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.

Latest posts by Laurie

Weekend Fun: St. Patrick's Day Parades, Diggerland Opening, Dinosaur World Live

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 03/10/2020 - 12:00pm

Celebrate at the Bergen County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday. Photo courtesy of The Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County, Inc

It's the final weekend of winter! Celebrate like a lucky leprechaun at festive St. Patrick's Day events, including parades in Union, Sea Isle City and Morristown, among others, plus a craft in Bridgewater and a Leprechaun Hunt in Cherry Hill. Springtime is on the horizon with Diggerland's Season Opening this weekend.

Winter comes to a sweet close with the finale of maple sugaring season at Washington Crossing State Park and Great Swamp OEC and pie-related festivities at Pi Day.

Find even more weekend options in our Spring Guide, including 40+ Free Things to Do in March. And look to our March GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

NOTE: Events are subject to change due to the constantly evolving coronavirus situation, and we are continuously updating our event calendar to reflect those changes. If you're planning to attend an event, we strongly recommend contacting the host venue directly to confirm it's still on.

45+ Things We Can't Wait To Do This Spring in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 03/06/2020 - 11:20am

The blooms will be gorgeous this spring for the 2020 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

Springtime is just a few chilly weeks away. Get ready to ditch the winter coats and boots in preparation for playgrounds, farm fun, and outdoor fairs and festivals. Some of our favorite Garden State events take place in spring, including the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, and the Wildwoods International Kite Festival.

We're also looking forward to New Jersey's numerous egg hunts and Easter celebrations, not to mention the many great family performances coming to NJ stages this spring, including Laurie Berkner, a Llama LLama musical, and Disney on Ice.

Read on for more than 45 super spring events for New Jersey families, plus check out our Spring Fun Guide for a full roster of seasonal fun.

Thing To Do in NJ this Weekend: St. Paddy's Parades, Dr. Seuss, Finding Neverland

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 03/03/2020 - 1:45pm

The Rumson St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of many happening this weekend in NJ. Photo courtesy of the parade

Whip up some green eggs and ham, don your green wardrobe, and spend this March weekend celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday and St. Patrick's Day throughout NJ.

Wish Dr. Seuss a happy 116th at events like Dr. Seuss Family Fun Day, Seussology, and Dr. Seuss' Birthday Party. St. Patrick's Day celebration take place throughout the state, with events in Ramsey, Seaside Heights, Rumson and Woodbridge.

There are also several great family shows happening this weekend, including Finding Neverland, MasterChef Junior Live, and Milk & Cookies: Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Fun Guide, including our roundup of great winter day trips for NJ families, among them a visit to Insectropolis, New Jersey's "Bugseum." And look to our March GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Things To Do in NJ This Weekend: Dr. Seuss' Birthday, Leap Day, Carnival

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 02/25/2020 - 9:45am

Storytime and activities celebrating Dr. Seuss are being held at various B&N locations this weekend. Photo courtesy of the store

Leap into a weekend filled with sugar and Seuss. Saturday's Leap Day features activities at both Target and Barnes & Noble in honor of Dr. Seuss' upcoming birthday. Maple sugaring season continues this weekend with Maple Sugaring Demonstrations and Saturday Maple Sugaring.

March kicks off with the first St Patrick's Day parade of the year and a couple of indoor festivities, including Bridgewater Winter Carnival and PJ Library Purim Celebration.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including Indoor Swimming Pools for New Jersey Families. And look to our March GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

March GoList: The Best Things To Do with NJ Kids This Month

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 02/23/2020 - 6:00am

March comes in like a lion with an abundance of celebrations in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, St. Patrick's Day, and NJ Makers Day. We've rounded up more than a dozen things we're most looking forward to this month in NJ, from springtime celebrations to a huge selection of kids' shows.

Make Dr. Seuss' 115th birthday a festive one at Morris Museum and Liberty Hall. Get your green on at St. Paddy's parades throughout the state. And put those thinking caps on at Makers Day events, including one at Museum of Early Trades & Crafts.

This month is packed with performances: Finding Neverland, Dinosaur World Live, Disney on Ice, and much more. And get a taste of early spring at outdoor events like Maple Sugaring at Washington Crossing State Park and Diggerland's Season Opening.

Read on to see all of our top picks for March awesomeness. And for a complete list of this month's happenings, be sure to check out our Event Calendar. Happy (almost) spring!

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Very Hungry Caterpillar, Kids Expo, Maple Sugaring

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 02/18/2020 - 11:30am

The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes to SOPAC on Sunday. Photo courtesy of SOPAC

It's time to party on this last full weekend of February. Enjoy carnival games and inflatables at the Free Kids Expo, get dolled up for a Queen Elsa Tea Party, and honor Washington's Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing. Plus, celebrate favorite literary characters at a production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites and at a Green Eggs & Ham storytime event .

Nature activities are in the spotlight this weekend, with Maple Sugaring Demonstrations, Read & Explore: Fur, Feathers & Fluff, and Who's Been Here.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including 30+ Drop-In Play Spaces for NJ Kids That Cost $15 or Less. And look to our February GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Chocolate Festival, Valentine's Events, mr. RAY

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 02/04/2020 - 1:00pm

Head to the Morris Museum Saturday for Chocolate Family Fun Day. Photo by Laurie Rein

Love is in the air this pre-Valentine's Day weekend in New Jersey. Celebrate with a craft at the New Jersey State Museum, a family night out at Jenkinson's, cookie decorating at a hotel, and a scrumptious Chocolate Family Fun Day at the Morris Museum.

If you love animals, have fur-friendly fun at the Super Pet Expo or learn about winter animals at Read & Explore: Animal Tracks. Treat your Valentines to the theater this weekend with mr. RAY, Dino-Light, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert. And there's more cause for celebration at Newark Museum's Black History Month.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including Family-Friendly Skiing and Snowboarding Spots Around NJ. And look to our February GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

20+ Things To Do on February Break with NJ School Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 02/02/2020 - 9:41am

Climb and explore at Liberty Science Center. Photo courtesy of LSC

Sandwiched between the bustling holiday break and the itching-for-warm-weather spring break falls New Jersey's mid-winter February break. This year, Presidents Day falls on Monday, February 15—and depending on the district, NJ schoolchildren will have a three-, four-, or even five-day weekend, making it the perfect time for a family outing or day trip, or two.

Whether you choose to hang indoors at popular play spaces, or embrace the winter weather with snowtubing and other places to play outside, there's plenty to keep everyone busy on the long weekend.

Read on for the best February break activities for NJ kids, and don't miss our Events Calendar for even more ideas.

Laurie Rein

Latest posts by Laurie

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