Super Bowl LVII may be in the spotlight this weekend, but that’s not all—we’ve got lots of other February fun to get your whole family excited. Get up close and personal with fluffy alpacas at Alpaca Visit: Tour Feeding and More in Evesham Township, see real-life Hot Wheels monster trucks light up the floor at Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party in Trenton, or make a unique one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day memento for the one you love at Creative Families: Handmade with Love in Cape May. And don’t forget to check out our winter activities guide for more ideas on what to do this season. (featured photo credit: istock/romrodinka)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
Birding Cape May Point
February 11 at 8 AM
Keep your eyes on the beautiful winter sky as you join Cape May Bird Observatory naturalists for birding around Cape May Point. Don’t forget to check the forecast and dress in layers appropriate for prevailing weather conditions.
Cost: $8 for members and $12 for nonmembers.
Cape May Point State Park, Hawkwatch Platform, Light House Ave, Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Alpaca Visit: Tour Feeding and More
February 11 at 10 AM
Bring the whole family out to meet and feed the fluffy alpacas of Morning Glori Farmette. Enjoy a 30-minute tour and feed the herd. Kids will love to build stuffable alpacas and join in on other fun craft activities.
Cost: $5-$25
Morning Glori Farmette, 131 Navy Lane, Evesham Township, NJ 08053
Love Is in the Air! Pop Up Market
February 11 at 10 AM
Take home a special Valentine’s Day gift from the Pop-Up Market at Town & Country Diner in Keyport. Shop for your favorite items, including soaps, candies and chocolates, jewelry, candles, and more. Check out all
38 vendors in the ballroom.
Cost: Free
Town & Country Inn, Rt 35 North Keyport NJ 07735
Hidden Gems Exhibit
February 11 at 10 AM
Journey into a fascinating world of rock structures that underscore the wonder of nature. Enjoy freestanding sculptures inspired by rock structures created with multiple parts of the cast, assembled, and carved resin.
Cost: Free
Kean University, 1003 Morris Ave Building 2, Union, NJ 07083
Nature in Winter Walk
February 11 at 10 AM
Take in the beauty of nature on a naturalist-guided winter walk. The focus of the walks will depend on the weather conditions but will include looking for tracks and signs of wintering wildlife, observing dormant trees, plants, insects, and much more.
Cost: Free
1480 State Route 23, Sussex, 07461
Old-Fashioned Valentine’s Day at Howell Living History Farm
February 11 at 10 AM
Cozy up for Valentine’s Day ride on a two-seater sleigh, carriage, bobsled, or hayride. There will be soup on the stove, and a children’s craft is available for a small fee between 11 AM and 3 PM.
Cost: Free
70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ 08530
Kindness Rocks Workshop
February 11 at 10 AM
Spread kindness by joining a workshop to create Kindness Rocks as part of the Kindness Rocks Project. All ages are invited. Pre-registration is required: please call (201) 915-3400 x503 or email LSPNatureCenter@dep.nj.gov.
Cost: Free
Liberty State Park, 275 Freedom Way, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Growing in the Gardens – For the Birds
February 11 at 10:30 AM
Enjoy a stroll through the historic garden as you watch and listen for birds. This hands-on art program for children ages 4 and older and their caregivers will include a story, a visit to MHHM’s gardens, and an art project.
Cost: $8/child members, $12/child nonmembers. The fee covers entry to the museum and all materials.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
Creative Families: Handmade with Love
February 11 at 11 AM
Bring the whole family to make a special Valentine’s Day memento using upcycled and natural materials. Choose from projects like fortune cookie valentines, seed paper hearts, and walnut heart necklaces.
Cost: $30 per person for members. Nonmembers pay $38 per person.
Nature Center of Cape May 1600 Delaware Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204
History Kids Club – Build Your Own Iron Town
February 11 at 11 AM
Learn what goes into building a community from the ground up. You will explore all the facets of building and establishing a community in the 1830s. Design your own settlement and even walk away with a custom-designed, hand-painted mini-wooden building.
