It’s our biggest, best Winter Fun Guide yet! When those cold, dreary winter days arrive, turn to this gotta-have checklist of fun-for-everyone activities that’ll keep you smiling all season.
Winter Must-Dos
Explore a wintry artist’s garden at Grounds For Sculpture
80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton
609-586-0616
Website
Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm
Admission: Members and children under 5 are free, $10 online for non-members; prices increase in person
It’s worth bundling up so you can explore Grounds For Sculpture – even in the chilly weather, the 42 acres of artwork are open for viewing (we love to visit after a fresh snowfall). You can take a “Beauty of Winter” tour, or register for a lecture to expand your artistic view.
Take a trip back in time at Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville
609-737-3299
Website
Tuesday through Friday: 10 am to 4 pm, February through November
Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm, end of January through beginning of December
Sunday: Noon to 4 pm, April through November
Experience all the charm of rural New Jersey life at this living historic site. Visit the animals, learn about life on the farm and experience the magic of winter at Howell. Attend a winter barn dance, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride for Valentine’s Day or learn how to tap trees for maple syrup. Best of all? It’s free. Experience the past Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Camden County’s Winterfest
Strap on your skates at Winterfest
Cooper River Park
5300 North Park Drive, Pennsauken
856-341-3416
Website
Monday through Thursday: 5 to 9 pm
Friday: 5 to 10 pm
Saturday: Noon to 10 pm
Sunday: Noon to 9 pm
Admission: Free for children under 5, $4 for children 5-12, $6 for adults
Skate rentals: $4
Once again, Cooper River Park has transformed into a winter wonderland with ice shows, skating, tasty treats and brightly lit trees. Skates are available to rent for $4, but if you’ve never strapped on skates before, you can grab a quick lesson from one of the professional skaters on hand. If you prefer to just watch, check out the free shows featuring the talented pros on Thursdays and Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and 7 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. The rink is open through February 14, so be sure to make that final Valentine’s Day’s skate count with your beau.
We’re giving away Winerfest passes! Enter here for a chance to win a family FOUR-pack of passes!
Unleash your wild side at Cape May County Park & Zoo
707 North Route 9, Cape May Court House
609-465-5271
Website
Hours: 10 am to 3:30 pm daily
Admission: free, donation suggested
Get in touch with your primal instincts at the Cape May Zoo during the off-season. The crowds are much smaller this time of year, meaning you’ll be able to get awesome views of the more than 550 animals who call the zoo home. Admission is free, so all you have to do is bundle up and check out the wild side of the Shore.
Shoot for the moon at Edelman Planetarium
Science Hall, Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro
856-256-4389
Website
Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for children, Rowan students and seniors over 60; $2 for family shows
We know what you’re thinking: There’s a planetarium in South Jersey? Indeed, there is, and it’s out of this world. The awesome attraction on the Rowan campus is featuring a special production this winter, “Cosmic Castaways,” which explores solitary stars that shine deep within the voids between galaxies. Younger children and their parents can also enjoy a family show on February 5 or March 5, both at 2 pm.
Frosty Festivals
At The Shore Wine Tasting & Art Show
February 8 at 5 pm
Noyes Arts Garage at Stockton University
2200 Fairmount Avenue, Atlantic City
609-449-7145
Website
Admission: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Enjoy a wine tasting and art show – you can even meet the artist of a new piece you might want to take home – to benefit At The Shore Scholarship Fund.
Atlantic City Classic Car Show
February 10-12
1 Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City
856-573-6969
Website
Admission: $20 in advance or $25 at the door; $5 for children under 12
The 44th annual show features a wide array of incredible cars you won’t see anywhere else – right in the middle of Atlantic City.
Valentine’s Chocolate Walk & Carriage Rides
February 10 at 6 pm
Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown
609-298-0604
Website
Admission: Free for chocolate walk; carriage rides are $20 per adult and $10 per child 10 and under
Enjoy a free evening of fun and chocolate treats, perfect for a date with your sweetheart or a night out with the girls. You can also hop on a horse-drawn carriage for a leisurely, wintry ride.
