It’s a long weekend full of love, and we’ve got a bunch of ways to have fun with the fam. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with local vendors, delicious food, and kids’ activities at the Valentine’s Bazaar in Asbury Park, see the latest fashions, take a kids’ fitness class, make friendship bracelets, visit a Teddy Bear Clinic and learn about heart health at the Go RED Fashion Show & Family Health Festival in Bridgewater, take the family out on Valentine’s Day to experience the wonders of forest life at night at Valentine’s Day Family Walk & Campfire in Roseland. And for more family-friendly fun, find one of the free things to do near you. (featured photo: @asburyparkbazaar)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon at Rowan
February 13 at 11 AM
Join Rowan College as they participate in a transcribe-a-thon with other universities to transcribe the papers of Frederick Douglass and documents about African American history, making them more widely accessible online.
201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028
A Raisin In The Sun
February 13-15 at 7:30 PM
Head to the Burgdorff Theater for a powerful show of A Raisin In The Sun, which is a landmark 1959 play about a Black family in Chicago and their struggles, including poverty, racism, and dreams, after they received a life insurance check.
Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Winter Wonderland Skating
February 13-15
Grab your ice skates and head to this brand-new outdoor skating rink. This winter wonderland includes ice skating, igloo rentals, and fire pits to warm up to with the whole family.
Cost: $20 per adult and $15 per kid, additional fees for skate rentals, igloo rentals, and fire pit rentals
Middletown Sports Complex, 214 Harmony Road, Middletown, NJ 07748
WinterFest Ice Skating
February 13-15
Is there anything better than lacing up some skates and hitting the ice with the family? Bundle up for the cold winter weather and spend the day enjoying gliding across the ice.
Cost: Skate rentals and rink admission prices vary
Copper River Park, Cuthbert Boulevard and Park Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Historical Valentines
February 14 at 1 PM
It’s the season of love, and what better way to celebrate than by making historical Valentines? Your little ones will discover how penmanship has evolved as they view letters from the 18th and 19th centuries, then create their own using historically inspired materials.
Cost: Free
Historic Walnford, 62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold, NJ 08501
Yummy Valentine’s Day Treats
February 14 at 4 PM
Edible crafts? We are there. Get the family together and head to this event, where kids can make more than candy crafts perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Cost: $21.33 per crafter
The Candy Lab, 104 Walnut Street, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Valentine’s Day Family Walk & Campfire
February 14 at 2:30 PM
Take the family out on Valentine’s Day to experience the wonders of forest life at night. Join a park naturalist for a short walk on the trails and then enjoy a campfire, fire-popped popcorn, and mint tea. Make sure to dress for the weather.
Cost: The fee is $15 per child and $20 per adult
Essex County Environmental Center, 621b Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068
Winter Beach Walk at Fisherman’s Cove
February 14 at 11 AM
Enjoy a fun walk by the beach. You will go with a Park System Naturalist who will help you explore the cove, and you can collect the ocean’s natural treasures along the way.
391 Third Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating
February 14 at 11 AM
Drop in for some Valentine’s Day cookie decorating, where kids can not only create their own masterpiece but also eat it afterward. Registration is required.
Cost: Free
4800 Central Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243
Bell Works FRESH Valentine’s Day Pop-Up
February 14 at 11 AM
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at this pop-up market featuring unique jewelry, clothing, and other handcrafted items from local artisans. There will be live music and interactive experiences; feel free to bring your furry friend.
Cost: Free
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Go RED Fashion Show & Family Health Festival
February 14 at 12 PM
Hearts are not only for Valentine’s Day—February is American Heart Month, and recognizing the importance of heart health, RWJ Barnabas Health Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and Bridgewater Commons are teaming up to host the Go RED Fashion Show & Family Health Festival. This FREE event will not only showcase the latest fashions in shades of red but also feature kids’ fitness classes, friendship bracelet workshops, blood pressure screenings, and, most importantly, provide info on how to stay heart-healthy.
Cost: Free
Bridgewater Commons, 400 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Lunar New Year Community Day
February 14 at 12 PM
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at this event with the whole family. There will be art, tradition, dance performances, crafts, food, and more.
Cost: Free
Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102
Old-Fashioned Valentine’s Day
February 14 at 10 AM
Bundle up for a memorable and heartwarming Valentine’s Day ride. Families can ride in a bobsled or hay wagon pulled by a team of draft horses as they go past a wintery landscape. Back at the farmhouse, stop in for soup on the stove and a children’s craft starting at 11 AM.
Cost: Free
Howell Living History Farm, 700 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ 08530
LOVE Your Park Day
February 14 at 10 AM and 1 PM
What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than out in nature? Bring the family and volunteer at a Land Stewardship Volunteer Session to support the Friends of Princeton Open Space.
Cost: Free; registration is required
57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540
Cupid’s Chase 5k
February 14
Community Options, Inc. invites runners, walkers, and rollers (baby strollers and wheelchairs) to help raise funds to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities by participating in their annual Cupid’s Chase 5K. Start a team, sponsor a runner, or spectate.
Cost: $45 to participate and free to spectate
Various locations across New Jersey
Asbury Park Valentine’s Bazaar
February 14 & 15
Bring the whole family to this Valentine’s weekend bazaar with face painting and kid-friendly shops & vendors. There will be a flower bar, Valentine’s Day Photo Wall, experiences, and lots of live music and food. Be sure to stop by A for Asbury Park’s booth on Sunday for children’s book readings (at 12:45 and 4:15 PM) and coloring activities.
Cost: Free
Grand Arcade of Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Avenue N, Unit C-4, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Sap to Syrup Festival at Tenafly Nature Center
February 15
Interested in learning more about how maple syrup is made from tapping trees? Head to this fun event for the whole family, where you will head outdoors to identify tree species, learn how sap flows, and practice using tapping tools.
Cost: Children 2 and under are free
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670
2026 Lunar New Year Spectacular
February 15 at 12 PM
Begin the Year of the Horse with the family at this iconic celebration that will include lion dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, and unforgettable culture.
Cost: Free
American Dream, Court A, Level 1, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Hearts & Heroes
February 15 at 1 PM
Celebrate Valentine’s Weekend at Casino Pier with Hearts & Heroes, a fun-filled family event where love, imagination, and adventure come together. Guests can meet their favorite superheroes, enjoy face painting, and sing along with beloved princesses during a magical live sing-along experience. Perfect for kids and families, this special event brings heroic moments, fairytale magic, and Valentine’s cheer to the boardwalk for an unforgettable weekend of fun.
Cost: Free
Casino Pier, 800 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
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