It’s the last weekend in February, so make the most of it with seasonal activities you can do with the whole fam. Slip, slide, and try your best to hold onto the steering wheel in Ice Bumper Cars in Paramus, become an expert chili judge at Maplewood Chili Cook-Off in Maplewood, or put on a superhero costume and bring your love for comics to South Jersey Nerdfest in Swedesboro. And for more ideas, check out our guide to what to do this winter before it slips into spring. Featured Photo Credit (Bergen County Department of Parks and Recreation)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
Ice Bumper Cars
Now-February 26
Sign up for the last weekend of non-stop slippery fun on the ice without skates. Kids and adults will enjoy this bumper-style version of ice skating that requires no-skating skill.
Cost: Starting at $20
Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
New Jersey Home and Garden Show
February 24 -26
Get home improvement tips from the New Jersey Home and Garden Show in Edison, with hundreds of exhibitors featuring the area’s top services and products. You will attend expert presentations, meet kitchen and bath designers, and improve your home’s curb appeal while kids will be entertained with balloon animals, crafts, and old-fashioned games.
Cost: $10 (age 16 +). Free for kids 15 and under with the purchase of a ticket.
97 Sunfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
2023 Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights
February 25 at 9 AM
Join the plunge at Seaside Heights with thousands of courageous jumpers from around the state as they brave the waters for a good cause–supporting Special Olympics New Jersey. The funds raised will go towards programming and events for thousands of athletes statewide. Don’t want to get wet? Cheer on from the sidelines.
Cost: Registration Tier: (Feb 19 – 25) $125 minimum.
Spicy’s, 500 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights
Maple Sugaring – Watershed Institute
February 25 at 10 AM
Give your kids a lesson on the history, folklore, and science of maple sugaring. Visit maple trees, find out how they are tapped using drills and spiles, and try a sample of sweet maple sugar. You will have an up-close view of the evaporation process and how sticky sap transforms into sweet maple syrup.
Cost: $10 per child. $10 per adult. For ages 5 and up. Adult attendance is required.
31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, NJ 08534, US
2023 Summer Camp & Activity Expo
February 25 at 1 PM
Bring the family out to meet local representatives for great kid camps and activities this summer to pick up informative materials and get all your questions answered. Enjoy prizes, games, and giveaways galore.
Cost: Free
250 Woodbridge Center Drive Woodbridge Township, NJ 07095
4th Annual African American Read-In
February 25 from 11 AM – 1 PM
This is an event the whole family can enjoy, listening to literary excellence and cultural heritage. Feel free to bring a selection to share with the group or just come and listen.
Kennedy Library, 500 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
10th Annual Black History Celebration: We’ve Come This Far by Faith
February 25 at 4 PM
It’s the 10th Annual Black History Celebration—bring the kids and enjoy shopping from Black business owners, cultural dishes, local talent, student presentations, and more.
Lawrence High School, 2525 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Maple Sugaring
February 25 at 4 PM
Learn about the process of making maple syrup, including tapping a tree and collecting sap. Your family will enjoy a hands-on demonstration and a delicious taste test.
Cost: $10-$12
Lorrimer Sanctuary 790 Ewing Avenue Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1978 Maplewood Arts Center Exhibition – “A Family Affair.”
February 25 – 26
Celebrate the art of Timothy J. Simmons. This exhibition will challenge stereotypes and showcases images of the African American family.
Cost: Free
1978 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ, United States, New Jersey
South Jersey Nerd Fest
February 26 at 10 AM
Join other comic enthusiasts at the South Jersey Nerd Fest. Vendors will offer various items, including comic books, graphic novels, funko’s, toys, non-sport trading cards, anime, manga, and more. Enjoy cosplay/costume groups offering interactive activities for the kids. This event features a cosplay contest, so be sure to dress up and join in on the fun.
Cost: $10. Kids 12 and under are free with paying adults.
1 Pureland Drive Swedesboro, NJ 08085
Frost Fest
February 26 at 12 PM
Chilly yet? Bundle up and bring on the winter fun with live ice carvings, complimentary caricature drawings, winter activities for the kids, a DJ, and an igloo photobooth. You won’t want to miss out on Yankee Doodle Tap Room’s spiked (and non-spiked) hot chocolate at the outdoor beer bar.
Cost: Free
40 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
Washington’s Birthday at HNBL
February 26 at 1 PM
Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday with Bergen County Historical Society in this re-enactment celebration. Enjoy traditional foods from the Take Out kitchen. Activities for families include a Washington-themed scavenger hunt with a prize and a QR Code History Challenge.
