Winter break starts at the end of next week. If you have to work and need childcare, here is our list of winter break camps to help out.
If you’re lucky to have time off too, here are some fun ways to spend it with the family:
Holiday Train Exhibit
Who: All ages.
What: Bill “The Train Guy” Cinque comes back to the Roseland Free Public Library to set up his 10th annual working holiday train exhibit. Enjoy the lights, moving trains, and quaint homes that make up this railroad. As a bonus, all visitors get a 10-year commemorative train pin!
Where: The Roseland Free Public Library, 20 Roseland Avenue, Roseland, NJ.
When: Exhibit hours are as follows: Saturday, Decemeber 15 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm; Monday, December 17 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Tuesday, December 18 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Wednesday, December 19 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Thursday, December 20 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm; Friday, December 21 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm; Saturday, Dec. 22 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm; Wednesday, December 26 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Thursday, Dec. 27 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Friday, December 28 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm; Saturday, December 29 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Cost: Free. For more information call 973-228-8636.
Holiday Fun Days at Newark Museum
Who: All ages.
What: Celebrate the end of 2012 with a top 10 list at the Newark Museum!
10. Take photos: Take pictures on a gallery scavenger hunt
9. Dance: Get fit while learning a new dance move
8. Make Noise: Make a musical instrument and play a tune in the galleries
7. Eat: Cooking lessons for young chefs-in-training
6. Touch: Get a close up look at some of our teaching collection objects
5. Watch a movie or performance
4. Play computer games: Try our Fire Museum, Generation Fit
and Nature & Art computer games
3. Break something: be a geologist and break into a rock or geode
2. Take something home: Play our gallery games to win a prize
1. Get messy: Create an original work of art
Where: The Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.
When: Thursday-Saturday, December 27-29 from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm.
Cost: Free with suggested Museum Admission.
Liberty Science Center’s Twelve Days of Science
Who: All ages.
What: Go to the Science Center between December 21 and January 1 (except for December 25) for all sorts of cool, winter-based activities. This sixth annual celebration of science is sure to be a blast for ages 3 and up. Activities are available on a first come, first served basis. Most of the activities are free with paid admission but some require a sign up or extra fee, check activity details for more information.
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City NJ.
When: December 21 and January 1 from 9 am – 5 pm.
Cost: Most are FREE with Museum Admission.
Holiday Lights Spectacular
Who: All ages.
What: Turtle Back Zoo’s annual Holiday Lights decorations of 100,000 bulbs and 50 lit displays illuminate the zoo this holiday season.
Where: Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ.
When: Weekends from November 23 -December 18 and daily from December 15 – January 1. (Closed on 12/24 and 12/25) Open from 5 pm – 9 pm.
Cost: Admission is free!
Snowflake Craft at Imagine That! Museum
Who: All ages.
What: Join Imagine That during Winter Break! Make a special snowflake craft and explore the museum.
Where: Imagine That!!!, 4 Vreeland Road, Florham Park, NJ.
When: Wednesday, December 26 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm.
Cost: $11.99 for children and $7.95 for adults, with reservation. For more information, call 973-966-8000.
Toyland Family Festival
Who: Children accompanied by their caregivers.
What: Kick off winter vacation with a day of indoor fun and excitement. Become a toymaker: Decorate a jingle bell, create a soldier puppet, design Gingerbread doll with movable arms and legs, construct a three-dimensional star, craft spinning paper toys, discover toys from 1800s in the Guinness Collection and see a 40ft model train and the Modelez (Kraft Foods) 144 sq. ft. interactive model train display in action.
Where: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ.
When: Thursday, December 27 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Cost: $7 per child and $10 per adult. For more info, click here.
Wild About Winter
Who: Ages 2-4 (with an adult) or ages 5-8.
What: Learn about the crazy things that wildlife do to survive the winter cold, explore the forest looking for animal signs, and enjoy walks, crafts, stories, games, and activities.
Where: The Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ.
When: Thursday, December 27 and Friday December 28. Ages 5-8 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and ages 2-4 (with an adult) from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.
Cost: Free. Registration is required. For more information call 973-635-6629.
Go ice skating! Check here for our guide to finding a place to do figure 8s.