Winter blues got you down? Perk up, because we’ve found plenty of fun things to do this month with the family. And the best part? They’re all FREE. Celebrate the Year of the Horse with the thundering lion dance, King Fu demonstrations, and more at the Lunar New Year Spectacular in East Rutherford, decorate cookies for your sweetie at Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating in Sea Isle City, and grab your winter gear and enjoy a fun winter walk at Wondrous Winter Walk at Huber Woods in Locust. And for more winter fun, check out everything on our seasonal bucket list. (Featured photo credit: iStock/Anita Sagastegui)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
Cutting, Splitting, and Hewing
February 1 at 12:30 PM
Head to Longstreet Farm and warm up this winter using a two-man saw and splitting wedge; learn how farmers used a froe to rive shingles or a broad axe to hew beams.
Cost: Free
Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Greek Winter Feast
February 1 at 11:30 AM
Don’t worry about being cold at this winter event. The annual feast is filled with fun for the whole family, all indoors, including authentic Greek food, homemade pastries, and traditional dance performances.
Cost: Free admission
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 7004 Ridge Avenue, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Bell Works FRESH Valentine’s Day Pop-Ups
February 1, 11, and 14 at 11 AM
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at this pop-up market featuring unique jewelry, clothing, and other handcrafted items from local artisans. There will be live music and interactive experiences; feel free to bring your furry friend.
Cost: Free
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Under the Stars at Dorbrook Recreation Area
February 7 at 7:30 PM
Search in the sky for constellations, and don’t forget to bring a chair to sit in and a flashlight to light your way. Ages 18 and under must be with an adult.
353 Route 537, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Love at First Bite Valentine’s Day Pop-Up
February 7 at 12 PM
It’s the month of love, and this is a great event to bring the whole family to that celebrates Valentine’s Day. You will find a mix of local makers, delicious sweets, and hands-on moments.
Cost: Free
66 South Main St, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756
Lunar New Year Celebration
February 7 at 1 PM
It’s the Year of the Horse, symbolizing freedom, energy, independence, and forward momentum. Celebrate these unique events at both locations next door to each other. There will be Asian cuisine, cultural performances, King Fu demonstrations, Peking opera, and more.
Cost: Free
Summit YMCA, 67 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07092
Summit Library, 75 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07092
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 on the participants.
Cost: Free
E Main St, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Parlor Games for Wintery Weather at Historic Longstreet Farm
February 8 at 12 PM
Head to the farm, where you can play board games from the 1890s called Halma and Basilinda. They will also have classics like Checkers, Backgammon, and Reversi.
Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Winter FRESH
February 8 and 22
This indoor food and farm market is perfect for shopping with all your favorite Asbury FRESH food vendors.
Cost: Free
66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756
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
Wondrous Winter Walk at Huber Woods
February 11 at 10 AM
Grab your winter gear and enjoy a fun winter walk. You will go with a Park System Naturalist who will help you explore the park. Make sure to meet in the Environmental Center parking lot.
Huber Woods Park, 25 Browns Dock Rd, Locust, NJ 07760
Winter Beach Walk at Fisherman’s Cove
February 14 at 11 AM
Enjoy a fun walk by the beach. You will go with a Park System Naturalist who will help you explore the cove, and you can collect the ocean’s natural treasures along the way.
391 Third Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 08736
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
Historical Valentines Historic Walnford
February 14 at 1 PM
Create a Valentine and write a letter to a friend with historically inspired materials. Also, learn how penmanship has changed as you view letters from the 18th and 19th centuries.
62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold, NJ 08501
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
2026 Lunar New Year Spectacular
February 15 at 12 PM
Begin the Year of the Horse with the family at this iconic celebration featuring lion dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, and unforgettable culture.
Cost: Free
American Dream, Court A, Level 1, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Bell Works FRESH Farmers & Makers Market
February 18 and 25 at 11 AM
Spend a weekday browsing locally grown produce and unique homemade goods from local vendors and artisans.
Cost: Free
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07712
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