers of all things thrifty. Find goodies including jewelry, sports collectibles, pocketbooks, clothing, garage/tag sale, collectible items, and much more.
Main Memorial Park
1400 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011
Cost: Free
7. Thanksgiving Market and Holiday Pop Up
November 19, 2016 | 1:00PM – 4:00PM
This Thanksgiving Farmers Market and Holiday shopping event is fully stocked to fulfill your needs for the freshest ingredients for you special holiday meals, from crisp veggies and baked goods to specialty coffees and more. Take a tractor ride around the event to get into the holiday spirit.
Egg Harbor City Farmers Market
700 White Horse Pike, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Cost: Free
8. Diwali On the Hudson
November 19, 2016 | 4:00PM – 12:00AM
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at the largest harborside Diwali festival and DJ dance afterparty. Family and friends are encouraged to celebrate alongside breathtaking views of New York City while enjoying specialty food from vendors, live music and entertainment, kids corner, sparklers, rangoli, henna, mela bazaar (evening market), and performances by the Surati Team. Catch Ramayana (The story of Diwali) at 7:00PM, and dance the night away starting at 9:00PM of the DJ afterparty.
Harbourside Atrium
147 Harborside Financial Center Platform, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Adult $10, Couple $15, Family of four $20, Child under 12 $15
9. The 240th Anniversary of British Invasion & American Retreat
November 19 – 20, 2016 | Saturday at 7:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM – 3:00PM
The Bergen County Historical Society presents this monumental celebration of living history by remembering American soldiers’ retreat across a Hackensack bridge that lead to their safety 240 years ago. Saturday evening at 7:00PM marks a reading of the American Crisis at the Bridge. Sunday is an all-day affair of scheduled events that recreate that infamous day in history, including the march of the British Troops, guest lectures, Children’s Drills, rations issued (lunch at the camp kitchen), and a call to arms: recruitment of the loyal inhabitants in Bergen County. Refreshments, including cider donuts, will be available.
Historic New Bridge Landing
1201-1209 Main St, River Edge, NJ 07664
Cost: Adults $10, Students (6-22 yr) $7, BCHS members are free.
10. New Jersey Comic Expo
November 19 – 20, 2016 | 10:00AM – 5:00PM
This annual family-friendly celebration is celebrating the rich culture of comic books, and film. Fans and creatives will come together for meet and greets, cosplay, entertainment events, workshops, celebrity guests, and much more. Meet your favorite artists, writers, and actors at this meeting of creatives.
New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
97 Subfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
Cost: Adult tickets start at $30, Children are free.
11. Ocean City Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival
November 19 – 20, 2016 | 10:00AM – 5:00PM
This holiday shopping gala features gingerbread houses, specialty baskets, fashions, jewelry, angels, toys, dolls, trains, fine art, dazzling seashore themed Christmas trees and much, much more. You’ll be greeted by Santa himself as you step inside this Jersey shore holiday shopping expo.
Ocean City Civic Center
6th Street & Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ
Cost: Free
12. Princeton Disability Awareness Fall Children’s Carnival & Conference
November 20, 2016 | 9:00AM – 3:30PM
Princeton Disability Awareness is hosting a fall carnival to bring together children with disability, their parents, and Princeton University students for a day of superhero-themed arts and crafts, student group performances, sensory activities, outdoor games, movies, and many more fun activities. All children are welcome between the ages of 2 and 21, and will be paired with a Princeton student for the day.
Princeton University Campus Club
5 Prospect Ave, Princeton, NJ 08544
Cost: Free
13. Family Concert at the Legendary Stone Pony
November 20, 2016 | 2:00PM – 3:30PM
It’s your favorite music venue – now share the concert going experience with your little ones! This concert features interactive rock, jazz and pop acts that will delight and enrich the whole family: Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam, Lucy Kalantari, Miss Nina and Baze from Baze And His Silly Friends.
The Stone Pony
913 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Cost: $10, Children under 1 are free
14. Springfield Crafters and Artisan Fair
November 20, 2016 | 3:30PM – 6:30PM
Support your community’s local artists, small businesses, crafters, builders and everything in between. Family operated craft booths and artisans will be offering a variety of products worthy of your holiday shopping list.
Chisholm Community Center
100 S Springfield Ave, Springfield, NJ 07081
Cost: Free
15. Holiday in the Park Grand Opening & Holiday Express Performance
November 20, 2016 | 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Six Flags Great Adventure is welcoming guests to opening weekend of Holiday in the Park, a festive season for thrill and adventure seekers. Experience a special performance of everyone’s favorite holiday tunes as the park lights up to celebrate the jolliest season of the year.
Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ 08527
Cost: Performance is free with Holiday In the Park admission.
MORE FUN THINGS TO DO IN NJ THIS WEEKEND:
- 30 FREE NJ Events in November
- 50 Kid-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving
- #NJMOM Fall Bucket List
- Pumpkin Picking in NJ
- Aquariums in NJ
- 20 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in NJ
- Pick your own fruits and veggies – Calendar
- 52 #NJMOM Must-Do Adventures
- Plan ahead by checking NJ Mom’s 60+ Things to Do in New Jersey
- Free Museum Days in NJ (the first weekend of each month)
- 275 Parks & Playgrounds in NJ
- 50 Best Spas in NJ
- 10 Mommy & Me Classes in NJ
- Date Night Ideas for Mom + Dad
- Kids Eat Free Restaurants
- Kids Bowl Free in NJ
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
