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

New Jersey's Dazzling Holiday Lights Drive-Thru and Walk-Through Christmas Light Shows

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 11/27/2022 - 7:51am

Have your car loaded and ready to experience the magic of Dasher's Lightshow. Photo courtesy of Dasher's Lightshow

Looking for the best Christmas lights in New Jersey? Check out the stunning drive- and walk-through options we've roundup below.

Are you ready for a holiday adventure that pairs family time with some twinkle and glow? Make the most magical time of the year even more special with a visit to one of NJ's spectacular holiday light displays. At some sights, you stay toasty in your car as you drive-thru stunning displays and journey through a sparkling course. At others, you can stretch your legs as you wander past holiday lights and experience the magic up close.

Whichever you choose, pile the kids in the car with some snacks, crank up the holiday tunes, and journey out to see one of these impressive holiday light displays.

Find must-do holiday activities and more ways to be merry in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for NJ Families. You can also stay up to date with all the family-friendly fun in our Family Activity Calendar.

Best Places for Pictures with Santa Claus in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 11/25/2022 - 11:20am

Step into Santa's Wonderland at Ball Pro Shops for a festive photo-op. Photo courtesy of the venue

Want to take pictures with Santa this year? Check out our roundup of the best places to take pictures with Santa in New Jersey so your kids can pose with the big guy.

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he's ready for his close-up. From simple setups to elaborate events, there's no shortage of opportunities for your little elves to pose for pictures with Santa in New Jersey this Christmas season. We've rounded up our favorites, and there's something for every budget including a selection of FREE places to take pictures with Santa. Snag pictures with Santa at the mall or at low-key local Christmas events in places like Toms River and Morristown.

For even more seasonal activities, check out our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide for NJ Kids, where we've rounded up our favorite places to have breakfast with Santa and plenty more holiday must-do's for New Jersey kids.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2022 in New Jersey: Light Shows, Tree Lightings, and Santa's Arrival

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 6:31am

Walk through the light tunnel at Skylands Stadium. Photo courtesy of Skylands Stadium

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

Thanksgiving has arrived, so gobble up all the fun and festivities this long weekend has to offer. Seasonal drive-thru holiday light shows kick off the weekend, including the Skylands Stadium Light Show, Winter WonderLights Drive-thru, and the Holiday Light Show on Lake Meone. Meanwhile, Santa makes his grand arrival at tree-lighting celebrations in Cranford, Princeton, Morristown, and Cape May.

With the holidays just around the corner, the long weekend is the perfect time to peruse Christmas tree farms in New Jersey. Find more holiday fun in our Guide to the Holidays for NJ Families.

27 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in New Jersey in 2022

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 11/11/2022 - 7:17am

Six Flags Holiday in the Park returns for a 2022 run and promises more holiday cheer than ever before. Photo courtesy of Six Flags

Looking for the best holiday activities and Christmas events in New Jersey? Read on for our top picks in the Garden State in 2022.

Make your list—and check it twice—we've got all the details you need for annual must-do holiday experiences and top Christmas events in New Jersey. From drive-thru Christmas light spectaculars, like the Magic of Lights, to local favorites, like Fanwood's Famous Christmas House, these 20+ Christmas events and holiday activities in New Jersey are sure to get everyone in the seasonal spirit over the next few weeks.

Bookmark this page—we'll update it with fun new happenings as we learn about them. You can also stay up to date with all the family-friendly fun in our Family Activity Calendar and find more Christmas events and holiday hoopla in our seasonal Holiday Guide for New Jersey Families, which includes everything from the best Christmas train and Polar Express rides in New Jersey to our top picks for tri-state area holiday lights drive-thru displays.

Veterans Day Weekend in New Jersey: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 11/09/2022 - 7:00am

Enjoy Disney on Ice's "Frozen" this Veterans Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Disney

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

With Veterans Day and the NJEA Convention falling on the same weekend, many New Jersey students have plenty to look forward to on this four-day weekend and we've got plenty of ideas for how to keep kids busy during the school holidays! Honor Veterans Day with a ceremony at New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Meanwhile, theatrical productions to take in over the long weekend include The Illusionists- Magic of the Holidays, Disney On Ice Presents Frozen & Encanto, and a production of Stone Soup at Family Folktale Day.

With the holiday season coming up, check our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events, which includes our big list of the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas Lights shows nearby. If that's not enough, be sure to bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more great things to do in New Jersey with kids.

Free in November: 35+ Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 11/04/2022 - 6:42am

Visit Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops. Photo courtesy of Bass Pro Shops

The many FREE events in New Jersey are among the things to be thankful for in November. Stop by late fall festival freebies like the Day of the Dead Community Festival, Healthy HeARTS Festival, and Fall Festival at Adventure Sports & Entertainment. Or check out one of the Garden State's stunning FREE holiday light celebrations, including tree-lighting events in Cape May, Princeton, and Point Pleasant Beach. Read on for dozens of great free things to do in New Jersey this November.

For more FREE and low-cost fun, check out our Family Activity Calendar and our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids.

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

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 7:32am

Demarest Farms is adorned with holiday lights this season as its popular Orchard of Lights returns for another holiday run. Photo courtesy of the farm

November brings plenty to see and do as New Jersey gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and then heads full steam ahead to the Christmas season.

If you're hoping for a mellow month following Halloween's sugar high, we're sorry to disappoint. Holiday performances take the stage and ice this busy month, like the Disney On Ice Presents Frozen & Encanto and Baby Shark Live! The Christmas Show. Plus, holiday lights illuminate the season at the South Jersey Holiday Light Show, Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms, and Smithville's Holiday Light Show.

Find more top November fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey, and be sure to bookmark these staycation ideas for the myriad November school holidays ahead.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Halloween Weekend in New Jersey: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 7:27am

Get your car decked out for Halloween at the annual North Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Block Party. Photo courtesy of Wildwoods, NJ

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

It's time to scare up some fun this weekend with Halloween festivities! Tons of Halloween activities are on offer, from events at zoos to Halloween parades. There are also plenty of spots to score treats at trick-or-treat or trunk-or-treat events in Somerville, Mount Laurel, and Belmar, among many others. And be sure to show off those great costumes at annual Halloween favorites like Boo at the Zoo and iPlay America's Trick-or-Treat Around the Park.

We've got more seasonal treats in our New Jersey Halloween Guide, including not-so-scary Halloween events in New Jersey for toddlers and preschoolers and our picks for the best places to trick-or-treat in New Jersey. If that's not enough, be sure to bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more great things to do in New Jersey with kids.