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

Fall Fairs and Harvest Festivals in New Jersey for Families

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 09/23/2022 - 7:21am

Celebrate the coming of fall at the Happy Day Farm Fall Festival. Photo courtesy of the farm

New Jersey's farms are bursting with ripe apples ready to be plucked from the trees, which means harvest festival season is upon us. We've rounded up 25+ great fall fairs and harvest fests in New Jersey, all packed with signature seasonal fun like hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, pie contests, scarecrow making, live animals, live music, and more. Some even incorporate a little early Halloween fun.

For more seasonal activities, be sure to check out our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide, our New Jersey Halloween Guide, and our list of 45 things we can't wait to do in NJ with kids this fall.

Baby Sign Language Classes in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/20/2022 - 6:58am

Signing Time Academy provides many resources to help parents incorporate baby sign language into their routine. Photo courtesy of the academy

Baby sign language is a valuable tool for babies as young as 6 months to communicate with their parents using simple hand gestures. Baby sign language classes are offered throughout New Jersey and teach babies to sign useful words such as "hungry," "yes," and, of course, "mom," with hopes of eliminating some tears! These mommy-and-me classes are found in preschool settings, language facilities, and schools that focus solely on signing.

Find more classes geared for babies and tots, such as Baby and Kid Swimming Lessons in New Jersey and Best Pregnancy and Parenting Classes in New Jersey, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our New Jersey Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

20 Pumpkin Patches near New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/18/2022 - 12:05pm

Pick the largest pumpkin you can carry at Alstede Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and go to a New Jersey pumpkin patch where you're sure to experience other fall fun, including barnyard animals, hay and corn mazes, and plenty of ripe, juicy apples that are ready to be picked.

Read on for 20 family-friendly pumpkin patches to check out in and near New Jersey. Closer to the New York border? Check out these Westchester and Hudson Valley pumpkin patches. If you're in South Jersey or headed for a Bucks County getaway this fall, our Philadelphia site has the scoop on where to go pumpkin picking in Pennsylvania.

Find more Halloween activities in our New Jersey Halloween Guide and be sure to consult our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide for the best things to do with kids this autumn.

20 Corn Mazes Near New Jersey to Check Out

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 09/16/2022 - 6:44am

Get lost in Alstede Farm's corn maze. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

Ready … set … it's time to get lost in a New Jersey corn maze! The Garden State is home to oodles of spectacular corn mazes, ranging from massive 10-acre labyrinths to simple, child-friendly courses with fun attractions like hay bale mazes just right for toddlers and preschoolers. Games and clues enhance many of the more elaborate corn maze experiences. Got a tween or teen? Some of these corn mazes offer haunted after-hours experiences for a spooky, nighttime adventure.

Many of the corn mazes we've rounded up are day trip-worthy on their own, but the farms they're in are also likely to have apple and pumpkin picking options, hayrides, and even fall festivals. So get out your fall to-do list, and navigate through one of these great corn mazes near New Jersey. Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids to find even more ways to enjoy the crisp autumn days.

Baby and Kid Swimming Lessons in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/13/2022 - 6:30am

Safe Splash Swim School offers small group classes, semi-private, and private lessons. Photo courtesy of the school.

Year-round swimming lessons are a great way to help New Jersey kids develop a love of swimming and instill confidence around the water. These swimming classes teach water skills in a safe and age-appropriate way, and most allow children as young as 6 months old to participate. Many of the swim programs listed below include programming up to age 12 or beyond and some even offer competitive swim teams.

For the youngest swimmers, check out our post on baby swimming lessons in New Jersey.

You can find more swim and sports programs for kids–and even book a class online–in our directory of classes and listings. Check out our New Jersey Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Best Fall Festivals near New Jersey for Families

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/04/2022 - 11:32am

Jersey City's downtown is transformed into a blocks long street fair for the All About Downtown festival. Photo courtesy of the event

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, New Jersey families can look forward to plenty of fall festivals in New Jersey this September. Get in Halloween mode early with Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest, chow down on delicious seafood at The Downbeach Seafood Festival, and spend Labor Day weekend with rides and games at the St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival. Plus, get a taste of fall at local fairs in Riverdale, Bridgewater, and Jersey City.

Check out these 33 awesome fall festivals and fairs in New Jersey below and be sure to bookmark this list of the best things to do this September with kids for more Mommy Poppins picks.

Labor Day Weekend in New Jersey: Fireworks, Concerts, and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 1:56pm

It's time to get lost in a corn maze this weekend at Alstede Farms. Photo by Canva

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

Whether you are ready to celebrate the last licks of summer or want to enjoy an early taste of fall, the long Labor Day weekend is bursting with change-of-month and change-of-season excitement. Carnivals are in the spotlight this weekend, with multi-day festivities like the Boonton Fire Department Carnival, and St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival. Local towns welcome the new month and season with neighborhood celebrations in Wildwood and Riverdale.

If you're looking for even more ways to spend the long holiday weekend, embark on an Easy Waterfall Hike in Northern New Jersey, and be sure to bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more great things to do.

20 Best Things To Do in New Jersey September 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 8:44am

The Warren County Hot Air Festival takes flight from Saturday, September 23-Sunday, September 24. Photo courtesy of the event

Labor Day kicks off September activities, launching New Jersey's season of apple picking, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.

Great things to do over the long, Labor Day weekend include rides and games aplenty at the Boonton Fire Department Carnival and St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival. Celebrate the arrival of fall with family-friendly events like Bridgewater Community Day and All About Downtown Street Fair. And get a sneak preview of Halloween at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest and DiDonato's Trick-or-Treat Train.

September is also prime time for apple picking in the Garden State. We've got more seasonal picks in our Fall Fun Guide, and you can find even more great things to do in our Activity Calendar.