Looking for cheap and free things to do with kids during NJEA school holidays? We’re here to help. This year, due to the NJEA Convention NJ schools will not be in session November 9 and 10, 2023.
The kids might be off from school but that doesn’t mean those days have to be boring or full of costly activities. Check out these local museums with free admission, free events, and attractions offering cheap admission throughout New Jersey. All of them would make great activities while your kids are off for the NJEA school holidays.
Enjoy some free events in New Jersey during NJEA School Holidays
Events happening in New Jersey on November 9th and 10th
Several free events are listed on our Calendar of Events. Here are a few we think you’ll love.
- Kip Center Festival of Trees and Wreaths in Rutherford 2023 – Wednesday through Saturday
- Kids Art Classes at Hoboken Historical Museum 2023 – Tuesday and Thursday
November 9th
- Family Photo Scavenger Hunt in Morris Township at Haggerty Education Center
- Scarecrow Stroll and Selfie Contest in Hackettstown 2023
- Kip Center Festival of Trees and Wreaths in Rutherford 2023
- Kids Art Classes at Hoboken Historical Museum 2023
- Diwali Party in Robbinsville
- Lego Club in Absecon at Absecon Branch Library
- Public Observing at the Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory in Piscataway
November 10th
- Family Photo Scavenger Hunt in Morris Township at Haggerty Education Center
- Scarecrow Stroll and Selfie Contest in Hackettstown 2023
- Kip Center Festival of Trees and Wreaths in Rutherford 2023
- Christmas Arrival of Santa in Rockaway at Rockaway Town Square Mall 2023
- Laser Light Shows in South Jersey at the Edelman Planetarium in Glassboro
- Public Observing at Sperry Observatory in Cranford 2023
Visit our Weekends Event guide for a listing of free and cheap events happening Saturday, November 11, 2023, and Sunday, November 12, 2023.
Free Things to Do with Kids On NJEA School Holidays
New Jersey Museums & Attractions with Free Admission
- New Jersey State Police Museum
- Princeton University Art Museum
- Noyes Arts Garage
- NJ State House (advance registration required)
- Twin Lights Historic Site
- Somers Point Mansion
- Fort Hancock Historic District
- Batsto Village
- Paterson Great Falls
- The Korean War Memorial
- Zimmerli Art Museum
- Rutgers Geology Museum
New Jersey Attractions with Free Admission
- Cape May Zoo
- Cohanzick Zoo is now being referred to as Bridgeton Zoo. Call (856) 453-1658 to confirm hours.
New Jersey State Parks
During the non-summer months, admission to New Jersey State Parks and Forests is free. Read our guide to New Jersey State Parks to learn a little about each of them or take a look at some of our favorites below.
Visit with animals for free during NJEA holidays
New Jersey zoos with free admission aren’t the only places to see animals for free in New Jersey. In our guide to the Best Places to See Animals for Free in New Jersey, we share all the free places in NJ to visit animals.
Take a New Jersey playground tour
Over the last two years, we have visited over 100 New Jersey playgrounds for updated pictures and details. We toured at least 3 or 4 for every New Jersey county. Visit our New Jersey playground series and make a plan to visit as many as you can.
New Jersey Nature Centers with Free Admission
- Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve
- Trailside Nature Center
- Hawk Rise Sanctuary is open daily, sunrise to sunset
- Howell Living History Farm is open Tuesdays –Saturdays, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Visit other New Jersey attractions with free admission
iPlay America in Freehold
iPlay America offers families plenty of indoor fun. There are rides, arcade games, boardwalk games, and more. While there is a fee to play, there’s never a fee to enter. Take a walk through. See what the kids want to play and then just pay for what you want.
Want to do it all and save money doing it? Purchase Unlimited iRide Bands and get unlimited rides for 10 different rides.
During NJEA days, iPlay America is open late into the evenings. If you’re not off with the kids during the day, go out together at night. Visit iplayamerica.com for hours and pricing information.
More free places to visit in New Jersey during NJEA
Check out our full list of Free Places to Go in New Jersey and also our guide to libraries that participate in the museum pass program. Those museum passes can get you into local museums for free just by using your library card to check out a pass.
Cheap Things to Do with Kids On NJEA School Holidays
Tuckerton Seaport in Tuckerton NJ
At the Tuckerton Seaport, families can walk their boardwalk, taking in exhibits and activities as they visit each building along the way. There are trains to explore in the lighthouse building, free make and crafts in the Folklife Art Center, and a pirate ship playground, play train and playhouses in a yard.
