Lambertville/New Hope Winter Festival (Lambertville)
This week-long Winter Festival culminates this weekend with everything you could want at this time of year: ice carving; hot food; great music; “little rockers”; dance; puppet shows; hockey pros and the Devils’ Mascot; art and photography; and a children’s obstacle course and activity center among other events.  Check out the full weekend schedule or just the family-friendly events.  Most events are FREE, but the ones involving food require advance tickets that can be purchased online.  Interested in spending the weekend? The winter festival website also lists local hotels and B&Bs. Saturday, 9:30am-7pm. Sunday, 8:30am-4:30pm.

Fire and Ice Festival in Historic Mount Holly (Historic Mount Holly)
Spice it up on Saturday with the FIRE of a chili cook-off in a most appropriate setting – the firehouse!  Then, cool off with the ICE outside while watching both experts and amateurs transform 300-pound blocks of ice into ice sculptures. Visit the Gingerbread House contest display to vote for your favorite, then hop on a dog sled or fire truck for a chilly ride! 10am-4pm.  The event is FREE!

Ice Harvesting at Howell Living Historical Farm (Lambertville)
Put all that winter ice to good use!  In winter days of yore, farmers cut ice into blocks and stored it in the ice house so it could be used throughout the year.  Today, visitors help cut, chop and shave ice, fill the ice house, make ice cream and try their hand at the ice saw.  Then, head inside with the kids to craft “ice candles.” Howell Historical Living Farm is open Saturday from 10am-4pm, but the ice event runs from 11am-3pm.  FREE admission. $3. kids’craft materials fee.

Disney on Ice:  100 Years of Magic at Sun National Bank Center (Trenton)
In the “ice festivals” category, Disney on Ice ranks right at the top in terms of good old entertainment.  This show squeezes 65 Disney characters from 18 stories into one show–with tickets starting at $15., that’s a per-character bargain!  Saturday 11am, 3pm, 7pm.  Sunday noon, 4pm, 7pm.  Order online or call (800) 298-4200.

Wassailing the Apple Trees at Terhune Orchards (Princeton)
What the heck is wassailing?  Why, the old English custom of singing to trees in apple orchards to promote a good harvest for making cider come Fall (who knew?).  So, if you want to go apple picking at Terhune orchards next season, get out there and serenade some trees, dance, enjoy playing of primitive instruments, and place gifts of cider-soaked bread in tree branches.  Or just have fun tasting hot apple cider, listening to music, and taking winter wagon rides.  Sunday, 1-4pm.  FREE

Maple Sugaring Demo at Great Swamp (Chatham)
Bring on maple sugaring season!  Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup (and, of course, taste it, too!).  Sunday, 2-3pm. $3./person.  Advance registration required:  (973)635-6629

Day and Night Winter Walks at High Point State Park (Sussex)
Time to track some wildlife!  Indoors, learn to interpret animal tracks.  Then, bundle up and head outside for a scavenger hunt. Winter Wildlife: Tracks and Signs is recommended for kids ages 6-and-up.  Saturday, 2-3pm. FREE, but registration required by 4pm the day before by calling (973) 875-1471 or e-mailing highpointprograms@gmail.com.

Tracking animals by day:  exciting.  Peeking at nature by night: priceless!  Take a one-to-two mile moonlight trek through the park – snowshoes optional.  Recommended for kids ages 7-and-up.  Saturday, 6:30-8:30pm.  Limited number of snowshoes available for use, but must be reserved in advance.  FREE, but registration required by 4pm the day before by calling (973) 875-1471 or e-mailing highpointprograms@gmail.com.

The New Jersey Auto Show at the Meadowlands (Secaucus)
Forget “mama” or “dada,” my son’s first word? “Car!”  If your child follows suit, check out the latest, coolest cars and environmentally-friendly models at this 4-wheel extravaganza.  The event takes place all weekend, but Sunday is Kids' Day, when all kids under 12 are FREE with a paying adult.  (Children FREE with paid adult any day.) A word of warning, though...these shows draw big crowds, so if you have a little runner on your hands, employ the parenting vice grip.  Sunday, 10am-5pm.  Adult tickets $3. in advance (via website) or $8. cash-only at the door.

At T-Rex Named Sue at Liberty Science Center (Jersey City)
Dinosaur lovers'll dig this dino-mite exhibit at Liberty Science Center!  For a limited time, catch the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found.  In addition to the 42-foot long skeleton, the exhibit offers tons of kids’ hands-on activities involving how dinosaurs move, eat, see, and more.  Other special exhibits at Liberty Science Center this weekend: 3D dinosaur movies (may be scary for smaller children, additional $3./$4. for kids/adults), a chemistry lab on Saturday (ages 6-to-12, $5. additional fee, pre-registration required by calling 201-252-1310), and a Sesame Street-Themed planetarium show on Sunday (ages 4-6, 11:30am, 1pm, 2pm, $3/$4 additional fee for kids/adults, first come, first serve).  Science Center admission:  $15.75/adults, $11.50/kids 2-to-12, but get $3. off admission with this coupon, good for up to 5 people.

25th Annual Valentine Workshop at the Arts Council of Princeton (Princeton)
Tired of running to the grocery store late February 13th evening every year for an overpriced pack of class Valentine cards?  Enough!  Instead, get crafty and create beautiful Valentines for family and friends.  This workshop provides all the materials, as well as tips on special Valentine-making techniques.  For all ages, but kids under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.  Saturday, 10am, noon, 2pm. $10./ person.  Pre-registration required by purchasing tickets online or calling 609-924-8777.