Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Jan 17-18: MLK Day, Owl Prowl, Nature Story Time & More!

1/14/15 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

January can feel like a little bit of a let down after the busy holiday season as we get back to school, work and busy schedules. But instead of sitting indoors on a chilly weekend, check out some of the winter fun Jersey has to offer! For a dose of outdoor adventure, throw on your coats and sign up for an awesome maple sugaring demo at Great Swamp or take an evening walk to search for nocturnal creatures at Tenafly Nature Center’s Owl Prowl. If you’ve got little ones that need some weekend entertainment, drop in for story time at the New Jersey State Museum or get tickets for opening weekend of Dinosaurs of the Deep at Adventure Aquarium. And if you’re looking for some engaging and creative ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, sign the kids up for an MLK painting craft at Imagine That Children’s Museum or take in the performance MLK Celebration: Embodying the Dream at NJPAC. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

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Maple Sugaring (Chatham Township, NJ)
The sap is flowing and the sugaring season is underway at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center. Round up the gang to experience all the sweet sights and smells at a maple sugaring demo. Discover the process from start to finish by tapping maple trees, collecting sap and seeing syrup made over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste test for all at the end of each session!

Dinosaurs of the Deep (Camden, NJ)
‘Dinosaurs of the Deep’ is coming to Adventure Aquarium this January for a limited-time exhibit event. Discover more about these amazing animals at the grand opening weekend with an immersive, larger-than-life experience featuring more than 20 monsters of the deep. Check out life-sized species, ancient fossils, a coral reef teeming with prehistoric animals and plenty of interactive activities for kids.

NJ State Museum Story Time (Trenton, NJ)
Take a break from the cold and head to the monthly story time at the New Jersey State Museum this weekend. The theme is owls and kids will hear a story about a father and child as they search for these nocturnal creatures on a wintry night. And everyone will make an owl puppet to take home.

Martin Luther King Day Craft (Florham Park, NJ)
Kids can create a special craft at Imagine That just for MLK Day, including a beautiful picture that explores their dreams. After your session, feel free to stay all day and play in the rest of the museum – climb inside a real fire truck, play instruments from around the world, or make believe in a fairytale castle.

Saturday, January 17th

Terhune Orchards: Read & Explore (Princeton, NJ)
Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun on the farm! Children will read a story and create a craft during Terhune Orchard's Read and Explore Program. This session's story is The Gingerbread Man - after the reading, kids can decorate a large gingerbread man to take home (and eat!)

MLK Celebration: Embodying the Dream (Newark, NJ)
Families are invited to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center for this free community event in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. The essence of Dr. King's dream will be conveyed through performing arts workshops at NJPAC's Center for Arts Education.

Nature Story Time (Tenafly, NJ)
Families with children ages 3-7 are invited to enjoy a nature-themed story and a visit from one of Tenafly Nature Center’s Animal Ambassadors. Learn about the animal and how they came to Tenafly Nature Center – visitors may include snakes, frogs, turtles, owls or even one of their resident hawks!

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum Open House (Short Hills, NJ)
Families are invited to visit Cora Hartshorn Arboretum during their free open house this Saturday. Check out their ongoing projects, camp programs and volunteer opportunities. Kids can participate in craft activities, view a live animal show and take a guided nature hike.

Sunday, January 18th

Owl Prowl (Tenafly, NJ)
Hoot Hoot! Join a Tenafly Nature Center Environmental Educator for an introduction to owls and a visit from a live owl! Afterwards, your group will bundle up to venture outside in search of nocturnal feathered friends.

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month; GO JANUARY is full of family fun! 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.