Garden State Film Festival
March 30-April 2
Multiple venues in Atlantic City
856-488-4868
Website
Admission: Weekend pass is $45; various other ticketing levels available
See some of the best independent films being made in New Jersey and get a closer look at the local film industry.
Horace Farlowe, Portal Rest, 1999, white Danby marble, 12 x 15 x 20 feet, Gift of The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc, photo: David W. Steele
Get a Sitter and Go
Cape May Sherlock Holmes Weekend
March 17-19
Various locations, Cape May
609-884-5404
Website
Admission: Single events $10-15; weekend packages start at $105 per person
Spend the weekend in Victorian Cape May and try to solve the mysteries afoot. With multiple adventures and packages available, the special weekend offers lots of fun – and plenty of mischief.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Flavorfest
February 22 at 6:30 pm
Double Nickel Brewery
1585 Route 73, Pennsauken
856-528-3832
Website
Admission: $50-75
Check out one of South Jersey’s coolest breweries and support a great cause while enjoying all-you-can-eat food tastings washed down with a cold one.
Mat Franco
February 10 at 9 pm
The Borgata Music Box
1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City
609-317-1000
Website
Admission: $29.50-35
Be dazzled by America’s Got Talent’s winner Mat Franco as he brings his personality-driven magic show to the Borgata.
Raise a Glass to Wine Weekend
Indulge in wine and chocolate to commemorate Valentine’s Day with your special someone. Some of SJ’s best wineries are rolling out the red carpet (and letting the wine flow) on February 11 and 12 for this weekend full of tastings, treats and exclusive events. South Jersey’s Amalthea Cellars in Atco, Valenzano Family Winery in Shamong, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery in Rio Grande and Heritage Vineyards in Mullica Hill are just a few of the places where you can enjoy this two-day celebration.
Atlantic City Restaurant Week
March 5-10
Various restaurants
Atlantic City
Website
Admission: pay as you go
Indulge in some of the best dining in Atlantic City for a fraction of the price – three-course lunches are $15.17 per person, while dinners are $35.17 per person. Check out the full restaurant listing and pick your favorites, from American to Asian and Mexican to Mediterranean.
Fun for the Kids
The Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
March 8 at 7 pm, Boardwalk Hall
2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City
Website
Admission: $25-86
Enjoy these worldwide legends of basketball in a family-friendly whirlwind of entertainment in Atlantic City.
Teen Arts Festival
March 15-16
Rowan University’s Pemberton Campus
601 Pemberton Browns Mills Road
Website
Admission: free
Check out this showcase of incredible art by teens aged 13-19 during the annual festival. From 3-D paintings to graphic design, the festival has something creative for everyone – and it encourages kids to get into art.
Creature Feature
Wetlands Institute
1075 Stone Harbor Boulevard, Stone Harbor
609-368-1211
Website
Every Saturday at 2 pm through March
Admission: Free with admission to institute; $6 for ages 3-12, $8 for ages 13 and up
Get up close and personal with the creatures of Finding Nemo, like terrapins, fish, crabs and horseshoes. After the presentation, take home a creature-related craft.
Make a new friend at Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Drive, Camden
856-365-3300
Website
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm
Admission: $28 for adults, $21 for children
The little blue penguins at Adventure Aquarium might be the most adorable thing you’ll see all winter. Get to know the flock and fall in love with the tiny birds at the aquarium’s Little Blue Beach exhibit. For more thrills, try Shark Bridge, where you can walk across a suspension bridge just inches above a tank full of sand tiger, sandbar and nurse sharks.
