Experience the Best of December in New Jersey:
Top 10 Things To Do!

Running Nightly from December 4 – December 31 2026, except December 24, December 25.

Holiday Lights at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey, is a popular holiday-season attraction featuring a dazzling display of millions of twinkling lights illuminating the zoo’s pathways, trees, and animal-themed decorations.

This festive annual tradition offers families, children, and visitors of all ages a magical opportunity to experience the beauty of the holiday season while strolling through colorful light displays and enjoying the cheerful atmosphere. Holiday Lights at Turtle Back Zoo is a wonderful addition to a New Jersey winter getaway, making it a favorite destination for family outings, holiday date nights, and seasonal activities

Check the zoo’s official website before visiting.

Running daily from December 1 – December 30, 2026, except December 7, 14, 25.

Step aboard a real train and relive the magic of The Polar Express on this beloved holiday adventure in Whippany, New Jersey.

Departing from Whippany Station, families are immersed in the classic Christmas story as they journey toward the "North Pole" aboard a festively decorated train.

Santa Claus boards the train to greet children and present each guest with a special silver sleigh bell, creating a memorable holiday experience for all ages.

Perfect for families with young children, the experience combines storytelling, live entertainment, and holiday nostalgia, making it one of North Jersey's most popular seasonal traditions.

Check the Polar Express website before visiting

Running every nightly in December, 2026, The Diggerland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show in West Berlin, New Jersey, transforms America's only construction-themed amusement park into a festive winter wonderland.

Visitors stay warm in their vehicles as they drive through a course filled with dazzling holiday lights, illuminated tunnels, animated displays, festive scenes, and brightly decorated construction machines.

The light show follows approximately a 1.5-mile route through the park, offering colorful displays, themed scenes, and glowing light tunnels. It's a popular South Jersey holiday tradition that appeals to visitors of all ages, especially families looking for a festive outing without having to leave their vehicle.

Check the official Diggerland website before visiting

Running nightly in December, 2026, experience the wonder of the holiday season at Magic of Lights.

This festive drive-through spectacle dazzles visitors with brilliant LED displays, animated holiday scenes, and sparkling light tunnels, all enjoyed from the comfort of your vehicle.

Families can enhance their visit with seasonal activities at the Toyota Holiday Village, including photos with Santa, ice skating, holiday treats, and synchronized light shows, making it a treasured New Jersey holiday tradition.

Check PNC Banks Arts Center Website before visiting

Limited engagement, December 11, 12 & 13, 2026, this festive holiday event gathers more than 30 beloved stars from iconic Hallmark and TV holiday movies for fan meet-and-greets, autograph signings, photo opportunities, and live Q&A panels.

Beyond getting up close with celebrity guests, attendees can explore an extensive holiday market full of unique seasonal gifts and collectibles, participate in workshops and ugly sweater contests, and immerse themselves in a lively, winter-wonderland convention experience.

Check the official Christmas Con website before visiting

While Liberty Science Center is open throughout December 2026, the special Holiday Adventure program runs from December 26 - December 31. The Science Center offers families a festive seasonal outing that combines holiday fun with hands-on science and interactive discovery.

The science center is a popular destination for children and adults, featuring engaging exhibits, educational activities, and immersive experiences that encourage visitors to explore, experiment, and learn together.

Holiday-themed activities and special seasonal programming can make a visit especially memorable for families looking for an entertaining indoor attraction during the winter holiday season.

Check the official Liberty Science Center website before visiting

During December, the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk offers a festive seaside setting for holiday sightseeing, dazzling casino displays, seasonal entertainment, and special Christmas performances at select venues.

Visitors can stroll along the historic boardwalk, enjoy ocean views, explore elaborately decorated casino resorts, discover holiday shopping and dining specials, and take in live music, comedy, and seasonal shows.

With its combination of sparkling holiday decorations, exciting entertainment, Atlantic Ocean scenery, and lively nightlife, Atlantic City offers a memorable destination for couples, families, and holiday travelers looking for festive things to do at the Jersey Shore in December.

Check the official Atlantic City Holiday Website before visiting

Limited engagement, December 30, 2026, through January 3, 2027, Jurassic Quest brings a massive, interactive prehistoric experience to families and dinosaur enthusiasts.

The event features life-sized, photorealistic animatronic dinosaurs, including a massive 60-foot Spinosaurus and an 80-foot Apatosaurus, alongside themed areas like Ancient Oceans—featuring a giant glowing Megalodon—and Frozen Frontier with Ice Age woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

A sensory-friendly hour with lowered sounds and dimmer lights is offered to ensure an accessible, lower-stress environment for all guests.

Check the official Jurassic Quest website before Visiting

Running nightly in December, the Winter WonderLights is a popular holiday drive-through experience hosted at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds.

Spanning roughly a mile, the festive attraction features over two million animated lights synchronized to a dedicated holiday soundtrack broadcast right through visitor car radios. Guests remain cozy in their vehicles while rolling past towering Christmas trees, glowing archways, and dazzling light tunnels celebrating seasonal winter themes.

Check out the official Winter Wonder Lights website before visiting

Operating on select days in December, 2026, the Harvest Christmas Memories event is a festive family holiday experience featuring a Musical Light Show Hayride that takes visitors past beautifully illuminated barns, tractors, and farmhouses synchronized to favorite Christmas songs.

Families can also explore the sparkling Fire and Lights displays in the Discovery Barnyard, enjoy a seasonal light show, visit farm animals, and warm up by fire pits while making s’mores. This popular South Jersey Christmas attraction is ideal for families with children seeking memorable holiday activities in December.

Check out the Johnson's Corner Farm official website before visiting