Family events in Mount Laurel, NJ

Ms. Chen leads storytime in the Pavilion at Franklin Square with storytelling, songs, rhymes, dancing, and crafts. Held on alternating Wednesdays, each session features a different theme across the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The activities conclude with bubbles and a final craft.

A presentation from South Jersey Ghost Research invites curious minds of all ages to hear about some of the most haunted places in the area, along with firsthand stories from the team’s own investigations. All ages are welcome. Signups are required.

A small group program for ages 10 to 15 with ADHD focuses on practical social skills in a supportive setting. Each session introduces one targeted skill, shows what it looks like in action, and builds in guided practice with peers through structured activities and games. Participants receive real time coaching and feedback to help them apply new strategies beyond the session. Topics may include joining group discussions, starting conversations and keeping them going, understanding group dynamics, responding well to wins and losses, coping with frustration and setbacks, balanced back and forth sharing rather than monologues, regulating impulses and staying in control, working cooperatively, navigating and resolving conflicts, and developing lasting friendships. The aim is to move from knowing the rules to using them confidently in everyday situations. Led by Mike Marchionne, M.S., BCBA, the group offers planned opportunities to connect with peers along with hands on modeling, practice, and coaching. Families receive a brief recap and suggestions for continued practice after each meeting. Enrollment is limited to 10 participants per group.

Attendees can bring a blanket and a snack and gather by the Clark Park playground to enjoy stories, songs, fun, and bubbles. If it rains, the event moves to Walnut Street West Library, and updates will be posted on social media on the day of the event. Open to all ages.

Mr. John leads stories, songs, and fingerplays, followed by a playgroup.

Express Pet Health makes essential pet care simple and quick with no appointment required. This walk-in clinic offers convenient, budget-friendly preventive services provided by a wellness and veterinary medical team. Designed for busy pet families, visits are streamlined so routine needs can be handled without scheduling ahead.

Builders of every age can dive into open-ended fun at Builder Club, where LEGOS, blocks, Magna-Tiles, Lincoln Logs, and other building toys set the stage for imaginative creations. The setting invites participants to plan, stack, and experiment as they bring their ideas to life. Toddlers have a separate space stocked with blocks suited to their age.

Explore fire safety through interactive experiences. Take a ride on a fire truck, see equipment up close, and watch demonstrations in action. Enjoy the s'mores station, pick up giveaways, and discover more activities throughout the event.

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation’s Star Players present the musical Oliver at the Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk. Tickets are available in advance and can be used for any performance, and seating is general admission. Advance tickets cost $15 and the price at the door is $20. Group discounts are offered for parties of 20 or more. Now in its 14th season, the company features an all star cast.

The UConn Huskies meet the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field for a football showdown with an East Coast rivalry vibe. These matchups are frequently decided by field position, stout defense, and clutch plays in the closing minutes. Tickets are available for those who want to experience it in person.

Spend a fall day exploring Philadelphia with a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary, once the most renowned and expensive prison of its era and now a dramatic ruin of crumbling cellblocks and quiet guard towers. Noted for its grand architecture and strict discipline, it is regarded as the first penitentiary of its kind, created to encourage true remorse. Over the years it held nearly 85,000 people, including bank robber Slick Willie Sutton and Al Capone. Admission with a self-paced audio guide is included, followed by a boxed lunch from Campo’s Cheesesteaks, the official cheesesteak of the Philadelphia Phillies. The itinerary continues with a guided Ghost Tour of Haunted Historical Philadelphia, a walking experience through the back streets and hidden gardens around Independence National Park, Old City, and Society Hill that shares stories of restless spirits, haunted homes, and historic graveyards. The tour has been recognized among the 15 top must see attractions in the United States. The cost is $165 per person, covering admission and the audio tour at Eastern State Penitentiary, the boxed lunch, admission for the guided ghost tour, and bus transportation. Pickup locations are available in Troy, Towanda, Wyalusing, and Tunkhannock. A portion of the proceeds benefits Building Outreach Opportunities, Inc.

Small Explorers Learning Together welcomes families with children ages 1 to 5 to celebrate the colors of autumn. The session includes a reading of If You Find a Leaf by Aimée Sicuro, followed by a walk through the American Perspectives art gallery to discover artworks that call to mind fall and a chance to share favorite seasonal colors. Afterward, children can enjoy creative art making, sensory exploration, and playful learning in the museum’s STEAM center. Hundreds of families have participated in this program, and each class is limited to 20 children. Registration in advance is required.

