We’ve been sharing the best things to do in New Jersey this weekend since our beginning in 2010. If you’re looking for things to do with kids this weekend in New Jersey this list is for you! We update the listing every week with fun, cheap, and free things to do in NJ this weekend with your kids, toddlers, and teens.
With 2018, we began helping you find things to do in New Jersey this weekend BETTER by sorting our Weekend Events in New Jersey by region. Read below to find things to do in North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey this weekend.
In 2019, we updated it again to let you know the best free things to do in NJ this weekend in addition to all the other wonderful weekend events in New Jersey for families.
Now, here we are in 2021. Yes, there may be a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean there’s still not safe weekend activities for toddlers, kids, and teens in New Jersey. There are! With this year’s update not only are we sorting NJ weekend activities by age and region we are also sharing our favorite regular fun weekend activities so you’ll find there’s always something to do on weekends in New Jersey.
Fun Things to do in NJ this Weekend with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens
For more information on having your event listed on our calendar and event promotional opportunities please visit this page.
Some of our favorite weekend activities in New Jersey for families
If you are looking for a little weekend adventure or day trip across New Jersey to take your kids on, take a look at these ideas. They may involve a little bit of a drive but they are totally worth it.
- Drive along New Jersey’s most scenic routes
- Hike along the best hiking trails in New Jersey with waterfalls. Some you don’t even have to hike to.
- Discover a New Jersey State Park or forest that’s new to you.
- Get building with Lowe’s DIY Kids Workshop. The kids workshops are back, but happen a little differently. Kids register in advance, but then pick up the kits to take home. Learn more here and get the date for the next event. They happen once a month.
- Check out a pass to a local open New Jersey museum with your library card. Learn which New Jersey libraries participate in the Museum Pass program.
- Is it the first weekend of the month? Bank of America card holders receive free admission at participating New Jersey museums. Find out which museums participate in our guide to Bank of America Free Museum Weekends.
- We have lots of ideas for winter things to do in NJ on weekends in our New Jersey Winter Activities to try THIS Winter!
- Get more ideas for things to do in NJ and New Jersey weekend events below and in our 100+ FREE Places to Visit in New Jersey.
Things to do This Weekend in New Jersey with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens – North Jersey
For the purposes of this guide to things to do in New Jersey this weekend North Jersey includes the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, and Warren County.
Discount Tickets on this Weekend’s Events in North Jersey for the whole family
- Free Admission on Saturdays at The West Milford Museum.
Most North Jersey weekend events listed below are free or less than $5 to attend, but please check the links for more details. Registration for these things to do in NJ this weekend may be required.
FREE Fun Activities to do Every Weekend in Northern New Jersey with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens
FREE Northern New Jersey Weekend Events for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- Nothing specifically for toddlers.
FREE Northern New Jersey Weekend Events for Kids & Tweens
- Nature Hikes at Liberty State Park, Saturday February 20 and Sunday February 28.
- Winter Hike at Rifle Camp Park in Woodland Park, February 28 at 12:30 PM.
FREE Northern New Jersey Weekend Events for Teens
- Nothing specifically for teens.
Cheap Places to visit in North Jersey this Weekend
Cheap North Jersey activities to do with toddlers and preschoolers this weekend
- Visit a local playground from our New Jersey Parks & Playground Series.
Cheap North Jersey activities to do with kids this weekend
- Go on a Family Photo Scavenger Hunt at Haggerty Education Center (Daily through the end of February)
- Maple Sugaring Demonstrations at Great Swamp, Chatham, every Saturday until March 13.
- Plan an animal safari at the Bergen County Zoo. Learn more about both in our guide to New Jersey zoos. Bergen County Zoo admission is free from November – April.
- Explore these state parks in North Jersey
- Abram S. Hewitt State Forest is in West Milford, Passaic County
- Allamuchy Mountain State Park in Hackettstown, Warren County
- Bull’s Island Recreational Area in Hunterdon County
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park spans multiple western counties
- Farny State Park is in Rockaway, Morris County
- Hacklebarney State Park is in Long Valley and Chester, Morris County
- High Point State Park is in Montague, Sussex County.
- Hopatcong State Park is in Landing, Morris County
- Jenny Jump State Forest is in Hope, Warren County
- Kittatinny Valley State Park is in Andover, Sussex County
- Liberty State Park
- Long Pond Ironworks State Park is in West Milford, Passaic County is in Jersey City, Hudson County
- Norvin Green State Forest is in Bloomingdale, Passaic County
- Ramapo Mountain State Forest is in Ringwood, Bergen and Passaic Counties
- Ringwood State Park is in Ringwood, Passaic County
- Skylands
- Shepherd Lake Recreation Area
- Six Mile Run Reservoir Site
- Spruce Run Recreation Area
- Stephen’s State Park is in Hackettstown, Morris County
- Stokes State Forest is in Branchville, Sussex County
- Swartswood State Park is in Stillwater Township, Sussex County
- Wawayanda State Park is in Vernon and West Milford, Sussex and Passaic Counties
- Read about Climbing the Stairway to Heaven at Wawayanda State Park.
- Worthington State Forest is in Columbia, Warren County
Cheap North Jersey activities to do with teens this weekend
- Coming soon.
More Fun Things to do in North Jersey this Weekend for the Family
- Find more great family-friendly Northern New Jersey events happening this weekend on our full New Jersey Calendar of Events.
Things to do This Weekend in Central New Jersey with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens
For the purposes of this guide to things to do in New Jersey this weekend Central Jersey includes the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Somerset County.
Discount Tickets on this Weekend’s Events in Central Jersey for the whole family
- Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township, Mercer County currently is discounting admission tickets to $10 per person until March. Reserve your ticket here.
