Enjoy Holiday Fun in South Jersey this Season!
Our friends at Visit South Jersey have once again compiled a list of the best things to do this season in South Jersey. From train shows, to holiday house tours, carriage rides, ice skating and more…there’s lots of fun going on this holiday season!
25+ Festive Events in South Jersey 2019:
Burlington County:
Holiday Train Show
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays | Thanksgiving – December | 4 PM – 8 PM
Old City Hall, Downtown Bordentown
The Old City Hall Restoration Committee presents the Holiday Train Display! Visit every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Thanksgiving weekend through December to see this exciting show! There will be various photos, calendars, and memorabilia along with over 200 train pieces displayed for everyone’s enjoyment. Admission is free.
Burlington City Holiday House Tour
December
Historic Downtown Burlington City
Free Parking. Visit 15–20 houses, including private homes and historic sites, all decked out for the holiday season. Tickets discounted in advance; if any tickets remain, they are available the night of the Tour. Benefits the City of Burlington Historical Society. Call (609) 386-7125 for info.
Daily Victorian Christmas Tours
December 2 – 30 | 1 PM, 2 PM & 3 PM
Candlelight Tours are also available on select dates at 7 PM
Historic Smithville Mansion, Eastampton
Smithville Mansion’s theme for this year is “Christmas Around the World” and daily Christmas Tours of the mansion will begin on December 2nd and continue through December 30th with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A donation of $8 per adults and $7 for seniors and students is requested. During the holiday season, they also offer special evening candlelight tours and holiday tea events (click here to see dates); however, reservations are required.
Annual Holiday Chocolate Walk
Friday, December 6 | 6 PM – 9 PM
Downtown Bordentown
Grab your chocolate passport and head to the shops on Farnsworth Avenue to pick up a wide variety of sweet treats! With each stop you get your passport stamped. Once it’s full, drop it off at the Downtown Bordentown Association tent for a chance to win prizes! $5 fee to participate.
Medford Dickens Festival
Saturday, December 7 | 4:30 PM – 9 PM
Downtown Medford
Step back in time for a festive experience the whole family will enjoy! Experience Medford in a whole new way with holiday carolers, great food, hot chocolate, magic, comedy, juggling, live presentations, free admission and free parking. The event is rain or shine, and fun for all ages!
Victorian Holiday at Smithville Mansion
Sunday, December 8 | 1 PM – 5 PM
Smithville Mansion Grounds, Eastampton
The Victorian Holiday event will be sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Festivities will include ice carving demonstrations, live reindeer, tours of Smithville Mansion decorated for the holidays and live entertainment by The Village Carolers. Kids can make an ornament to hang on the Smithville Tree or skate on the iceless skating rink. Visit the Holiday Marketplace to find unique gifts for family and friends. Mrs. Claus will tell inside stories about Saint Nick, who arrives by carriage at 2:00 PM. There will be holiday train and carriage rides for the enjoyment of all. Tree lighting ceremony at the conclusion of the event! This event is free.
Mount Holly Holiday House Tour
Saturday, December 14 | 3 PM – 8 PM
Main Street Mount Holly
Get into the Christmas spirit with the Mount Holly Holiday House Tour! The house tour is a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday season. This year the tour will feature ten historic homes decorated in various styles of Christmas, plus some extra cheer from the The Woolman Memorial and Shinn Log Cabin! Proceeds benefit Main Street Mount Holly.
Holly Jolly Weekend
December 14 & 15 | 11 AM – 3 PM
Valenzano Winery, Shamong
Join Valenzano Winery for one last stop on your holiday shopping list! They will be decking the halls with fresh baked sweets, holiday music, and an array of artisan vendors who all hope to offer that perfect last minute addition to your list. Of course, plenty of Valenzano wine will be available for you to purchase and taste. Admission is $10 and includes wine tasting, access to vendors, and an opportunity to grab a table and your favorite bottle of wine to enjoy the afternoon’s seasonal joy!
Camden County:
WinterFest at Diggerland
Now – December 29 | 11 AM – 5 PM
Diggerland USA, West Berlin
WinterFest at Diggerland is an on-going winter festival! Your membership or general admission ticket grants you access to all rides and heavy machinery attractions, plus the additional experiences and programming that encompass this month-long festival. Enjoy holiday hayrides, a holiday parade, bonfires, ornament decorating, and so much more! WinterFest at Diggerland takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from now through December 29th.
