Take a dip at Raging Waters or one of New Jersey's other terrific water parks. Photo by David Howarth
40 Things To Do in New Jersey Before School Starts
Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
25 Back-to-School Tasks You Didn't Know You Could Pay Someone Else to Do
Help your kids develop their creative side with art classes
GUIDE
Guide to Classes for New Jersey Kids
Cascade down the lazy river at Ocean Oasis at Morey's Piers. Photo by Kip Dawkins
41 Things To Do in New Jersey this Summer: Summer Fun Guide
An area of Hooks Creek Lake is sectioned off for swimming. Photo courtesy of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Best Swimming Lakes in New Jersey You Need To Discover
Visit Crystal Springs Family Water Resort and spend the day swimming and splashing. Photo courtesy of the resort
Best Swimming Pools with Day Passes in New Jersey
The Funplex's rides will please little thrill-seekers.
The Funplex Amusement Park and Water Park Guide: Family Fun in East Hanover and Mt. Laurel
Ocean Oasis water park is among New Jersey's best outdoor water parks.
Best Outdoor Water Parks in New Jersey for Family Fun
We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
Find Trusted Babysitters and Nannies Now on Mommy Poppins–Powered by Care.com
Get ready for beach treasure hunts this summer in Lavallette. Photo courtesy of Enjoy Lavallette
105 Free Things To Do in New Jersey this Summer with Kids
The Wildwoods boasts 5 miles of beautiful, free beaches. Photo courtesy of Wildwoods
Best Free Beaches on the Jersey Shore for Families
GUIDE
Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide
All aboard for family fun at A Day Out With Thomas. Photo courtesy of Delaware River Railroad Excursions
21 Best Things To Do in New Jersey August 2023 with Kids
Hike the Appalachian Trail—72 miles are n New Jersey! Photo courtesy of Visit NJ
100 Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids Before They Grow Up
Floating through the water at Morey's Piers is a great way to beat the heat this summer. Photo by David Howarth
Heat Wave Hot List: 27 Cool Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids
Totally Tubular Aqua Park offers 5,000 square feet of wet-and-wild fun in Ocean City.
Inflatable Water Parks in New Jersey
GUIDE
Summer Camps Guide for New Jersey Kids
Make a splash at a Jersey Shore waterpark, like Ocean Oasis at Morey's Piers.. Photo by Kip Dawkins
70 Things To Do at the Jersey Shore with Kids
GUIDE
New Jersey Amusement Parks and Water Parks Guide
Hop on a ride at Morey's Piers. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Great Amusement Parks in New Jersey for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Long Branch Beach, NJ. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Best Jersey Shore Beaches for Families: Sandy Hook to Cape May
Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County offers hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and much more. Photo by Ali Chandra
Great Day Trips to New Jersey State Parks and Forests
Bounce, climb, and jump at BounceU in Paramus, one of our top indoor play spaces in northern New Jersey.
40 Indoor Play Spaces in Northern New Jersey for Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for New Jersey Kids
The Steel Pier Amusement Park is a family-friendly destination in Atlantic City.
Visiting the Steel Pier with Kids: Guide to this Jersey Shore Amusement Park
The accessible playground at Watsessing Park is a dream come true for children of all abilities. Photo by Margaret Hargrove
Best Playgrounds in New Jersey: 12 That Are Worth the Drive
Cruise in the Playmobil Fire Truck during your trip to Toys
Free Indoor Play Spots in New Jersey for Kids
Nickelodeon Universe is one of the can't-miss destinations at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the venue
  VIDEO
Visiting American Dream Mall in New Jersey: 16 Fun Things To Do and Tips For Your Visit
New Jersey kids can find free fun climbing the pirate ship at the free Garden State Plaza Westfield mall. Photo by Mommy Poppins
GUIDE
Free Fun Things to Do with NJ Kids
At Tenafly Nature Center Camp, kids experience the natural world. Photo courtesy of the nature center
Most Affordable Summer Camps in New Jersey for Kids
The Rainforest Cafe has two family-friendly restaurants in New Jersey. A meal out here is part adventure, part restaurant.
Themed Restaurants in New Jersey for Family-Friendly Interactive Dining
The Camden Children's Garden offers free admission for children under 2.
Free Admission for Kids at 50+ Top New Jersey Family Attractions
Allow yourself to get drawn into the mesmerizing art at the Morris Museum next time you're looking for indoor activities for kids in New Jersey. Photo by Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
Indoor Activities for Kids: 40 Ways to Spend a Rainy Day in NJ
Guests experience the safari at Six Flags Great Adventure from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles. Photo courtesy of Six Flags
The Best New Jersey Zoos and Aquariums to Visit with Kids
Hop aboard a stagecoach for a ride back in time at Wild West City, one of New Jersey's top attractions.
Top Attractions in New Jersey: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day

Things To Do in New Jersey This Weekend and Beyond: Ice Harvest, Groundhog Day, and More

Bring your preschoolers to the Liberty Science Center every Thursday and Friday for Junior Days. Photo courtesy of LSC
Bring your preschoolers to the Liberty Science Center every Thursday and Friday for Junior Days. Photo courtesy of LSC
1/27/21 - By Laurie Rein

This January weekend features two ice-centric events: Witness amazing ice sculptures at the Mount Holly ice exhibition or get a hands-on lesson in the historic ice harvesting industry at Howell Living History Farm's ice harvest. Plus, the search for Wally the Woodchuck is on with H20 Quest: Groundhog's Day.

