Cue the red and pink—February is here, and if you’re ready to kick off the season of love, there are plenty of things to do with the fam. Check out nature’s very own sweet treat as you watch the sap (and taste it) during Maple Sugaring in Tenafly, Basking Ridge, Lambertville, or Chatham Township; find lovely gifts for the kids and your S.O. at the Valentine Craft Fair in Old Bridge, or watch a live aquatic animal demonstration at a Science Extravaganza in Newark. And be sure to scout out our winter activities guide for more ideas on what to do this season. (featured photo credit: istock/lisegagne)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
Scavenger Hunt February: Love is in the Air
February 1 – 12 at 8 AM
Find all the reasons to love the winter garden at Frelinghuysen Arboretum by going on a self-guided scavenger hunt. The whole family can get in on the action by using a camera phone to take snapshots and find the missing clues.
Cost: Registration costs $10 per family or group of 6
353 E Hanover Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960
Nature Explorers – Winter 2023
February 4 at 10 AM
Explore the wonders of nature at Lorrimer Sanctuary. Kids can learn about nature concepts using a combination of storytelling, exploration, and arts and crafts. This event is best for families with children under 10 years of age.
Cost: $8 per child for members. $10 per child for nonmembers.
790 Ewing Avenue, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Science Extravaganza
February 4 at 10 AM
Treat your family to a fun and interactive day of science activities where learning transforms into fun. At MakerSpace, kids can tinker and create, and after, watch a live animal show, explore animal artifacts, and learn about the night sky at a Planetarium show.
Cost: Free with general admission tickets
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Tyke Hyke: Owl Power
February 4 at 10 AM
Bring your kids on a nature walk full of fun and owl power. Kids between 2 and 5 will enjoy a story read aloud, a nature walk, and an owl craft.
Cost: $5 per child, and adults must be present. Preregistration is required.
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, 472 Boonton Avenue, Montville Township 07005
Flower Power Flea Market
February 4 at 12 PM
Shop from a collection of North Jersey artists, small businesses, and organizations. This pop-up market will feature custom accessories, home goods, handmade jewelry, art, ceramics, and vegan baked goods.
Cost: Free
503 Main Street Butler NJ 07405
My Little Man and Me: Valentine’s Day Party
February 4 at 1 PM
A Valentine’s Day party that celebrates sons, grandsons, and nephews. Enjoy games, crafts, snacks, punch, and a photo booth area while making special memories.
Cost: $5-$30; recommended for ages 4-8.
Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
(908) 527-0400
Patcong Valley Model Railroad Open House
February 4 – 5 at 10 AM
Take in the sights and sounds while exploring the layout of the Patcong Valley Model Railroad. Plan to spend at least 30 minutes discovering the whole setup, and don’t miss the seek-and-find puzzles ranging from easy to complex along the way.
Cost: Free
1308 US-40, Richland, NJ 08350
Read & Explore: Animal Tracks
February 4 at 10 AM
Head to Terhune Orchards to learn about animals in winter through a story and talk about wintertime in nature. Attendees will make bird feeders with wild bird seeds to take home. A visit to the farm animals is possible, weather permitting.
Cost: Each program costs $12 per participating child and includes the materials for the activity.
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
Maples Sugaring at the Environment Education Center
February 4 – 5 at 12 PM and 2 PM
Learn how the sweet stuff goes from tree to table at this event, showing how trees are tapped, sap-collecting methods, and the boiling process that produces maple syrup. Please arrive 30 minutes before the program starts to purchase tickets and hike to the Sugar Shack to meet your Naturalist.
Cost: $6 per student and $7 per adult. Walk-in ticket sales only.
190 Lord Stirling Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Old Dutch New Year Candlemas Winter Walk
February 4 at 2 PM
Join a winter walk along historic Somerville’s Peters Brook Greenway and Main Street with brief stops for historical storytelling about George Washington’s presence during the Revolutionary War and an open house at the Old Dutch Parsonage after. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, and bring water.
