The outdoor-oriented harvest holiday of Sukkot is a totally kid-friendly holiday—making sukkah decorations (because, crafts), eating outdoors in a sukkah (because, picnics), shaking palm fronds and fruit (because, fun) and marching in a Torah parade (because everybody loves a parade). Here are some local Sukkot events your kids will love going on in Essex, Morris, Sussex, Somerset, and Union Counties.
Sukkot 2016 begins on Sunday evening, Oct. 16 and continues through Sunday evening, Oct. 23.
Shemini Atzeret begins on Sunday evening, Oct. 23 and continues through Oct. 24.
Simchat Torah begins on Monday evening, Oct. 24 and concludes at sundown on Tuesday, Oct. 25
Holiday Programs
Sukkot Block Party
Celebrate Sukkot with music, food trucks, crafts, magicians, pumpkin picking, and bobbing for apples, all ages.
Temple B’nai Abraham, 300 East Northfield Rd, Livingston
Sunday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – Noon
Sukkot Torah Tots
Learn about the holiday of Sukkot along with other families with children ages 3 – 5 years. Part of a year-long monthly drop-in series, free and open to the community.
Temple Har Shalom, 104 Mt Horeb Rd, Warren
Sunday, Oct. 16, 10 – 11 a.m.
Sukkah Decorating
Make decorations and help beautify the synagogue sukkah, have a light bagel lunch, and shake the lulav and etrog. RSVP requested but not required.
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, 432 Scotland Rd, South Orange
Sunday, Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sukkot Open House 
Hang out in a sukkah near you with friends and family. Create holiday cards, have a nosh, shake a lulav and etrog, and learn more about the holiday. RSVP required, limited space available, free and open to the community.
Private home in Verona, NJ, Address provided after RSVP
Sunday, Oct. 16, 4 – 6 p.m.
Sensory-Friendly Sukkot Experience
A small group experience for individuals of all ages, learning styles, and abilities with laughing, play, and noshing in the sukkah. RSVP requested.
Temple Beth Shalom, 193 E. Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston
Sunday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m.
Sukkot Mini Minyan
Toddlers and preschoolers and their families will celebrate the holiday of Sukkot with singing, dancing, and stories.
Congregation Beth El, 222 Irvington Ave, South Orange
Monday, Oct. 17 & Tuesday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. – Noon
PJ Library Toro Dojo in the Sukkah
A lesson in the Jewish martial art of Toro Dojo followed by dinner in the sukkah. RSVP requested, but not required, best for ages 4 – 7 years accompanied by an adult.
Golda Och Academy, 122 Gregory Ave, West Orange
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Songs, Stories & S’mores in the Sukkah
Celebrate Sukkot with Camp Deeny Riback and other JCC early childhood camps and enjoy a pizza dinner. RSVP requested.
JCC Metrowest, 760 Northfield Ave, West Orange
Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Torah Tot Time – Sukkot
Play, sing, and dance, all while learning about the holiday of Sukkot and visiting the synagogue sukkah. For children ages 18 months – 6 years and a grown-up, RSVP requested but not required.
Temple Beth Am Parsippany, 879 South Beverwyck Rd, Parsippany
Sunday, Oct. 23, 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Family-Friendly Sukkot Brunch
Make your own candy sukkah and a take-home craft while enjoying brunch in the synagogue sukkah. Advance registration requested.
Temple Beth Shalom, 193 E. Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston
Sunday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sukkot Open Houses
Hang out in a sukkah near you with friends and family. Create holiday cards, have a nosh, shake a lulav and etrog, and learn more about the holiday. RSVP required, limited space available, free and open to the community.
Sunday, Oct. 23 – multiple times & locations, address furnished upon RSVP
Livingston, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Basking Ridge, 1 – 2 p.m.
Mountain Lakes, 4 – 5 p.m.
Westfield, 3 – 4 p.m.
West Orange, 4 – 5 p.m.
Editor’s Note: These listings were prepared using the most current information available, but before you pack up and schlep the kids out of the house, we recommend checking with each individual event organizer/organization to make sure that all of the information listed is correct.