Get your hands on some fun at Garden State Discovery Museum
2040 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill
856-424-1233
Website
Monday to Thursday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, September through June; 9:30 am to 8:30 pm, July and August
Friday to Sunday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, year round
Admission: $13.95 for adults and children, $12.95 for seniors
If you’re looking to beat those dreary days and winter blues, a treehouse and mini Flyers ice rink are pretty good places to start. Luckily, Garden State Discovery Museum has all that and a whole lot more. From the skeleton of a T. rex the kids are encouraged to climb to an arts and crafts area where masterpieces are made every day, the interactive museum offers something to keep everyone happy.
Batsto Village
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton
609-561-0024
Website
Admission: Free
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Take the kids on a trip through time at this historic village. They’ll discover what life was like for fellow SJ folks in the 1700s as they check out the towering mansion, old cottages and farms that are still standing after all these years.
A little blue penguin at Adventure Aquarium
Cool Concerts
Rick Springfield
February 12 at 7 pm
Scottish Rite Auditorium
315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood
Website
Admission: $49.50-69.50
Dance the night away to Springfield’s rock and pop-influenced tunes.
The Suffers
February 25 at 8 pm
Cumberland County College
Performing Arts Center
3322 College Drive, Vineland
Website
Admission: $14-30
Warm up as this 10-piece band plays soulful tunes accented by Southern hip hop and jazz. The Suffers have been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Late Show and The Daily Show.
Cruising the Danube
February 26 at 3 pm
Eastern Center for the Performing Arts
1401 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees
Website
Admission: $15-30
Let the Philharmonic of South Jersey take you on a journey through beautiful Vienna, Budapest and Bohemia with the help of talented cellist Joshua Roman.
Frankie Valli
March 3 & 4 at 9 pm
The Borgata Music Box
1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City
Website
Admission: $80-100
See the Four Seasons’ front man and the focus of the popular musical Jersey Boys. His falsetto is sure to warm up your night.
Florida Georgia Line
March 17 at 7 pm
Boardwalk Hall
2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City
Website
Admission: $31.75-77
Pretend it’s a summer night tailgating with the help of these country stars. Special guest Chris Lane will open the show.
See A Show
“Sister Act”
February 2-18
Haddonfield Players
957 East Atlantic Avenue, Haddonfield
856-429-8139
Website
Admission: $10-20
Enjoy this beloved musical comedy featuring a wannabe disco diva in witness protection – in a convent, of all places. Watch the power of friendship unfold alongside dancing and original music.
“A Concert of Dance”
March 2-5
Stockton Dance Company
Stockton University Performing Arts Center
101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway
609-652-9000
Website
Admission: $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and children 12 and under
Artists from around the world come together to present an exciting and beautiful night of dance. The performance offers a little something for everyone.
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
March 2-20
Ritz Theatre Company
915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township
856-858-5230
Website
Admission: $20.50-33.50
Revisit this beloved classic about a girl named Scout, who learns that doing what’s right is just part of growing up, even if it comes at a great cost.
“The Miss Firecracker Contest”
March 10-26
South Camden Theatre
400 Jasper Street, Camden
856-409-0365
Website
Admission: $20
Step into the small Mississippi community where this Southern Gothic comedy takes place, featuring a young woman who thinks winning a beauty pageant will restore her reputation. Watch and learn as the characters realize accepting yourself is the best prize out there.
“The 39 Steps”
March 16-26
The Road Company
Grand Theatre
405 South Main Street, Williamstown
856-728-2120
Website
Admission: $13-22
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a spy novel and add a dash of Monty Python, and you have “The 39 Steps.” This fast-paced whodunit is full of laughs and mayhem as only four actors play more than 150 characters.
“Hairspray Jr.”
March 17-19
Moorestown Theater Company
William Allen Middle School
801 North Stanwick Road, Moorestown
856-778-8357
Website
Admission: $10
Watch talented young actors and actresses hit the stage in this fun and spunky musical set in Baltimore. Who knows, you might just catch a soon-to-be Broadway star before they make it big.
