Get ready for a weekend filled with love, dragons, football, and plenty of fun things to do with the family to chase the winter blues away. Enjoy a day of Valentine’s Day shopping, delicious food, photo stations, a flower bar, and kids’ activities at the Asbury Park Bazaar, hug some adorable alpacas and roast a s’more during Smooches & S’mores in Pemberton, or celebrate the Year of The Dragon with traditional Asian performances, a dragon dance, kids’ arts and crafts, and more at the Lunar New Year at Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater. And for more family fun this season, don’t miss our guide to filling your winter bucket list. (Featured photo: @asburyparkbazaar)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
2024 Bell Works Fresh Valentine’s Day Pop-Up
February 7 & 10
Head to this pop-up market and find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved ones. There will be handcrafted items, including jewelry, clothing, and more.
Cost: Free
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
S’more to Love in Merchantville
February 9 at 6 PM
Did someone say s’mores? Bring the fam and enjoy an evening in downtown Merchantville filled with music, a Valentine’s Day craft, s’mores by the fire, and so much more.
Cost: Free
Chestnut Avenue & Centre Street Gazebo, Merchantville, NJ 08109
Experience The Aurora
February 9-10
While we might not be able to see the Aurora Borealis in the sky here in NJ, head to this event, where you can see time-lapse images of this beautiful phenomenon. This is an immersive show that shares the science behind the aurora.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Robert J. Novins Planetarium, College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Red Bank Sweet Stroll
February 10 at 11 AM
In the mood for some sweets? Wear your Valentine’s Day colors, shop great sales, gather delicious treats, and enjoy sweet experiences with the whole family.
Cost: Free to attend
Red Bank RiverCenter, 46 English Plaza, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Asbury Park Valentine’s Bazaar
February 10 at 12 PM
Don’t have a gift for that special someone yet? Head to this fun event in two locations where you can grab items from local vendors eat delicious food, snap selfies in the photo stations, pick a bouquet from the flower bar and do kids’ activities like sensory stations and face painting.
Cost: Free
The Asbury Hotel, 210 Fifth Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Grand Arcade of Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Avenue N, Unit C-4, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Year of the Dragon 2024
February 10 at 3 PM
It’s the Year of the Dragon, symbolizing power, luck, honor, and success. Celebrate these unique events at both locations next door to each other. There will be Asian cuisine, a costume show, Chinese folk music, an art show, and more.
Cost: Free
Summit YMCA, 67 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07092
Summit Library, 75 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07092
Old-Fashioned Valentine’s Day
February 10 at 10 AM
Bundle up and head to the farm, where you can partake in a heartwarming Valentine’s Day ride. Families can ride in a bobsled or hay wagon pulled by a team of drafts past the wintery landscape. Back at the farmhouse, stop in for soup on the stove and a children’s craft.
Cost: Free
Howell Living History Farm, 700 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ 08530
Lunar New Year at Bridgewater Commons
February 10 at 1 PM
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with traditional Asian performances, a dragon dance, kids’ arts and crafts, and the traditional giving of red envelopes filled with treats and special offers.
Cost: Free
Bridgewater Commons, 400 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
The Valentine Plunge
February 10
Brace yourself for fun at the 17th 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 freezing cold ocean, you can come to cheer participants on.
Cost: Free
E Main St, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Sandy Hook Beach Cleanup
February 10 at 10 AM
Spend the day helping the Save Coastal Wildlife Nonprofit members clean up and restore the tip of Sandy Hook.
Cost: Free
Parking Lot M, N Bragg Road, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732
Swahili Storytime: Black History Month Edition
February 10 from 2 PM – 2:45 PM
Bring the littles and enjoy a Swahili story time with the storyteller Sabina Wasonga-Gitau. During this fun event, kids will learn words and phrases in Swahili and listen to bilingual Swahili tales. Registration is required.
Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042
Visions The Performing Arts Center Present Portraits
February 10-11 at 3 PM
The whole family will enjoy this original play celebrating people of color and the heroes and leaders who fought for freedom. Classic spirituals and other songs will be performed during the production.
10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Smooches & S’mores
February 10-11
Is there anything better than cuddling some adorable alpacas? There will be fire pits to roast s’mores, alpacas that you can hand feed, gifts to shop in the farm store, and as many alpaca kisses as you can handle.
Cost: $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 10
Dancing Horse Farm, 221 Fort Dix Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068
Historical Valentines
February 11 at 1 PM
It’s the season of love, and what better way to celebrate than by making historical Valentines? You will discover how penmanship has changed as you view letters from the 18th and 19th centuries before creating your own using historically inspired materials.
Cost: Free
Historic Walnford, 62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold, NJ 08501
Asbury Fresh Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Market at Porta
February 11 at 12 PM
Need to shop for V-Day gifts? Go local and shop among artisans and makers while indulging in yummy drinks and food at Porta in Asbury Park.
Cost: Free
Porta, 911 Kingsley Street, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Love Aquarium Style
February 11 at 10 AM
Head to the Aquarium for some early Valentine’s Day fun. During the event, your little ones will have the chance to make their favorite animal a special Valentine’s Day card. All ages are welcome.
Cost: Free with admission
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, 300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
2024 Lunar New Year Celebration
February 11 at 12 PM
It’s the Year of the Dragon, and this is the perfect event to celebrate. With delicious food, games, and performances, there is something for everyone. End the evening with a gorgeous fireworks display.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Millburn High School, 130 Rector Street, Millburn, NJ 07041
Valentine Breakfast
February 11 at 8 AM
Get a head start on your Valentine’s Day celebrations with a delicious breakfast with the fam. There will be made-to-order omelets and a FREE Valentine’s carnation for the women who attend while supplies last.
Cost: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for kids under 12, Free for kids under 5
Flemington NJ Moose Lodge 1829, 81 Barley Sheaf Road, Flemington, NJ 08822
Winter Nature Walk at Lusscroft
February 11 at 2 PM
Bundle up with the fam for a walk through nature. You will have the chance to look for wildlife, learn some of the history of Lusscroft, and enjoy the gorgeous scenery.
Cost: Free
Lusscroft Farm, 50 Neilson Road, Sussex, NJ 07461
ONGOING EVENTS
Skating on the Square
Now-February 25, open Thursday-Sunday
Bundle up and bring your ice skates for a fun day of skating outside. This eco-friendly, outdoor synthetic skating rink is so much fun for the whole family.
Cost: $10 per person
19 Hulfish Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
Maple Sugaring
Now-March 17, Sundays
All ages are welcome to this fun and educational event. Learn how to identify a maple tree, discover the history of syrup making, and see how technology has changed how it’s done. You will tap trees and boil the sap to make fresh, warm maple syrup.
Cost: Prices vary
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670
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