Best South Jersey Family Festivals and Themed Events

Your Guide to The Best South Jersey Family Festivals and Events:
Features Family Oriented Music, Food, Entertainment and Fun Activities

They feature festivals events with special themes and are known for having good music, food, entertainment, skilled artisans and performers, fun activities, crafts, and more!

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.

Multi-Date Southern Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

Diggerfest Fall Festival
Selected dates: September 23rd - November 26th, 2023
Diggerland USA
100 Pinedge Dr
West Berlin, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $42.95
This family event at a top south NJ construction-themed park features an opportintiy for kids to ride & operate all of the amazing construction machines. There will also be live music, specialty food, hay rides, fun and games, hay rides, a petting zoo, a corn maze, fire truck rides, and more!.

An Old Fashioned Christmas in Cape May
November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024 (Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas )
Cape May, NJ
Website
This seaside town is transformed into a Dickens village for the holidays with garlands of fragrant greens and twinkling gaslights. Wrap yourself in the warmth of holiday spirit and sample a variety of fun tours and events.
The holiday season kicks off with the tree lighting ceremony on November 19, 2022. Other events include Christmas Candlelight house tours, Santa's Trolley rides, and more!

Smithville Holiday Light Show On The Lake
From Thanksgiving, until January 6th, 2024; Every day of the week, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Historical Smithville
615 E. Moss Mill Rd.
Smithville, NJ 08205
Website
609-748-8999
Over 120 Christmas Trees made from over 50,000 Christmas lights, magically float on Lake Meone in the center of Historic Smithville. The moment darkness falls, an orchestrated show of lights and music is played out across the lake. The lights seem to dance and chase each other to the music all the while reflecting of the water's surface. This show can be seen from either side of the village as well as the bridge.

November 2023 Southern Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

Winter Village at the Ludlam
November 24, 25, 2023
corner of JFK Boulevard and Landis Avenue
Sea Isle City, NJ
Website
This Thanksgiving weekend Holiday event features live music, ice skating, holiday vendors, and for the kids, a visit by Santa Claus in the Family Tent.

Collingswood Holiday Parade
Saturday, November 25, 2023; beginning at 10 am
Downtown, Collingswood, NJ
Website
The parade features lively seasonal entertainment, including marching bands, dancers, holiday characters, giants on stilts, floats, mummers, sports mascots and live music!
The parade will begin at Zane Avenue and continue to West Linden Avenue, through the heart of historic Collingswood.

Mullica Hill Lights on Main
Saturday, November 25th, 2023; 5 PM - 9 PM ( Raindate is November 26th)
South Main Street
Mullica Hill, NJ
Website
Christmas will officially begin when the 60 foot Christmas is lit. Come join in the revelry, festivities and laughter! Carriage rides along Main Street. Delicious refreshments and drinks. Activities for the kids. Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa.

Santa's Tree Lighting Celebration
Saturday, November 25th, 2023; 3pm - 6pm
Cape May County Park and Zoo
707 U.S. 9, Middle Township
Middle Township, New Jersey 08210
Web Site
Contact: (609) 465-5271, Email: [email protected]
Cost: Free admission
The Ceremony and Lighting of the Tree will be at 5:00 P.M. Vendors with collectibles and crafts for sale including unique items from the Cape May County Associations of Zoo Keepers will be available from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm. The Zoo will be open from 10 am to 3:30 pm. The celebration will include live holiday music by the John Walter Cape Community Band, bounce house castle & slide, character appearances, free treats for all and a visit by the jolly man himself in the red suit. Also don't miss the performance of "Elves Gone Wild."

Swedesboro Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 25, 2023; Parade @ 1pm. Lighting @6:30 pm
Swedesboro Borough Hall
1500 Kings Highway
Swedesboro,NJ 08085
(856) 467-0202
Website
Kings Highway will be alive with Christmas cheer as Swedesboro celebrates the start of the holiday season with its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 26th at 1pm. The parade will take place on Kings Highway at Walter Hill School and will continue all the way through the downtown where it will end at Church Street.
The annual Christmas tree lighting and caroling at the Swedesboro Borough Hall, @ 6:30 pm. Refreshments will follow.

Showboat Atlantic City Tree Lighting Ceremony
Tuesday November 28, 2023: 4:30pm - 9pm
Showboat Resort
801 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
This event features the lighting up of the city's iconic boardwalk with a 50-ft Christmas tree for the holiday season.. Bring your family and friends to this in-person event and experience the joy of the holiday season. Enjoy live performances by local artists, indulge in delicious seasonal treats, and participate in fun activities for all ages.