Cost: Free
Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites, 71 Somerset Street Somerville, NJ 08876
Just in Time for Valentine’s Day Vendor and Craft Fair
February 5 at 11 AM
Spread the love and shop with crafts and activities, door prizes, food and refreshments, a photo booth, and free admission for all with 50+ vendors.
Cost: Free
Old Bridge High School, 4209 County Road 516, Matawan, NJ 07747
Fit for Kids: Winter 2
February 5 at 12:15 PM
Get your kids active with a wellness program that combines fitness, fun, and nutrition. Attendees will be introduced to various types of exercise, receive nutrition tips and taste healthy recipes.
Cost: Free for JCC Full Facility Members & $40 for Basic Member & Guest
1301 Springdale Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Roller Skating at Cape May Convention Hall
February 3 – 5
Go retro and find your groove as you roller skates with the whole family at Cape May Convention Hall. An adult must accompany all children at all times.
Cost: The admissions fee is $5. Pricing for skate rentals is $5, and $7 for blade rentals. Roller skating punch cards are available; $45 for 10 admissions.
714 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
Maple Sugaring – Tenafly Nature Center
February 5 at 11:30 AM
Learn all you can about identifying a maple tree and the history of syrup making at Tenafly Nature Center. Attendees will check Tenafly Nature Center’s tapped tree and boil down sap to make maple syrup. All ages are welcome.
Cost: $8 for members and $12 for nonmembers.
313 Hudson Ave, Tenafly, NJ 07670
Llama Llama Live!
February 5 at 1:00 PM
Got a kid who loves Llama Llama? Spend an afternoon at the NJ State Theater watching this musical inspired by the bestselling children’s book Llama, Llama Red Pajama series by Anna Dewdney, where Llama finds himself in a predicament on the night of his very first day of school.
Cost: Prices Vary
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Texier House Museum: Watchung History Comes Alive
February 5 at 2 PM
Explore The Texier House Museum and learn about the tales from Watchung’s (nearly) 100-year history. Attendees will investigate each of the 6 rooms independently or together and learn from tour guides.
Cost: Free
10 Mountain Boulevard Watchung, NJ 07069
Tap the Sugar Maples
February 4 at 10 AM
Learn how to tap maple trees for a sweet treat. Join Howell Farm’s exert tree-tappers for a lesson on how to tap a maple tree and make maple syrup at home. Other outside activities include firewood cutting, rail splitting, and a continuation of ice harvesting. Participants must arrive 15 -20 minutes before their scheduled registered time.
Cost: Free
70 Woodens Ln, Lambertville, NJ 08530
Lantern Festival and Opera Night
February 5 at 5 PM
Join the celebration as The Lunar festivities come to a close with two events—a traditional lantern festival and a performance of a captivating opera.
Cost: RSVP online
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Ongoing Events
February Family Sundays
Every Sunday at 10 AM
Enjoy fun activities for the whole family at The Newark Museum of Art. The timeline of events includes MakerSpace, an area where kids can tinker and create, and Family Drop-In: Repoussé inspired by Sargent Claude Johnson’s Mask of a Girl.
Cost: Free with general admissions
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Ice Bumper Cars
Now-February 26
Sign up for a 45-minutes of non-stop slippery fun on the ice without skates. Kids and adults will enjoy this bumper-style version of ice skating that requires no-skating skill.
Cost: Starting at $20
Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
Great Swamp Maple Sugaring
Now-March 5
Learn how to make the sweet stuff by identifying and tapping maple trees, collecting sap, and making real maple syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Then taste the syrup too. This program will be held entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather. The syrup will be available for purchase while supplies last. Preregistration is required.
Cost: $6 per person
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07928
Night Forms: Infinite Wave at Grounds For Sculpture
Now-April 2
The whole family will love to see the Grounds of Sculpture reimagined after hours, with a multi-sensory light and sound experience designed to engage with the art and horticulture collection. Spend the evening outdoors exploring the lighting, sound, and video projection mapping, and join the interactive exhibits, which will delight kids and adults.
Cost: $22 and up
80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619
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