The Best Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

These popular Central Jersey family festivals and events occur at venues in all corners of Central NJ and have wide appeal with families with kids.

The Central Jersey family festivals feature festivals and events with special themes and are known for having good music, food, entertainment, skilled artisans and performers, fun activities, crafts, and more!

Note: This information is provided by event sponsors as a free service to our viewers. Sometimes conditions require cancellations or changes of dates, times and location which are not reflected in the original schedule. Before planning a trip to visit one of the listed events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event.

January 2020 Central New Jersey Family Festivals And Events

Holiday in the Park
Runs weekends and select days until January 1, 2020
Six Flags
1 Six Flags Blvd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Website & Tickets
This event features a holiday season with stunning light shows, illuminated, towering trees, the iconic smell of fresh pine and crisp peppermint filling the air and festive street vendors offer sweet and savory treats providing a multi-sensory journey of winter delights. Kids can join Santa in his workshop for a fun photo opportunity. Regardless of the weather forecast, a touch of magic ensures that snowflakes fall gently every evening.

Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center
Runs until January 4, 2020; Sunday - Thursday: Dusk to 10pm & Friday & Saturday: Dusk to 11pm
PNC Bank Arts Center
Exit 116
Garden State Parkway
Holmdel, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $20-$30, standard vehicle
This popular Holiday event features more than a mile of festival and vibrant light displays celebrating the joy of the holidays. Experience the drive-through from the comfort of your car! At every turn, and in every direction, the magical route is overflowing with spectacular light displays and animations. Multiple holiday themes come to life with hundreds of sparking lights.
Annual Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge
January 1, 2020
Convention Hall
1300 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
732.897.881
Website
Looking for an unusual way to begin the New Year with a splash? Event features the plunge into the ocean, a Bagpipe March to Beach, Food and Entertainment. Proceeds from this event support local charities.
Every year, 2 Local charites are chosen to be the sole beneficiaries of every penny raised.

Exploring New Jersey's Pre-Colonial Forests
January 11, 2020; 2pm - 4pm (Snow date: Jan 18)
Metlar-Bodine House Museum
1281 River Road
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
Web Site / On-line payment
Contact: Hara Durkin, Phone: 732-463-8363, Email: metlarbodine@gmail.com
Event Cost: $12; $15 at door. Limited seating. Reserve early.
Exploring New Jersey’s Pre-Colonial Forests
Presenter: Matthew Knoblauch, Esq.
Have you ever wondered what New Jersey looked like just before the first Europeans set foot here around 1600? In a fascinating program using 17th century European writings and contemporary research, discover the answers to age-old questions: Was this land a dense, unspoiled wilderness? Did the Native Americans, “the First Gardeners,” really use environmentally sensitive agricultural practices leaving the land “pristine?” Find out what the European settlers encountered and their role in land management.
(Power Point presentation with slides)

Seashore Open House
January 12, 2020; Nnoon to 4:00 pm
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
1 Joline Avenue
Long Branch, NJ
Website
Cost: Free admission
The Activity Center is a great place to bring back memories of the summer or to learn more about the seashore.
This family event features an Open House for seashore fun and light refreshments. Engaging hands-on activities will entertain and educate you and your family about the shore and the sea. Speak with a Park System Naturalist about your own shell collection or the aquatic animals on display. You can even create a beach keepsake to take with you.

New Jersey RV & Camping Show
January 17, 18, 19, 2020
New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Ave.
Edison, NJ 08837
804-243-8847
Website
This show features the latest makes and models of recreational vehicles from all the nation's top manufacturers. Special factory rebates, financing, and on the spot loan approval makes this show a cannot miss for the serious RV enthusiasts!
The show will feature all kinds of industry vendors, along with campgrounds, tow vehicles, seminars, and everything you may need for your next RV vacation.

Lambertville New Hope Winter Festival
January 18 - 26, 2020
Downtown Lambertviille, NJ
Website
This popular winter event features activities and events that provide a healthy, invigorating cold-weather experience in the river town communities of Lambertville and New Hope to demonstrate that that these communities are alive and well in the winter months with exciting and diverse activities raise funds and awareness for local non-profit organizations. These family events are held at a variety on venues in the two communities and includes live music, hikes & tours, ice sculptures, snow folk art and a parade.

Evil Expo
January 24, 25, 26, 2020
Radisson of Piscataway
21 Kingsbridge Rd.
Piscataway Township, NJ 08854
Website
732-980-0400
All ages are welcome
This event features a celebration of joyous villainy! Enter the world of rogues, miscreants, ne'er do wells, and other glorious scoundrels. as Darth Vader points out, it's never too early to learn the Dark Side.

February 2020 Central New Jersey Family Festivals And Events

Champions of Magic
February 2, 2020: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center
1601 Irving St.
Rahway, NJ 07065
732-499-8226
Website / Tickets
The five world-class illusionists that make up this mind-bending theatrical production are back on tour in 2019, following sell-out shows across the globe, rave reviews and a run in London's West End. With more than 30 million online views between them, this cast of top magicians includes international award-winners presenting incredible mind reading, stunning close-up magic and daring large-scale illusions. Their skills have been seen on screen around the world with appearances on The CW's 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us', NBC's 'Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon', 'The Today Show' & 'Access Hollywood Live'.