WinterFest Ice Skating on the Cooper
Now – February 17 | Thursday – Sunday, plus special events
Cooper River Park, Pennsauken Township
Cooper River Park has once again transformed into a winter wonderland with tasty treats and ice skating family fun! WinterFest is the perfect place to spend your holiday nights skating with friends and family. New this year: WinterFest will include more family fun with arcade games in the heated tent and outdoor games for families to enjoy when they are off the ice. Magic is in the air and there is something here for everyone to enjoy this season!
Haddonfield Candlelight Shopping
Every Friday Night Now– December 20
Downtown Haddonfield
Experience this annual event in one of South Jersey’s best places to live! Every Friday night through December 20th knock those gifts off your holiday list by shopping small on Haddonfield’s main strip and side streets! You can also enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, live entertainment, and carriage rides. Free Parking through December 25.
Adventure Aquarium’s Christmas Underwater
Now – December 30
Camden Waterfront
Tis the season for a magical Christmas experience with Scuba Santa! Visit him in Ocean Realm as he spreads the magic of Christmas to every child and animal and stops for underwater selfies with kids of all ages.
Collingswood’s Holly Jolly Trolley Lights Tour
December 6, 13 & 20 | 5 PM – 8:30 PM
Downtown Collingswood
Collingswood adds more fun to the holiday season with the first Holly Jolly Trolley lights tour! Bundle up and take a ride past the twinkliest homes in Collingswood! This ticketed trolley will board in Collingswood’s downtown at a boarding spot, giving guests an opportunity to plan a night to enjoy the trolley then shop and dine in the Borough’s “winter wonderland” complete with caroling, visits with Santa and free parking! Collingswood Rotary Club is providing the Trolley guide services, and donations are welcome to support future Rotary scholarships and projects.
Santa’s Here
Saturday, December 7 | 1 PM – 4 PM
Camden Children’s Garden, Camden
We’re decorating trees at the Garden, greeting Santa and telling lots of holiday stories! The hot chocolate and apple cider with cookies are delicious! Join in the fun! For details, call (856) 365-8733.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Tuesday, December 31 | 4 PM – Midnight
Battleship New Jersey, Camden Waterfront
The Battleship New Jersey will open her decks for guests to watch the 6 PM or midnight SugarHouse New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Camden Waterfront! There will be music, food concessions and bar service. Come aboard for just a $10 donation per person. All proceeds go to the on-going restoration of the battleship.
Gloucester County:
Candlelight Tours of Whitall House
Friday, December 6 | 6 PM – 9 PM
Saturday, December 7 | 3 PM – 9 PM
Sunday, December 8 | 3 PM – 7 PM
Red Bank Battlefield, National Park
Experience the Whitall House by the glow of candlelight. Tour the 18th century home complete with beautiful, seasonal, natural, and handmade decorations. For more information call 856-853-5120.
Boro in Lights
Friday, December 6 | 6 PM – 9 PM
Downtown Glassboro
Glassboro, in partnership with Kingsway Church, presents Boro in Lights, an annual holiday celebration and tree lighting! Ring in the holidays with horse and carriage rides, photos with Santa, live performances, and an ice sculpture demonstration. There will also be a Toys for Tots and Canned Food Drive.
Let it Snow
December 7, 14 & 21 | Showtimes Vary
Edelman Planetarium, Rowan University
Join the Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University for a holiday music show celebrating the winter season! Artistic impressions of various popular winter holiday music come to life on the dome transporting the entire family to a magical wonderland of music and light. Bells and reindeer, presents and cookies, snow and nutcrackers in spectacles of fun.
Night of Lights
Friday & Saturday Nights in December
Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill
Enjoy the magic of Christmas at Creamy Acres Farm! This dairy farm is transformed into a Christmas wonderland with huge sparkling light displays, a musical dancing tree light show, and lights galore! Bring the family for an old-fashioned hayride set to the tune of your favorite Christmas songs, stroll through the Barnyard Walk aglow with lights, make s’mores by the fire, and get your photo taken with Santa. The Night of Lights Country Christmas Hayride is a fun family event that is sure to please kids of all ages.
