Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Nov 23-24: Thanksgiving Baking, Lego Workshop, Apple Cidering & More!

11/19/13 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

With one weekend to go before Turkey Day, how about taking a break from cooking and cleaning for some quality family time? Grab your sweaters and head outdoors for a Fall Photo Scavenger Hunt at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum or take in a performance of Oliver! at the historic Paper Mill Playhouse. If you’re looking to keep the kids busy and out of the house, sign up for a Thanksgiving Baking Class at Classic Thyme or get a jump on holiday decorating with a Christmas Wreath Workshop at NJ Botanical Gardens. By the way, don't miss our great giveaway for a family-four packs tickets to Sahara Sam's Water Park! And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

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Oliver! (Millburn, NJ)
It’s opening weekend for Oliver! at New Jersey’s storied Paper Mill Playhouse. Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, this musical classic will entertain both kids and adults with the miraculous tale of a young orphan's quest to find home and family in Victorian London.

Fall Photo Scavenger Hunt (Morristown, NJ)
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for a nature photo scavenger hunt. Visitors can pick up the list, head outside and shoot away. Take a picture of every item, return to the Education Center and pick up your prize. November’s theme is “It’s Coming...” A great way to explore the arboretum and to get the family outside in the fresh air before winter.

Saturday, November 23rd

Thanksgiving Baking (Westfield, NJ)
This year, have the kids roll up their sleeves and get to work in the kitchen! Head to Classic Thyme for a Thanksgiving cooking class – children will bake delicious goodies, including pumpkin bread, cranberry bread and honey butter.

Turkey Drive (Dunellen, NJ)
Heidi's Cottage Country Gift Store in Dunellen will once again be a local drop-off location for the Community Food Bank of NJ's Turkey Drive. Help those still struggling to rebuild their lives after Hurricane Sandy by donating frozen turkeys, canned fruits & veggies and even infant formula.

Wreath Making Workshop (Ringwood, NJ)
Check out the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens this Saturday and ring in some early holiday cheer. Get crafty for Christmas as your family takes part in a step by step easy wreath making workshop. Each family will leave with a festive wreath to take home and hang on the front door.

Endangered NJ (Tenafly, NJ)
Fact: For every species alive today, perhaps a thousand have become extinct – and many more animals are threatened by human activities. Find out which New Jersey animals are in danger and what we can do to help them with an educational and eye opening class at Tenafly Nature Center. Kids will have the chance to meet some of the protected animals too!

Family LEGO Workshop (Morristown, NJ)
Morris Museum is always full of unique family workshops and this Saturday is no exception. Take a tour of the museum’s popular exhibit, The Art of the Brick, explore the Model Railroad to learn more about power sources and then make your own balloon powered LEGO car.

Santa Arrives (Camden, NJ)
Yep, it’s about that time! Kick off the holiday season at Camden Children’s Garden with their annual shindig. The day includes a tree-decorating activity, Santa’s afternoon arrival, crafts and a reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Sunday, November 24th

The Wonders of Wildlife (Freehold, NJ)
How much do you know about your wild Garden State neighbors? Did you know that a groundhog is actually just a large squirrel?! Why do deer flash their white tails? Take a hike with a Naturalist at Turkey Swamp Park to learn all about friends with fur, feathers, scales and tails.

Apple Cidering Demo (Chatham, NJ)
Savor the last of autumn with an apple cidering demo at Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center. Take part in the hands-on process by helping to prepare the apples, grinding them, turning the old-fashioned press and collecting the cider. The class is topped off with a delicious sample of fresh, homemade cider!

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month! GO NOVEMBER 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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