Most Central New Jersey weekend events listed below are free or less than $5 to attend, but please check the links for more details. Registration for these things to do in NJ this weekend may be required.
FREE Fun Activities to do Every Weekend in Central New Jersey with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens
FREE Central New Jersey Weekend Events for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- Nothing specifically for toddlers.
FREE Central Jersey Weekend Events for Kids & Tweens
- Tap into Maple Sugaring at Howell Living History Farm (Select Saturdays in February)
- Learn about life as it would be in the 1890s at Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel. Happening February 20 and Saturdays in March.
- Seashell Sunday at Bayshore Waterfront Park is a great educational event for the family! Happening February 28 at 1 PM.
- Every Sunday in February, observe ice sculptures being made at Palmer Square on Ice in Princeton, from 12 PM – 2 PM.
FREE Central New Jersey Weekend Events for Teens
- Nothing specifically for teens.
Cheap Places to visit in Central Jersey this Weekend
Cheap Central Jersey activities to do with toddlers and preschoolers this weekend
- Visit a local playground from our New Jersey Parks & Playground Series.
Cheap Central New Jersey activities to do with kids and tweens this weekend
- Explore these state parks in Central Jersey
- The Historic Village at Allaire at Allaire State Park is in Wall, Monmouth County
- Cheesequake State Park is in Old Bridge, Middlesex County
- Monmouth Battlefield State Park is in Manalapan and Freehold, Monmouth County
- Princeton Battlefield State Park is in Princeton, Mercer County
- Voorhees State Park is in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County
- Washington Crossing State Park is in Hopewell, Mercer County
- Washington Rock State Park is in Green Brook, Somerset County
Cheap Central Jersey activities to do with teens this weekend
- Visit iPlay America in Freehold. Admission is free. You can either purchase a wristband for games and rides or pay as you go.
More Fun Things to do in Central New Jersey this Weekend for the Family
- Find more great family-friendly Central New Jersey events happening this weekend on our full New Jersey Calendar of Events.
Things to do This Weekend in Southern New Jersey with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens
For the purposes of this guide to things to do in New Jersey this weekend South Jersey includes the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, and Ocean County.
Discount Tickets on this Weekend’s Events in South Jersey for the whole family
- When public events begin to occur again we will welcome the opportunity to share with you discount tickets to weekend events in South Jersey.
Most South Jersey weekend events listed below are free or less than $5 to attend, but please check the links for more details. Registration for these things to do in NJ this weekend may be required.
FREE Fun Activities to do Every Weekend in Southern New Jersey with Kids, Toddlers, & Teens
FREE Southern New Jersey Weekend Events for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- Cattus Island County Park Weekend Programs allow kids to meet and greet local wildlife! Saturdays and Sundays at 11 AM.
- Spend an hour in nature at Barnegat’s Cloverdale Farm’s Children’s Nature Hour, Saturday February 27 and March 6 at 10 AM.
- Meet the locals at the Jake’s Branch Live Animal Talks, Sundays through March at 12:30 and 1:30. Space is limited.
FREE South Jersey Weekend Events for Kids & Tweens
- Take a walk along one of the boardwalks at the Jersey Shore such as the Ocean City Boardwalk or Wildwood Boardwalk.
- Head to Cattus Island for a Nature Walk with a naturalist, every Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.
- Barnegat’s Cedar Bridge County Park hosts historical nature walks two Saturdays a month at 1:30 PM. Join them February 27, March 13, and March 27.
- Discover what’s outside at the Jake’s Branch Discovery Nature Walks in Beachwood, Sundays through the end of March at 2 PM.
FREE Southern New Jersey Weekend Events for Teens
- Appreciate art with a visit to one of the free Noyes Museums in Atlantic County. Read more in our Noyes Museum of Art – Explore Art with Your Kids.
Cheap Places to visit in South Jersey this Weekend
Cheap South Jersey activities to do with toddlers and preschoolers this weekend
- Visit a local playground from our New Jersey Parks & Playground Series.
Cheap Southern New Jersey activities to do with kids this weekend
- Plan an animal safari at the Cape May County Zoo or Cohanzick Zoo. Learn more about both in our guide to New Jersey zoos.
- Go back in time with the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey where admission is always free. Read our African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey museum review in this article, Eye Opening Exhibits at the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey. Current hours are Wednesday – Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm.
- Explore these state parks in South Jersey
- Parvin State Park is in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County
- Cape May Point State Park is in Cape May, Cape May County
- Corson’s Inlet State Park is in Ocean City, Cape May County
- Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Long Beach Island, Ocean County
- Bass River State Forest is in Tuckerton, Ocean and Burlington Counties.
- Belleplain State Forest is in Woodbine, Cape May and Cumberland Counties.
- Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is in New Lisbon, Burlington County
- Double Trouble State Park is in Lacey and Berkeley Township, Ocean County
- Fort Mott State Park is in Pennsville, Salem County
- Island Beach State Park is in Berkeley, Ocean County
- Penn State Forest is in Jenkin’s Neck, Burlington County
- Rancocas State Park is in Hainesport, Burlington County
- Wharton State Forest is in Hammonton, Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties.
- Wharton State Forest – Atsion Recreation Area
- Wharton State Forest – Historic Batsto Village
Cheap South Jersey activities to do with teens this weekend
- Coming soon.
More Fun Things to do in South Jersey this Weekend for the Family
- Take our self-guided tour of Atlantic City murals.
- Learn more about Black History in New Jersey through the eye opening exhibits at the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey.
- Find more great family-friendly South Jersey events happening this weekend on our full New Jersey Calendar of Events.
