All Weekend

Holiday Lights at the Zoo (West Orange, NJ)
If you haven’t taken the kiddos to see the awesome lights (not to mention the animals) at Turtle Back, definitely try and make it this last weekend before Christmas! Check out monkeys, alligators and bears all while enjoying the festive decorations lighting up the zoo grounds.

The Nutcracker (New Brunswick, NJ)
NJ has so many great dance companies performing the beautiful Nutcracker ballet and the American Repertory Ballet is no exception. This is the last weekend to catch Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score performed with a live orchestra, a cast of over 100 performers, plus beautiful costumes and sets – this year’s production features a gorgeous new Christmas tree.

Generation Fit: Brain Games (Newark, NJ)
Need an educational outing to keep the kids busy before the craziness of Christmas? Check out Newark Museum’s Brain Games and investigate how the brain learns and how it can be fooled through a series of optical illusions. And while you’re there, be sure and visit the museum’s other hands-on exhibits such as emPOWERED and Dynamic Earth.

Saturday, December 21st

Sea of Lights (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
Join Jenkinson's Aquarium in celebrating its annual Sea of Lights Holiday Festival. Walk through different themed areas of the aquarium at your own pace, complete with festive lights and decorations. Children can make and take arts & crafts, get their face painted and take a photo with Santa.

Gingerbread House Workshop (Union, NJ)
Candy canes, gumdrops and more! Families will get into the holiday spirit when they decorate their own Gingerbread House at this popular, annual Liberty Hall event. A tour of the historic Liberty Hall (all decorated for holidays) will follow the workshop.

Christmas on the Island (Seaside Heights, NJ)
Head down the shore to Seaside Heights for a beach-y Holiday Parade. Then check out the ‘North Pole’ full of family activities such as making bags of reindeer food, make your own Santa hat, decorating Christmas cupcakes, Snowman Soup and more. Throw in some music, games and delicious eats along with a 4:30pm Santa Sendoff and you’ve got yourself a jolly good time!

Candle Making Workshop (Pennington, NJ)
Celebrate the Winter Solstice and the return of light by making candles with the Naturalists of Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association! Create hand-dipped candles, sand candles and molded candles. Learn how to shape the candles and add embellishments, then go home with your unique handmade gifts.

Solstice Hike (Lebanon, NJ)
If you’re feeling a bit cooped up from the snowy weather, bundle up and brave the cold for a Winter Solstice hike at the Round Valley Recreation Area. Older kids and parents will hike the Water Trail on the shortest day of the year. You’ll see the setting sun on the return trek and know that each succeeding day will be a little bit longer (yay for spring!)

Sunday, December 22nd

Santa’s Mug & Plate (Fanwood, NJ)
Ho Ho Ho! Here comes Santa Claus! Children around the world will be leaving out milk and cookies for jolly old St. Nick on Christmas Eve.  Head to Be Craftful to honor this tradition and create your very own keepsake milk mug and cookie plate for Santa. Enjoy refreshments of milk and cookies at this fun -filled event!

Miss Sherri & The Little Animal Band (Middletown, NJ)
Miss Sherri and the Little Animal Band’s holiday spectacular will be a fun-filled morning to remember at the Middletown Arts Center. Special guests along with Sherri's highly interactive holiday songs will rock you and your kids into a great, happy, joyful and prosperous new year! Cocoa and other yummy snacks included.

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month; GO DECEMBER is full of family fun!

And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar. And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend make sure you visit the New York City Mommy Poppins events calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had NYC-style.

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