Best Central Jersey Christmas Events
Your Guide to the top 2022 Central Jersey Christmas Events
Including Tree Lighting Celebrations, Festivals, Parades, and more
Experience Holiday and Christmas events and attractions in New Jersey, whether it's jingle bells, Christmas tree lighting, carol singing, or just reenactments of past New Jersey Christmas events, The attractions during the Christmas season in NJ are always festive. Many of these events begin the day after Thanksgiving with the traditional start of the Christmas Holiday season
Note: Sometimes conditions require cancellations or changes of dates, times and location which are not reflected in the original schedule. Before planning a trip to visit one of the listed events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event.
Stay tuned --- we will be updating this list as the event sponsors confirm this year's events.
Multi-date 2022 Central Jersey Christmas Events
Polar Express Trips run November 25, 26,27, December 2,3,4,9,10,11,16,17,18, 2022
Lehigh Junction
99 Elizabeth St.
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
877-872-4674
Website
Cost: Child $32.00 ( ages 2 to 12), Adult $42.00
Train Ride departs from Lehigh Junction located in the Historic Main Street area of Phillipsburg. On the train you will re-live the experience of the little boy in The Polar Express. The story focuses on a little boy who has been told by his friends that there is no Santa Claus. Unwilling to believe this, he lies awake in his bed on Christmas Eve, waiting for the sound of Santa's sleigh. Instead, he hears the hissing steam and squeaking metal of the Polar Express as it stops outside his window, ready to take him and other children to the North Pole. During your ride you will listen to this wonderful story, every child will be served hot chocolate and cookies Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride and join in on the magic of Christmas.
The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular Drive-Thru
November 25, 2022 - January 1, 2023; Open every night from 5:30pm -10pm. (Last car admitted will be at 9:45pm every night!)
Middlesex County Fairgrounds
655 Cranbury Road
East Brunswick, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: :$30 per car (tickets sold on-line)
This drive-thru Christmas event features over 1.5 million lights animated to some of your favorite holiday tunes. They have twelve 20' trees, the 200' tunnel of lights, a tribute to our first responders and tons of other stunning, larger-than-life holiday themed displays for the entire family – all synchronized to the music playing your in car!
Cook's Christmas Lights Show
Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26, 2022 and will run nightly through Jan 1. 2023. 6pm-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 6pm-11pm Friday and Saturday
1 Carlson Ct.
Jackson, NJ
Facebook page
Free event - Donations gratefully accepted to support Multiple Sclerosis
The Cook's Christmas Lights display returns for its fifth year. This year's show is better than ever, featuring over 30,000 LED lights, a 1,008 bulb pixel matrix and 4 singing Christmas trees, synchronized to music. Tune your radio to 100.9FM and enjoy the show.
Roxey Ballet's American Holiday Classic Nutcracker
November 26th - December 4th, 2022
Villa Victoria Theater
376 West Upper Ferry Road
Ewing Township, NJ
Website
609-397-7616
Event Cost: $57.50 - $59.50
Roxey Ballet, Lambertville's renowned professional dance company, is proud to present its Annual Holiday Classic "The Nutcracker”.
The production directed by Mark Roxey, co-founder of this acclaimed professional company, features the company of professional dancers, students from the official school of the Roxey Ballet, The Mill Ballet School, and members of the community. More than 200 costumes are featured designed by Alicia Worden and Nilda Roxey with lighting designed by Jeffrey Goldstein.
New Brunswick's Winter Wonderland for the Holidays
December 2, 2022 to January 2, 2023
New Brunswick City Center
Monument Square Park
New Brunswick, NJ
Website
Starting with the Ice Carving Demonstrations, The Victorian Strolling Carolers, and Tree Lighting at Monument Square Park on Friday, December 2nd, and every day through until the New Year, the season will be filled with multiple activities celebrating the holidays creating a Winter Wonderland of festivities in New Brunswick!
Enjoy live ice carving demonstrations while Hub City Sounds provides musical entertainment before the tree lighting ceremony and bask in the glow of the holiday tree as we flip the switch amongst carolers and friends. Make your plans to join in on the fun and make a night out with shopping, beauty services, fine dining, and entertainment!
2022 Central Jersey Christmas Events
Holiday Craft Show @ The Historic Village at Allaire Saturday, November 19, 2022; 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Historic Village at Allaire State Park
4263 Atlantic Avenue
Farmingdale, NJ
Website/Tickets
Admission is $5 per person 6 years old and up. All proceeds of the day to benefit the educational programming at the Historic Village at Allaire!