Berlin Boro’s signature fall celebration fills Berlin Park with a full day of community fun. Expect a bustling vendor marketplace, kid-focused attractions, and live entertainment for all ages. The park serves as the hub for the stage, children’s programming, and a variety of booths, while additional areas host event sponsors, artisan crafters, food vendors, and a beer garden. A car show brings a standout lineup of vehicles, adding to the festive atmosphere. Throughout the day, enjoy continuous music, hands-on activities for children, pumpkin painting, and the Mutt Strut dog costume parade. Local first responders will be on site, and the festival offers a welcoming setting where businesses and community groups can be in the spotlight.

Downtown Trenton will host Trenton Book Fair 2026, spotlighting The Year of the Black Writer and paying tribute to House and Hip-Hop while highlighting the connections among literature, music, culture, and community. Authors, readers, families, artists, and community members will gather for a full slate of experiences that include featured author talks, panel discussions, the Capitol City Open Mic, the Street Lit House Party, the Diaspora Breakfast, book vendors, and more. A complimentary Trenton Book Fair tote bag will be available for a limited number of early registrants and for the first 200 attendees to arrive.

Free guided house tours at Cliveden begin in the Cliveden Barn. Each one-hour tour includes the grounds and the first and second floors of the house. No advance registration is required. The experience also features two exhibitions, Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation and Looking Glass.

Savor a soulful brunch at Wilson’s Restaurant & Live Music Lounge with an all-you-can-eat buffet and one mimosa included for $45. Children under 12 are $16.99. A live DJ sets the vibe and host comedian Malcom Hill keeps the crowd entertained. Expect a laid-back atmosphere with lively energy. Birthday and holiday party reservations are available, with online booking options and walk-ins welcome.

Monroe Township Public Library’s Teen Homeschool Group hosts the second annual trunk or treat in the back parking lot near the Williamstown Garden, with a weather plan that moves activities inside to Conference Room C. This family-friendly celebration is designed for children, tweens, and teens of all ages. Attendees can collect candy and show off their costumes, and no advance sign up is needed to take part. Please bring a bag for treats. Community support is welcome through donations and volunteering. For questions, details on donating, or to reserve a trunk, contact Missi at 856-472-8134 or friends@MonroeTPL.org.

Teen drivers gain practical, hands on experience at the Tire Rack Street Survival school, building confidence and control by exploring the limits of their own car with guidance from an in-car coach. The program focuses on the physics of driving, smart decision making, faster reactions, and anticipating the behavior of others to promote safer habits on the road. It is a full day that blends classroom learning with extensive behind-the-wheel time. Students spend about two hours across three classroom sessions, then devote the rest of the day to real-world drills in their car, including skid recovery on a wet pad, sudden lane changes for collision avoidance, threshold braking with ABS, and a slalom to feel how weight shifts affect handling. When possible, the day also features two wheels off recovery practice and a tailgating awareness exercise. Classroom topics cover proper seating and hand position, mirror setup, the tire’s contact patch, weight transfer principles, long-range vision, and overall situational awareness, along with the challenges posed by distractions like music, phones, and extra passengers. Demonstrations may include a semi truck blind spot exercise to reveal how many vehicles disappear from view and, in some cases, an airbag deployment to reinforce safe hand placement. Parents are welcome to spend the day alongside their student, sit in on classroom sessions, and talk with instructors, who are available to answer questions. Lunch is provided for students, parents, and volunteers. The course fee is $175.

O’s Fall Harvest Market brings more than 25 local vendors to the back parking lot for a family friendly day of shopping and activities. Browse permanent jewelry, custom wood signs, apparel, candles, honey, replica bags, custom wreaths, beaded treasures, chunky loop accessories, and creative stations like a bloom bar and a press bar. Extras include face painting, hair braiding, and a golf simulator. Football fans can head to The Terrace early to watch the Eagles game while others explore the market, then stick around for live music after the game. More features may be added, including a custom sweets table, pet treats, custom wood flags, a coffee truck, and more, all in support of local makers and small businesses.

Downtown Blackwood hosts the Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, a long-running community tradition that began in 1992. Presented by Mainstage Center for the Arts, it has expanded over the years and features a wide range of vendors and entertainment. The celebration fills the heart of Blackwood, NJ with a lively atmosphere and plenty to explore.

This family focused event in Fishtown features arcade games and food. All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Barcade donates a portion of 2026 Family Day token sales to Gamers Outreach, supporting recreation for children in hospitals through video games and the gaming community.

Enjoy a family-friendly fall celebration with more than 20 vendors, tasty food and drinks, trunk or treat festivities, a haunted house, and a spirited costume contest. Costumes are encouraged, and the event offers plenty of Halloween fun for all ages.