Winter is still holding on, but don’t worry – there are lots of ways to have a fun weekend with the family. Celebrate the Year of The Horse with live music, dance, a Chinese opera, games and more at the Chinese New Year Festival in Princeton, take a trip to the sugar shack with a tractor ride, petting zoo, bubbles, and a wooden train at Happy Day Farm’s Maple Syrup Festival in Manalapan, find games, arts and crafts, prizes, a hot cocoa bar, therapy pups to cuddle and a magic show at the Beat the Winter Blues Party in Mendham. And for more family-friendly fun, find one of the free things to do near you. (featured photo: MarketFair)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Winter Wonderland Skating
February 20-22
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 20-22
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
A Raisin In The Sun
February 20-22 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 receive a life insurance check.
Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Chinese New Year Festival
February 21 at 1 PM
Gather your crew to celebrate the Year of the Horse with live music, dance, a Chinese opera, culture refreshments, games, crafts, and more.
Cost: Free
MarketFair, 3535 US Highway 1, Princeton, NJ 08540
Maple Sugaring at Howell Living History Farm
February 21
On this historic farm, you’ll watch farmers collect sap in the woods, make syrup in the sap house, and then taste it on top of whole wheat pancakes after visiting the farmhouse kitchen. Take your newfound knowledge home to tap maple sugar in your backyard.
70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ 08530
Montclair Farmers Market
February 21 at 9 AM
Gather your crew and head to this year-round farmer’s market. You’ll find treats like baked goods, micro-greens, meatless meals, herbs, spices, soups, and other locally-made specialty items.
Walnut Street Train Station, 86 Walnut St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Follow the Drinking Gourd
February 21 at 3 PM
Visit the planetarium to find the Big Dipper, then travel back in time to follow a family as they try to escape oppression. Based on Jeanette Winters’ book of the same title, the show describes the astronomy behind the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and includes a sing-along. It is recommended for ages 6-12.
118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ 08876
Guided House Tour: Eyewitness To Black History
February 21 at 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM
Explore 200 years of Black history during this Guided House Tour at the Montclair History Center. The tour includes firsthand accounts, rare source documents, remarkable artifacts, and more. Tours begin at the Nathanial Crane House & Visitor Center. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students, and $8 for children.
110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ 07042
Spare Some Love Bowling Fundraiser
February 21
Lace up your bowling shoes and play some games for a good cause. This annual event will help fund stays for families at the Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey and support its mission.
Cost: $20 per person
Laurel Lanes, Route 73, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
Annual African American Read-In
February 21 at 2:30 PM
This book event celebrates authors and titles that honor literary excellence and cultural heritage. Feel free to bring a selection to share with the group or just come and listen. There will be a special craft for all ages.
Kennedy Library, 500 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Bernardsville Farmers Market
February 21 at 10 AM
At this annual outdoor Winter Market, vendors sell homemade bakery goods, soup, nuts, coffee, and produce. Many of these items are also sold at the popular summer one.
Route 202 and Claremont Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Maple Sugaring at The New Weis Center
February 22
Learn about the process of maple sap and syrup, history, and ecology. Take a short hike to see how to tap, collect, and evaporate the sap. Finish off the day with a syrup taste test.
Cost: prices vary per event
150 Snake Den Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456
Happy Day Farm’s Maple Syrup Festival
February 21-22
Take a trip to the sugar shack on the farm, with an educational tour, a tractor ride to the sugar bush, an animal zoo, a wooden train, and a bubble cart. Pancakes and syrup are available for purchase.
Cost: $18 per person
Happy Day Farm, 106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
14th Annual Chili Cook-Off
February 22 at 3 PM
Bring your appetite and enjoy this delicious chili cook-off, including performances by bagpipe bands and Irish dancers. All proceeds will benefit the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Highlands, NJ.
Cost: $40 per person
Saltwater Social, 128 Bay Avenue, Highlands, NJ 07732
Lunar New Year Concert
February 22 at 2 PM
Ring in the Lunar New Year at this concert featuring the Celadon Stars. Bring the whole family and listen to the beautiful music that conveys Asian traditional arts, music, and culture.
Cost: Free
American Dream, Court D, Level 1, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Maple Sugaring at Rancocas Nature Center
February 22 at 12:30 PM
Take a self-guided hike with multiple interactive stations along the Rancocas trails, where you will learn about the sugar maple tree and the history of maple sugaring in NJ. At the end, watch a tapping demo and taste the rewards. A campfire will be burning to keep you warm and toasty, too.
Cost: prices vary per event
794 Rancocas Road, Westhampton, NJ 08060
Beat the Winter Blues Party!
February 22 at 2 PM
Winter blues got you down? Bring the whole fam and have fun to beat those blues. There will be games, arts and crafts, prizes, a hot cocoa bar, therapy pups to cuddle, snacks, a magic show, and more.
Cost: Free
The Brookside Community Club, 1 E. Main Street, Mendham, NJ 07926
Washington’s Birthday Ball
February 22 at 1 PM
Celebrate Washington’s birthday with the Bergen County Historical Society. Watch the reenactments celebrating General Washington through song and dance in the 1752 Steuben House. After, gather your crew to participate in a Washington-themed scavenger hunt or trivia contest for prizes.
Cost: $12.50 for adults, $7.50 for students 6-21
Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ 07661
Maple Sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center
February 22
Make a day of it at this popular nature center, where you can learn how to identify a maple tree, hear about the history of maple sugaring, and see how the technology has changed.
Cost: Children under 2 are free; members are $8; non-members are $12. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670
Winter Market by Grow It Green Morristown
February 22 at 9:30 AM
This Sunday morning market is a partnership with Grow It Green Morristown. Each week, you’ll find a revolving list of local vendors who offer a great assortment of cheeses, produce, prepared foods, and baked goods.
Convent Train Station, Convent Road, Morris Township, NJ 07960
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