Events Family Friendly Activities/Events

Top Ten New Jersey Events for January 3rd – 5th, 2020

December 31, 2019 newjerseyisntboring

It’s the first weekend of 2020! Enjoy your last weekend of seeing some amazing Christmas lights, ice skating, and more. Plus the annual Central Jersey Cat Fanciers Cat Show and the 62nd Annual Model Railroad Show. Here are my top ten picks for January 3 – 5, 2020.

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Top Ten New Jersey Events for January 3rd – 5th, 2020:

Holiday Light Show on the Lake
Now – 5, Dusk until 8:30PM
Enjoy popular holiday songs synchronized to a dazzling Christmas tree light show. These trees “float” over peaceful Lake Meone in the Historic Smithville Village. With over 120 trees and thousands of sparkling lights, this show will keep you in the holiday spirit.
615 East Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ

Festival of Trees
January 1 – 5, 10AM – 4PM
Festival of Trees is an annual highlight of the holiday season showcasing a juried collection of trees and mantles displayed throughout the museum’s galleries, upstairs and down. This year’s theme invites visitors to enjoy the newly reimagined first and second floor galleries, featuring trees inspired by 18th through 20th century décor. Festival of Trees is open to the public during regular museum hours. No reservations are required. Museum ticket must be purchased to enter museum.
Morven Museum & Garden; 55 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ
Cost: Cost of museum admission

Central Jersey Cat Fanciers Cat Show
January 3 – 5
An expected 200 cats will be present and competing at this show. Judging will take place in 7 different rings each day. This will be an opportunity to see many different breeds of cats including Abyssinians, American Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, Bengals, Sphynx, Maine Coons, Siamese, Oriental Shorthairs, Ragdolls, Persians,, Siberians, and many more breeds. There is also a special category for household pets and kittens, which need not be purebreds. Final awards will be presented in each category. People will be bringing their cats to compete from all over the country as well as several people from outside the United States. In addition to the cats and kittens, there will be many vendors selling gift items for you and your pet, scratching posts, magazines, jewelry, toys as well as unusual items. There will also be food available at the hotel.
Hilton Parsippany, 1 Hilton Ct, Parsippany, NJ
Cost: $10 adults, $7 seniors, $7 children (4-12) and children under 4 for free.

Vernon Lights Festival
January 3 – 5
This walk-through wonderland features massive lighting displays, a dinosaur kingdom, giant pandas, the million-light maze, and New Jersey’s largest lantern Christmas tree.
Vernon Lights Festival, 1733 County Rd 565, Vernon, NJ
Cost: $19.99 Adults $14.99 Children

Skating On The Square
January 3- 5
You’re invited to make lasting memories and start new traditions this holiday season at Palmer Square’s “eco-friendly” outdoor skating rink! Located on Hulfish Street Behind the Nassau Inn Hotel.
Palmer Square; 25 Chambers St, Princeton, NJ
Cost: $10 (includes skate rental!)

Wellness Walks: Island Trail
January 4, 10AM – 12PM
Better health may be just a walk in the park! Enjoy an even bigger boost to the natural mind-body benefits of walking by doing it outdoors. Part of the First Saturday Walk Series by the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands. See www.abbottmarshlands.org for a full monthly schedule.
Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave, Trenton, NJ

62nd Annual Model Railroad Show
January 4 & 5, 1PM – 5PM
Featuring a 1200 square foot HO layout, steam and diesel locomotives, Thomas and Friends, numerous freight and passenger trains, rural and urban scenes, and working signals. Fun for all ages! Founded in 1953, the Garden State Model Railway Club has been in North Haledon since 1957.
Garden State Model Railway Club; 575 High Mountain Rd., North Haledon, NJ

Morris County Farmer’s Market
January 5, 10AM – 1PM
The Morris County Winter Farmers’ Market is produced in partnership with the Foodshed Alliance Farmers’ Access Network and Grow it Green Morristown. The market features local vendors featuring produce, bread, desserts and more!
Alexander Hamilton School, 24 Mills Street, Morristown, NJ

Wayne NJ Toy Show
January 5, 8AM – 2PM
Ring in the new year digging through the best selection of modern and vintage toys around. Come check out NJ’s longest running collectibles show with over 80 tables of unique, new, and hard to find toys, comics, and memorabilia. Plenty of free parking and food made on the premises. Grab some of your long sought after toys! Get there early for the prime picks!
Community Volunteer Fire Company #1, 93 Parish Dr., Wayne, NJ
Cost: $8 VIP (early admission 8-9a), $5 after 9am, Kids 8 and under FREE all day.

Hunterdon Land Trust’s Winter Farmers’ Market
January 5, 11AM – 1PM
Join the Hunderdon Land Trust’s Winter Farmers’ Market which runs the first and third Sundays of every month from December to early May. New participants this year include seafood vendor, Local 130 Seafood; Aquasprouts Farm, an aquaponics farm with lettuce and kale; Oak Grove Angus Farms with beef; Picklelicious, who offers an incredible assortment of pickles and olives; and Will’s Amazing Vegan Burgers. They’ll also host a number of returning farmers and vendors including Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Comeback Farm, Sandbrook MeadowFarm, WoodsEdge Farm, Fired Up Flatbread Co., Purely Farm, Fieldstone Coffee Roasters and River Lea House.
111 Mine St, Flemington, NJ

Ideas of Things You Can Do this Winter!