Saturday, February 8th

Art for Families (Princeton, NJ)
Drop by Princeton University’s Art Museum on Saturday mornings in February to take in a family-friendly gallery exhibit before letting the kiddos take part in a special craft. This weekend’s theme is “Masks and Masquerade” – examine masks from different African cultures and make a mask of your own to take home.  

Chocolate Festival (Morristown, NJ)
There’s really no better way to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit than with chocolate! Head to Morris Museum for their annual Chocolate Festival and have the kids get creative – they can decorate a clay “donut,” make a candy necklace and even collect chocolate candies as they explore the museum. You can also stick around and take in a performance of the appropriately titled play “The Chocolate War.”

Backyard Birding for Families (Summit, NJ)
Learn how to help scientists at Cornell's Lab of Ornithology document winter bird populations in New Jersey. The program will begin inside Reeves-Reed Aboretum with a lesson on bird identification and will then continue outside where you’ll search for beautiful winter birds while hiking the trails.

Read & Explore: Animal Tracks (Princeton, NJ)
Check out the Read & Explore program at Terhune Orchards this weekend for a cozy story time about animals in winter. Afterwards, everyone will make bird feeders filled with wild bird seed to take home and hang in your backyard. Weather permitting; your group will close out the morning by visiting the farm animals at the barn and looking at what kinds of tracks each one makes.

Parent & Child Valentine Chocolates (Montclair, NJ)
Spend some sweet time with your little one at the Montclair Art Museum as you create chocolates for Valentine’s Day! You’ll use candy molds to make a variety of lollipops and chocolates, and then personalize your creations with colored white chocolate and candies – yum!

Seals of New Jersey (Colts Neck, NJ)
Each winter a large contingent of seals visits our area. A Park System Naturalist at Dorbrook Recreation Area will talk about the different types of seals, where they came from, where to find them on our shores and how we can help them. Your group will then caravan to Sandy Hook for a short hike in search of these fascinating creatures.

Masters of Illusion (Morristown, NJ)
Have a mini-magician in the house? The live version of the TV show that has been revived numerous times over the last decade comes to one of our favorite venues, the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Comedic magic, exotic animals, beautiful dancers, escapologists, quick change artists, sleight of hand--who can ask for anything more?

Sunday, February 9th

Snowshoe Adventure (Montville, NJ)
Want to experience moving effortlessly through the winter landscape as you look for signs of winter wildlife? Check out Pyramid Mountain’s introductory snow shoe programs – you’ll get a lesson on the background and basics before joining a guided snowshoe trek on the trails. Snow shoes and refreshments provided!

Vintage Valentines (Westfield, NJ)
Love is in the air at the Miller-Cory House Museum! The program features a display of vintage valentines, many with unique details such as pop-ups, cut-outs and ornamental trinkets. Keep entertained with a children’s craft, storytelling and light refreshments.

Collage Valentines (Middletown, NJ)
Take the kids to Poricy Park this Sunday to get in touch with their creative side while transforming ordinary items into treasured Valentines. The supplies will be provided and you’ll take home one-of-a-kind cards to give to the special loved ones. And best of all, no glittery mess to clean up at home!

Maple Sugaring (Tenafly, NJ)
Learn how to identify a maple tree and discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the way we gather sap over the centuries. Your group will check Tenafly Nature Center’s tapped trees and boil down sap to make fresh, warm maple syrup, a sweet treat for all to taste.

Hoboken Family Alliance Cabin Fever 2014 (Hoboken, NJ)
Local kid musicians, Hoboken dance performances, face painter, balloons, spin art, arts & crafts, games, and much more. Oh, and the representatives from ten NJ summer camps will be on hand to answer any and all of your questions, which is a nice little extra.

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month; GO FEBRUARY is hot off the presses!

And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar. And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend make sure you visit the New York City Mommy Poppins events calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had NYC-style.

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe to our free newsletter.