December 2023 Southern Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

Atlantic City Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, December 1, 2023 @ 5pm
Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
The official kickoff event to the 2023 Atlantic City Holiday Experience will take place on the world-famous Boardwalk at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino. Trees throughout the city will be lit simultaneously.
Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, holiday treats and more! Get in the holiday spirit by donating a new unwrapped toy to our Toys for Kids toy collection or a cash donation to 177th FW Spouse Foundation.

Renault Winery Tree Lighting
Friday, December 1, 2023; 4pm - 8pm
Renault Winery Resort
72 N Bremen Avenue
Egg Harbor City, NJ
Website
Tree lighting at 6:30pm
Grand Opening of Vintner Wonderland! Be part of a cherished tradition as we illuminate our magnificent Christmas tree made from historic barrels, casting a warm and festive glow over this historic estate. This joyous occasion marks the official beginning of their vintner wonderland festivities. Photos with Santa and Ice Skating will be open for all in attendance!

Somers Point Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
Friday, December 1, 2023: @ 6:30pm
Somers Point, NJ
Website
The annual Christmas Parade and tree lighting, starting at 6:30 p.m. The parade begins at Dawes Avenue and continues along Shore Road to City Hall, 1 W. New Jersey Ave. Somers Point. Volunteer Fire Companies 1 & 2 will escort Santa Claus to City Hall where the tree lighting will take place after the parade. Parade participants can include floats, vehicles, bands, and walkers.

Ocean City Train Show
December 2nd & 3rd, 2023: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Historic Music Pier
Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace
Ocean City, NJ
Website
For more information call 609-399-6111
Admission is Free.
Large model train displays are featured every holiday season at this resort's popular Train Show and Sale.
The show features colorful working displays that delight children and adults alike plus vendors who sell trains, parts, accessories and memorabilia suitable for year around and holiday exhibits. The stage of the Music Pier will highlight a working exhibit of Gauge 1 railway trains by thy South Jersey Garden Railroad Society. The exhibit is a favorite of children, as they can sit on stage and watch large models circle through colorful foliage and forest settings. Members of the Society will discuss outdoor garden exhibits and youngsters will be permitted to take the controls of the display.

Winterfest
Saturday, December 9, 2023; 1 PM - 7 PM
Historic Smithville Park
803 Smithville Road
Eastampton, NJ
Website
This family event features a elebration of all things winter that will warm your heart. It's a magical setting on the grounds of Historic Smithville Park. You will find wandering carolers dressed in Victorian attire, holiday activities for all ages, including live entertainment, a wine and mulled cider tent, a Holiday Marketplace, ice skating, ice carving, art exhibits curated for the season, and, of course, Victorian Santa!

New Year's Eve Fireworks aboard the Battleship New Jerseey
December 31, 2023 @ 10pm -12:30 am
Battleship New Jersey
100 Clinton Street
Camden NJ 08103
Website/Registration
Tickets: $10
Watch fireworks over the Delaware River from the historic deck of the Battleship New Jersey! Enjoy music, food concessions, a cash bar for adults, and have the chance to fire a Gun Salute. Proceeds go to the on-going restoration of the Battleship, a non-profit museum and memorial. Tickets are a $10 donation for the general session for both the 6pm and Midnight fireworks shows. The Battleship will open her decks two hours prior to each show. Tours are part of the fireworks shows

First Night Ocean City
Sunday, December 31, 2023; 4pm - midnight
Ocean City, NJ 08226
609-525-9300
Website/Schedule/purchase buttons
Cost: Buttons $17 per person (inclusive of service fee) until November 30th. $22 per person (inclusive of service fee) starting December 1st.
This non-alcoholic, family friendly event features a complete schedule of entertainment leading up to fireworks at midnight. at the 5th ave beach.
For the 31st Anniversary of First Night, two headliners Gypsy - The Music of Stevie Nicks and Motor City - The music of Motown will be entertaining crowds at the Music Pier.

Sea Isle City -- New Year's Eve Celebration
December 31, 2023
JFK Blvd. at the Beach
Sea Isle City, NJ 08243
Website
609-263-8687
This celebration features a spectacular Fireworks display on the beach @ 8pm