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Best of January: 17 Top Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company presents the show
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company presents the show "Lunar New Year: Year of the Black Water Rabbit." Photo by Carol Rosegg
12/30/22 - By Laurie Rein

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and Lunar New Year, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in New Jersey this month.

A brand new year brings a brand new roster of warm and cozy post-holiday fun. Escape the cold, and treat the family to live entertainment with performances of Disney On Ice: Into the Magic and Dragons and Mythical Beasts. Or, layer up and brave the outdoors for Maple Sugaring Demonstrations and Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival.

Find more January and cold-weather fun in our Winter Guide, including these great winter day trips in New Jersey.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

 

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Families can learn about the process of maple sugaring from start to finish. Photo courtesy of the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
Families can learn about the process of maple sugaring from start to finish. Photo courtesy of the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center

Top Things To Do in New Jersey this January with Kids

Super Pet Expo

Edison
Friday, January 6-Sunday, January 8, 2023
Inquisitive and pet-loving children are welcome to visit to the 22nd Super Pet Expo. Kids can bring their dogs to watch a comedy show, check out the latest in dog fashion, and watch their pup run in races. READ MORE

Stomp

Morristown
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Stomp is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique—an unforgettable experience for all ages. Stomp uses everything but conventional percussion instruments–including matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, and hubcaps–to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. READ MORE

Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

Newark
Thursday, January 12-Monday, January 16, 2023
Magical Disney characters skate their way to Prudential Center for this festive celebration on ice. Join Belle, Coco's Miguel, Rapunzel, Moana and more.  READ MORE

Wild Con Collectibles Festival

Wildwood
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Wild Con is a collectibles festival for families, featuring comic books, trading cards, toys, manga, anime, Pokemon, graphic novels, posters, artists, writers, and costume groups. READ MORE

Dragons and Mythical Beasts

New Brunswick
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Magnificent and terrifying beings, including the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik, and Japanese Baku, the adorable Unicorn and the majestic Griffin, take the stage at State Theatre New Jersey. READ MORE

Scotch Plains Fanwood Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Scotch Plains–FREE
Monday, January 16, 2023
Join the Scotch Plains Fanwood community for its 13th annual day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year's projects include virtual, drop-off, and in-person volunteer opportunities, such as card-making and food drives. READ MORE

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Celebrates Lunar New Year

Newark
Saturday, January 21-Sunday, January 22, 2023
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company presents the show "Lunar New Year: Year of the Black Water Rabbit." This spectacular experience combines traditional Chinese celebrations with modern flair. The Red Lions dance to a hip-hop beat. The Golden Dragon brings good luck and fortune for the coming year. READ MORE

Maple Sugaring Demonstrations

Chatham
Saturdays and Sundays, from Saturday, January 21-Sunday, February 19, 2023
Families can learn about the process of maple sugaring from start to finish. Kids and their parents learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. READ MORE

New Year’s Traditions From Around the World

Plainsboro–FREE
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Celebrate the arrival of 2023 with games and activities inspired by New Year's traditions from around the world. The fun includes crafts, a scavenger hunt and snacks.  READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration

Summit
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Commemorate the Year of the Rabbit at Reeves-Reed Arboretum with crafts and stories. Pre-registration is required. READ MORE

Monster Jam

Newark
Friday, January 27-Sunday, January 29, 2023
Don't miss this action-packed motorsport event, with some of the most famous trucks in the world taking center stage at the Prudential Center. See Grave Digger, Max-D, El Toro Loco, and more. READ MORE

Rutgers Geological Museum Annual Open House

New Brunswick
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Head over to Rutgers Geological Museum for its 55th Annual Open House, featuring  crafts, activities and a mineral sale. READ MORE

H20 Quest: Groundhog Day

Pennington
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Armed with a map, participants explore The Watershed Institute searching for clues to find Wally the Woodchuck. Part treasure hunt, part nature hike, this program is sure to tickle your creativity and curiosity. READ MORE

Garden State Comic Fest Winter Fest

Augusta
Saturday, January 28-Sunday, January 29, 2023
Check out comics, toys, collectibles, artwork, cosplay and food trucks at this busy comic con in its new location.  READ MORE

Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival

Mount Holly–FREE
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Guests can expect to view beautiful ice sculptures carved right before their eyes. Keep warm with a bowl of hot chili while strolling High Street and enjoying live music. READ MORE

Seashore Open House

Long Branch–FREE
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Head over to Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Activity Center for its annual afternoon of seashore fun. Take part in engaging hands-on activities. Speak with a Park System Naturalist about your own shell collection or the aquatic animals on display. READ MORE

Wassailing the Apple Trees

Princeton–FREE
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Raise a glass of hot cider with Terhune Orchards, honoring the trees that give us wonderful apples. The ancient British tradition of wassailing the apple trees to protect them from harm is a popular winter celebration at Terhune Orchards that you won’t want to miss!  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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