Over 130 crafters, Allaire artisans, floral exhibits, historic demonstrations, and more to kick off the holiday season in style! Join in for their Christmas and Holiday Craft Show and Historic Demonstrations throughout the village. Local artists will be demonstrating their work. Paintings, pottery, textiles, and more! They will have craft demonstrations at the Carpenter, Blacksmith, and Tinsmith shops! General Store, Bakery, Food Truck - Pilsen Gourmet, Twisted Steaks, Best Day Ever - will be open throughout the day!
Dickens' Days
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, November 25, 26, 27, 2022
Main St.
Clinton, NJ
908-730-8800
Website
This annual family event will transform Clinton into a Victorian Village. Take a trip back in time to Victorian Clinton and celebrate the season with Clinton's festive activities including horse and carriage rides, carolers, and more! There is no better place to experience the magic of the season than downtown Clinton during Dickens Days.
Princeton Tree Lighting Ceremony
On the Green
Downtown Princeton, NJ
Website
This family event will feature live music and a visit by Santa. The tree will be a 65-foot Norwegian spruce decorated over 32,000 lights.
Downtown Toms River Tree Lighting/Winter Village
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, December 2, 3, 4, 2022; 5:00 PM to 7 PM
Town Hall Courtyard
Washington Street
Toms River, NJ
732-341-8738
Website
The weekend celebration begins with the Tree Lighting on Friday, with Live entertainment at 5pm. Santa arrives on the fire truck at 7pm to light the tree. Photos with Santa will follow the tree lighting in Town Hall. Live music and entertainment.
On Saturday & Sunday, The courtyard will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland Village. Vendors, kid's activities, hot chocolate station, holiday music and more. Downtown businesses will be open.
Christmas on the Farm
Saturday, December 3rd, 2022; 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-737-3299
Website
Parking & Admission are free.
Revisit the 1900 era on a horse drawn wagon to help shock and pick corn, and return to the barnyard to help shell it, grind it, and bake it into cornbread. Children are invited to join the fun of cutting and decorating the tree before St. Nick arrives to hear their Christmas wishes and give out cookies and coal as the case may be. Throughout the day there will be farmhouse tours, live music, wagon rides, and a children's craft program. In the Visitor Center, there is hearty lunch fare, a gift shop featuring the farm's own honey, maple syrup and popcorn ... and a 2-seater sleigh perfect for taking family portraits.
Visitors are invited to bring canned goods for contribution to the farm's Share the Harvest Program, which this year has produced 28,000 lbs. of grain products, fresh vegetables, eggs and woolen wear for local food banks and pantries. Toys for Tots is also accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys to help bring joy to America's less fortunate children this holiday season.
Christmas in Ocean Grove
Saturday, December 3rd, 2022; 10 am - 8pm
Bishop Janes Tabernacle
Auditorium Square Park
Ocean Grove, NJ
Website
Free Event
This event features, a christmas concert, a childrens birthday party for Jesus, a Live Nativity, Christmas Tree Lighting & Carols, and The Arrival of Santa.
Lighting Up Nature Drive-thru
December 16, 17, 18, 19, 2022: 6:00pm - 8PM
Jakes Branch County Park Nature Center
1100 Double Trouble Road
Beechwood, NJ 08722
(732) 281-2750
Website
Cost: Free
This evenimg drive tru features a lifghting up nature with holiday lights.
Historic Allaire Christmas Lantern Tours
Saturday, December 17, 2022; 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Historic Village at Allaire
Blacksmith Shop
4263 Atlantic Avenue
Wall Township, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $35 - $45.
Spend an evening strolling through the Historic Village at Allaire by candlelit lantern and enjoy the rich history of Christmas in the 1800s! Visit the Chapel, Bakery, Blacksmith's Shop, Allaire Residence and more as your guided tour brings alive the spirit of Christmas past with traditions and holiday decorations to delight everyone. You will experience music, history & theater, as you create a new holiday tradition of our Christmas Lantern Tours! Its the best way to see the village at night and these are the final village tours of 2022season.
Advance ticket purchase is required for this event, capacity is limited! Each tour is an outdoor walking tour, with various stops/walk-throughs of our historic buildings along the way. Please prepare accordingly. Not recommended for young children.
