This weekend, celebrate the Winter Solstice at Cattus Island County Park in Toms River, marvel at masterpieces at the Gingerbread Wonderland and Craft Show in Morris Township, or receive stamps for your Chocolate Passport during the Annual Holiday Chocolate Walk in downtown Bordentown.
Psst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are 13 kid-friendly things to do around New Jersey:
Christmas Lantern Tours at The Historic Village at Allaire
December 7, 5PM – 8PM
Stroll through The Historic Village at Allaire on a winter evening while you learn about Christmas traditions of the 1800s. You’ll experience music, history, and theater of the season during this guided tour. Tours depart every 15 minutes from the visitor center and tickets must be purchased in advance.
The Historic Village at Allaire
Wall, NJ
Cost: $20
Annual Holiday Chocolate Walk
December 7, 6PM – 9PM
Stroll through historic downtown Bordentown for this town’s yummiest event of the season. Each business offers a tasty chocolate and a stamp in your Chocolate Passport($5). These tasty treats come in all shapes and sizes, including brownies, chocolate, and hot chocolate. Return your passport at the end of the night to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate.
Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ
Cost: $5 Chocolate Passport
Laser Nutcracker Fantasy
December 7, 7PM – 8PM, 8:30PM – 9:30PM
Looking for something different? Bring the family to Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University for a night of lasers set to classical Nutcracker music, everyone’s favorite Christmas story. Get ready to hear the best songs that this classic story has to offer.
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
Cost: Adults $5, Kids 16 and under $3
37th Annual Christmas Walk
December 7, 5:30PM – 8PM
Your family will enjoy a night out in Bay Head at all of the local businesses and shops. Santa arrives on the firetruck at 6:30PM, but before that, your littles will enjoy live music and special treats and prizes from local businesses. The BHYC and Boy Scouts will be providing hot dogs and hot cocoa.
Bay Head, NJ
Cost: free
Winter Solstice Celebration
December 8, 11AM – 3PM
Celebrate the winter solstice at beautiful Cattus Island County Park, nestled in Toms River. Your littles will love the live animal talks, carriage rides, campfire storytime, a visit from Santa, and the candy cane nature walk.
Cattus Island County Park
Toms River, NJ
Cost: free
Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar 2018
December 8, 9, 15, 22, 23, 11AM – 6PM
On Sundays, Santa visits the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar to hear all your littles’ Christmas wishes. Otherwise, mom can shop the best local artisans and vendors selling cute and cool vintage jewelry, art, home goods, and more. This event features a fireplace lounge, a special holiday menu at the Anchors Bend and Asbury Oyster Bar, as well as kids art classes and holiday craft workshops.
Grand Arcade and Convention Hall
Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: free
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Meet Santa at CPT Labs
December 6, 2PM – 6PM
Bring your littles for a visit with Santa at CPT Labs in Fairfield, NJ. Sign up for one of their studies and receive a free professional photo.
CPT Labs
Fairfield, NJ
Cost: free
Asbury Park Santa Run 2018
December 8, 10AM – 1PM
Run or walk a 5K throughout Asbury Park to support a local cause: Lunch Break, which provides food, clothing, and life skills to those in need in Monmouth County. Those that participate in the walk are able to wear a Santa suit during the race, a fun site to see for those running, walking, and just watching! After the run, make your way to the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar for holiday shopping and fun(see above).
The Stone Pony
Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: $0 – $44
Visit Santa in the Barnyard at Terhune Orchards
December 8 & 9, 12PM – 3PM
While it may be a little too cold to visit the apple orchard, Terhune Orchards still has fun festive events all season long. Visit Santa in the barnyard for a photo-op, enjoy a wagon ride around the farm, visit the farm animals, and pick out your Christmas tree and wreath.
Terhune Orchards
Princeton, NJ
Cost: free
Gingerbread Wonderland and Craft Show at Frelinghuysen Arboretum
December 8 & 9, 10AM – 4:30PM
This craft show features over 150 edible masterpieces hand crafted by local schools, scout troops, and families. Each masterpiece has a different theme – ranging from traditional to Hogwarts to enchanted gardens! It’s an event everyone in your family will love, and you might walk away with inspiration to build your own.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Morris Township, NJ
Cost: $2 per person, Kids under 2 free
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
November 23 – December 30
Dive deep into the big blue sea with your holiday favorites at Adventure Aquarium. Scuba Santa is back this year to greet visitors through the glass and take selfies with each child. Not only is this home to the World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree, but it’s home to the World’s Smallest Underwater Christmas Tree too. RSVP for milk and cookies with Santa.
Adventure Aquarium
Camden, NJ
Cost: Adults $30, Kids 2-12 $22
Christmas at the Historical Village at Allaire
December 9, 11AM – 4PM
Celebrate the joys of Christmas Past at the Historical Village at Allaire. This event features the historic buildings decorated to show different Christmas traditions, storytelling, silhouette cuttings, caroling, a visit from Santa, trains, wagon rides, and pine-cone feeder making.
The Historical Village at Allaire
Wall, NJ
Cost: Adults $7, Kids 12 and under $5
Holiday Market at HCCC
December 9, 1PM – 4PM
Your littles will love this holiday market with plenty of fun activities for them to partake in while you shop for great holiday gifts. This event features a magician, face painting, balloon animals, crafts, selfies with Santa, and family ornament making.
HCCC Culinary Conference Center
Jersey City, NJ
Cost: free
Psst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
More fun things to do this weekend:
13 Top Ice Skating Rinks in New Jersey
Best Light Shows in NJ This Holiday Season
20 Winter Markets Around NJ
Diggerland’s Winterfest at the Park
Where to Take Pictures with Santa in NJ
Aquariums around New Jersey
Museums around New Jersey
