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27 Free and Fun Activities in New Jersey January 2026

The Cotsen Children's Library offers free storytimes throughout the week. Photo by Lisa Warden
The Cotsen Children's Library offers free storytimes throughout the week. Photo by Lisa Warden
12/29/24 - By Laurie Rein

Looking for FREE January events in New Jersey? Read on for dozens of great options. 

January is the perfect time to keep little ones warm and busy on a post-holiday budget with FREE and fun cold-weather festivals, including the Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival, complete with ice sculptures and chili tasting. Or, enjoy hot chocolate, inflatables, and crafts at Wicoff House Museum's Annual Snowfest. And you'll find plenty of admission-free weekly activities for families, like the Live Animal Talks at Jake Branch County Park.

Mark your calendars with these great no-cost holiday events that take place nearly every day of the season. For more winter fun, check out our Event Calendar and Winter Activities Guide.

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Free Things To Do in New Jersey in January 2026

A Twelfth Night Celebration

Hancocks Bridge
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Experience the last peaceful holiday season before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War at this historical celebration. Enjoy live music, games, and refreshments. Feel free to come dressed in your 18th-century finest. READ MORE

Kids Workshops at Home Depot

Various Locations
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Kids can get creative at these monthly Home Depot in-store DIY events. Projects take place the first Saturday of each month at participating stores.  READ MORE

Storytime and Craft at Liberty State Park Nature Center

Jersey City
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Guests can enjoy a seasonal story about the different kinds of wildlife and habitats found in Liberty State Park, then make a story-related craft to take home. READ MORE

Maker Mondays Kids Craft Hour at Jake Branch County Park Nature Center

Beechwood
Mondays, January 5 and 19, 2026
Drop by the nature center on select Mondays for nature-inspired crafts. Registration is not required. READ MORE

JCPenney Kids Zone

Various locations
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stop by New Jersey JCPenney stores on the second Saturday of every month for free and fun crafts. Children receive a lanyard and collector's pin. Six pins earn a Project Master Medallion. READ MORE

Parlor Games for Wintry Weather at Historic Longstreet Farm

Holmdel
Sunday, January 10, 2026
Historic Longstreet Farm invites everyone to come play two long-forgotten 1890s board games: Halma and Basilinda. There are also old-time favorites to play, including backgammon, dominos and checkers. READ MORE

Make-and-Take Victorian Dolls at Historic Longstreet Farm

Holmdel
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Stop by Historic Longstreet Farm for a quick lesson on crafting two styles of home-made Victorian dolls - corn husk dolls and rag dolls.  READ MORE

Winterfest in Downtown Haddonfield

Haddonfield
Friday, January 16-Sunday, January 18, 2026
Downtown Haddonfield embraces the winter season with three days of fun activities, including the Souper Bowl soup-tasting on Saturday and live ice carvings on Sunday. READ MORE

Annual Snowfest at Wicoff House Museum

Plainsboro
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Wicoff House Museum's annual winter festival presents an afternoon of winter magic, with inflatables, hot chocolate, crafts, ice carving, storytime, snow cones, smores, and an Olaf appearance. READ MORE

Scotch Plains Fanwood Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Scotch Plains
Monday, January 19, 2026
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

MLK Day Community Rock Garden at Visual Arts Center

Summit
Monday, January 19, 2026
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey welcomes guests of all ages to paint rocks, which contribute to the community rock garden. Spread messages of peace, love, and hope, or create an image that is all your own. READ MORE

Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival

Mount Holly
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Guests can expect to view beautiful ice sculptures carved right before their eyes. Keep warm with a bowl of hot chili while strolling by the vendors on High Street and enjoying live music. READ MORE

Rutgers Geological Museum Annual Open House

New Brunswick
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Head over to Rutgers Geological Museum for its 58th Annual Open House, featuring crafts, activities, and a sale. This year's theme is minerals.  READ MORE

Ongoing Free Things To Do in January 2026

Shake, Rattle, & Read: A Lapsit Storytime at Edison Public Library

Edison
Every Monday
Tots can enjoy books, songs, finger play and gentle movement on their caregiver's laps. Recommended for pre-walkers who prefer a slow, gentle-paced program. READ MORE

Preschool Storytime at Bridgewater Library

Bridgewater
Every Monday
Swing by the library on Mondays with the little ones for books, songs, and activities. READ MORE

Barnes & Noble Storytime in Livingston

Livingston
Every Tuesday and Thursday
Enjoy childhood classics and new favorites at Barnes & Noble in Livingston on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  READ MORE

Bookscape Babies at Cotsen Children's Library

Princeton
Every Tuesday
Cotsen’s youngest patrons get active, social, and build their vocabularies in a special play space in the Bookscape gallery. Soft ramps, tunnels, and plush alphabet letters await. READ MORE

Storytime at Barnes & Noble Morris Plains

Morris Plains
Every Wednesday
Join Barnes & Noble of Morris Plains for Wednesday storytime, featuring old favorites and new releases.  READ MORE

Barnes & Noble Storytime in Holmdel

Holmdel
Every Wednesday
Join Barnes & Noble of Holmdel every Wednesday for a fun-filled storytime. READ MORE

Barnes & Noble Storytime in Brick

Brick
Every Wednesday
Head over to Barnes & Noble every Wednesday for children's stories and fun. READ MORE

Tiger Tales at Cotsen Children's Library

Princeton
Every Friday
Join the staff at Cotsen Library for a special interactive weekly storytime. Tiger Tales begins with a story and ends with a hands-on project to take home. READ MORE

Drop in and Discover at Jakes Branch County Park

Beechwood
Every Saturday
Stop by Jakes Branch Nature Center on Saturdays for nature lessons and crafts. A new topic is explored each session. READ MORE

Art for Families at Princeton University Art Museum

Princeton
Every Saturday
Stop by Princeton University Art Museum every Saturday morning for crafty family fun. Drop in anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. and enjoy an engaging gallery activity followed by a related art project. READ MORE

Live Animal Talks at Jakes Branch County Park

Beechwood
Every Saturday and Sunday
Head over to Jakes Branch County Park Nature Center every Sunday for an up-close look at the park's inhabitants. Visitors learn about the various species that call the Nature Center home. Talks last about 20 minutes. READ MORE

Winery with Music, Firepits, and Mulled Wine at Terhune Orchards

Princeton
Every Saturday and Sunday
Weekends at Terhune Orchards Winery are all about good vibes, great wine, and plenty of fun. Friends and families can gather to enjoy music, food, and cheer in a cozy fall setting. On sunny days, the historic apple orchard makes the perfect backdrop. READ MORE

Cattus Island Nature Walks

Toms River
Every Saturday and Sunday
Join a park naturalist for a 40-year Ocean County tradition. Discover the fascinating and diverse wonders of the natural world. No registration is required. READ MORE

Discovery Nature Walks at Jakes Branch County Park

Beechwood
Every Sunday
Take a nature walk through Jakes Branch Park with a park naturalist. Walks are brief but informative in nature. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Various Home Depot stores
Jake Branch County Park Nature Center
Downtown Haddonfield
Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University Library
Cotsen Library at Princeton University
Princeton University Art Museum
Jake Branch County Park Nature Center

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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