Cost: Tickets cost $10 per child and are non-refundable
Allaire Village, 4265 Atlantic Ave, Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Echo Hill
February 11 at 1 PM
Collect sap and start the sugaring process at Echo Hill. Meet at the playground and then walk to the sugar bush (a five- or ten-minute walk) to discover how syrup can be found even in your backyard.
Cost: $3 per person. Ages: 6 through adult (an adult must accompany children).
42 Lilac Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822 US
Asbury Park Valentine’s Bazaar 2023
February 11 at 12 PM
It’s a fun-filled day with local and regional vendors selling goods and gifts handmade with love. Shop at both pop-up locations at The Asbury Hotel and Grand Arcade of Convention Hall. Local vendors, photo stations, a flower bar, face painting for kids, and workshops will be available.
The Asbury Hotel, 210 Fifth Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712
1300 Ocean Ave. N. unit c-4, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Maples Sugaring at the Environment Education Center
February 11 – 12 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
The Rink at Winter Wonderland: Open Skate
February 11 – February 12
Take your family to the ice on open skate days at The Rink at Wonderland, where you can glide along the ice while taking in the scenery. And don’t worry if you don’t have skates—your tickets include a skate rental.
Cost: $10
216 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652
Valentines for Nature
February 11 at 1 PM
Bring warmth to many deserving animals during cold winter months. Attendees will join Mercer County Park Naturalists in creating animal shelters from natural materials. Create a cozy space that can be taken home and placed in your own backyard.
Cost: Free
157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton, NJ 08610
Winter’s Day on the Farm
February 12 at 10 AM
Enjoy a Winter’s Day on the farm. Attendees will learn how to cut and harvest ice, help the staff saw wood, pet the cows, and see a cooking demonstration. Your family can also take a wagon ride around the farm.
Cost: $10 per person
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 300 Mendham Road, Morris Township, NJ 07960
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party
February 12 at 12 PM
Get your glow on at Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party. Your family will get to see real-life versions of the famous Hot Wheels monster truck toys in the dark. Experience the all-new Gunkster lighting up the floor in monster truck competitions and battles. This event will feature a dance party, laser light shows, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways.
Cost: $20-$65. Special kids’ pricing is available for all shows.
81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611
Frozen, Jr
February 12 at 2 PM
Bring the kids to see a twist on a fan favorite. Frozen, JR expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. Attendees will enjoy a cast of beloved characters filled with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor.
Cost: $15
JCC MetroWest, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
Thomas and Friends Explore the Rails at Liberty Science Center
February 11 and 12
Learn, play, and solve problems with Thomas the Tank Engine and his engine friends. Immerse yourself in locations from the TV series. Young learners can practice essential skills like counting objects, comparing sizes, and learning colors. Older kids can hone their math skills, understand basic engineering concepts, and see how technology works to keep engines running.
Cost: Tickets included with general admissions
Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Ongoing Events
Tenafly Nature Center
February 5, 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 12, 19, 26
Bring the whole family out 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 $8, member family (up to 6) $60, nonmembers $12. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670
(201) 568-6093
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. Pre-registration is required.
Cost: $6 per person
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
Edelman Planetarium Family Show
Sundays until April 30 at 2 PM
Families with younger kids can enjoy the planetarium for shorter family shows with monthly themes. February kicks off “Legends of the Night Sky: Orion.”
Cost: $2 per person
Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028
(856) 256-4000
Scavenger Hunt February: Love is in the Air
Now – End of February
Find all the reasons to love the winter garden at Frelinghuysen Arboretum. This scavenger hunt is the perfect family activity to kick off the season of love.
Cost: Registration costs $10 per family or group of 6
353 E Hanover Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960
RWJBarnabas Health Events
My First Cooking Class in Hannah’s Kitchen
February 11 at 9:30 AM
Join this hands-on cooking class for ages 4-7 with a parent/guardian/loved one present. Even the pickiest of eaters will learn to love their veggies in this fun and interactive class!
Cost: Free
208 Lyons Ave. Newark, NJ 07112
Taste Testers in Hannah’s Kitchen
February 11 at 11 AM
Join this mommy & me style healthy cooking class for ages 2-4 with a parent/grandparent/loved one.
Cost: Free
208 Lyons Ave. Newark, NJ 07112
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