New Jersey

Five Kid-Friendly NJ Nutcracker Performances

Submitted by Desiree on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:32pm

There is just something about Tchaikovsky's Sugar Plum Dance that makes you want to bake Christmas cookies, break out the holiday lights, and sip hot cocoa on the living room couch. Seeing a performance of the Nutcracker is a holiday tradition that we honor every year. We have found six spectacular kid-friendly performances of the Nutcracker for your family, ranging from grand and impressive to tot-friendly...

And for more cool holiday outings, check out our Holiday Guide.

NJ Weekend December 4 & 5: Breakfast with Santa, Gingerbread Houses, & Holiday Festivals

Submitted by Desiree on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 8:54pm

Whatever it takes to get you in the holiday spirit, it is going on this weekend in NJ. There is breakfast with Santa on Battleship NJ and underwater at the Adventure Aquarium. There are Gingerbread House making events, Holiday Festivals at Stirling Stables, a Chanukah Extravaganza, and even Family Art Day at the Montclair Museum.

And if you are looking for more holiday fun, check out our Holiday Guide.

Holiday Cooking and Baking Classes in New Jersey

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 11:05pm

It’s that special time of year, when we consume about 70% more sugar and butter in one month than in the rest of the eleven months combined. Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit. But you can at least conceal your high-sweets-consumption in the guise of a family affair—there are a few nice kids/family baking classes in NJ for holiday yummies. Enjoy!

NJ Events November 27-28: Christmas Lights Spectacular, Recycling Thanksgiving Left-overs and an Unusual Book Signing!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 9:00pm

Yeah, you might want to just lie around and digest that turkey, but why not haul yourself and the kiddos off the couch and head out to one of the many events New Jersey is offering up this weekend. There are plenty of it’s-almost-Christmas activities, plus some great interactive museum events and my personal favorite—“The Butt Book” book signing. Can’t miss that, now can you.

NJ Weekend November 20 & 21: An 1838 Thanksgiving, Table Customs & Manners and Animal Adventures.

Submitted by Desiree on Thu, 11/18/2010 - 2:04pm

Get a head start on Thanksgiving by experiencing an 1838 Thanksgiving celebration at the historic village of Allaire or by brushing up on Thanksgiving table customs and manners at the historic Miller-Cory House. With winter nearly upon us, nature centers like the Raptor Trust are offering workshops on making cozy owl homes for the winter and the Plainsboro Preserve is teaching kids how to make plaster casts of disappearing animal tracks. Jenkinson's Aquarium is also doing a behind the scenes tour this weekend that animal lovers will not want to miss. Finally, for those who felt Halloween was just too short, the Raices Cultural Center is hosting a fun Day of the Dead Family Day with fun art, storytelling and crafts.

New Jersey Weekend Events November 13 &14: Gingerbread Houses, Teddy Bears, Geocaching and the NY Chocolate Show!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 11/11/2010 - 8:36pm

I have one word for you people: CHOCOLATE. Do you really need to read any further? Well, if the thought of the 13th Annual New York Chocolate Show does not send shivers down your spine like it does mine and force you to haul yourself into Manhattan for the day, there are other fun and free events in New Jersey this weekend. Gingerbread House making, teddy bear picnics and geocaching round out our favorites list, but hey… you know where you’ll find me. See you by the truffles!

New Museum Exhibit for Kids - Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 2:50pm

Walk with early man among some of the largest mammals to ever live on earth. This winter, the aptly named mammoth and their smaller but still pretty huge kin, the mastodon, are explored in detail at the Liberty Science Center in the fascinating exhibit Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Read on to find out why this exhibit is worth the trip.

NJ Weekend Nov 6&7: Native American Events and more!

Submitted by Desiree on Thu, 11/04/2010 - 11:12pm

This weekend's abundance of Native-American Indian programs for kids is a hint that Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Kids can learn all about the Lenape Indians and take home some fun Indian crafts from events at the Morris Museum, the Museum of Early Crafts and Trades and the Miller Cory House. For those who want to brave the brisk outdoors, there is a night dig for fluorescent minerals at the Franklin Mineral Museum and both a toddler and big kid tour at Watchung Stables. Finally, there are some fun shows you won't want to miss this weekend. Strega Nona is playing at the NJPAC and you can even attend a pre-show workshop. Older kids may enjoy Mad Science's CSI LIVE! at the Bergen PAC.

NJ Weekend Events October 30-31: Things to Do on Halloween plus Sugarloaf Crafts Festival and Day of the Dead!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 10/28/2010 - 2:34pm

What could be more fun than making Bread of the Dead? Not much, right? In New Jersey this weekend you can celebrate some fine American ghouls and goblins, or join in a Latino Heritage Festival and celebrate Day of the Dead with sugar skulls, Mexican hot chocolate and Pan de Muertos. Or you can party in a non-Halloween fashion and go to the huge Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. Whatever you choose, have a fun, only mildly scary weekend! (And check our Halloween Guide for more Halloween thrills.)

New Jersey Weekend October 23&24: Halloween Countdown!

Submitted by Desiree on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:14am

Just one more week until Halloween and the ghosts and goblins are already on the loose! This weekend you can head to Sesame Place in PA for the Count's Halloween Spooktacular event, ride a haunted train at the Camden Children's Garden Goblins in the Garden Festival, see Halloween themed shows at the Raritan Valley Planetarium, enjoy some pumpkin festivals like the one at Liberty Hall Museum, or go on a not too scary night hike through Stony Brook Watershed Tenafly Nature Preserve. The brave can even take a boat ride through a haunted swamp!