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Public schools across Morris County close on Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6, 2026, while teachers head to the NJEA Convention in Atlantic City. Our team pulled together the camps, museums, indoor play spots and outdoor ideas that are actually open on those two days, so you can plan a four-day weekend instead of scrambling for one.
When Are the NJEA Days Off in 2026?
The 2026 NJEA Convention runs November 5 and 6 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Nearly every public district in New Jersey closes both days, and with the weekend after, most Morris County kids are off from Thursday through Sunday, November 8. Private and parochial schools set their own calendars, so check yours before you book anything.
Drop-Off Camps for November 5 and 6
These fill up, so register early if you need full or half-day coverage.
- Go 4 The Gold Gym, Whippany: a school’s-out program on both November 5 and 6, from 9 AM to 1 PM, with time to move, create and play. Details and sign-up are on the gym’s announcement.
- Turtle Back Zoo Mini Camp, West Orange: the zoo runs its Zoo Mini Camp on Thursday and Friday, November 5 and 6, for ages 5 to 10. Camp runs 9 AM to 4 PM and costs $100 per day; campers bring their own snack and lunch. Register on the Zoo Mini Camp page.
Indoor Fun in Morris County
Launch Family Entertainment, Riverdale
The timing works out: Launch opens its new 40,000-square-foot park at 48 Route 23 in Riverdale on Friday, October 30, less than a week before NJEA. Expect trampolines, slides, a Valo Arena, a sport simulator, an arcade and the KRAVE restaurant. Book jump times on Launch Riverdale’s tickets page, and read our first-visit guide to Launch Riverdale for grip sock rules and tips.
Morris Museum, Morristown
The Morris Museum at 6 Normandy Heights Road is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM, so both NJEA days work. Kids head straight for the Mega Model Train Gallery, the Earth Science Gallery, the Guinness Collection of mechanical music and automata, and Spark!Lab, the hands-on invention space open noon to 4 PM. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for ages 3 to 17, and free for 2 and under. Hours and tickets are on the Morris Museum visit page.
Morris County Library, Whippany
The county library on East Hanover Avenue has an Anime Drawing Class for kids on Thursday, November 5, and a teen painting class for ages 13 to 18 on Friday, November 6. Times and registration are posted on the library’s event calendar. Your hometown library is worth a look too, since many add extra programs on school holidays.
Ice Skating at Mennen Arena
Mennen Arena at 161 East Hanover Avenue in Morris Township is the county’s indoor rink, run by the Morris County Park Commission. Public skate times shift week to week, so check before you go. Our guide to ice skating in Morris County covers Mennen and the other rinks nearby.
Worth the Short Drive
Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange
Not doing camp? The zoo at 560 Northfield Avenue is open to everyone on both days. Starting November 2, daily hours change to 10 AM to 3 PM, so plan a morning visit. Current hours are on the zoo’s Plan Your Trip page.
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Liberty Science Center keeps its doors open for the long weekend, 10 AM to 5 PM from Thursday, November 5, through Sunday, November 8. It is about 40 minutes from Morristown and home to the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Note that it is closed Monday, November 2. Check the hours and pricing page before you go.
Get Outside if the Weather Holds
Early November is one of the best times to walk the woods here, with the last of the foliage and no bugs. Jockey Hollow in Morristown National Historical Park has easy loops and the Wick House farm, and the boardwalks at the Great Swamp are made for short legs. Both are covered in our guide to things to do in Harding Township. The Morris County Park Commission also posts toddler hikes and family nature programs on its events calendar.
Tips for the NJEA Long Weekend
- Book timed tickets early. Trampoline parks, the zoo and museums all get busy when every district is off at once.
- Arrive at opening. Indoor spots fill fastest after lunch, so a morning start means shorter lines.
- Pack lunch for camps. Most mini camps, including Turtle Back Zoo’s, ask kids to bring their own.
- Confirm your school calendar. A few districts add extra days off around the convention, so check yours before you plan the week.
Featured image: NJEA Convention 2026 logo, courtesy of the New Jersey Education Association (njeaconvention.njea.org).
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