Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Nov. 17-18: Turkey Trot, Gingerbread Demo, Angelina Ballerina & More!

We were just dressing up our little ones as superheroes and fairies, but Thanksgiving is already next week! Holiday events are starting to pop up on our radar, so check out the Turkey Trot or the Gingerbread House Demonstration. Not ready to break out the jingle bells? Round the family up for the Cirque Chinois, Angelina Ballerina the Musical or the Medieval Knights Sword Fighting Show. Read on for our top picks and remember you can find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

All Weekend

Cape May Holiday Preview Weekend (Cape May, NJ)

Santa and his elves have decked out the historic Physick Estate with thousands of lights and holiday trimmings. Enjoy a wide variety of holiday tours and food and wine events to get you into the Christmas spirit. Start with the Carriage House Gallery exhibit, An Old-fashioned Christmas: Holiday Traditions through the Years and capture the feeling of Christmas past with a Dickens Village collection including model trains, trees & toys. Or visit the Estate on Saturday at 7pm as Santa arrives to flip the switch for the festive Tree-Lighting Ceremony. Kids will also love Santa's Trolley Rides and listening to Christmas carols by the Cape Harmonaires. Friday, Nov 16th thru Sunday, Nov 18th at various times. Please visit the event website for details. FREE admission.

Cirque Chinois (New Brunswick, NJ)

Bring the family to this grand cirque spectacular and see the awesome National Circus of the People's Republic of China. The international award-winning acrobats of Cirque Chinois will astound with their exceptional and unique acts like the Great Teeterboard, Grand Flying Trapeze, Group Contortion and more. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Saturday at 3 & 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. Prices range from $19-$45/Ticket depending on seat location. 732-246-7469

Montclair B.A.B.Y. Grand Opening (Montclair, NJ)

Montclair B.A.B.Y (which stands for Birth, Advocacy, Breastfeeding and Yoga) is a center dedicated to supporting the well-being of expectant moms, new parents and their families. Classes include Prenatal Yoga, Mommy & Baby Yoga, Toddler Yoga, Yoga for Abs and Core, support groups, and a toddler play group. Free classes are being offered on Saturday & Sunday as part of the grand opening festivities. Please visit their website for a weekend class schedule.
973-370-0765

Saturday, November 17th

Strong Wind: A Native American Cinderella Story (Cherry Hill, NJ)

Discovery Theatre presents a unique telling of the universal story of the girl who prospers through honesty and sincerity based on Native American folklore. A great theater experience for grade school-aged kids with original music, audience participation and lots of laughs. 12 & 3pm. FREE with museum admission.

Art for Families (Princeton, NJ)

The Princeton University Art Museum on the Princeton University Campus is offering free drop in art classes for families on Saturdays throughout November. On the 17th, come by for 'Masks and Masquerades' and examine objects from different African cultures. Kids will also be able to make their own African mask to take home. Drop in anytime between 10:30am & 1pm. FREE. 609-258-3788

Gingerbread House Demonstration (Hamilton, NJ)

Spend a relaxing Saturday at the Grounds for Sculpture outdoor art exhibits and stick around to watch pastry chef Peter Max Dierkes as he demonstrates how to make the ultimate gingerbread house. Then try your hand at the edible holiday tradition. Combining gingerbread, frosting, candy, cookies and more, you’ll make your own one-of-a-kind house. Demonstration at 12pm & Workshop at 2pm. FREE with museum admission. 609-586-0616

Angelina Ballerina, The Musical (Wayne, NJ)

Everyone's favorite dancing mouse comes alive at the Shea Performing Arts Center. Based on the critically acclaimed story books and PBS KIDS® animated series, Angelina Ballerina is a little star with big dreams, who works hard to reach her goals, learns from her mistakes, and inspires other little girls to go after their big dreams, too. Recommended for grades pre-k through 6. 2pm. $20/Adult $16/Child.

Medieval Knights Sword Fighting Show (Pompton Lakes, NJ)

If your little ones are still in make believe mode from Halloween, check out the Medieval Knights Sword Fighting Show for some weekend family fun. A knight and his squire embark on an interactive quest of comedy, sword fighting and storytelling. Kids ages 5 and up will enjoy the show - the sword fighting is all in good fun and plenty of laughs will ensue. 2pm. $15/Adult $12/Child. 973-248-9491

Sunday, November 18th

Turkey Trot (Lyndhurst, NJ)

We're a little more than a week from Thanksgiving and if you need a some help getting the kids interested in the holiday between trick-or-treating and Santa Claus, head to the Meadowlands Environmental Center this Sunday for the Turkey Trot. Learn the history of the bird that's the star of Thanksgiving dinner, then let the gang get out some energy with a scavenger hunt, a cranberry sauce demonstration and take-home recipe. 1pm. $4/Members $5/Non Members. 201-460-8300

One Book, One Community Party (Red Bank, NJ)

Join the Two River Theater Company in Red Bank for a fun event for the whole family. Your little music aficionados will enjoy a morning of songs from the cast of A Wind in the Willows Christmas along with games, crafts, activities, and snacks. 10am. FREE. 732-345-1400

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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