This weekend drive through millions of dazzling lights at the Skylands Stadium Christmas Lights Show, taste and vote for your favorite chili dishes at the Chili Cook Off in Red Bank, or get outside with the Hot Apple Cider Hike on National Take a Hike Day in Short Hills.
Psst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
photo via Skylands Stadium
Here are 8 kid-friendly things to do this weekend around New Jersey:
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
November 15 – 17
Holiday shopping starts now, and this festive festival will have loads of choices for everyone on your list. Shop from over 300 artisan vendors that will be selling handmade goods, jewelry, clothing, and art. You can even pick up holiday dinner items from the well-stocked specialty food booths. While you shop, kids will be plenty busy, watching live art demonstrations, participating in free learn-to-paint classes and having a blast at the dress-up theater.
NJ Convention and Expo Center
Edison, NJ
Cost: $8, Kids 12 and under free
Skyland Stadium Christmas Lights Show Opening Weekend
November 15 – 17
Back for another holiday season, this glowing show boasts over two million dazzling lights in your favorite holiday shapes and characters. Drive through with your own car, then park and head to the outdoor village which features walk-thru lights, an ice skating rink, photos with Santa, ice cream, hot chocolate, s’mores station and carnival games. Oh, and did we mention moms and dads can enjoy craft brews too? Win-win for all.
Skylands Stadium
Augusta, NJ
Cost: $20 per car, village admission is free
Justice Rocks Fair Trade Market and Concert
November 15, 7PM-10PM
Get a head start on holiday shopping and help end human trafficking at this holiday market hosted by the Justice Network and NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Check gifts off your list when you shop at over dozen ethical vendors, stop for a bite and listen to sounds of the Cross Revolution Band. Don’t forget to bring a gift card for food and clothing ($10-$15 is the suggested amount) that will be donated to trafficking survivors.
High Mountain Church
North Haledon, NJ
Cost: free
Hoboken Pizza Fest
November 16, 1PM-6PM
Ready to rate the best pizza in all of New Jersey? Round up your crew and head to Hoboken to sample everyone’s favorite food from some of the city’s most famous slice spots including Tony Boloney’s, Urban CoalHouse, Artichoke Pizza, Napoli’s, Frankie & Ava’s, Dozzino, and many more. Each ticket includes a half-slice of pizza or specialty menu item (hello meatballs!) from every participating vendor, live music, pizza-themed contests, swag, and fun.That’s amore!
Our Lady of Grace Church
Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $25
Chili Cook Off
November 16, 4PM-6PM
Get ready for some old-fashioned family fun, and vote for the best chili around at this yummy event. Plan to eat dinner–corn bread, hot dogs, beans, chips and (you guessed it) chili, then sample your faves and cast your votes. After, join in with the kids to play family-friendly games like hula hoop hopping and rock paper scissors while you wait for the judges to announce the winners.
United Methodist Church of Red Bank
Red Bank, NJ
Cost: Adults $10, Kids $5
The Lovlee Chic Artisan Holiday Market
November 17, 2PM-7PM
Looking for that special something? This market hosts a curated collection of artisan vendors with unique and different art, crafts and jewelry. Spend the afternoon shopping, sipping and snacking on fare from local cafes and be sure to bring all your purchases to the gift wrap station. And don’t worry about any peeking—the kids will stay busy at the DIY craft station, so you can shop distraction-free.
Lovlee Art Studio
Bloomfield, NJ
Cost: free
Hot Apple Cider Hike on National Take A Hike Day
November 17, 2:30PM-3:30PM
Spend the last few days of fall outdoors with your entire crew on National Take a Hike Day. Join a naturalist from Cora Hartshorn Arboretum on a beautiful hike around the grounds and learn how the forest prepares for winter. After head the historic Stone House, where you can sip fresh mulled Jersey apple cider and watch an interactive Q&A about animals and woodlands.
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum
Short Hills, NJ
Cost: Members $8, Non-members $10
Gobble Gobble at PAWS Discovery Farm
November 16 – 17, 11AM-4PM
Thanksgiving is almost here, and with it, a lot of turkey talk. Get to know more about these birds when you and the fam spend the day dedicated to all things turkey. Meet a turkey vulture and red tailed hawk, learn about turkeys and their habits and have the kids make seasonal crafts. Beyond the turkey, littles will love feeding and petting other animals including pigs, goats, chickens and alpacas, all residents of this interactive farm.
PAWS Discovery Farm
Mount Laurel, NJ
Cost:$10 per person admission to farm and exhibits
