Best Christmas Events in New Jersey

Your Guide to New jersey's Top 2020 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.

COVID-19 executive orders in effect may restrict or require cancellation of events.

With near term cancellations occurring at a rapid rate, and despite trying to remove them as soon as we learn of the cancellations or restrictions, we recommend viewers contact the event sponsors before heading out to a listed event to confirm their status.

Stay tuned --- we will be updating this list as the event sponsors confirm this year's events.

Multi-date 2020 North Jersey Christmas Events

Skylands Christmas Light Show & Christmas Village
November 20th until January 3, 2021
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.

Orchard of Lights
From November 24 until December 29, 2020
Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Rd.
Hillsdale, NJ
201-666-0472
Website/Tickets
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.

The Grinch's Grotto at Garden State Plaza
November 27, 2020 - December 31, 2020; 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Westfield Garden State Plaza
One Garden State Plaza
Paramus, NJ
Tickets
$50 - General Admission (Up to 5 People) / $200 - VIP Experience (Up to 5 people)
From the creators of The Dr. Seuss Experience, step into the Grinch's Grotto, and commemorate the Grinchiest of years with our favorite green resident just north of Whoville.
This Holiday event features a Santa photo alternative for those who are feeling a little bit "Grinchy" this year. Guests will enter this free-standing location for a one-of-a-kind visit with The Grinch in his special cave for a photo-shoot and other special surprises that are both intimate and in true Grinch fashion - socially-distant.
When you reserve your spot, you and your loved ones will get a rare opportunity to visit the Grinch in his special cave and strike a pose (or two) with him. Plus, you won't leave empty-handed. Each group will emerge with not just a photo taken by a professional photographer, but also with a few extra special Grinchy surprises. Space will be very limited to ensure social distancing, so make sure and reserve your spot early!
*All visits will be limited to one family or group of friends at a time, with a limit of 5 people per group.

Fanwood's Famous Christmas House
Beginning Friday, November 27, until Friday, Jan 8, 2021; 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 5 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 www.njid.org

Festival of Trees
December 5 - 12, 2020; 1pm - 6pm
The Barn at Highland Ridge Park
100 North Road
Chester, NJ.
Website
(908) 879-2202; or email info@srcnj.org
The Festival of Trees is a community celebration featuring a spectacular display of holiday trees in a winter-wonderland setting. The trees are individually decorated by families, businesses, and civic organizations and enjoyed by hundreds of people.
Santa will visit on Saturday, Dec. 5, 1:30-5; Sunday, 1-4; Tuesday & Thursday, 2-4; Wednesday & Friday , 3:30-6; Saturday, Dec. 12, 1-4. All CDC Guidelines will be in place. The wearing of masks, appropriate distancing and occupancy regulations of 25 attendees at a time will be followed.The majority of the trees are offered for silent auction during the week-long event. Local musical talents entertain Festival attendees while touring the spectacle.
Proceeds from the Festival support the activities and programs of the Senior Resource Center.

Winter Walk in Taylor Park
Now until Januaru 24, 2021
Taylor Park
100 Main Street
Millburn, NJ
Website
Free event
Enjoy ths socially distant walk as you 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. Continue your stroll along the Main Street entrance, over the bridge near the Bauer Center and then head for hot chocolate or dinner at your choice of numerous restaurants.

Camuso Family Christmas Display
Beginning December 5, 2020 (Sunday -Thursday 5pm – 9pm; Friday & Saturday 5pm – 10pm)
Robert Harp Drive
Livingston, NJ
Website
Cost : Free ( Donations accepted)
Website
A livingston family tradition, originated more than 50 years ago by Ernest Camuso, and families have enjoyed the holiday treat ever since. This walk thru features animated characters, coupled with tens of thousands of colorful lights arranged in a display open on the front lawn. The centerpiece is the Christmas tree built by Mr. Camuso. It stands 26 feet high, rotates on a mechanical base, and has more than 10,000 colored lights adorning more than 100 individual tree branches, capped with a 4 foot lighted star.
The Camuso family continues the tradition in Mr. Camuso's memory and accepts donations for the St. Barnabas Burn Foundation.
Visitors are required to wear masks or face coverings and remain 6ft apart from other visitors that are not in your group or family.

2020 North Jersey Christmas Events

Holiday Craft Show Morristown
December 11, 12, 13, 2020: Friday 4 - 8 pm; Saturday 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday 11 am - 5 pm.
Morristown National Guard Armory
430 Western Ave.
Morristown, NJ 07960
845-331-7900
Website
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.

5th Annual Live Nativity spectacular!
December 12th & 13th, 2020: 5 PM & 7 PM two performances each night.
Times Square Church, North Jersey Campus
450 Howard Blvd
Mount Arlington NJ
Website
(212) 541-6300
Free Admission
This live holiday event, located in the church's parking lot, features live animals, 23 actors, multiple set drama, professional sound and lighting, and live seasonal Christmas carols. Social distancing and masks required.
They are adhering to all CDC guidelines wearing masks outside and social distancing. Families are welcome to sit and social distance together. All cast members, musicians, and crew are COVID tested each day before the event for safety.

Festival of Trees
December 13, 2020; @ 11:00pm - 3:30pm ( rain or shine)
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Avenue
Summit, NJ
Tickets
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!
Due to COVID, there will be two time slots: 11 am to 1 pm and 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm with a limited number of participants for each. While pre-registration is not required, it is strongly recommended.

Holiday Adventure at Liberty Science Center
Dec. 26-30: 10 am - 5 pm, ( Dec. 31 & Jan. 1: Closed), Jan. 2 & 3: 10 am - 5 pm
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd, Loading Dock
Jersey City, NJ
Web Site
Contact: Christina Ferrari
201-253-1347
cferrari@lsc.org
Cost: Adults: $24.99, Children: $19.99
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!) Get tickets to Laser Wonderland: A Holiday Lights and Music Show, with songs from Mariah Carey, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Frozen and more! You can also get tickets to any of our amazing astronomy shows in the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium Experience all of our featured and permanent exhibitions, like Beyond Rubik’s Cube, Storyland, DC Super Heroes, Wild About Animals, Infinity Climber, and more!
They are limiting capacity at the Science Center all season, among many other COVID-19 safety measures.