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Bake, sample treats, and find more activities for V-Day in NJ. Photo via Bigstock
Bake, sample treats, and find more activities for V-Day in NJ. Photo via Bigstock
2/6/19 - By Laurie Rein

Move over romantic Valentine's celebrations—Valentine's Day becomes a family affair once you have kids. Treat your crew to love-themed, kid-friendly fun at celebrations leading up to the big day. Have a Family Date Night at Jenkinson's, sample sweets at the Annual Valentine's Day Chocolate Walk, or enjoy a Chocolate Family Day at the museum.

Ready for a cheap date? Check out Valentine's freebies that include a storytime, craft, and cookie-decorating. 

Read on for more ways to celebrate with the ones you love. And for even more mid-winter fun, check out our Event Calendar and February GoList. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

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Opt to see the show during Chocolate Family Day at Morris Museum. Photo courtesy of Robert Morgan
Opt to see the show during Chocolate Family Day at Morris Museum. Photo courtesy of Robert Morgan

Valentine's Week Events

Annual Valentine’s Day Chocolate Walk

Friday, February 8 – Bordentown
Present your Valentine's Day passport at participating businesses to receive a special chocolate treat. Stores, restaurants and other Bordentown businesses open their doors this evening to welcome visitors. READ MORE

Family Date Night at Jenkinson's

Friday and Saturday, February 8-9 – Point Pleasant
Spend an evening with the ones you love at this special Valentine's Day weekend event. A package includes admission for four to Jenkinson’s Aquarium, a plain pizza and pitcher of soda at the Pavilion, a $10 PlayCard for the Pavilion Arcade and four treats from the Sweet Shop. READ MORE

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Friday and Saturday, February 8-9 – Morristown
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that puts a contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations, and all the moments you love: the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball, and some surprising new twists. READ MORE

Chocolate Family Day

Saturday, February 9 – Morristown
Embark on a sweet adventure by participating in a Touch the Music workshop, make a special card in time for Valentine’s Day, and see a performance of Morgan's Journey in the Bickford Theatre. READ MORE

All You Need is Love Storytime

Saturday, February 9 – Freehold – FREE
Barnes & Noble hosts a reading of the book based the beloved song All You Need Is Love, showing that if we follow the music we will see there is indeed love all around us. Enjoy a cookie coloring activity, while supplies last. READ MORE

Valentine's Craft-Making Event

Saturday, February 9 – Trenton – FREE
Stop in and create a dinosaur-inspired Valentine while you learn about dinosaur history and habits; make a Pop-(h)art – Valentine’s decoration, a pop-up hanging Valentine inspired by pop art of the 20th century. READ MORE

My Little Man & Me Valentine's Party

Saturday, February 9 – Union
Head to the Liberty House Museum for this special pre-Valentine's Day event. Moms, grandmas, and aunts are invited to join sons, grandsons, and nephews for a special day out with games, crafts, snacks, punch, and a photo booth. READ MORE

Victorian Pressed Flower Workshop

Saturday, February 9 – Princeton
Spend a wintry afternoon as Victorian women, such as Harriet Stockton, might have, and create pressed flower art with Morven’s Curator of Education Debra Lampert-Rudman. READ MORE

JCPenney Kids Zone

Saturday, February 9 – Various Locations – FREE
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

Maple Sugaring Demonstrations

Sunday, February 10 – Chatham
Families can learn about the process of maple sugaring from start to finish—identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Afterward, taste-test different syrups, including syrup made at the Outdoor Education Center.  READ MORE

Maple Sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center

Sunday, February 10 – Tenafly
 Learn how to identify a maple tree, and discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the way we gather sap over the centuries. READ MORE

Kids! Cookie Decorating at Marlboro Library

Tuesday, February 12 – Marlboro – FREE
Get ready for Valentine's Day at Marlboro Public Library with a morning of cookie and card decorating. The program is for ages 3+ with a caregiver. READ MORE

Be Mine Valen-SLIME Making

Tuesday, February 12 – East Hanover
It’s slime time. Special Valen-SLIME time that is…In this workshop, a barista will assist your child in making a custom batch of “lovely” slime. READ MORE

Valentine's Day Toddler Time

Tuesday, February 12 – Cherry Hill
Children can attend this special Valentine's Day session and enjoy obstacles, ziplines, and plenty of active fun. Pre-registration is recommended. READ MORE

Valentine's Make & Mingle

Wednesday, February 13 – East Hanover
Make a fun craft and mingle with other parents. Create a Valentines keepsake that will be enjoyed for years to come. READ MORE

Valentine Basket Craft

Wednesday, February 13 – Lebanon
Senior Gardener Jason “Jaybird” Strauss will teach kids to make a memorable Valentine floral arrangement for a special Valentine. All materials will be provided to create a beautiful arrangement that will brighten up Valentine’s Day. READ MORE

Valentine’s Day Party

Wednesday, February 13 – Monroe – FREE
Children are invited to make a craft, play bingo, and enjoy a snack. READ MORE

Valentine Party Storytime at Morven

Thursday, February 14 – Princeton
Join Morven for a reading of The Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Party by Jan Berenstain. There will also be a Valentine’s Day party, with a Valentine craft to take home and share. READ MORE

Kidville Valentine's Day Bash

Thursday, February 14 – Hoboken
Join the Kidville's Valentine's Day Bash. Activities include getting a tattoo, cozying up in a photo booth, a bouncing good time in our state-of-the-art gym, as well as pizza and light refreshments for all.  READ MORE

Valentine's Day at iPlay

Thursday, February 14 – Freehold
Share the love this Valentine’s Day with friends, family or the one you love. Purchase the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Package for two which Includes: (2) Laser Tag, (2) 4D, (2) Go-Karts, (2) unlimited non-redemption video games, and (2) $10 game cards. READ MORE

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About the Author

Laurie R
Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com
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