35 Things To Do in NJ This Weekend With The Family

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With the holidays upon us, there are so many wonderful family and kid-friendly events happening around the state to be enjoyed. At NJ Mom, we love all of the family time spent together and holiday cheer that December brings. From meet and greets with Santa to Menorah lightings, The Nutcracker and holiday craft fairs, there’s things to do with the family no matter where you live in the state. Our roundup of 35 things to do in NJ this weekend will hopefully help your family enjoy all the fun December has to offer in New Jersey.

35 Things To Do In NJ This Weekend That Will Get You In The Holiday Spirit

NJ Mom put together this weekend event guide of 35 things to do in NJ to help you find fun happenings around the state that we know you’ll enjoy.

 things to do in nj this weekend

MERCER COUNTY

 

cookies with santa princeton

Cookies with Santa

Friday, December 12th at 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm

MyGym Princeton

Space is limited so reserve your spot early

Everyone is invited to come and meet Santa at My Gym Princeton. Games, relays and puppet shows, cookies, cocoa, and each child gets their picture taken with Santa.

http://www.princetonkids.com/Cookies-with-Santa/12-12-2014/e/5568/

 

Christmas Carols and Readings

Friday, December 12th and Saturday December 13th at 8:00pm

Westminster Choir College at Princeton University Chapel

http://www.princetonol.com/holidays/polCalendarEvent.cfm?Event_Id=32892#.VIrtN1bZqbA

 

El Sueno – A Cultural Celebration at Kelsey Theatre

Saturday, December 13th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm

A Latin American adaptation of “The Nutcracker.”

http://www.kelseyatmccc.org/El_Sueno14.shtml

Tickets: $14 students/ children, $16 seniors, $18 adults

breakfast with frosty princeton

Breakfast with Frosty

Saturday, December 13th at 9:00am

West Windsor Plainsboro High School South

Enjoy a delicious breakfast, face painting, crafts, coloring contest, games and photos with Frosty.

$10/ person, kids under 2 are free

 

“Home for the Holidays” (performed by the American BoyChoir)

Sunday December 14th at 4:00pm

Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium

Tickets starting at $25

Americanboychoir.org

 

HOBOKEN/ JERSEY CITY

 

santas elf factory jersey city

Santa’s Elf Factory

Saturday & Sunday December 13th & 14th (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Tickets are $20/child

http://www.jcfunraisers.com/

 

Holiday Banding Concert

Sunday December 14th (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
Hoboken Elk’s Lodge,
 1005 Washington St.
Popular local musicians, performing favorite holiday classics. Admission is $8 and proceeds support Movies Under the Stars series for 2015.

http://www.hobokennj.org/holiday-banding-concert/

 

Christmas Tree Lighting 2014

Monday December 15th at 5:00pm

In front of City Hall, 94 Washington Street
Elvis the Elf, an appearance by Santa Claus & much

http://www.hobokennj.org/departments/human-services/cultural-affairs/holiday-tree-lighting/

 

MORRIS COUNTY

 

Country Christmas with Santa

Runs until December 14th (11:00am – 4:00pm)

Alstede Farms LLC, 1 Chesterfield Dr., Chester, NJ 07930

Santa will be visiting the farm and taking photos with little ones. Enjoy Christmas music and a cozy campfire. Hot cidar, hot chocolate, donuts and s’mores kits available for purchase.

http://alstedefarms.com/family-fun-nj/country-christmas-with-santa/

nj ballet nutcracker

New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker

Runs until December 24th

Mayo Performing Arts Center

100 South St., Morristown, NJ 07960

For tickets and showtimes visit their website

 

WARREN COUNTY   

 polar express nj                       

The Polar Express

Runs until December 21st

Lehigh Junction

99 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

For tickets and times, visit their website  

 

