Celebrate winter at #NJMOM’s Winter Wonderland at Urban Jungle Play, get hands-on with arts, engineering, and science activities at the Voyagers’ Maker Expo in Eatontown, lace up those ice skates for the season opening of Newport Skates in Jersey City, or join hundreds of other New Jersey residents at Willow Creek Winery’s Free 4th Annual Sip & Shop Holiday event in Cape May. Choose from these family friendly events (and many more!) this weekend in New Jersey.
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are our top picks for family events in NJ this weekend:
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1. Winter Wonderland, A Festive Afternoon for Kids
Friday, December 9, 2016 | 3:30PM – 5:30PM
Join #NJMOM for a festive Winter Wonderland afternoon for kids like no other – for ages 9 months – 9 years! Don’t miss this fun-filled afternoon at Urban Jungle Play in Hoboken on Friday, December 9th for open play, a holiday rock concert from Preschool of Rock, arts and crafts, a festive photo booth by Loveprint Photography, story time, face painting, a hot chocolate bar, Sweets by Ana, snacks, amazing raffles, gift bags, and more!
Urban Jungle Play
1140 Maxwell Ln, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Click here to purchase tickets. – Almost sold out!
2. Harry Potter Masquerade Yule Ball
Friday, December 9, 2016 | 6:00PM – 9:00PM
Step inside your favorite series of wizardry and fantasy at one of New Jersey’s most anticipated holiday parties of the year. Attend this Harry Potter-themed Masquerade Yule Ball, just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione, for cupcake decorating, music, dancing, Jepoardy, ornament decorating, a scavenger hunt to find and destroy the horcruxes, have your fortune read by Professor Trelawney, and make masquerade masks. Witchy cupcakes, giggle water, and more refreshments will be available. Dress for a masquerade, or opt for holiday clothes, ballroom attire, or Harry Potter costumes or clothing.
Barnes & Noble
2134 State Highway 35, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Cost: Free
3. Holiday Jam at Palmer Square
Friday, December 9, 2016 | 6:30PM – 8:30PM
There’s nothing like Princeton during the holiday season! Come together for a night of music and festive fun, featuring some of Princeton University’s most talented, including: Acapellago, Footnotes, Gospel Ensemble, Katzenjammers, Kindred Spirit, Old NasSoul, Tigerlilies, Wildcats, and more. Families are encouraged to bring a new toy for donation.
Palmer Square
40 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542
Cost: Free
Newport Skates in Jersey City opening this weekend, Photo via newportrentalsnj.com
4. Newport Skates Grand Opening 2016-2017 Season
Friday, December 9 – Sunday, December 11, 2016 | Friday 4:00PM – 9:00PM, Saturday 11:00AM – 9:00PM, Sunday 11:00AM – 7:00PM
Newport Skates is back for another season of family ice skating in Jersey City! Bundle up, lace up those skates, and head to the waterfront for an afternoon or evening of active winter fun. Newport even offers private and group ice skating lessons. To schedule your own lesson, email newportskates@icerinkevents.com.
Newport Jersey City Apartments
95 River Drive South, Jersey City, NJ 07310
Cost: $7 Admission, $6 Rental (Half price Admission for Newport residents with proof of Residential ID Card).
5. Voyagers’ Maker Expo
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 11:00AM – 4:00PM
This family friendly festival is full of hands-on art and engineering activities. Bringing together artists, scientists, and engineers from schools, community organizations, and businesses throughout New Jersey, the Voyagers’ Maker Expo features everything from robots, drones and solar-powered inventions to recycled art, ceramics, weaving and mosaics. Children and adults of all ages will have the chance to interact with professionals and get hands-on with educational and creative activities.
Voyagers’ Community School
215 Broad St, Eatontown, NJ 07724
Cost: $8 Admission, or 4 tickets for $25
6. HCC Holiday Marketplace
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 12:00 – 4:00PM
Join Hudson Community College in supporting local business and economic growth by making a dent in that holiday shopping list. Two floors of Winter Wonderland feature holiday festivities and fun including over 50 local businesses and vendors, a special Young Business section showcasing young entrepreneurs, complimentary hot apple cider and hot cocoa, live music, a holiday-themed photo booth, and learning experience at the Holiday Cultural Center.
Hudson Community College
70 Sip Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Cost: Free
7. 3rd Annual Nog Off & Holiday Celebration
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 12:00PM – 4:00PM
This family-friendly egg nog competition and holiday celebration is a blast. Bring in a quart of your family’s secret recipe, and a panel of judges will taste test your delightful beverage to see if it is the best, according to four categories: four categories: taste, consistency, creativity, and presentation. All participants will receive a $10 gift card to Rastelli Market Fresh. Winners will receive gift cards ranging from $100 – $300. Santa will arrive at 1:30PM for photos with the kids while parents sample holiday favorites from the market
Rastelli Market Fresh
710 Route 73 S, Marlton, NJ 08053
Cost: Free
8. Funky, Rare & Sour: Beer & Holiday Bazaar
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 12:00PM – 9:00PM
Visit this local Cherry Hill brewery for a gift and beer bazaar for your holiday shopping needs. Maker vendors include: Hercules Beard Co. (High End Beard/Mens Grooming Items), Hammer & Hyde (Fine Leather Goods & Accessories), Cheese Etc. & Gourmet Gifts, Spring Valley Honey, and Mecha Artisan Chocolate. Featured funky beers include: The Tourist (Beach Banana Session Sour), Cherry Wood Smoked Roggenbier, The Captain’s Quarters (Bourbon Barrel Aged Smoked Porter), Mashkeh the Magnificent (Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Belgian Golden Strong), and Ginger Snap Cookie.
Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing
1940 Olney Ave, Ste 100, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Cost: Free
9. The Fourth Annual Ferone Family Light Spectacular
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 6:00PM – 8:00PM
This family-hosted event has become a favorite holiday tradition in the Toms River area. Bundle up, grab a lawn chair, and sit back and relax as you enjoy the music-coordinated holiday light show while getting in the Christmas spirit with cookies and hot chocolate.
184 Yellowbank Road, Toms River NJ, 08753
Cost: Free
10. 21st Annual Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Join the Mount Ephraim Fire Department in their 21st year of this holiday parade tradition. The parade will begin at John D. West Sr. Center on W. Kings Highway and continue to Mary Bray School, where Santa will be make an appearance for the lighting of the town tree and holiday music. The parade will then proceed down Davis Avenue to Bell Road. The parade will end at the firehouse.
John D. West Sr. Center
1242 W Kings Hwy, Mt Ephraim, NJ 08059
Cost: Free
11. Christmas Boutique Ocean Grove
Saturday, December 10 – Sunday, December 11, 2016 | Saturday 10:00AM – 4:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Visit Historical Ocean Grove by the sea for this holiday gift boutique featuring new and lightly used holiday items, including jewelry, holiday decor, dishes, gift items, and more. Proceeds will be used to support the Ladies Auxiliary of Ocean Grove and their future projects.
Community Room at Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association
54 Pitman Ave, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756
Cost: Free
12. 4th Annual Holiday Sip & Shop: “Locals Love Drive”
Saturday, December 10 – Sunday, December 11, 2016 | Saturday 11:00AM – 7:00PM, Sunday 11:00AM – 5:00PM
Sip and sample great local wines and sangrias while shopping over 50 Cape May County small business owners, artist, jewelers, designers, photographers, authors, bakers, hand made gift crafters all while supporting our local food banks for the holidays. Bring a non-perishable human or pet food item to donate to the West Cape May Fire Department drive. Hundreds of New Jersey residents have grown to enjoy this yearly event.
Willow Creek Winery
168 Stevens Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Cost: Free
Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar, Photo via asburyparkbazaar.com
13. Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar
Saturday, December 10 – Sunday, December 11, 2016 | 12:00PM – 5:00PM
Head to the shore for one of New Jersey’s most unique and exciting holiday bazaars of the season. Enter Asbury Park’s historic Grand Arcade at Convention Hall for 24 unique vendors, handcrafted holiday gifts and local goods, live holiday music and special performances, photos with Santa, a holiday Photo Booth, holiday kids crafts, Glühwein, hot cider and chocolate bar with souvenir mugs, Live Art with Maggie Fischer Brown, food and drink specials, and of course – the giant Christmas tree!
Grand Arcade at Convention Hall
1300 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Cost: Free
14. Holiday Holistic Fair
Sunday, December 11, 2016 | 12:30PM – 5:30PM
Visit this welcoming alternative holiday fair for a day of physics, reiki, crystal infrared bed, self care, shopping and informative talks. Experience a sampling of mind, body, and spirit during a wonderful afternoon of community. Featured vendors and speakers include Sheila Sporkin-Edel Tarot Psychic Guidance, Alison Maxfield Spiritualist Medium, Crystal Infrared Light Sessions with Susan O’Malley, Sacred Healing with Jacquie Grillon, Protection Pillows by Julia and Josephine, Organite Pyramid Crystals by Dan Weisman, and many more.
Soulful Awakenings
1700 Main St, Lake Como, NJ 07719
Cost: Free
15. Annual Gloucester Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, December 11, 2016 | 6:30PM – 8:30PM
Please join Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer and the Council for the Annual Tree Lighting ceremony at the Veterans Park on Chews Landing Road. This holiday tradition will feature Christmas carols, sleigh rides, pony rides, a carousel, entertainment by MainStage Center for the Arts, and more family fun.
Veterans Park
Chews Landing Rd, Clementon, NJ 08021
Cost: Free
MORE FUN THINGS TO DO IN NJ THIS WEEKEND:
- 30 FREE NJ Events in December
- 10 Outdoor Activities To Do in December in NJ
- 10 Must Know Tree Lightings in NJ
- Where to Take Pictures with Santa in NJ
- Must Know Winter Classes in NJ
- Museums in North, Central, & South NJ
- Aquariums in NJ
- 20 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in NJ
- 52 #NJMOM Must-Do Adventures
- Plan ahead by checking NJ Mom’s 60+ Things to Do in New Jersey
- Free Museum Days in NJ (the first weekend of each month)
- 275 Parks & Playgrounds in NJ
- 50 Best Spas in NJ
- 10 Mommy & Me Classes in NJ
- Date Night Ideas for Mom + Dad
- Kids Eat Free Restaurants
- Kids Bowl Free in NJ
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
