NJ January Events, Festivals & Shows:
Our Top Picks To Plan Your Day Out in New Jersey

New Jersey January Events

Discover New Jersey's Best January Events: Uncover The Month's Top seasonal attractions, popular events, and hidden gems

The January Events calendar for 2024 is packed with exciting things to do in NJ. It includes concerts, theatre, festivals, sports,  and entertainment, that have appeal to people of all ages and interests

January is the coldest month of the year and a time for many indoor events, and for the more adventurous, there are some great outdoor winter fun activities like skiing, snow boarding, and skating.

Note: 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.

Northern NJ January 2024
Festivals and Themed Events

Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular
November 9th 2023, thru January 14th, 2024; Thursdays & Sundays: 4pm-8pm, Fridays & Saturdays: 4pm-9pm
Bergen County Zoo at Van Saun County Park
216 Forest Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07653
Website/Tickets
Cost: $18/adult, $9/child- aged 3-17
Larger-than-life glowing lanterns have been installed creating 30+ glowing scenes. See animals real and imagined laid out throughout the zoo.
Let it Glow is a symphony of vivid glowing colors to tease your eyes and dazzle the mind. Come and enjoy an enchanting stroll throughout the zoo These larger than life lanterns are amazing in picture but stunning in person! With over 30 scenes, these hand-made artistic wonders are more breath-taking than the last! Its one of those things you need to see in person to truly appreciate.

65th Annual Model Train Show
Saturday & Sunday, January 6, 7, 13, 14, 2024
Garden State Model Railway Club
North Haledon, NJ
Website
Cost: Donations: Adults $8 Children 10 and under FREE with Adultt.
Steam and diesel trains of all kinds on our 1200 square foot HO scale layout, including Thomas the Tank Engine and his friend.

YMCA of Newark 53rd Anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast
Friday, January 12, 2024; @8am
The Robert Treat Hotel
50 Park Place
Newark NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $45.00
Contact: 973-624-8900 Email: : [email protected]
The YMCA of Newark and Vicinity has honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the past 52 years with an annual memorial breakfast. In fact, the YMCA was the first local organization to hold an event honoring Dr. King. The breakfast allows us to take time to remember and reflect on Dr. King's vision of a community and world of peace, love, and understanding. This is a wonderful opportunity to recommit ourselves to the high ideals that Dr. King personified.

Monster Jam
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, January 26, 27, 28, 2024
Prudential Center
25 Lafayette St
Newark, NJ 07102
800-345-3000
Tickets
Cost: $20+
This action-packed motorsport event features some of the most famous trucks in the world with the world's best drivers and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. You'll be on the edge of your seat watching your favorites like the legendary Grave Digger, mighty Megalodon and more show off crazy skills, massive stunts and all-out racing. Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets.

Central  NJ January 2024
Festivals and Themed Events

Skating On The Square
November 18, 2023 - February 25, 2024
Hulfish Street (behind the Nassau Inn Hotel)
Princeton, NJ
Website
Cost:$10 cash per person/ $12 +fees with credit card. Bring your own skates or borrow ours! (skate rental included in ticket price)
Start new traditions this holiday season at Palmer Square's "eco-friendly" outdoor synthetic skating rink!
Bring your own skates or borrow ours! (skate rental included in ticket price) ALL skaters/guardians must sign the electronic waiver to be eligible to participate! Please sign in advance for a contactless experience at the rink.

Night Forms
November 24, 2023 until April 7, 2024 ( Friday – Sunday, Sunset – 10PM )
Grounds for Sculpture
80 Sculptors Way
Hamilton, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $24 - $30, children under 5 free
In partnership with Klip Collective, this after-hours, multi-sensory light and sound experience uses projection mapping to engage with the Ground For Sculpture art and horticulture collections. Night Forms creates an evening landscape of creative exploration through lighting, sound, and video projection mapping, a process which Klip Collective pioneered. Designed to provide a dialogue with specific sculptures in the collection, such as Carlos Dorrien's The Nine Muses and Bruce Beasley's Dorion, this audio and visual exhibition offers new perspectives on these works and multi-dimensional space.

