27 Free and Fun Activities in New Jersey January 2026

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Rancocas Nature Center is a great spot for a free winter hike. Photo by Lisa Warden

Looking for FREE January events in New Jersey? Read on for dozens of great options. 

January is the perfect time to keep little ones warm and busy on a post-holiday budget with FREE and fun cold-weather festivals, including the Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival, complete with ice sculptures and chili tasting. Or, enjoy hot chocolate, inflatables, and crafts at Wicoff House Museum's Annual Snowfest. And you'll find plenty of admission-free weekly activities for families, like the Live Animal Talks at Jake Branch County Park.

Mark your calendars with these great no-cost holiday events that take place nearly every day of the season. For more winter fun, check out our Event Calendar and Winter Activities Guide.

28 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC in January 2026 with Kids

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Head to the Prospect Park Audobon Center when school is out for some fun, free programming. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

If your bank account needs a rest, fear not: We've found 28 FREE things to do in January to keep New York City families busy all month long.

Though most of the big holiday attractions in NYC are packing up the tinsel this month, January celebrations, including the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem and BAM's annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., are just around the corner. Plus, Battery Park City's KindieRock series kicks off at the end of January, so little ones have a warm spot to shake their sillies out, and skating fans (even beginners!) can help Wollman Rink break a World Record.

Best Shared Family Calendar Apps (Tested by a Real Parent)

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Does your family run on a host of pieces of paper stuck to the wall? There's an app for that. Photo courtesy of Pixelshot via Canva

If you’ve ever missed a Spirit Day, double‑booked soccer practice, or realized after pickup that early dismissal was today... "Hi! Welcome to the club."  This is exactly why I went down the rabbit hole of family calendar apps in the first place.

For Mommy Poppins, I didn’t just research these apps; I  actually used them with my own family. On iPhones, Android devices, and laptops. With kids who sometimes check apps… and sometimes make me wonder why I pay for cell phone service

Below are the best shared family calendar apps I’ve personally tested — what actually worked in real life, what felt over hyped, and which families each app is truly best for. For more tried-and-tested parenting hacks, check out our Mommy Poppins Parenting Hacks Guide.

January Holidays for Kids: A Kid-Friendly Celebration for Every Day

Submitted by Meghan Rose on

Can you believe National Pass Gas Day is a real holiday? It will be your kid's favorite. Photo by Canva

Welcome to a NEW year! Whether you’re wondering “Is today a holiday?” or just need a quick way to make an ordinary afternoon feel special, this list of January holidays for kids gives families something to look forward to every day of the month. There's Pass Gas Day (what kid won't want to celebrate Fart Day?), Rubber Ducky Day, and of course, a long weekend for Martin Luther King Jr Day, to make it feel like the holiday season isn’t over yet!

Scroll down for all 31 fun holidays in January, plus links to holiday-a-day ideas for every month of the year.

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. In January at Mommy Poppins, we also celebrate all things FREE, so check out our national guide to freebies and also your local guide to free things to do near you!

New Year's Eve Weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth: Countdown to 2026

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The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry is dropping tons of confetti at their Noon Year's Eve Party. Photo courtesy of the museum.

Looking for the best things to do in Dallas on New Year's Eve weekend to ring in 2026? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for this holiday weekend.

New Year's Eve is here, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate with the kids. For a NoonYear's Eve Celebration, try the Dallas Arboretum, the Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco, or the Fort Worth History and Science Museum. Looking for a party vibe? Hooky Entertainment in Addison and Southlake, The HUB in Allen, and Round Two in Bishop Arts are all hosting family-friendly experiences that end at a reasonable hour. 

As far as the rest of the holiday weekend goes, you can check out Japanese culture and art at the Ikebana Art Showcase in Plano, take a Polar Plunge in Little Elm, or enjoy a Glow Swim in Irving. Not ready to see the holiday season end? The Dallas Zoo lights, ICE! at the Gaylord, and the Trains at NorthPark Center are running until Sunday, January 4, 2026. 

New Year's Eve Weekend in New Jersey with Kids: Countdown to 2026 and More Fun Things To Do

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Climb aboard the Battleship New Jersey for the best view of the Delaware River fireworks on New Year's Eve. Photo courtesy of Battleship New Jersey

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey over New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

It's time to kiss 2025 goodbye and look forward to a fresh new start in 2026. Celebrate New Year's Eve family-style with low-key events like Noon Year's Eve at Jenkinson's in the daytime, featuring entertainment and a balloon drop, or see the nighttime New Year's Eve fireworks in Sea Isle City. Plus, kick off the first weekend of the new year with some fresh air during a Storytime and Craft at the Liberty State Park Nature Center.

Read on for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

New Year's Eve Weekend in New York City with Kids: Best Ways to Count Down to 2026

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The big ball drop in Times Square is an unforgettable New Year's Eve sight, if you can handle the crowds! Photo by Michael Hull

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this New Year's holiday weekend.

It's time to ring in 2026, and you don't have to stay up until midnight on Wednesday to get in on the fun. Teens can count down to the New Year by making origami fortune cookies at the NYPL, families can take a first-day hike in Central Park or Prospect Park to start the year on the right foot, or watch the Coney Island Polar Bear Club members take their annual frigid dip in the Atlantic.

We've got picks for fun lasting all through the long weekend below, plus more fun on our list of fun things to do between Christmas and New Year's. It's also the last chance to check out many of our favorite holiday happenings.