Elf N Cocoa Run
December 14 & 15 | 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM
RiverWinds Community Center, West Deptford
The Elf N Cocoa Run is heading back to RiverWinds for their holiday themed 5K/8K/1 mile kids run. 8K and 5K runners get a custom knitted pom pom hat by BOCO Gear. 1 Milers get a tech shirt, finishers medal, and elf hat! Plus, holiday music, food trucks, and sweet hot cocoa for all!
Christmas in the Park
Now – December 21 | Times Vary
Uptown Pitman
Celebrate all things Christmas in Uptown Pitman on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights! During your visit you can shop from local merchants and enjoy their unique window displays and lights. Trolley tours through Pitman will be available, starting and ending at Ballard Park. Make sure you bring your children and grandchildren to visit and take pictures with Santa!
Salem County:
Woodstown Candlelight Tour
Friday, December 6 | 6 PM – 10 PM
Historic Woodstown
Plan a visit to historic Woodstown for the 43rd Annual Woodstown Candlelight Tour. This charming village predates the Revolutionary War and is home to a number of Victorian residences and other structures. Get into the holiday spirit by spending the evening touring seasonally decorated homes, businesses, and churches! Visitors are also encouraged to shop at local merchants or at the annual craft fair located in Borough Hall. There will be carolers, homemade cookies, wassail, and a variety of other musical entertainments. Free parking and transportation provided. Proceeds benefit the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society.
Yuletide Tour of Historic Salem
Saturday, December 7 | 1 PM – 6 PM
Downtown Salem
Don’t miss Salem Main Street Program’s 32nd Annual Yuletide Tour where historic private homes, churches, museums, and businesses will be open to the public from 1 PM to 6 PM. Tickets are $15 prior to tour day and $20 day of event (tour is rain or shine). For information or reservations, call (856) 339-0400.
3rd Annual Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 7 | 5 PM – 9 PM
Salem County Fairgrounds
All are welcome! Bring the whole family out for ice skating, face painting, delicious food, dancing, and music! There will also be vendors to help you with your holiday shopping needs. Come kick off the holiday season in Salem!
Winter’s Light – A Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 14 | 2 PM – 3:30 PM
Davidow Theatre at Salem Community College, Carneys Point
The sounds of the holidays will fill the Sol and Jean Davidow Performing Arts Theatre at Salem Community College when the SCC Oak Singers under the direction of Kahlil V. Gunther present “Winter’s Light – A Holiday Concert”. The Salem High School Ram Singers will join as the guest choir this year under the direction of Renee Murray. This concert is made possible from a grant by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts through Salem County Board of Freeholders and Salem County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Admission is $7 per person.
Christmas Open House
December 14 & 15 | 1 PM – 4 PM
Pennsville Historical Society, Pennsville
The Pennsville Historical Society invites you to experience everything Christmas at their Open House! Guests will smell the traditional scents of Christmas, hear music from the antique organ, and taste homemade baked goods. Kids can visit with Santa, ride on “Santa’s Express” Rocket ship, and make a Christmas ornament. There will be over 20 fully decorated trees, animation, Christmas collectibles and a Christmas Town, just to name a few of the special things you’ll see.
Soldiers Christmas
Saturday, December 14 | 5 PM – 9 PM
Fort Mott, Pennsville
See how soldiers from different eras celebrated Christmas away from home at Fort Mott! Uniformed reenactors will portray soldiers and sailors from the Roman era to the Cold War. Take a lantern tour around the park and visit the park’s museum that will have a special collection of military themed Christmas advertisements, photos, and paperwork.
Christmas at Cowtown
Saturday, December 21 | 8 AM – 4 PM
Historic Salem
Stop by Cowtown for a special Holiday Market on Saturday, December 21st from 8am to 4pm! There will be hundreds of indoor and outdoor vendors selling seasonal goods, toys, clothing, electronics, sports apparel, crafts, vintage and antiques. Guests can also enjoy special activities planned from 10am to 2pm, including visits with Santa, hayrides, barrel train rides, pony rides, bounce houses, and more!
About Visit South Jersey:
Visit South Jersey is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties, plus the Outer Coastal Plain wine region in South Jersey, supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. For more information about travel to South Jersey, or for a copy of the Visitor’s Guide, go to visitsouthjersey.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, @Visit_South_Jersey for news and events.