Titusville Loop First Day Hike
Monday, January 1st, 2024: 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
D&R Canal State Park
Meeting Location Washington Crossing Bridge Parking Lot
River Drive, Hopewell Township, NJ
Registration Registration required.
Join the group for an easy 2.5 mile First Day Hike that will take you for a walk north along the towpath into Titusville. This historic riverside hamlet feels like a beautifully preserved time capsule with its many lovingly restored 19th century homes and beautiful views of the Delaware River.
Difficulty: Natural and Compact Surface, Flat - Slow: 2.5 miles
Recommended for Ages 15 and older.

Ice Carving Exihibition
January 6, 2024; Noon - 3pm (rain date Jan 7th)
Festival Plaza
Pier Village
Long Branch, NJ
Website
Four professional Ice Sculptors will be at work during an afternoon of a live ice carving competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable ice sculptures in an elimination style "speed carving" format. The ice sculpting competition begins at 12PM on Festival Plaza.
It's FREE to attend and view, and sculptures will remain on display through Sunday (and until they melt).

Cutting, Splitting and Hewing at Historic Longstreet Farm
Sunday, January 7, 2024: 12-4pm
Historic Longstreet Farm
44 Longstreet Road
Holmdel 07733
732-946-3758
Website
Free event
Come out to Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel, and get warmed up using a two-man saw and splitting wedge; learn how farmers used a froe to rive shingles or a broad ax to hew beams.

Experience the Battle of Princeton
Sunday, January 7, 2024; 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
The historic Clarke House
500 Mercer Rd
Princeton, NJ
Website
609-232-8540
The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) will mark the 246th anniversary of Battle of Princeton fought on Jan. 3, 1777- with its signature educational event, "Experience the Battle of Princeton".
A narrated reenactment of a portion of the Battle of Princeton will feature reenactors portraying Crown and Continental forces. Attendees will then have an opportunity to interact and converse with living historians and battle reenactors. Also, the New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution will join other hereditary organizations as well as representatives of legacy National Guard and British Army units whose antecedents fought at the battle in a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial Grove behind the Colonnade on the battlefield.
Tours of the historic Thomas Clarke House, the only building on site remaining from the time of the battle, will also be offered beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 34th Annual Commemorative Breakfast
Friday, January 12, 2024; 7:30am - 9:30am
Ocean Place Resort & Spa
1 Ocean Blvd,
Long Branch, NJ
Cost: $35 Adults | $10 Youth | $350 Table of 10
Purchase Tickets
The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County proudly celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at their 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast in his honor. Please join in as they grow awareness and support for the important work of Dr. King and today's civic leaders. This years Keynote speaker: Dr. Maysa Akbar, PhD, ABPP Chief Diversity Officer | Chief of Psychology in the Public Interest, American Psychological Association.

Light of Day Winterfest - January 19th, 20th, 2024 Multiple Venues - Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank and The Stone Pony, Asbury Park - Ticket Network


The Garden State RV and Camping Show
January 19th - 21st, 2024
New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center
(Raritan Center Expo Hall)
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: Adults $17.00 (includes sales tax) – Children 16 and under Free
This show will feature over 150,000 square feet of the latest in recreation vehicles, camping supplies & services, accessories, and information on campgrounds. The Garden State RV & Camping Show is the ideal place for camping families who are looking to purchase their first RV, upgrade their present RV or for the veteran camper to explore new camping adventures. Dozens of on-site exhibits will provide attendees with literature and information about premier family campgrounds throughout New Jersey and beyond.

