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Meet Santa aboard The Polar Express chugging along the Morristown and Erie lines. Photo courtesy of the Morristown and Erie Railway
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See your favorite characters come to life at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation. Photo by Eugene Gologursky/courtesy of Macy's.
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Enjoy a cozy, French-style Thanksgiving meal at Le Rivage. Photo by Evan Sung
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Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
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Kids as young as 14 can apply for an eco-focused internship at Alley Pond Park in Queens. Photo courtesy of the Alley Pond Environmental Center
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Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Free Museum Day, Lunar New Year, Groundhog Day

Bank of America card holders get one free admission to State Discovery Museum and a host of other NJ museums on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the museum
Bank of America card holders get one free admission to State Discovery Museum and a host of other NJ museums on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the museum
1/28/20 - By Laurie Rein

How much longer will this winter weather last? Find out when Watershed Wally the Woodchuck hosts a Groundhog Day Celebration on this first weekend of February. That's just one of many winter events happening this weekend in New Jersey. 

Honor the upcoming Year of the Rat at Lunar New Year Celebration and Livingston Chinese Culture Day. Make the weekend even sweeter with maple sugaring demonstrations at Great Swamp OEC and Tenafly Nature Center. And bundle up for some outdoor time at A Winter's Day at the Farm and Family Nature Walk Series. 

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including the Best Kid-Friendly Museums in Northern New Jersey. And look to our February GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

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Catch the last weekend of the Vernon Lights Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival
Catch the last weekend of the Vernon Lights Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Things to Do All Weekend

Vernon Lights Festival

Vernon
Vernon will shine even brighter this Fall and Winter with the Vernon Lights Festival. Don’t miss this walk-through wonderland of family fun, with massive lighting displays, a dinosaur kingdom, giant pandas, the million light maze and New Jersey’s largest lantern Christmas tree. READ MORE

Maple Sugaring Demonstrations

Chatham
Families can learn about the process of maple sugaring from start to finish—identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Afterward, taste-test different syrups, including syrup made at the Outdoor Education Center.  READ MORE

Bank of America Free Museum Days in NJ

various locations – FREE
Who doesn't like a freebie? Bank of America and Merrill Lynch card holders can get complimentary admission to seven New Jersey museums–all of them family-friendly–the first weekend of each month. READ MORE
Celebrate Chinese culture at Livingston High School on Saturday, February 1. Photo courtesy of the event
Celebrate Chinese culture at Livingston High School on Saturday, February 1. Photo courtesy of the event

Things To Do on Saturday, February 1, 2020

LCCD: Livingston Chinese Culture Day

Livingston – FREE
The local Livingston Chinese community hosts a day-long event celebrating Chinese culture. Cultural activities are free to join and participate in. Come cheer on the folk dancers. READ MORE

Groundhog Day Celebration

Pennington
The Watershed Institute hosts this annual Groundhog Day festival. Join Watershed Wally the Woodchuck as we celebrate winter and look forward to the return of spring. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration

Elizabeth – FREE
Celebrate Lunar New Year at The Mills at Jersey Gardens with special performances, giveaways and a calligraphy demonstration. READ MORE

Children’s Nature Hour at Cloverdale Farm

Barnegat – FREE
Perfect for a winter weekend, these hands-on indoor programs will introduce your child to the natural world around them. READ MORE

Story Snacks at Cedar Grove Library- ON HOLD

Cedar Grove – FREE
Families are invited to the library on the first Saturday of the month for a special story time. Instead of ending each session with a regular craft, participants will create an edible masterpiece. READ MORE

Learn to Draw Mickey & Minnie

various locations – FREE
Stop by The Disney Store every Saturday, and learn how to draw Mickey and Minnie Mouse. READ MORE
Enjoy a Winter's Day on the Farm at Fosterfields on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Morris County Parks
Enjoy a Winter's Day on the Farm at Fosterfields on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Morris County Parks

Things to Do on Sunday, February 2, 2020

A Winter’s Day on the Farm

Morris Township
Join an exciting, outdoor family adventure, and experience traditional farm life as it was in the early 20th century. Enjoy an open-air, tractor pulled wagon ride, meet the friendly farm animals, learn the importance of ice harvesting and what tools were used, and help with daily farm chores. READ MORE

Maple Sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center

Tenafly
Learn how to identify a maple tree, and discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the way we gather sap over the centuries. READ MORE

Chase, Marshall and Skye Visit Imagine That

Florham Park
All your favorite Paw Patrol characters will be hanging out at Imagine That.  Marshall, Chase and Skye will be doing two meet and greet sessions.   READ MORE

Art Together at Zimmerli

New Brunswick – FREE
On select Sundays throughout the year, families can work side-by-side on arts and crafts projects at Rutgers' Zimmerli Art Museum. Each session includes a brief, instructor-led tour through one of the galleries. READ MORE

Family Nature Walk Series

Cranbury
Take a walk through Plainsboro Preserve to see what nature is up to in the winter time. READ MORE

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About the Author

Laurie Rein
Laurie Rein is passionate about finding fun (especially free!) activities for her twin daughters. Before joining Mommy Poppins New Jersey, Laurie worked in the television industry, with roles as an NBC page, copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and research manager for CBS.
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