Cost: Ticket reservations are required. $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free
River Edge, 1209 Main St, River Edge, NJ 07661
Black History Month Pop Up
February 26 from 2 PM to 6 PM
Support local Black-owned businesses at this maker and artisan pop-up market. Shop from vendor stalls, discover new businesses in the area and then grab something to eat with the fam.
Pop Up Next Door, 1169 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
The Maplewood Chili Cook-off
February 26 at 2 PM
Bring your family to taste the best chili in town. In this competition, you’re the expert judge. This event will feature up to 40 chilis, including meat and vegetarian categories, a beer and wine bar, and live music from Reckon So. Check out the kids’ competition featuring chili chefs aged 7 -15. All proceeds benefit the MEND hunger relief network of Essex County.
Cost: $25 tasting pass
Ongoing Events
February Family Sundays
Every Sunday at 10 AM
Enjoy fun activities for the whole family at The Newark Museum of Art. The timeline of events includes MakerSpace, an area where kids can tinker and create, and Family Drop-In: Repoussé inspired by Sargent Claude Johnson’s Mask of a Girl.
Cost: Free with general admissions
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102
The Rink at Winter Wonderland: Open Skate
Now – February 26
Take your family to the ice on open skate days at The Rink at Wonderland, where you can glide along the ice while taking in the scenery. And don’t worry if you don’t have skates—your tickets include a skate rental.
Cost: $10
216 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652
Scavenger Hunt February: Love is in the Air
Now – End of February
Find all the reasons to love the winter garden at Frelinghuysen Arboretum. This scavenger hunt is the perfect family activity to kick off the season of love.
Cost: Registration costs $10 per family or group of 6
353 E Hanover Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960
The New Weis Center
February 18 – March 5
Learn about the process, history, and ecology of maple sap and syrup. Start with a short hike, and they’ll you’ll see how to tap, collect and evaporate the sap. Finish off the day with a syrup taste test.
Cost: $14 per person; free for those under age 5. Under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult.
150 Snake Den Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456
(973) 835-2160
Texier House Museum: Watchung History Comes Alive
February 19 – March 1
Explore The Texier House Museum and learn about the tales from Watchung’s (nearly) 100-year history. Attendees will investigate each of the 6 rooms independently or together and learn from tour guides.
Cost: Free
10 Mountain Boulevard Watchung, NJ 07069
Tenafly Nature Center
February 19 – March 26
Bring the whole family out to identify a maple tree, hear about the history of maple sugaring and see how the technology has changed.
Cost: Children under 2 are free, members $8, member family (up to 6) $60, nonmembers $12. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670
(201) 568-6093
Great Swamp Maple Sugaring
Now-March 5
Learn how to make the sweet stuff by identifying and tapping maple trees, collecting sap, and making real maple syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Then taste the syrup too. This program will be held entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather. The syrup will be available for purchase while supplies last. Pre-registration is required.
Cost: $6 per person
247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07928
Night Forms: Infinite Wave at Grounds For Sculpture
Now-April 2
The whole family will love to see the Grounds of Sculpture reimagined after hours, with a multi-sensory light and sound experience designed to engage with the art and horticulture collection. Spend the evening outdoors exploring the lighting, sound, and video projection mapping, and join the interactive exhibits, which will delight kids and adults.
Cost: $22 and up
80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Edelman Planetarium Family Show
Sundays until April 30 at 2 PM
Families with younger kids can enjoy the planetarium for shorter family shows with monthly themes. February kicks off “Legends of the Night Sky: Orion.”
Cost: $2 per person
Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028
(856) 256-4000
Hidden Gems Exhibit
Now – May 8
Journey into a fascinating world of rock structures that underscore the wonder of nature. Enjoy freestanding sculptures inspired by rock structures created with multiple parts of the cast, assembled, and carved resin.
Cost: Free
Kean University, 1003 Morris Ave Building 2, Union, NJ 07083
Thomas and Friends Explore the Rails at Liberty Science Center
Now – September 4
Learn, play, and solve problems with Thomas the Tank Engine and his engine friends. Immerse yourself in locations from the TV series. Young learners can practice essential skills like counting objects, comparing sizes, and learning colors. Older kids can hone their math skills, understand basic engineering concepts, and see how technology works to keep engines running.
Cost: Tickets included with general admissions
Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305
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