Laurie R
Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com
Latest posts by Laurie
Little ones love nothing more than dressing up and collecting goodies at Halloween events, and New Jersey offers plenty of safe, not-too-scary celebrations perfect for the preschool set. From trunk or treats to over-the-top events at amusement parks and zoo celebrations, these safe activities let toddlers experience the magic of Halloween. Good news for parents: Many of them are FREE!
Read on for dozens of fun and preschool-friendly Halloween events in New Jersey, plus a couple of extra-special events just over the border in Pennsylvania. You can find even more seasonal events in our Guide to New Jersey Fall Fun and Guide to Halloween Events in New Jersey.
When tots are ready to explore their independence, it's time to introduce them to classes specifically geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. These creative, active, and educational classes offer the opportunity to practice gross and fine motor skills, explore the arts, and build on skills learned in preschool. Some classes may require a parent or guardian to stay, while others are drop-off.
Read on for a sampling of the best classes for toddlers and preschoolers in New Jersey. And be sure to check out our post on NJ's top mommy-and-me classes, as well as our Guide to Classes and Activities for Kids in New Jersey.
For a safer alternative to trick-or-treating, New Jersey kids can collect goodies at family-friendly trunk-or-treats. Instead of wandering door-to-door, young trick-or-treaters can load up their Halloween bags with candy from decorated cars.
These trunk-or-treats—most of which are FREE—take place in parking lots, parks, and on blocked-off streets. They sometimes include parades, costume contests, and other Halloween activities. Another bonus for sugar-crazed kids: Many of these trunk-or-treats take place before Halloween. That means double the loot if you make your plans right!
For more boo-tiful Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Guide for New Jersey Families, which includes our picks for The Best Halloween Events in New Jersey for Families and more.
There are no tricks here; instead, we've got a special treat: More than 30 FREE Halloween events and parades in New Jersey. The weeks leading up to Halloween are full of festivals, costume parades, and plenty more opportunities for ghosts and goblins to dress up and score some scary-good treats.
Read on for our top picks, and be sure to bookmark our Halloween Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun. From pumpkin picking and corn mazes to harvest festivals and Halloween train rides, we've got you covered with fun things to do during this spooky season. Happy Halloween, New Jersey!
You know harvest festival season is upon us when New Jersey's farms are bursting with ripe apples ready to be plucked from the trees. We've rounded up dozens of great fall fairs and harvest fests in New Jersey, all packed with signature seasonal fun like hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, contests, scarecrow making, live animals, live music, and more. Some even incorporate a little early Halloween fun.
For more seasonal activities, be sure to check out our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide, our New Jersey Halloween Guide, and our mega-list of things we can't wait to do in NJ with kids this fall.
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