SEED 14th MLK Commemorative Breakfast
 January 20, 2024; 10 AM - 1 PM
Hyatt Regency Princeton
102 Carnegie Center
Princeton, NJ 08540
Cost: $70
Tickets
To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact, S.E.E.D. (Servants Endeavoring to Empower and Develop)is hostng a delicious breakfast with like-minded individuals. Attendees will come together to reflect on Dr. King's teachings and discuss how they can continue his work towards equality and justice. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a meaningful event that will leave you motivated and inspired! All proceeds will benefit the S.E.E.D. and Heal the City initiatives.

Clinton's 15th Annual Yuletide Bonfire & Fireworks Celebration
January 27th, 2024: @ 6pm
Hunts Mill Park
32 Haver Farm Rd
Clinton, NJ
Donations Accepted
This event features a bonfire, provided and controlled by the Clinton Fire Department, followed by fireworks.This is a fundraising event event with proceeds supporting the Clinton Fire Depatment.

Seashore Open House at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
Sunday, January 28, 2024; 1-4 pm
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
o221 Ocean Avenue
Long Branch, NJ
732-229-7025
Website
Free event
It may be winter but you can still enjoy some time at the beach. 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.

Wassailing the Apple Trees
January 28, 2024; 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-924-2310
Website
Free Event
Enjoy dancing and singing and re-enactments of old English traditional rituals, as well as chanting and music making, toasts of hot cider and placing gifts of cider-soaked bread in the tree branches while chanting the lively words of praise for the New Year. Top the evening off by a bonfire, complete with marshmallows, and live music by the Spiced Punch Quartet playing traditional music using violins and flutes of many kinds Join the fun. Bring noise makers' drums, whistles, bells, clackers, or put a few pebbles in an empty coffee can with a lid. These will make a joyful and worthy noise to drive away any and all spirits.

Southern NJ January 2024
Festivals and Themed Events

Wildwood Comic Con
 Saturday, January 13, 2024; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
Wildwood Convention Hall
Wildwood, NJ
Website
Cost: Adult admission $10, children 12 and under are FREE with paying adult
The event will feature numerous cosplay/costume groups, artists, writers, creators, vendors, crafts, and video games. Artists, writers, creators, and vendors will have art, books, comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, non-sport trading cards, Pokemon, gaming items, toys, Funko's, Lego, sci-fi, pop culture, comic themed crafts, collectibles, and much more!!! Our Cosplay/Costume groups will provide entertainment, interactive activities, and photo ops for youngsters and attendees. There will be a Cosplay Contest as well, so be sure to come out and wear your favorite Superhero, Anime, or Comic Book Character costume!

Ocean City Martin Luther King Jr Ceremony
Monday, January 15, 2024: at 12:00 PM
Music Pier
825 Boardwalk
Ocean City, NJ 08226
Website
609-399-6111
This event will bring the community together to remember Dr. King through words, song and dance. The event will include community resources and a soul food lunch.

Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast @ Rowan University
Monday, January 15, 2024: @9am - 1pm.
Eynon Ballroom, Chamberlain Student Center
201 Mullica Hill Road
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey 08028
Website
Cost: $75
Tickets/Contact: Joy Kudla, Assistant Director of Gifts and Alumni Records 856-256-5401
Join in for an uplifting gathering in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Guests will enjoy remarks from Master of Ceremonies Rick Williams, and by New York Times columnist, author and MSNBC political analyst Charles M. Blow who will deliver the keynote address.
All proceeds will support their students through the William H. Myers Memorial Scholarships. This event is co-sponsored by the Division of Diverisity, Equity & Inclusion and the Rowan University Foundation.

Fire & Ice Festival
Saturday, January 27, 2024; 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
downtown Mount Holly
Website
This free family friendly fun tradition features about a dozen professional ice carvers from up and down the east coast, an equal number of professional chili chefs plus a wide variety of interesting entertainment for young, old and everyone in between. The ice carvers transform 300 pound blocks of ice into beautiful crystalline works of art, right before your eyes, throughout town.



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