View From Above
February 6, 2020; 7:00pm - 8:30pm
The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts
1 College Dr.
Toms River, NJ 08754
732-255-0500
Website / Tickets
Tickets: $27 Adult / $22 Senior / $22 Child
Sometimes, a little distance is all you need to see things in a brand new way. For astronaut Terry Virts, his newfound perspective was from the International Space Station (ISS), where he installed the Cupola module, granting an unprecedented 360-degree view from the station. When he later became the commander of the ISS, he made good use of the Cupola, taking more photographs than any astronaut who came before him. Many of those images were later used in the National Geographic book View From Above and IMAX film A Beautiful Planet, but to hear Virts tell it, no photo can capture the perfect shade of blue from a sunrise viewed from outer space.

Super Pet Expo
February 7, 8, 9, 2020; (Feb 7: 3:00pm — 8:00pm, Feb 8: 10:00am — 7:00pm &Feb 9: 10:00am — 5:00pm)
New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Ave.
Edison, NJ 08837
Website / Tickets
Tickets: One Day Adult (12+) $13.00. One Day Child (4-11) $8.00. Weekend Pass (Adult) $20.00. Weekend Pass (Child) $10.00. Kids 3 & Under Free (one per adult). Pets are welcome.
The Super Pet Expo is the largest pet shopping extravaganza on the east coast. The show features 2,000 dogs, cats and an occasional pig, pony, parrot or iguana with over 20,000 pet lovers in attendence. In addition to luring courses, rabbit agility, dog training sessions, a best dressed pet competition and Repticon, visitors will enjoy the expertise of 200 exhibitors addressing pet adoption, pet care and health, grooming, food, and daycare. An exceptional array of creative pet gifts, treats, fashion, grooming accessories and toys will be for sale.

Sugar Shack Tour, Tasting & Tractor Ride
February 8, 9, 15, 16, 2020; 10:00am — 3:00pm (weather permtting)
Happy Day Farm
106 Iron Ore Rd
Manalapan, NJ
Website
(732) 977-3607
Cost: $8 (tractor ride included), Children 1 and under FREE, Cash only!
Freezing nights and thawing days mark the beginning of maple sugaring season, and at Happy Day Farm the work of tapping trees and boiling sap is underway. This is a great outdoor winter experience where attendees will take a tractor ride of their 130-acre farm. Visitors will get to see their 'sugar bush', find out what equipment is needed to collect sap, learn first hand how to identify maple trees, and lend Farmer Tim a hand in the tapping process.

Valentines Day Party - Rab ne Bana di Jodi
Friday, February 14, 2020: 7pm
Royal Albert's Palace
1050 King Georges Post Road
Edison, NJ 08837
Tickets
This themed Valentines Party celebrattion features dining, open bar, dancing, DJ, live performances, belly dancing, with seperate kids activities. Dress code: Black & red.

Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge
February 22, 2020; @ 1pm
50 Blaine Ave.
Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
Website / Registration
Each year, the Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside challenges thousands of brave jumpers from around the state. It's a great way for everyone--individuals, teams, organizations and businesses--to get involved supporting Special Olympics New Jersey. All funds raised go towards programming and events for more than 26,000 athletes statewide.

Annual Highlands Chili Cook-Off
February 23, 2020; 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Bahrs Landing Restaurant
2 Bay Ave.
Highlands, NJ 07732
732-291-4713
Website
Tickets: $30
Enjoy sampling of a variety of chilis, two beer tickets and two voting ballots. Proceeds benefit the 2020 St. Patrick's Day Parade. Performances by Daly's Irish Dancers and Pipe bands.

International Polar Bear Day
February 29, 2020; 12:00pm — 4:00pm
Jenkinson's Aquarium
300 Ocean Ave.
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
732-899-1659
Website
With our partner, Polar Bears International, learn more about polar bears and what we can do in our everyday lives to help these amazing animals.
|
Jersey Shore Toy Show
Saturday, February 29, 2020; 10 am - 4pm
South Wall Fire Company Banquet Hall
2605 Atlantic Ave.
Manasquan, NJ 08736
Website
908-309-2191
General Admission, $3 -(Children 12 & under FREE). Early bird admission 9 am - $5.
This event features Collectibles show featuring 75+ tables of vintage and modern toys, comic books, video games, records, and pop culture memorabilia. 1000's of vintage and collectible action figures, diecast cars and trucks, dolls, model kits, monsters, playsets, robots, slot cars, trains, and toy soldiers from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's through today. Star Wars, DC & Marvel Superheroes, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thundercats, WWF / WWE Wrestling, Funko Pop!, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Hess trucks, Aurora, AFX, Barbie, Godzilla, Japanese robots, Lego, Lionel, Marx, Nintendo, PEZ, and much more.

March 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

Celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday
March 2, 2020; 2:00pm — 5:00pm
Jenkinson's Aquarium
300 Ocean Ave.
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
732-899-1659
Website
Bring your favorite book and share it during story times with the Cat in the Hat at 2:00, 2:30, 3:00 and 4:30 pm. Enjoy crafts too! Half-price admission for children ages 3-12.