Best Christmas Events in New Jersey
Your Guide to New jersey's Top 2021 Christmas Events Including Tree Lighting Celebrations, Festivals, Parades, and more
Discover the popular 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 2021 North Jersey Christmas Events
Dasher's Newark Drive thru Christmas Light ShowNovember 19th until January 2nd, 2022: Seven days/week starting at 5pm until 10:30PM
Newark Moonlight Cinema
220 Orange St
Newark, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $30-$35/vehicle
This spectacular, unforgetable Christmas celebration features the syncing of over 1 million lights dancing to holiday music played through your car radio on 97.5 FM. The drive thru time is approximately 30 minutes.
Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights Spectacular
Friday, November 19 – Sunday, November 21 Friday, November 26 – Sunday, November 28 Friday, December 3 – Sunday, December 5 Nightly starting Friday, December 10 – Friday, December 31, 2021:From 5pm - 9pm (Closed Dec 24 & 25)
Turtle Back Zoo
Northfield Ave.
West Orange, NJ
Website
973-731-5800 560
Admission: FREE - Donation Recommended
Take a nighttime stroll through the Turtle Back Zoo to see more than 50 illuminated winter scenes and animal characters. Some of the zoo's vendors remain open for late-night snacks, including cocoa and cookies, and you can even grab a ride on the carousel (for a fee). Donations of non-perishable food items, new unwrapped toys, and new or gently used winter coats are appreciated and collected at the entrance.
Winter Walk in Taylor Park
Sunday, November 21st, 2021 until February1st, 2022;
Taylor Park
100 Main Street
Millburn, NJ
Website
Free event
Taylor Park kicks off its Winter Walk with music and activities, with the lighting of the park at 4:45pm on November 21st, 2021.
Enter the park on Millburn Avenue by the Gazebo and follow the twinkling lights that will take you through a wonderland of handmade snowflakes. The trees along the path are wrapped in lights, the enormous polar bear is the perfect setting for family photos, and the bridge is adorned with hundreds of lights that reflect into the stream that runs along the Main Street section of the park.
Orchard of Lights - Drive Thru
From November 23 until January 9, 2022
Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Rd.
Hillsdale, NJ
201-666-0472
Website/Tickets You will not be able to purchase tickets at the farm market for Orchard of Lights. The tour takes about 20-25 minutes
Cost: $35/car
Take your vehicle on a guided tour through 32 acres of brilliant holiday light displays, warm up by the fire pit and enjoy hot cocoa and treats in our retail farm market. • Take pictures with Santa • Make your own S'mores • Listen to Santa's singing Reindeer.
Skylands Christmas Light Show & Christmas Village
November 24th until January 9th, 2022
Skylands Stadium
94 Championship Pl.
Augusta, NJ 07822
Website
973-383-7644
Cost:
Light Show: $29 per carload (all tickets to be purchased at drive-thru entrance or box office, there are no online ticket sales) Save $3! Buy Advance Sale tickets at the box office (Monday–Thursday, 9–2 PM)
Outdoor Village: FREE admission
With more than two million dazzling lights on a mile-long drive-through course PLUS a new outdoor village, it's a must-see holiday attraction for your whole family.
Christmas Joy is coming back to Sussex County…Bigger, and Better than Ever. This Winter, Skylands Stadium will be Dazzled with Lights on a Mile Long Drive-Thru course that now goes ON THE FIELD. Plus a NEW & EXPANDED Outdoor Village & Winter Carnival. It's a Must-See Holiday Attraction for the Whole Family. The event is Safe, Spacious, and Distanced.
Fanwood's Famous Christmas House
Beginning
Friday, November 26, until Saturday, January 8, 2022; from dusk until 10pm
Fanwood's Famous Christmas House
83 Patterson Road
Fanwood, NJ
Website
(908) 403-6486
This holiday display features spectacular 30,000-light display. There will be a special socially distant visit by Santa on Saturday, December 4th from 4:30-7pm. Monetary donations are accepted to support the NJ Institute for Disabilities. Donations may be deposited in the dropbox by the display or online at https://www.njid.org/donate.
Holiday Train Show and Open House
November 26, 27, 28, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 2021
The Model Railroad Club
295 Jefferson Ave
Union, NJ 07083
Website
(908) 964-9724
Event Cost: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors, $6 Children
The show features show train operations where special trains traverse the club’s huge 11,000 square foot layout. Come see some of the famous trains of the past such as the Santa Fe’s famous Super Chief and New York Central’s 20th Century Limited.
Parents and kids can tour the trains and layout up-close, and get an insider’s peek at the expansion that’s currently under construction. See how track is being hand-laid, how mountains and scenery are created, and find out about the planning and engineering that goes into the club’s bi-level corkscrew loop. In addition to the HO-scale trains featured in the show, there are G-scale and N-scale layouts on display, a small play area, and gift shop.
Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular
Friday, November 26 - Sunday, January 30, 2022; Every Thursday thru Sunday , 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Bergen County Zoo at Van Saun County Park
216 Forest Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07653
Website/Tickets
Cost:
$15/adult, $7.50/child
Larger-than-life glowing lanterns have been installed creating 30+ glowing scenes. See animals real and imagined laid out throughout the zoo.
Let it Glow is a symphony of vivid glowing colors to tease your eyes and dazzle the mind. Come and enjoy an enchanting stroll throughout the zoo These larger than life lanterns are amazing in picture but stunning in person! With over 30 scenes, these hand-made artistic wonders are more breath-taking than the last! Its one of those things you need to see in person to truly appreciate.
Online reservations are recommended. The ticket includes a train ride.
A Christmas Carol Family Holiday Spectacular
November 27 - December 13, 202; Selected dates
Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center
Centenary University Sitnik Theatre
715 Grand Ave
Hackettstown, NJ
(908) 979-0900
Website/Tickets
This
Holiday favorite production, Charles Dickens, through the voice of Scrooge, continues to urge us to honor Christmas in our hearts and try to keep at it all year round.
Holiday Adventure at Liberty Science Center
November 27th, 2021 until January 3rd, 2022, Open on Select days
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd, Loading Dock
Jersey City, NJ
Tickets
Cost: Adults: $27.99, Children: $22.99, Senior $24.99
Navigate your way through the Snowflake Maze outside, where you’ll learn amazing facts about the science of snowflakes Inside, take a spin on the Sock Skating Rink – an ice rink made of synthetic ice!
Let out your seasonal joy on the dance floor at the Holiday Dance Party Experiment with phosphorescence by leaving your shadow on our glow-in-the-dark Shadow Wall Play our Snowman Riddle Scavenger Hunt game (you’ll win a prize if you solve the big puzzle!) and more!!!
Please be advised that Liberty Science Center requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all visitors age 12 years and older. We also require a valid photo ID for all visitors age 18 years and older
Morristown Christmas Festival
Sunday, November 28th, Until December 19th, 2021
2021
The Morristown Green
10 N. Park Pl.
Morristown, NJ 07960
Website
holidaysinmorristown@morristown-nj.org
Decked out in holiday finery, the Morristown Green will become a wonderland of nostalgia during the month-long festival. Visits and photos with Santa, holiday crafts, ice sculpture demonstrations, a vintage-style rocking horse and rides on a miniature train will all return to delight the children while families bask in the glow of thousands of dazzling lights.
The event kicks off on Sunday, November 28th with Santa's arrival on North Park Place and the 100+ year traditional lighting of the Morristown Green starting at 5:00 p.m. The evening will continue with Santa visits and photos until 8 p.m., as well as seasonal entertainment and hot chocolate and cookies courtesy of event sponsor, Hyatt Regency Morristown. Family activities, entertainment and Santa visits and photos will take place each Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 7 p.m. throughout December until December 19th, as well as three Fridays (December 3rd, 10th and 17th) from 3 to 8:00 p.m. Activities are free to visitors, with the exception of a $10 fee for a photo with Santa.
2021 North Jersey Christmas Events
Deck the Halls!Friday, December 3rd, 4-8pm & Saturday, December 4th, 2021, 10am - 4pm
Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall
68 Lafayette Ave.
Morristown, N.J. 07960
Website
973-267-3465
mchsacornhall@gmail.com
Cost: $25.00
Experience the best of Christmas past at Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall and Macculloch Hall Historical Museum. Enjoy holiday music on Acorn Hall’s 1872 Chickering Grand Piano and Thomas Nast’s famous Christmas scenes at Macculloch Hall. Both sites will feature festive photo opportunities and unique treasures in their respective gift shops. Pre-registration and masks are required. Space is limited. This holiday fundraiser supports both historic sites.
Plan to stay in Morristown for lunch or dinner? Your $25 event ticket will also offer a discount at Grasshopper off the Green, Morris Pizzeria, Town Bar and Kitchen, and The Office on the day you attend.
German Christmas Market of NJ
December 3. 4, 5, 2021; Friday 12 to 9PM, Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 5PM
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Rd,
Augusta, NJ
Website
majamarge@yahoo.com
Event Cost: Free
Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a German Christmas Market, Authentic Wooden Huts, Gifts, (100+ vendors) Entertainment, Food, Thousands of Lights, Christmas Trees, Snowflakes, Candy Cane Walkways and Visits from Santa Horse Drawn Carriage Wagon Rides around the fairgrounds complete with jingling sleigh bells!
Annual Liberty Tree Lighting Celebration
Saturday, December 4, 2021; from 4:00pm-7:00p
Jacobus Van derveer House
3055 River Road
Bedminster, NJ 07921
Website
(908) 396-6053
Free Event
Join in for complimentary hot cocoa and pretzels around the fire pit!
