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MLK Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Top Things To Do With Kids

Celebrate MLK weekend in New Jersey with free interactive workshops and enriching service projects honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Celebrate MLK weekend in New Jersey with free interactive workshops and enriching service projects honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
1/17/25 - By Laurie Rein

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this long weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

The first long weekend of 2025 kicks off with a celebration on ice and concludes with an important day of service and legacy. The weekend's off to an icy start with Pier Village's free Ice Festival, complete with an ice sculpture demonstration and other wintry fun. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and there are service opportunities for all ages in Scotch Plains, Princeton, and Summit, among others.

Find more cold-weather activities for the long weekend in our Winter Fun Guide and our packed Family Activity Calendar.

More Things To Do in New Jersey this Week with Kids:​

 

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Top Things To Do in New Jersey this Weekend

Wild Con! Collectibles Festival

Wildwood
Saturday, January 18
Wild Con is a collectibles festival featuring artists, writers, costume groups, and crafts. This year brings new guests, Hot Wheels Die Cast Car Races, trivia, interactive performances, special guests, artists, writers, creators, and a huge variety of vendors. READ MORE

Hot Cocoa at Historic Cedar Bridge

Barnegat – FREE
Saturday, January 18
Join a Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site docent to learn about the site's history. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate to warm up while learning about local lore and the history of Ocean County’s Revolutionary War past. READ MORE

Ice Festival at Pier Village

Long Branch – FREE
Saturday, January 18
Pier Village is ready for winter with a live ice sculpture demonstration. Award-winning sculptors design and carve sculptures in an elimination style speed carving format. READ MORE

Penguin Awareness at Jenkinson's Aquarium

Point Pleasant
Saturday, January 18
This is a day to celebrate the world's penguins. Come learn about all 18 species through crafts, activities, and keeper chats. READ MORE

Downtown Cranford Souperhero Stroll

Cranford
Saturday, January 18-Sunday, January 19
Put on a cape, and get ready for the Downtown Cranford Souperhero Stroll. Take a stroll through Downtown Cranford to view the life-size superhero balloon sculptures while sampling delicious soups offered by our local restaurants. READ MORE

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony in Ocean City

Ocean City – FREE
Saturday, January 18
Gather at the Ocean City Tabernacle for the opening ceremony at noon, and honor Dr. King through words, song and dance. A complimentary soul food buffet luncheon follows at the Tabernacle. READ MORE

Maple Sugaring Demonstrations at Great Swamp

Chatham
Weekends beginning Saturday, January 19
Families can learn about the process of maple sugaring from start to finish. Kids and their parents learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. READ MORE

Maple Tree Tapping at Echo Hill Park

Flemington
Sunday, January 19
Take a stroll from the playground to the sugar bush, and participate in the maple sugaring process. Participants collect tap from about 25 trees. Children must be accompanied by adults. READ MORE

MLK Day Community Gathering and Art Making

Princeton – FREE
Monday, January 20
This free gathering offers the opportunity and materials to create artwork that motivates and educates on topics of social justice, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King’s life’s work. This free art-making workshop is led by artist Tamara Torres. READ MORE

Scotch Plains Fanwood Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Scotch Plains – FREE
Monday, January 20
Join the Scotch Plains Fanwood community for its annual day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Service projects include volunteer opportunities like card-making and food and clothing drives. READ MORE

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Summit – FREE
Monday, January 20
Stop by the patio of Reeves-Reed Arboretum to pick up supplies to create valentines that will be delivered to clients of SAGE Eldercare. On this important day of service memorializing Martin Luther King Jr., participants can warm the hearts of our neighbors.  READ MORE

Jersey Cares Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Multiple Locations – FREE
Monday, January 20
Jersey Cares Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service welcomes children and adults to take part in virtual and in-person projects to strengthen communities and build a stronger New Jersey. Projects require registration. READ MORE

School's Out: Friendship Bracelets at METC

Madison
Monday, January 20
School is out but fun is in. Spend some time at the Education Annex to make friendship bracelets. READ MORE

Community Day Martin Luther King Jr: Stronger Together

Newark – FREE
Monday, January 20
Community Day at the Newark Museum of Art features uplifting performances, hands-on activities, and opportunities for the whole family to help the community. READ MORE

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Multiple Locations – FREE
Monday, January 20
On select days throughout the year, all national parks in the United States are open to the public with no admission fee.  READ MORE

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About the Author

Laurie Rein
Laurie Rein is passionate about finding fun (especially free!) activities for her twin daughters. Before joining Mommy Poppins New Jersey, Laurie worked in the television industry, with roles as an NBC page, copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and research manager for CBS.
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