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.
Dickens' Days
November 26th - 28th, 2021
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!
Holiday Express Concert, Tree Lighting, & Activities
Friday, November 26th, 2021; beginning @5:30pm
Downtown
Red Bank, NJ
Website
Kick off the season with the annual Holiday Express Concert & Town Lighting. Holiday Express will be rocking the streets with all of your favorite tunes.
@
5:30pm Holiday Dance and Music Performance at the Red Bank Train Station
6:45pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus parade down Monmouth to Broad Street
7:00pm Holiday Express Concert begins (stage located on Broad Street near Garmany)
8:00pm Tree lighting
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.
Santa Arrival Party at MarketFair
November 26th, 2021; 10:30am - 1pm
MarketFair
3535 US HIGHWAY 1
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Website
laurynn@cashmanandassociates.com
Event Cost: Free
Celebrate Santa's Arrival as his helpers and musicians prepare for his Grand Entrance to MarketFair! Interactive Holiday Shows, Arts & Crafts, Balloon Sculpting, Mrs. Claus Storytime, and giveaways for the first 150 registrants!
Winter Village at the Red Mill Museum
Friday, November 26th through Sunday, November 28th, 2021 from 10am - 4pm
Red Mill Museum Village
56 Main Street
Clinton, NJ
908.735.4101
Tickets - $10
This event features over 40 artisan crafters, specialty foods and craft beer set inside the bucolic Red Mill Museum Village made even more special with holiday lights and decor throughout the museum grounds.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Red Mill Museum Village, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
Roxey Ballet's American Holiday Classic Nutcracker
November 27, 28, 2021; @3pm
Villa Victoria Academy
376 West Upper Ferry Road
Ewing Township, NJ
Website
609-397-7616
Event Cost: General Admission: $36.00
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.
Bradley Beach Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, November 28, 2021; 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Riley Park
Bradley Beach
732-776-2999
Website
Santa will arrive by Fire Truck Horse and wagon rides Refreshments & Entertainment and Santa Claus.
The Annual Long Branch Tree Lighting in Pier Village
Sunday, November 28th, 2021; 4-6pm
Festival Plaza
Pier Village
Long Branch, NJ
Website
732-222-7000
This family fun event features the Pier Village ice skating rink, mini train rides, meet & greet with Santa, a live marching band, costumed characters, stilt walkers, carousel rides, dancers and a live performances by Tim McLoone and the Shirleys and the Long Branch High School Marching Band and Dance team. The ice rink, Ice at the Pier, will be open from 10am-9pm. There will be costumed characters, a meet & greet with Santa, and free mini train rides around Festival Plaza. The Pier Village Carousel will be open from 12PM – 9PM.
Asbury Park Holiday Tree Lighting
Friday, December 3rd, 2021; @5:30pm
Firemen's Park
(Sunset Avenue and Main Street)
Asbury Park, NJ
Website
Kick off the holiday season in Asbury Park! Visit with Santa, enjoy holiday music and refreshments and celebrate with your neighbors.
Downtown Somerville Holiday Jubilee
Friday, December 3, 2021; 5pm - 9pm
Division Street Plaza
Somerville, NJ
Website
There's festive music in the air with a tree lighting, horse drawn carriage rides, frozen characters, a visit from Santa, photos, Holiday musical performances, hot cocoa, cookies, and more,
Downtown Toms River Tree Lighting
Friday, December 3, 2021; 5:00 PM to 7 PM
Town Hall Courtyard
Washington Street
Toms River, NJ
732-341-8738
Website
Annual Tree Lighting and the arrival of Santa Clause! Ceremony. Live holiday musical entertainment, reading of "A Christmas Carol" by Mrs. Claus, Santa arrives on fire truck at 7:00pm to light the town tree. Photos with Santa after tree lighting. Hot chocolate and cookies for sale by Fire Co. #1
Christmas on the Farm
Saturday, December 4, 2021; 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-737-3299
Website
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. Parking & Admission are free.
Christmas in Ocean Grove
Saturday, December 4th, 2021; 3pm - 8pm
Bishop Janes Tabernacle
Auditorium Square Park
Ocean Grove, NJ
Website
Free Event
This event features, The Worls Milal Missionary Choir Concert, a Live Nativity, TChristmas Tree Lighting & Carols, The Arrival of Santa, and the Finale Christmas Celebration Concert.
Ocean Grove Holiday Craft Festival
December 4th, 2021; 10am - 4pm (Rain or Shine)
Downtown
Main Ave
Ocean Grove, NJ
Website
732-774-1391
Free admission
This event features artisans & craft makers, with live music by the Band of Strays
Christmas in Raritan
Saturday, December 11, 2021; 1 pm - 6 pm
Downtown Raritan
Somerset Street
Raritan, NJ
Website
908-507-9062
Event Cost: Free
Join in for an afternoon of Merriment at the Christmas in Raritan Event. Come with an appetite as there will be a variety of seasonal foods for you to purchase. There will be food, beverages, crafts, activities, carolers, lots of fun for all ages, with live entertainment and carolers singing a selection of festive songs to get you in the festive mood.... and Santa Claus is coming to town.
Lighting Up Nature Drive-thru
Saturday & Sunday, December 18, 19, 2021: 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.