Breakfast with Santa on the Battleship NJ (Camden)

Santa visits everyone, even if they live on a battleship!  Enjoy a hot breakfast (served chowline-style!), win prizes, take a self-guided tour of the ship, and meet Santa Claus. Saturday at 9 am.  Tickets are $16 for kids, $20 for adults. Reserve in advance by calling 1-866-877-6262 ext. 107. (Plus, the Battleship is a drop point for Toys for Tots.)

Breakfast with Scuba Santa at the Adventure Aquarium (Camden)

If you thought Santa on a battleship was something, don’t miss his underwater visit at the Aquarium!  The event features Scuba Santa and a special buffet breakfast with Gill the Shark and Bumble the abominable snow monster from the Rudolph special.  In addition to a full breakfast buffet, there will be photo ops, crafts, and admission to the museum.  Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 10:30am.  Tickets are $41.67 for adults, $37.39 per child.  Reserve online.

Holiday Festival and Lord Stirling Stables (Basking Ridge)

Take a hayride to see Santa Claus, ride a pony, decorate ornaments, and enjoy many other activities.  Find that perfect gift at the Silent Auction, which benefits the School Horse Retirement Fund.  Fees vary; admission, parking, hayrides & pony rides are free.
Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 4pm.

Holiday Graham Cracker House Contest at Cora Hartshorn Arboretum

(Short Hills)

Build your own graham cracker holiday house and enter it to win prizes. Houses will be on display from December 4-7. Contest entries must be submitted by December 3 at 5 pm.  Free. Call 973.376.3587 or register online.

Family Day At Montclair Art Museum (Montclair)

This Sunday’s family day is all about kid collectors.  Kids ages 7 to 16 can reserve a table to show off their very own collection by having a parent email bbalsimelli@montclairartmuseum.org to reserve a table.  In addition to admiring all the collections, there will be sculpture making with the museum’s education team and you can get rid of all those mismatched (clean) socks in your sock drawer by adding it to the museum’s SOCK sculpture. Sunday, 1pm to 5pm. FREE

Chanukah Extravaganza at Chabad Lubavitch Center of Essex County (West Orange)

The Chabad’s Annual Chanukah Extravaganza features activities for children and adults, such as an interactive game show, Hot Latkes, marshmallows, real Hanukkah Gelt, a lively game of dreidel and an opportunity to light the Menorah. Judah the Maccabbee will be on hand to tell a story that even adults will enjoy. Chanukah “Unplugged” led by Larry Miller, Gary Lillianthal and Chana Chosak. Saturday, 6:30-8:30pm. FREE.

And for more holiday inspiration, check out our Holiday Guide.