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
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 St, Manasquan, NJ 08736
2025 Bell Works Fresh Valentine’s Day Pop-Up
February 8 & 12
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
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
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
Yummy Valentine’s Day Treats
February 14 at 4 PM
Edible crafts? We are there. Get the family together and head to this event, where kids can make more than 4 edible crafts perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Cost: $21.33 per crafter
The Candy Lab, 104 Walnut Street, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
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 you 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
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
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