Thanksgiving Family Festival at the Newark Museum (Newark)
On Friday, the museum holds its Thanksgiving Family Festival with great activities including hunting for buried treasure with a real archeologist, making clay pot masterpieces, using a pottery wheel, science experiments, special exhibits and workshops.  There is Native American storytelling at 1pm, and Thunderbird American Dance performances at 2pm and 3:30pm.   Free with admission (which is $10 for adults, $6 for kids.)

Super-Hero Pizza Party at the NJ Children’s Museum (Paramus)
Everyone’s favorite super-heros will be here for a meet-and-greet and pizza party–come in costume, if you’d like!  In addition to meeting your hero up-close, admission gets you two slices of pizza, a beverage, snack, and dessert, plus unlimited playtime in the museum following the party.  Dinner sessions are Friday November 27 beginning at 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm and 7pm.  Cost is $14 per person.  Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance by calling (201) 262-5151.  (Closed for Thanksgiving)

Park Bench at the Montclair Art Museum (Montclair)
Kids can enjoy a Cézanne-themed art project, interactive gallery activities, and light morning refreshments at this family art program.  You can also use your cell phone to listen to the family audio tour of Cézanne and American Modernism. Friday and Saturday from 10:30 to noon.  Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors.  Admission for kids is free, but there is an $8 fee per child for the Park Bench series.

Rock and Mineral Weekend at the Morris Museum (Morris)
The Rock and Mineral Weekend at the Morris Museum starts on Friday with a special art workshop where kids can paint rocks to look like animals.  12pm to 3pm.  The show continues Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm with rare fossils, fluorescent rocks, and sand box scavenger hunts.  Rock and fossil vendors and experts will be there to identify rocks and sell special specimens.  Finally, there will be a mineral magic show on Saturday at 11am and 3pm, and Sunday at 1:30pm.  Free with admission, which is $10 for adults, $7 for kids 3 and up.

Remarkable Owls at Liberty Science Center (Jersey City)
See real owls up close and learn all about their habits and habitats.  Free with museum admission which is $15.75 for adults and $11.50 for kids.

Holiday Lights at the Turtleback Zoo  (West Orange)
Light up your weekend with the premiere of the holiday lights at the Turtleback Zoo; 100,000 bulbs and 50 lit displays!   From 5pm to 9pm starting Friday through January 3, (except Monday November 30, December 24 and December 25). Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for kids.  Note that regular zoo hours are 10am to 3:30pm with admission $9 for adults, $5 for kids ages 2 -and-up and seniors.

Tree Decorating at Camden Children’s Garden (Camden)
On Saturday the Camden Children’s Garden is getting ready for Santa!  From noon to 4pm, this kick-off event features a tree-decorating contest (children can be helpers,) crafts, storytelling, and Santa’s arrival!  Then from 5:30pm to 8pm, the garden premieres its animated light sculptures–including an Enchanted Wonderland.  Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for kids 3-11 with separate admission after 5pm.

Lights On at Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton)
Saturday is a great day to visit Grounds for Sculpture.  There will be cookie decorating from 1pm to 4pm, holiday songs from 3pm to 5pm, a gingerbread house contest (make and bring an edible house–need not be gingerbread, just edible–kits welcome–and deliver before 3pm for judging–winner announced at 3pm--more details on website) and at 5pm, the sculpture garden turns on the holiday lights!  Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students 13 and up, $6 for kids 6-12, free for kids 5 and under.  There is a $5 additional materials fee for cookie decorating.

Work up an appetite by participating in a local turkey trot (some have a kid fun run too!)  Then, get out  and work off the pumpkin pie:  visit your local ice skating rink, roller skating rink, indoor skate park, indoor mini golf , indoor playground, or bowling alley.

Lastly, this is a great weekend to take in a holiday show-–theater, concerts, ballets and more!