One building’s dedicated to surfing history while another has shells kids can dig for. Pack lunch and make a day out of a Tuckerton Seaport visit.
Admission is $5 and they are open most days from 10 am to 5 pm. Visit tuckertonseaport.org for more details.
Laser and Planetarium Shows at Rowan University in Glassboro NJ
Rowan University’s Edelman Planetarium has a variety of laser and planetarium shows for everyone in the family from little kids to teens. Admission for most shows is $3 for seniors and children and $5 per adult.
Take a look at our Edelman Planetarium calendar for details about shows happening from Friday to Sunday.
More ideas coming soon.
Save money on NJEA school holiday activities
These activities are on nearly every kid’s bucket list and visiting them during NJEA days makes for a fun way to spend the holidays. We understand tickets can get pretty expensive, BUT when you buy discount tickets through Jersey Family Fun you can save money.
Jersey Family Fun is not selling the tickets directly. We are an affiliate publisher for the ticketing agency. Our ticketing partner’s site will show you the different ticketing options available. Once you make your selection your tickets will be either emailed to you or available to print. There are a few things to consider.
- In many cases, you can use the tickets the SAME DAY. In fact, we’ve had some buyers buy their tickets while standing at the admissions gate.
- Some attractions may require that you make a reservation for a specific date and time after buying a ticket. Always check the fine print.
- There may be some limits on tickets. If you run into an issue call the available contact number for help.
- For more details or to see our entire collection of discount tickets visit our online ticket booth.
Discount tickets to New Jersey family attractions
- Discount tickets to Medieval Times New Jersey
- Tickets to Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream
- Tickets to DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream
- Discount tickets to Sea Life Aquarium New Jersey
- Discount tickets to Legoland Discovery Center New Jersey.
- Tickets to Angry Birds Mini Golf at American Dream
- Tickets to Blacklight Mini Golf American Dream
- Tickets to TiLT A Tracy Lee Stum Museum American Dream
- Tickets to The Rink at American Dream
- Tickets to Mirror Maze at American Dream
- Discount Tickets to SeaQuest Woodbridge
Turn those NJEA School Holidays into a cheap day trip
Need to get out of New Jersey? Want to feel like you’re taking a minivacation on a school holiday? Travel across the bridge into New York City or Philadelphia to enjoy these free attractions. Bonus, New York and Philly schools are still in session, so crowds should be small.
New York Museums with Free Admission
Please visit museum websites for hours and instructions regarding their free admission policies. Many require advanced reservation for free tickets.
NYC Museums & Attractions with free (or pay what you wish) admission every day.
- American Folk Art Museum
- Queens Museum
- American Museum of Natural History
- The Bronx Museum of the Arts
- El Museo del Barrio
- The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Socrates Sculpture Park
- Yeshiva University Museum
- Queens Botanical Garden
5 NYC Museums with free or reduced admission on Thursday, November 9
- Museum of Arts and Design ~ On Thursdays, all tickets are half price but those under 18 years old are always free.
- New Museum of Contemporary Art ~ 7 – 9 pm (pay what you wish)
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum offers Amazon Free Hours every Thursday from 2 pm – 5 pm. Call (718) 735-4400 for more details.
- Museum of the Moving Image ~ Free Museum hours every Thursday, 2:00–6:00 pm.
10 NYC Museums & Attractions with free admission on Friday, November 11
- Morgan Library & Museum ~ 5 to 7 pm every Friday –reservations are required.
- New York Historical Society ~ 6 – 8 pm (pay what you wish)
- Rubin Museum of Art ~ 6 – 10 pm – advanced reservation of tickets are required.
- Whitney Museum of American Art ~ 7 – 10 pm (pay what you wish – tickets are limited and reservations encouraged.)
14 Philadelphia Museums & Attractions with Free Admission every day
- Independence Hall
- Congress Hall
- Old City Hall
- Liberty Bell
- Carpenter’s Hall
- Elfreth’s Alley
- President’s House
- Fireman’s Hall Museum
- Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
- US Mint
- Christ Church
- Museum at the Chemical Heritage Foundation
- Institute of Contemporary Art
- Franklin Square
More ideas for cheap and free things to do during NJEA School Holidays coming soon.