Monmouth County

 

max and ruby iplay nj

Max & Ruby The Nutcracker Suite at iPlay America

Sunday, December 14, 2014 1:00 pm

Location: iPlay America

110 Schanck Rd
Freehold, NJ 07728

Cost: $25.00 – $100.00

http://www.iplayamerica.com/special-event/max-and-ruby-nutcracker-suite

 

Pictures with Santa

Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14 (11:00am- 6:00pm)

Location: iPlay America

110 Schanck Rd
Freehold, NJ 07728

Santa stops his sleigh every weekend before Christmas at iPlay America. Kids are invited to greet our jolly friend Santa Claus as he arrives at iPlay America for the holidays.

http://www.iplayamerica.com/special-event/meet-santa

 

SUMMIT (and surrounding)

 

Santa’s Arrival and Annual Tree Lighting

December 12th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm

http://www.summitdowntown.org/events/events/santa-arrives/

 

merry grinchmas nj

Holiday Lights & Merry Grinch-mess

December 12th to December 14th 5:00pm- 9:00pm

Turtle Back Zoo

560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052

Featured films: “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”

Free admission
http://turtlebackzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/holiday-lights-weekends-flyer-final.pdf

 

 

BERGEN COUNTY

 

Cresskill Holiday Craft Fair

Saturday, December 13, 11:00am-4:00pm
Support local veterans, purchase handmade gifts, and eat delicious food!
American Legion Hall, 75 Legion Dr., Cresskill

http://www.thecraftique.com/Craftique_Fairs.html

 

Carolers & S’mores at Abma’s Farm
Saturday, December 13, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
700 Lawlins Rd., Wycoff

Serenades by carolers, bonfires and S’mores.

http://www.abmasfarm.com/events.php

 

cc claus cc sabathia

CC Sabathia Book Signing

Saturday, December 13, 12:00pm- 1:00pm

Books and Greetings; 271G Livingston St., Northvale, NJ

Meet the beloved New York Yankee and purchase a signed copy of his Christmas baseball book “CC Claus”.

When you purchase a book, you will receive a ticket which is your number in the signing line.

 

Santa’s Reindeer at Demarest Farms

Saturday December 14 12:00-2:00pm

244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
You’ve probably seen Santa a few times this season, but what about his reindeer? Free hayride ride with Santa included.

http://demarestfarms.com

 

Holiday with the Animals at the Bergen County Zoo

Sunday, December 14, 12:00 -3:00pm

216 Forest Ave., Paramus
Visit with the Critters, Santa and Characters at this celebration of the holiday season.
Admission is free.

http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/3544

 

 

SHIRAH’s Annual Chanukah Concert

Sunday, December 14, 1:30-3pm, Free

Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly

Celebrate Chanukah with music sang in four languages by the Shirah Choir.

http://www.jccotp.org/category.aspx?catid=915#7446

 

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins – a Musical Storytelling Performance by Play Me a Story

Sunday, December 14, 2014; 10-11:30 AM

Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, 275 McKinley Avenue, New Milford, NJ
A Hanukkah show aimed to please the 2-7 year old crowd.
RSVP to www.ssdsbergen.org/schechter-rocks
Admission is free.

http://www.ssdsbergen.org/upcoming-events/

 

menorah lighting nj

Menorah Lighting Ceremony

Tuesday, December 16, 5:30 PM

Memorial Park at Van Neste Square
Enjoy this lighting ceremony in Ridgewood on the first night of Hanukkah.

http://www.ridgewoodnj.net/main.cfm

 

 

SOUTH JERSEY

 

lunch with elsa nj

Lunch with Elsa

Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Journey Cafe

Join Elsa at this magical party where your child will sing songs from Frozen, make a craft to take home, play games, enjoy pizza and take pictures with Elsa.

http://media.wix.com/ugd/c0e5bc_2bce76ec3ded46829c3cafa446189395.pdf

 

Annie

Friday, Decemeber 12th at 8:00pm

Saturday, December 13th at 8:00pm

Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 2:00 PM

Haddonfield Plays and Players

Haddonfield, NJ

Enjoy the classic Annie play.

