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

Latest posts by Laurie

Free in June: 47 Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 06/02/2023 - 7:24am

Get your fill of Jersey-fresh berries at the West Cape May Strawberry Festival. Photo courtesy of Exit Zero

Load up your calendar with dozens of FREE events taking place throughout June in New Jersey, because there's no reason summer fun has to come with a big price tag. As the days get longer, under-the-stars movies, carnivals, and other activities fill your summer roster without emptying wallets.

Swing by local fairs like West Orange Street Fair, Sparta Day 2023, and Glassboro Community Day, or kick back at evening events like Wildwood Boardwalk Friday Night Fireworks, Summit Street Sounds, and Jenkinson's Movies on the Beach.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our roundups of water playgrounds and free beaches in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Best Mini Golf in New Jersey for Kids and Families, From the Jersey Shore to Northern NJ

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 05/30/2023 - 7:49am

Golf with friends at The Funplex. Photo courtesy of the course

Whether you call it mini golf, miniature golf, or putt-putt, you'll find tons of places to play throughout New Jersey. The Garden State apparently has a thing for the game—there are dozens of mini-golf courses throughout New Jersey, and most of them have already reopened for the 2023 season.

We're highlighting nearly the best courses in the state, from the Jersey Shore to Northern NJ. These courses have imaginative themes that range from pirate shipwrecks and African safaris to a medieval castle. Read on to find the perfect New Jersey miniature golf course for you.

For more things to do this summer, from spray parks to amusement parks, don't miss our Summer Fun Guide for NJ Kids.

Best Things To Do in New Jersey June 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 05/28/2023 - 7:02am

Visit the real-life mermaids at the Adventure Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium

Get ready for summer vacation! June in New Jersey brings festivals for Juneteenth, Father's Day, ripe strawberries, and some early fireworks.

As the school year comes to a close and summer makes its debut, we're finding our June calendar is exploding with outdoor activities. Don't miss big-time festivals, including the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, Paramus L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival, and the New Jersey State Fair. Get in the spirit of June holidays at events like Burlington Freedom Day: A Juneteenth Celebration and Father's Day Train Rides.

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.

31 Family-Friendly Fairs and Festivals in New Jersey this June

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 05/26/2023 - 6:19am

State Fair Meadowlands is the biggest fair in the New York metropolitan area. Photo courtesy of the fair

Family-friendly summer festivals and fairs in New Jersey offer fun for all ages and interests this month. With the change of seasons and rising temperatures, fill your calendar with a long-awaited lineup of early summer events that center on everything from music and food to rides and games.

Bring your appetite to palate-pleasing food fests like the West Cape May Strawberry Festival and Donaldson Farms Food Truck Fest. Peruse local town fairs in West Orange and Sparta. Or go big at the New Jersey State Fair.

Read on for more than 30 great New Jersey fairs and festivals happening in June. Check out our Event Calendar for even more family fun this month, and look to our Summer Fun Guide for NJ Kids to start planning for the season ahead!

Memorial Day Weekend 2023 in NJ: Festivals, Day Trips, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 6:10am

Runaway Rapids water park opens for the season this Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of the park

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this Memorial Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this holiday weekend.

Memorial Day weekend has arrived, ushering in the unofficial start of summer and the official start to Shore season. If you're venturing to the Jersey Shore, check out the brilliant Wildwoods International Kite Festival, indulge in food and music at Bradley Beach Memorial Day Festival, or cool off at the opening of Runaway Rapids. Spend Memorial Day Monday at Woodland Park Street Fair or at commemorative events in Holmdel and Freehold, among others.

Avoid traffic when you embark on a Memorial Day weekend adventure by checking out these nearby spring day trips, and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more fun things to do.

Drive-in Movie Theaters in and around Boston for Outdoor Movie Nights with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 05/21/2023 - 2:50pm

Drive-in movie theaters and pop-up drive-in's are back in Boston for the summer! Mayor's Movie Night photo courtesy of Boston Parks and Recreation

Drive-in movie theaters in and around Boston have made a major comeback, offering New England families an fun activity for warm summer nights. Outdoor movie nights with kids means piling in the car and getting cozy in the backseat while munching on popcorn and enjoying a family film. Many drive-in movie theaters are running screenings all summer, while several towns are offering "pop-up" drive-in movies on certain days.

We've rounded up the latest summer drive-in movies in Boston and nearby Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut towns for fun family outings. Check back on this post for updates: As more screenings are added and pop-up theaters open, we will add them to the list. So read on for our guide to drive-in movie theaters in and around Boston for outdoor movie nights with kids.

While you've got summer fun on the brain, take a peek at our Ultimate Summer Bucket List Ideas: 100 (Mostly) Free Outdoor Games and Activities for Kids. If you're looking to get away for a day or two, we've compiled a list of the Best Cape Cod Beaches for Families. For some daytime fun, see our guide to the Best Sprinkler Parks and Splash Pads in Boston.

Mother's Day Weekend 2023 in New Jersey: Brunches and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 05/10/2023 - 7:06am

Head to the Shore with mom to walk on the boardwalk or race on the go-karts at Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach. Photo courtesy of Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this Mother's Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

It's all fun and games this Mother's Day weekend as moms score free admission to amusement parks on Sunday, including Jenkinson's, iPlay America, Castaway Cove, and Casino Pier. Plus, treat Mom to a weekend of food, music, and shopping at springtime festivals like the Creative Arts Festival, Branchburg Food Truck & Music Festival, and Spring Bazaar 2023.

Check out our full listing of Mother's Day events, and find more things to do on this list of the best things to do in New Jersey this May. Our Family Activity Calendar offers a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Free in May: 55 Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 05/05/2023 - 5:22am

Discover deep-sea secrets at Island Beach State Park's Ocean Fun Days festival. Photo courtesy of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium

Hooray for May! Bring on the outdoor festivals, and the Memorial Day celebrations. And if you're budgeting for summer vacations and camp, no need to skimp on the May fun. These 50+ (!) activities and events are all FREE to attend.

Street fair season is in full swing this month. Check out food vendors, crafts, and live music at neighborhood fairs around the state, including Westfield, Maplewood, and L ake Hopatcong, among many others. Or head down to the Jersey Shore for admission-free, beachy extravaganzas like the Ocean City Spring Block Party, the New Jersey Seafood Festival, Ocean Fun Days, and the Wildwoods International Kite Festival.

Top off the month with FREE Memorial Day parades in Freehold and Glassboro, plus the Bradley Beach Memorial Day Festival.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar and Guide to New Jersey Parks and Playgrounds.