Christmas Isn’t Cancelled! These 17 NJ Events Are Still Taking Place

Yes, 2020 has ruined a lot of holiday fun…but here’s the thing…we need to make the most of it. I have previously posted about Drive-Thru Holiday Lights and Where to Find the Best Christmas Lights in NJ, and NOW I have even more events going on this season that you must check out.

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Lambertville Magic: Join the Hunt for the Magic Bear
Now – December 29th
There are small, adorable polar bears at 13 locations throughout Lambertville and you’re encouraged to visit all 13. You should start at Homestead Market, 262 North Main Street. It is a wonderful farm market, filled with fresh holiday greens and delicious things to eat. You will receive your first clue there. Then, just follow the clues from place to place and enjoy discovering Lambertville and all it has to offer. Some bears are positioned in the windows of the businesses and some are hidden inside. The hunt will be available from Friday, November 27, until Sunday, December 29, 2020. When you have completed the hunt, ask at any of the 13 participating locations for information on how you can enter a drawing to win a Basket of Lambertville Magic. This basket contains your own magic bear and gift certificates for all 13 participating merchants. If you win, you can enjoy Lambertville all over again!
Lambertville, NJ
Cost: Free

A Christmas Carol
Now – December 13th
Nineteenth-century London comes to life at the Sitnik Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center, courtesy of the Centenary Stage Company. This new adaptation of the Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, should be at the top of your list for Christmas events in NJ. Though indoors, the safety measures in place are contactless ticketing, required masks, social distance seating (with a max of 112 people in the theater), and regular deep cleaning.
715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ
$25 per ticket

Christmas at Allaire
December 13 and 20 
Experience what an 1830’s Christmas was like at the decorated-to-the-nines Allaire Village. Each Sunday until Christmas, wander through the village with each house decorated in an old-world style, watch the blacksmith, wood carving, and tinsmith demonstrations, partake in a Christmas scavenger hunt, and watch a historical cooking session. You can even mail your letter to Santa in the village’s Post Office.
4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall Township, NJ
Cost: $9.95

Fire & Ice Festival
December 18, 5PM
This event will feature the amazingly talented Wood Carver/Ice Sculpture Larry (of Larry’s Wood Carving) Yes- that’s right!! There will be fire pits, hot cocoa, and heated stores throughout the village!! Make sure to come out for this one of a kind event only at The Historic New Egypt Flea Market!!
New Egypt Flea Market, Cream Ridge/New Egypt, NJ
Cost: Free

Back to Nature Home & Garden Christmas Market
Now – December 23
Back to Nature is proud to reopen their annual December month-long holiday village (now safer than ever), the Christmas Market! Santa is staying in the North Pole this year but Back to Nature is still decked out with several pop-up holiday photo ops to satisfy your social media and holiday card needs! Plus live music, an outdoor fire pit, and a delectable food truck every weekend in December, you won’t want to miss this year’s very special Christmas Market. While taking your holiday card pictures, don’t forget to browse around for holiday décor, gifts, and of course, your Christmas tree!
Back to Nature Home and Garden, 3055 Valley Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ
Cost: Free

The Holiday Hunt
Now – December 31
Enjoy a fun, augmented reality experience on the hunt for 10 virtual holiday characters. Unlock exclusive savings and promotion in this holiday experience. Santa Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.
Westfield Plaza Mall, Paramus, NJ
Cost: Free

New Brunswick’s Winter Wonderland
Now – January 3, 2021
This season in New Brunswick will be filled with multiple activities celebrating the holidays creating a Winter Wonderland of festivities including:
• Ice Sculpting
• Glass Blowing
• Live Music
• Dance Performances
• Holiday Carolers
• Horse-Drawn Carriages
• Colorful Lights & Trees
New Brunswick City Center, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend

Holiday Adventure at Liberty Science Center
Now – January 3, 2021 (Thursday – Sunday)
Enjoy holiday experiences throughout LSC to celebrate the joy – and the science – of the season. Just a few of our seasonal highlights include:
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!
Challenge a friend or family member in the Gift Stacking Face-Off
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!
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Price of Admission

Renault Winery Resort and Golf Vinter Wonderland
Now – February 28, 2021
The Renault Winery grounds have been transformed into a festive winter wonderland! Come experience the ALL NEW Outdoor Renault Rink, designed for skaters of all ages and skill levels! Then, take a stroll through their Champagne Patio Garden and enjoy their spectacular holiday lighting displays. Sip on a Renault seasonal wine or warm up with a hot signature cocktail! Grab a quick, casual bite outside or make a dining reservation inside their newly renovated Tasting Room.
Renault Winery, 72 Bremen Avenue, Egg Harbor City, NJ
Cost: $7 – $10

Bordentown Holiday Lights and Architecture Tour
December 12 – 20
‘Tis the season! Tag along with Bordentown Walking Tours for a cheerful jaunt through merry old Bordentown for a special limited engagement tour. We’ll take you downtown to see the best decorative holiday lights, highlight the beautiful architecture that gives this little city so much of its charm, and a share festive story or two from Bordentown’s past.
Downtown Bordentown, NJ
Cost: $10 – $15

South Orange Open-Air Holiday Market
December 10, 17 & 24; 4-8PM
South Orange Village Center Alliance and Investors Bank present an outdoor shopping experience this Holiday season featuring local SOMA retailers and many of the area’s finest local artisans and craftspeople selling finely crafted jewelry, apparel, accessories, art, and gift items. The market will feature holiday music and seasonal treats creating a festive & fun holiday experience in downtown South Orange.
Sloan Street Parking Lot, South Orange, NJ
Cost: Free

Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
Now – December 24
See Santa in scuba gear swimming with sharks and the world’s tallest and smallest underwater Christmas trees. You’ll also want to check out the unique exhibits featuring touch tanks, penguins, hippos, and thousands of other aquatic animals. Reservations required
1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
Cost: Price of Admission

Lamplighter Christmas Walking Tour
Now – December 26 (Thursday – Saturday)
Gather the family and embrace your inner detective as you and your group of loved ones help the Lamplighter discover clues in this 45-minute immersive mystery walking experience. It starts at the Emlen Physick Estate and continues through the village, past the Victorian houses all decked out for the holidays.
1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ
Cost: Adults, $35, Children (3-12) $28

Bergen County Winter Wonderland
Now – February 21, 2021
While the “Wonderland” portion of the event is on hiatus for the 2020-2021 Season, Bergen County is happy to announce “THE RINK” at Winter Wonderland. The good news is they upgraded “THE RINK” again, this time with a full regulation-sized ice skating rink to give you even more ICE to skate on!
Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ
Cost: $5

Asbury Fresh Holiday Market
Now – December 20, Saturday and Sunday 11AM – 3PM
Shop at locally-curated vendors’ stalls and enjoy festive food and drinks in Asbury Park. Saturdays are more for artist and craft-oriented shops, while Sunday is a farmers’ market (which includes both farm and food vendors). Spend the rest of the day visiting the local shops and restaurants in Asbury Park.
Kennedy Park, Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: Free

Bell Works Fresh Holiday Market
Now -December 23, Wednesdays 11AM – 4PM
Shop at this indoor market with plenty of local farmers, food purveyors, local artisans, and more.
Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ
Cost: Free

Festival of the Trees
Now – January 10
Festival of Trees is an annual highlight of the holiday season showcasing a juried collection of trees and mantles displayed throughout the museum’s galleries, upstairs and down. This year’s Festival opens earlier and stays open even longer into 2021!
55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ
Cost: $10, Kids 6 and under are free