Tickets starting at $20.

http://www.haddonfieldplayers.com/shows/2014/08_annie.php

 

 

The Christmas Light Show

December 13th, 2014 – December 14th from 7:00pm-8:30pm

The Christmas Show House, 2702 Woolley Rd., Wall Township, NJ 07719

The show is free, but donations are appreciated to benefit Challenged Youth Sports. Please plan on arriving 30 minutes prior to show.

St. Ann’s Italian Festival

 

Holiday Spectacular & Train Display

Runs until December 21st from 12:00pm-5:00pm

InfoAge Science Center, 2201 Marconi Rd., Wall, NJ 07719

Enjoy pictures with santa and his reindeer, too!

Donation: $1 Kids/ $5 Adults (adults free with an unwrapped toy for “Toys for Tots”
http://www.gardenstatecentral.com/

The Christmas Fantasy with Lights

Runs until December 30th

Storybook Land, 6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

https://storybookland.com/index_hohoho.html

 

Christmas Fantasy with Lights Holiday Light Show (a 25 year tradition!)

Runs until January 6th, 2015

Historic Smithville & Village Greene

615 E. Moss Mill Rd., Smithville, NJ 08205

Arrive before 5:00pm when Santa Claus appears in his chimney, waves his magic wand and over one million lights turn on in the park. Rides, attractions and snack bars open.

https://storybookland.com/christmas/

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday December 13th at 9:00am

Fred and Ethel’s Lantern Light

Enjoy all your traditional breakfast favorites with everyone’s favorite…SANTA! Call for reservations: 609.652.0544

Cost: $13.95

 

 

A few events a little farther out of town….

 

Breakfast with Santa Cruise

Saturday, December 13th at 9:00am           

Circle Line Downtown

89 South Street
New York, NY 10038

Cost: $35.00 – $45.00

http://www.circlelinedowntown.com/tours/breakfast-with-santa

 

madeline tea nyc

Madeline Tea at the Carlyle Hotel

Saturday, December 13th at 10:00am & 12:45pm

Carlyle Hotel, NYC

Adults $75 / Child $35
Eats, treats, sing-a-longs and story time.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/location/things-to-do/events-at-the-carlyle

 

Nutcracker Market

The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

The Market will include daily free activities: “Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker” display, origami lessons, raffles, visits from the characters of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, arts & crafts, and a community stage featuring local dance performances and The Philly POPS. Other family activities will include: Land of Sweets candy shop, specialty food and drink offerings, and more. Attendees will enjoy indoor shopping on three levels of The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts in downtown Philadelphia. This festive holiday market- a fundraiser for Pennsylvania Ballet and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet- will feature over 75 select exhibitors offering a variety of gifts and hand-crafted works such as ornaments, jewelry, photography, and dance-inspired pieces.

http://www.paballet.org/nutmarket

 

Peddler’s Village Gingerbread House Competition

Runs through January 3, 2015

Visit dozens of creative gingerbread houses on display at the Village Gazebo. Peddlersvillage.com

https://www.peddlersvillage.com/festivals/gingerbread_competition_display.aspx

 

ShadyBrook Farms Holiday Lights Fest

Runs through January 5, 2015 from 5:00pm-10:00pm

Drive through the farm’s acres of light displays.

Admission is $20/ car

http://shadybrookfarm.com/holiday-light-show/

 

long wood gardens christmas“A Longwood Christmas”

Runs through January 11, 2015

Trees and elaborate decorations at the beautiful Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.

Kids up to 4 are admitted free, $10/children 5-18, $20/Adults

http://longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/longwood-christmas

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed NJ Mom’s roundup of things to do in NJ with your family! Enjoy your weekend!

 

{Have an awesome event you’d like to share? Please email info@njmom.com}

 


 
 
     

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