Leap into the weekend and the end of February with all sorts of fun things to do with the whole family—check out yachts and a waterskiing squirrel at the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show in AC, celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a Read & Roll Skating Party in Westville and jump around at the Winter Carnival in Bridgewater.
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 7 family-friendly things to do this weekend in New Jersey:
The 40th Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show
February 26 – 28, 11AM – 8PM
February 29, 10AM – 8PM
March 1, 10AM – 6PM
Gather up your crew and head to this weekend show, which features a boatload of family activities that everyone will enjoy (kids 12 and under are free, plus with our exclusive discount code BOATGO1, you can buy one ticket and get the other one free). While you check out the latest boats and gear, your little skippers will love building toy boats, splashing around a mini lake in a paddleboat, watching sandcastle art and snapping selfies in the photo booth. And get this—a real squirrel will be waterskiing behind a radio-controlled boat in a pool which is a sight you surely won’t want to miss.
Atlantic City Convention Center
One Convention Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ
Cost: $17 per ticket, kids under 12 are free
Use code BOATGO1 to buy one ticket, and get one free
Glow in the Dark Dance Party
February 28, 6PM – 7:30PM
Break out that neon—this dance party is going to light up the night. Each kid will get some glow-in-the-dark swag to illuminate the scene while they dance the night away to a DJ. After, your kids will surely be hungry, and there will be plenty of homemade pizza, juice and ice cream to go around.
Stew Leonard’s Farm Fresh Food & Wine
700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ
Cost: $10 – $14.99
Jersey Shore Toy Show
February 29, 9AM – 4PM
What screams fun more than toys? Introduce your kids to the toys, comic books, video games, records and pop culture memorabilia of yesteryear, and find a few favorites from your childhood. Kids will also love checking out the latest from Star Wars, DC & Marvel Superheroes, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and much more.
South Wall Fire Company Banquet Hall
2605 Atlantic Ave, Manasquan, NJ
Cost: $3 – $12
Dr. Seuss Read & Roll Skating Party
March 1, 9:30AM – 11:30PM
Kick off the Read Across America festivities (which coincides with Dr. Seuss’s birthday) with this rolling and rocking party. Littles will love hearing a reading of a classic Dr. Seuss book, skating to their favorite tunes and getting a piece of Dr. Seuss’s birthday cake.
Deptford Skating Center
510 Deptford Ave, Westville, NJ
Cost: Free Skating Admission, $5 for rentals.
Bridgewater Winter Carnival
March 1, 12PM – 4PM
Celebrate the last blast of winter at this carnival for all ages. Your kids will be thrilled to play carnival games, jump around in the inflatable room, visit the “Frozen” themed room, dance while a DJ spins tunes and pet the animals in the petting zoo. Older kids will love GAGA and the game truck. Food and other fun treats will be available for purchase.
Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC
775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater, NJ
Cost: Free
Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 1, 12:30PM – 3:30PM
St. Patrick’s Day is a few weeks away, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start celebrating as soon as March hits. Deck the whole family out in green and head to Belmar for one of the first and largest parades—there will be plenty of bagpipers, floats, marching bands and shamrocks to go around.
Ocean Ave, Belmar, NJ
Maple Sugaring Fest
March 1, 1PM – 4PM
Celebrate the sweet stuff at this educational and fun afternoon. You’ll learn how early settlers tapped maple trees and turned the sap into delicious maple syrup. Then, everyone will enjoy testing their skills in the scavenger hunt and the “Maple Syrup Challenge”. Round out the day with a sweet ending—tasting maple syrup made at the Arboretum.
Reeves Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ
Cost: $5 per person, $25 maximum per family