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

25 Free Events in February for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 02/01/2019 - 11:00am

Stop by Family Day at State Theatre New Jersey on February 18 for face painting and other free fun. Photo courtesy of the theater

February is the month of love, and you’ll love all the FREE events our calendar has to offer! It's a month full of celebrations, with a Valentine’s Day craft at New Jersey State Museum, a Chinese New Year party at HudsonWay Immersion School, and a birthday bash for Elmo at Barnes & Noble. Get in all-around party-mode at State Theatre's Family Day and Westfield's Free Kids Expo.

Plus, stay cozy indoors at no-cost storytimes, held at unique locations like Tulpehaking Nature Center, Indigo, Hoboken Fire Department Museum, and the Lovin’ Oven.

Read on for this month's picks, and for more free and low-cost fun, check out our list of Free Indoor Play Spots for NJ Kids, and our Event Calendar.

40+ Events This Winter for New Jersey Preschoolers

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 01/16/2019 - 11:21am

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings The Very Hungry Caterpillar to life at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in January. Photo courtesy of the company

If being cooped up at home with an energetic preschooler isn't your idea of winter wonder, we offer you more than 40 excuses to get out of the house! From shows to storytimes to nature activities, there are events nearly every day this winter that are tailor-made for the under-5 set.

Preschool fan-favorites take the stage this winter in kid-friendly productions of American Girl Live, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Pete the Cat, and Cinderella. Frozen fans can chill out at A Very Frozen Event, Story Time with Queen Elsa, and Frozen Ball.

Storytimes are a perfect way to pass the time on a slow day (bonus: most are free!). Swing over to weekly events at Pottery Barn Kids, L.L. Bean, Hoboken Fire Department, and Lovin' Oven, and check out special happenings, like I Am Not a Fox Storytime and A Rescue-to-Royal Puppy Love Story.

Bundle up, and let the little ones explore nature at events like Nature Time Together Drop Ins, Winter Tales, First Friday Storytime, Groundhog Day Celebration, and A Winter's Day on the Farm.

Read on for more than 40 preschooler-friendly events happening this winter, and check out even more ways to entertain kids this time of year in our New Jersey Winter Fun Guide, featuring 50+ Things to Do with Kids Indoors in the Winter.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Volunteer and Celebrate with Kids in NJ

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 01/09/2019 - 12:00pm

Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Arts Council of Princeton's Paul Robeson Center for the Arts. Photo courtesy of the arts council

Martin Luther King, Jr., the chief spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement, is memorialized annually on the third Monday of January. This floating holiday has evolved into more than just a day off from school. Now deemed a National Day of Service, MLK Day encourages volunteers across the country to donate their time in order to make a difference. This day reminds us of hope, compassion, and the ongoing potential for social change. Many New Jersey towns are hosting local activities, and we've put together a list that includes both celebrations and service activities.

25 Things To Do with New Jersey Kids Over Holiday Break

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 12/16/2018 - 9:13am

Take a magical holiday hayride at Johnson's Corner Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

The lazy days of December break may be the best time to take part in New Jersey's family-friendly holiday activities—especially if you have visiting relatives to entertain or kids who have already moved on from their presents. From spectacular light displays to cold-weather fun, there's plenty to do during the days off from school.

Most New Jersey schools are closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019, allowing plenty of time to experience some of the holiday highlights you may have missed in the hectic run-up to Christmas. It's also the perfect time to check out an indoor play space, museum, or fun zone.

Be sure to check out our December GoList and Holiday Fun Guide for more great ideas. Happy Holidays, NJ!

30+ Free Things To Do with New Jersey Kids in November

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 10/31/2018 - 12:00pm

Drop in to the Princeton University Art Museum anytime between 10:30am and 1pm for Free Family Art Day. Photo courtesy of the museum

November has arrived, and there’s so much to be thankful for—including free events! Enjoy some outdoor time early in the month at admission-free festivals like St. Anthony International Festival, Day of the Dead 2018, Ocean City's Quiet Festival, and Short Hills-Millburn Street Fair.

Later in the month, Santa Claus is coming to town! Kick off the holiday season at no-cost celebrations in Princeton, Nutley, Morristown, Ridgewood, and Red Bank. Plus, seasonal light shows make their debut, including Smithville's Holiday Light Show and Atlantic City's Holiday Musical Light Show.

Keep the little ones busy and warm, without spending a dime, at weekly storytimes such as Penny's Storytime, Kids' Story Hour at Rutgers Landscape & Nursery, and Pottery Barn Kids Weekly Storytime. (Please check websites for Thanksgiving week schedules.)

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar, as well as our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids.

Halloween Weekday Fun for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 10/28/2018 - 10:00am

Morristown is one of many NJ towns hosting an annual Halloween trick-or-treat! Photo courtesy of the Morristown Partnership

Can't wait for Halloween? You don't have to! There's tons of Halloween fun happening on the days leading up to the big holiday. Put those costumes to good use at farm festivals, parades, and plenty of candy-collecting.

Get the most out of Halloween when you check out our Ultimate Halloween Guide for New Jersey Kids, and get the scoop on the state's Best Trick-or-Treating Neighborhoods, the Best Halloween Events for New Jersey Preschoolers, and 35 Free Halloween Events. And of course, find a complete listing of Halloween happenings in our Event Calendar. Happy Halloween!

60+ Free Things To Do with New Jersey Kids in October

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 1:40pm

Take the little ones trick-or-treating at HalloWheaton, a free, family-friendly event at WheatonArts. Photo courtesy of WheatonArts

There are no tricks here, just treats! We present more than 60 free events taking place in October throughout New Jersey. Save your money for candy and costumes, and load up on dozens of no-cost events every day of the month. Food, crafts, and fall fun are on tap at free harvest festivals that include Hoboken Harvest Festival, Pierfest 4th Annual Fall Festival, Dunellen HarvestFest, Harvest Homecoming at the Frazee House, and many more.

Check out admission-free pumpkin spectaculars like Pumpkin Fest 2018, the South Jersey Pumpkin Show Festival, and the 26th Annual Pumpkin Festival. And of course, October tops off with the main event of the season: Halloween. Throw on those costumes and head over to free celebrations including trunk-or-treats in Wildwood, Westfield, and Glassboro, and parades in Maplewood, Seaside Heights, and Toms River.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar, as well as our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids and more Free Halloween events.

40 Free Things To Do with New Jersey Kids in September

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Thu, 08/30/2018 - 10:00am

Get out on the water at the Wind and Sea Festival. Photo courtesy of Monmouth County

Are you feeling the end-of-summer blues? We'll turn that frown upside down with a roster full of free events taking place this month in New Jersey! September is off to a promising start with Labor Day freebies, like Riverdale's Annual Labor Day Street Fair, St. Bartholomew Italian Festival, and Rutherford Labor Day Street Fair. Street fairs continue throughout the month in Red Bank, North Haledon, Fanwood, and Jersey City.

Back-to-school time is the perfect time to indulge in literature at the Annual New Jersey Storytelling Festival and Princeton Children's Book Festival.

As summer transitions to fall, get in the autumn spirit at admission-free seasonal events, including Hopewell Harvest Fair, Edison Fall Family Spectacular, Bergen County Fall Harvest Festival, and Westfield FestiFall. Get back to nature at the26th Annual Insect Festival, New Jersey WILD Outdoor Expo, and Kids' Story Hour at Rutgers Landscape & Nursery.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar, as well as the Best Fall Fairs and Festivals for NJ Families in September.