If you're looking for indoor activities, check out our Poppins@Home site, where little ones can burn energy with Happy Feet's online soccer series and brush up on art skills while learning to draw an iconic cartoon character.

As always, you can find more things to do in our Event Calendar and our Winter Fun Guide, which are filled with seasonal happenings.

Editor's note: While we are trying to promote safer activities that occur outdoors or with social distancing guidelines in place, please keep your family and others safe by always wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. If you arrive at an event that appears too crowded, try using the “nearby” search feature on our Event Calendar to find something else to do.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Join Liberty State Park for an evergreen investigation. Photo courtesy of the park
Join Liberty State Park for an evergreen investigation. Photo courtesy of the park

Best Things To Do in New Jersey This Week With Kids

Penguins, Zebras, and Oreo Cookies

Toms River
Thursday, January 28
Ocean County Parks & Recreation hosts this drop-off program for preschoolers. In this session, learn about the uniqueness of black and white animals, and discover them through crafts, activities, and more. READ MORE

H20 Quest: Groundhog Day

Pennington
Saturday, January 30
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

Ice Harvest

Lambertville–FREE
Saturday, January 30
Farm visitors learn about the tools and technology that made ice harvesting a successful business at the turn of the 20th century on Howell Living History Farm. Guests can help pull ice blocks up the ramp to the ice house, chip ice for ice cream, and make an ice candle. READ MORE

Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival

Mount Holly–FREE
Saturday, January 30
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

Evergreen Investigation

Jersey City–FREE
Saturday, January 30
Liberty State Park hosts this program exploring the different evergreens found within its borders. Learn how to identify different species and the valuable roles they play in nature. Dress for the outdoors. READ MORE

Garden State Comic Fest: Winter Edition

Rockaway
Friday, January 29 through Sunday, January 31
Shop for pop culture collectibles, vintage toys, comics, and artwork at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall's Garden State Comic Fest. Capacity is limited, and masks are required. READ MORE

Outdoor Afternoons at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge

Medford
Wednesdays and Thursdays through Thursday, February 25
Kids are invited to take a screen break and spend time outdoors after school on Cedar Run's 171 acres. Groups of 8-12 participants are split into two age groups, with social distancing in place. Topics rotate weekly.  READ MORE

After-School Program at The Watershed Institute

Pennington
Tuesdays through Tuesday, March 9
Come learn alongside your child about the fascinating world of mammals and how these creatures adapt to survive the challenging winter season. Discover the variety, behavior, and resiliency of the mammals that inhabit the reserve. READ MORE

LSC Junior Days

Jersey City
Thursdays and Fridays through Friday, March 26
Bring your preschoolers to the Liberty Science Center every Thursday and Friday for Junior Scientist Days. The excitement includes planetarium shows for your astronomers, the new Explore More adventure, animal programs, a Science Dance Party, and storytime. READ MORE

Cattus Island Nature Walks

Toms River–FREE
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, March 28
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

Live Animal Talks

Beechwood–FREE
Sundays through Sunday, March 28
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
Translate textures into vibrant, multi-dimensional works of art at Family Art Project: Textures of the Wetlands. Photo by Josh Bright / Wave Hill
Translate textures into vibrant, multi-dimensional works of art at Family Art Project: Textures of the Wetlands. Photo by Josh Bright / Wave Hill

Top Virtual Events This Week

Astronomy Days

Monday, January 25 through Sunday, January 30
North Carolina’s Museum of Natural Sciences helps families see the big picture  ... of the universe. Highlights include updates on the various Mars rovers, a zoomed-in look at the moon, inside info on upcoming missions, and discussions about the search for intelligent life. READ MORE

Introduction to GarageBand

Saturday, January 30
Musician and educator Adam Ollendorff teaches participants the basics of GarageBand music production software, including how to create a drum loop, add guitar and keyboard sounds, and record voices. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Textures of the Wetlands

Saturday, January 30
For World Wetlands Day, take some time to investigate what makes wetlands so natural at healing and how you can support wetlands in these processes READ MORE

Virtual Festival of Chocolate

Sunday, January 31
The Bowers Museum's latest free virtual festival celebrates chocolate. The livestream features performances, art projects, and recipes.  READ MORE
Get ready for some serious shopping at the Lili & Liam play space. Photo courtesy of the space
Get ready for some serious shopping at the Lili & Liam play space. Photo courtesy of the space

More Things To Do in New Jersey This Month

Private Playtime: 12 NJ Indoor Play Spaces to Book For Your Pod or Play Date

Give your pod or play group a cool surprise by booking one of these spots. READ MORE

Where to Play Outside in NJ This Winter: Snow Sports, Hiking Trails, Animal Visits, and More

You'll barely notice the cold as you enjoy these Garden State fun spots. READ MORE

Top Indoor Play Spaces in New Jersey Open Now

These indoor play spaces have reopened with safety protocols in place. READ MORE

Northeast Snowboarding Parks Where You Can Catch Some Air

If you're ready to shred, we've rounded up 12 nearby terrain parks for your pleasure. READ MORE

Best Snow Tubing near New Jersey for Families

These snow tubing parks in and around NJ offer cold-weather thrills. READ MORE

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in New Jersey for Kids and Families

Here's where you can hit the ice in the Garden State this winter. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

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
Recent Articles By Laurie R:
Read more articles by Laurie Rein.