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

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.

20+ August Fairs and Festivals for New Jersey Families

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Mon, 07/30/2018 - 12:00pm

Meet lots of sweet animals at the New Jersey State Fair: Sussex County Farm & Horse Show. Courtesy of Sussex County Fairgrounds

When it comes to fairs and festivals, August in New Jersey is like one big party! Flutter over to Pennington for a Butterfly Festival, indulge in sweet summer peaches at Princeton's Just Peachy Festival, or enjoy classic fair fun like carnival rides and games at a county fair. With so many options, the family calendar will be packed all month long.

Read on for our top picks, and find more ways to make the most of August with our Summer Fun Guide.

100+ Free Things To Do with Kids This Summer in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 06/22/2018 - 10:00am

Oceanfest in Long Branch features tons of children's entertainment, including balloon artists, a magic show, and costumed characters. Photo courtesy of the festival

Summer is the season for no-cost fun all across New Jersey. From fireworks and festivals to free outdoor movies, we’ve rounded up more than 100 family-friendly events to enjoy all summer long that won’t break the bank.

You can find even more cool seasonal activities and destinations in our Summer Fun Guide and Event Calendar. Have a fabulous (and free) summer, New Jersey!

Free Things To Do with NJ Kids Anytime During Summer 2018

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 06/01/2018 - 10:00am

Cool kids (and parents) love the boardwalk in Ocean City. Photo by Austin Kirk/CC BY 2.0

Free Things To Do Anytime in Summer 2018

See July Events | See August Events

Free Things To Do with NJ Kids in August 2018

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Thu, 05/31/2018 - 2:52pm

Wednesdays in July and August are Family Fun Days at the Cape May Lighthouse. Courtesy of Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities

Free Things To Do in August 2018

See July Events | See Anytime Events

50+ Free Things To Do with New Jersey Kids in June

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 11:00am

Check out a free fireworks display every Friday on the Pine Avenue Beach in Wildwood. Photo courtesy of Wildwood

Who says summer fun has to come with a big price tag? We've gathered oodles of (more than 50!) free events taking place throughout June in New Jersey. As the days get longer, under-the-stars concerts, movies, and other activities fill the evenings without emptying the wallets. Kick back at evening events like South Orange Summer Nights: Art in the Park, Hoboken Movies Under the Stars, Jenkinson's Movies on the Beach, and Union County Summer Arts Festival.

Spend time outdoors at local community events with no admission fees, such as Garwood Rocks, Somerville Street Fair & Craft Show, Glassboro Community Day, and Nutley Father's Day Street Fair.

And it's that time of year to head to the shore. Stop by beachy events like Sea Isle City's Skimmer Festival, Bradley Beach Lobster Festival, and Atlantic Highlands' Shark Fest.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar, as well as roundups of water playgrounds and free beaches.

Memorial Day Weekend in NJ: Theme Parks, Beach Fests, Parades

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 05/22/2018 - 2:00pm

Field Station: Dinosaurs opens this weekend at Overpeck County Park. Photo courtesy of the venue

Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and there's no better place to spend it than New Jersey! Whether you're looking for a taste of summer at a strawberry festival or a display of patriotic pride at a Memorial Day parade, our calendar is loaded with three days worth of holiday weekend fun.

As the unofficial summer kickoff, Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to head to the Jersey Shore. Check out the massive display of beautiful kites at Wildwoods International Kite Festival; enjoy rides and games at the Bradley Beach Memorial Day Festival; or catch local artists and musicians at the 2018 Waterfront Arts Festival in Perth Amboy.

Not headed to the beach? Cool off at a lake, pool, or water park, many of which open this weekend, too.

And don't forget the amusement parks! Field Station: Dinosaurs and The Land of Make Believe open for the season this weekend, while Great Adventure hosts the Garden State Comic Fest.

Check out our Spring Guide for New Jersey Kids for more options for Memorial Day weekend fun, including 10 Themed Playgrounds and 10 Great Picnic Spots And look to our event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Laurie Rein

Latest posts by Laurie

Free Things To Do Anytime in Summer 2018

Free Things To Do in August 2018

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