Valentine’s Day is on the radar, so why not fill the next month with sweet treats, crafts, and memorable things to do with the family? Find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved ones at the 2026 Bell Works Fresh Valentine’s Day Pop-Up in Holmdel, make Valentine’s Day cards inspired by Historical Valentines at Historical Walnford in Upper Freehold, and celebrate the season of love with a Valentine’s Day Family Walk and Campfire in Roseland. And if you’re lucky enough to carve out some alone time, check out our guide to romantic things for the two of you. Scroll down to make this Valentine’s Day week and weekend fun for the whole family, and be sure to check back here for more events added throughout the month. (featured photo credit:istock/RyanJLane)

 (Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)

Kid-Friendly Ways To Spend Valentine’s Day In NJ

Valentine’s Day Dinner With Your Pup
February 6 at 4 PM
Bring your furry friend and family members for fun this Valentine’s Day. Your dog will be treated to a bottle of Champaws and a delicious meatball dinner, while the non-furry family members will have the chance to order from Mason’s Lobster Roll and/or Piazza on the Pier.
Cost: Free meal for pets, family members pay for their meal
Doggie Sweets, 15 Morris Avenue, Unit 119, Long Branch, NJ 07740

Red Bank Valentine’s Sweet Stroll
February 7
Stroll through Red Bank and gather all the perks along the way. There are sales, candy treats, free gifts, and games and prizes. The majority of the walk will take place downtown at White Street, Broad Street, Bridge Avenue, Front Street, Mechanic Street, Monmouth Street, and Wallace Street.
Cost: Free, but some items require purchase
Red Bank Downtown

The Valentine Plunge
February 7
Brace yourself for fun at the 20th annual Valentine’s plunge—meet up at Manasquan Main Beach and plunge into the icy Atlantic Ocean for a good cause–donations for ALS patients. If you can’t brave the cold, you can come to cheer participants on. 
Cost: Free
E Main Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736

Valentine’s Day Cards & Crafts
February 9 at 4:30 PM
Stop by the library and make Valentine’s Day cards and crafts for your loved ones and friends. All supplies will be available, and you can drop in any time during the hour-long program. 
Cost: Free
2050 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg, NJ 08270

Bell Works Fresh Valentine’s Day Pop-Up 
February 1, 11, 14
Head to this pop-up market to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved ones. The market will feature handcrafted jewelry, clothing, and more.
Cost: Free
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733

Yummy Valentine’s Day Treats at The Candy Lab 
February 13 at 2 PM and February 14 at 4 PM
Make tasty and eye-catching Valentine’s Day delectables that you can share with friends and family. Make 4 or more edible crafts.  This event is ideal for ages 5 and up.
Cost: $20 (+$1.33 tax) per crafter
104 Walnut Street, Haddonfield, NJ 08033

Galentine’s Junk Journaling at New Jersey Audubon 
February 13 at 5 PM
Meet new friends and create sustainable collage-style journal spreads, and all levels are welcome. Be sure to bring a journal or notebook and any collected pieces of ‘junk’ (think receipts, ticket stubs, packaging, paper/stickers). They will provide crafting supplies, refreshments, inspiration, and music. Pre-registration is required.
Cost: $15 per child
Trucksess Welcome Center -1600 Delaware Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204

Candle Lit Walk at Colonial Lake 
February 13 at 6 PM
Stroll along the candle-lined lakeside path along Colonial Lake and then enjoy food trucks, fire pits, live music, and a photo booth.
Cost: Free
100 Bridge Drive, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648

Shop, Sip and Stroll 
February 13-15
During Valentine’s Day weekend, visit Haddon Township and shop at your local favorite spots around town. Shop local, dine out, and enjoy all the businesses downtown.
Cost: Free
Downtown Haddon Township

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

Family Valentine’s Day Party in Jersey City
February 14 at 12 PM and 3:30 PM
Celebrate V-Day with a kids’ DJ dance party, face painting, and local vendors. Arrive at 12 PM or 3:30 PM for a good time with the fam. Every grown-up ticket comes with a flight too.
Cost: Starting at $13.34
902 Brewing Co. – 101 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304

Shellentines Day Activity at The Bayshore Center
February 14 at 11 AM
Get the kids together to celebrate Valentine’s Day the coastal way. Kids 17 and under can create shell-themed Valentine crafts using materials from the shore area.
Cost: Free
2800 High Street, Port Norris, NJ 08349

My Little Man and Me: Valentine’s Day Party
February 14 at 1 PM
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your little one at the Liberty Hall Museum. Moms, grandmas, and aunts: grab your sons, grandsons, and nephews and enjoy games, themed crafts, snacks, punch, and a photo booth area. This event is recommended for ages 4-8. Reservations are required.
Cost: Starting at $6.63
1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083

NJ Audubon Valentine’s Day Walk 
February 14 at 1 PM
Bring your valentine out in nature on Valentine’s Day. Take an informal and informative outdoor walk and explore and enjoy Winter’s wonders. Registration is required by February 13 at 4 PM.
Cost: Free
11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924

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 changed 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

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 

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

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

S’mores and Goats
February 14-15 at 1 PM 
Roast marshmallows for s’mores and then have fun hanging with the goats at the Gorgeous Goat. Make sure to register for the event.
Cost: $17, Kids 3-12 yrs $12, 2 and under are free 71  
Featherbed Lane, Stockton, NJ 08559

Asbury Park Valentine’s Bazaar 
February 14 & 15
For a family-friendly way to share the love, attend this fun event in two locations, where you can buy items from local vendors, enjoy delicious food, visit photo stations, visit a flower bar, participate in kids’ activities, and more.
Cost: Free
Grand Arcade of Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Avenue N, Unit C-4, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

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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