Weekend Events for NJ Kids November 21-22: Candle-making, Crafts and Carpentry

It’s almost Turkey Time!  This weekend, get an early start on Thanksgiving festivities by experiencing an 1836 Thanksgiving celebration at an historic village and learning more about the Lenape Native Americans.  In keeping with the season, enjoy a smorgasbord of fun craft workshops, including candle and ornament making, decoupage candle holder making, recycled crafts, mini-furniture making, and even a workshop on how to build an owl house.

An 1836 Thanksgiving Celebration at Historic Village of Allaire (Farmingdale)
Today this historic village is celebrating Thanksgiving.  Visit a range of homes to see live re-enactments of feast preparation and learn about the variety of ways the holiday was celebrated. Also, craftsmen will be in their shops demonstrating their skills and explaining the arts of being a blacksmith, carpenter, tinsmith and wheelwright. Sunday from noon to 3pm.  FREE

Lenape Lifestyles at Trailside Nature Center (Mountainside)
Learn all about the Lenape Native Americans and where they lived.  Kids will explore the nature center’s Lenape exhibit and take an outdoor hike to search for native plants and trees they used in their daily life.  Saturday at 10am. FREE (Admission is a donation.)

Thanksgiving Craft Workshop at the Liberty Hall Museum (Union)
Kids ages 7-to-12 can ready themselves for Thanksgiving by creating a colorful turkey centerpiece that guests will “gobble” over at dinner.  Afterwards, kids can explore the new interactive exhibit for children, “Once Upon a Time: The Story of the Children of Liberty Hall,” covering this historic home’s youngest residents over the decades. Through the use of artifacts, reproductions and hands-on activities, children will discover  how the world of a child is constantly changing.  There’s also a book corner and a garden maze for kids to explore.  Saturday from 10am to noon.  Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children three and up. Reservations required for the workshop, which has an additional $8 materials fee per child.

Candle making at the William Trent House (Trenton)
Step back in time and try a hand at candle making, a chore that fell upon nearly every household at this time of year when the days grew shorter and there were no electrical lights.  Kids can make a small candle to take home with them. Saturday from 12:30 to 4pm. Raindate is November 28.  FREE with admission: Adults/teens $4. Children under 12 $2.

Young Artists Workshop at Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton)
Kids ages 6-to-12 can get crafty at one of three drop-in workshops: holiday ornament making, decoupage candle holder making, and crafting 3-D journals.  Saturday from 1pm to 2:30pm.  Space is limited. First come, first serve. $12 Non-Members.

Recycled crafts at the Liberty Interpretive Center (Jersey City)
Get ready for the upcoming holidays by making some recycled craft cards, napkin rings, and other items.  The staff at Liberty Interpretive Center will show you how to reuse egg cartons and toilet paper tubes among other things.  Saturday from 10am to noon. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration forms available on above site.  Fax form to (201) 915-3442 or email lspic@verizon.net  You must receive a confirmation of your registration.

Owls in the House at The Raptor Trust (Millington)
Learn all about owls and how to build an owl house to keep the birds safe and warm during winter months.  Recommended for ages 7 and up. Saturday from 2pm to 4pm.  $10. per person for lecture. ($40 if you wish to purchase a screech owl house kit).  Pre-registration required.  Call 908-647-1091.

Animal Safari Family Tour at the Newark Museum (Newark)
Go on a scavenger hunt throughout the museum searching for animals in artwork from around the world followed by an animal-inspired workshop.  Saturday at 1pm.  You may want to check out some of the other ongoing workshops including an art activity where kids can make their own model furniture and a science workshop about clay.  Both take place Saturday and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm.  Free with admission, which is $10 per adult, $6 per child.