The celebration features Festive Music & Decorations, Live Historic Demonstrations, Free Photos with Santa, Surprise Holiday Pull, Poinsettia Sale, Decorating your own Gingerbread Man, Colonial Re-enactors, and more! The Tree Lighting begins at 5:00 pm.
Annual Tree of Lights Festival
December 4, 2021; @5:30pm (rain date Sunday December 5th)
Village Green
Mountain Blv'd
Watchung, NJ
Website
This event is dedicated to the Educators of Watchung. The ceremony will include music, fireworks, and more! Attendees can place a red light on our tree to honor a person, family, friends, and others. send honoree(s) name email to treasurer@watchungems.org after your transaction.
Joyeux Nöel: A Medieval Christmas in France
December 4th, 2021; 5pm - 8pm
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
73 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
Website
845-943-0610
Event Cost: $0-$25 (see event site for details)
Make your holiday season festive — and French! Join the Montclair Early Music ensemble for a celebration of medieval French Christmas music.
Noted every year for their special medieval music celebration of Christmas here in Montclair, the MONTCLAIR EARLY MUSIC group will regale this year’s LIVE audience with a tour of Christmas celebrations in the provinces of France. Joyeux Noel will feature a medieval procession with bagpipe, troubadours, juggler, dancer, and music of the French provinces performed by recorders, singers, guitarists and more.
There will be a medieval procession featuring bagpipe, juggler, dancer, troubadours, lanterns and, of course, music of the French provinces performed by recorders, singers, guitarists and more. The music may be somewhat unfamiliar but it is nonetheless highly engaging, performed by devoted musicians and led by a gifted director Jason Priest, professor of music at Montclair State University.
Note: Attendees must be vaccinated. Proof of vaccination will be required for admittance. Masks recommended. St. Luke's Episcopal Church is a wheelchair accessible venue.
Montclair Early Music (MEM) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization comprising dedicated and professional musicians. Established in 2010 by Julienne Pape, a medieval recorder artist and teacher, the Montclair Early Music group was designed to reflect the artistic and intellectual awareness of Montclair with live performances of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music at select Montclair and Essex county locations and in Montclair’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Roxbury's Annual Home for the Holidays Festival
Saturday December 4, 2021; from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Roxbury Public Library
103 Main Street
Succasunna, NJ 07876
Web Site
Contact: (973) 448-2002 , info@roxburynj.us
Event Cost: Free
A fun-filled Holiday Festival inside the Library and two churches on Main St. Vendors, crafters, food & drink, music, Irish dancers, free activities for kids, and of course Santa!
Holiday Craft Show Morristown
December 10, 11, 12, 2021: Friday 4 - 8 pm; Saturday 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday 10 am - 5 pm.
Morristown National Guard Armory
430 Western Ave.
Morristown, NJ 07960
845-331-7900
Website
Admission: Cash or Check only - General $10, Seniors (62 and up) $8, Under 16 FREE
This weekend event features creative holiday items from 175 modern American makers from across the country. Savvy shoppers have the chance to wow their loved ones with one-of-a-kind holiday gifts they will never forget. In addition to 165 craft artists from across the country are various demonstrations and a gourmet specialty food boutique.
Community Day: Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 11, 2021; 10am-5pm
Washington Park
49 Washington St
Newark, NJ
Registration:
Step inside our Winter Wonderland for food, art, and festive fun! Our transformed Museum Garden presents Hip-Hop performances, music, and dance that celebrate holidays around the world. Local vendors Pure Joi Jewelry and Spicegrove will be on-site to satisfy all your holiday shopping needs! Grab food from Hot Dog Lady and Tonnie's Minis, and the first 300 people will receive a free treat from Tonnie's Minis!
Throughout the evening, be part of the creation of Newark's Harriet Tubman Monument by decorating ceramic tiles with your stories of freedom and liberation. The tiles will later be fired and integrated into the final design of the monument.
10am: Doors & Ice Skating Rink
11am: Jingle Bell Hip-Hop Master Class
1pm: Jingle Bell Hip-Hop Performance
2pm: Dance performance by Premiere Dance
Festival of Trees
December 12, 2021; @ 11:00pm - 3:30pm ( rain or shine)
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Avenue
Summit, NJ
Registration - While pre-registration is not required, it is strongly recommended. There will be timed entry and be limiting the number of participants for each time slot
Cost: Members $5; Non-Members $10
This holiday event features a Multicultural Celebration of the Holidays. There will be arts and crafts that celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and the Solstice; musical entertainment; as well as food trucks; and holiday vendors. The highlight of the festival will be over 20 festive trees placed around the grounds decorated by local organizations, businesses and families!
