New Jersey Events Thanksgiving Weekend 2023
It’s Thanksgiving Weekend and the holiday season is officially kicked off. New Jersey has a lot of great festivals and events this weekend including foodie events, free activities, and much more. Check out our list of the top New Jersey events from now until November 26.
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Always check the weather and the event links before you attend in case of cancellations and rescheduling.
For more New Jersey events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide.
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New Jersey Events Thanksgiving Weekend 2023:
Diggerfest Fall Festival
Now – November 26
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.
Diggerland USA, 100 Pinedge Dr, West Berlin, NJ
Cost: $42.95
Morven’s “Festival of Trees”
Now – January 7, 2024, 10 am – 4 pm
Morven’s annual winter exhibition has become a must-see Princeton holiday tradition. Visitors enjoy the museum’s elegant galleries, mantels, and porches artfully decorated for the holidays by local businesses, garden clubs, and non-profit organizations.
55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ
Cost: $0-$10
Rahway’s Annual Tree Lighting
November 24, 2 pm – 6 pm
The yearly event in Rahway showcased firepits, hot chocolate, giveaways, and additional festive offerings. At 6 pm, Santa is set to illuminate the tree.
Downtown Rahway, NJ
Princeton’s Annual Tree Lighting
November 24, 5 pm
Kick-off the holiday season with an invitation to the Annual Palmer Square Tree Lighting on Friday, November 24th at 5 pm. Attendees will have the pleasure of experiencing the harmonious tunes of the 11-man vocal group, The Sensational Soul Cruisers. The festivities continue with the return of The Flying Ivories and their Dueling Pianos, delivering a delightful mix of traditional and reimagined sing-along favorites for the entire family to enjoy. The event will also feature appearances from local community partners, including McCarter Theatre and the Princeton Highschool Choir. Anticipation is high for a special appearance by a certain jolly, white-bearded fellow who might assist in lighting the 32,000 lights adorning the giant spruce tree.
Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ
Avalon Tree Lighting
November 24
Experience a delightful array of entertainment, including live music, children’s performances, character appearances, face painting, crafts, giveaways, hot chocolate, and more! The festivities reach a climax on Friday at 5 pm when Santa and Mayor McCorristin make a special appearance at Veterans Plaza for a magical tree-lighting celebration, generously sponsored by the Borough of Avalon. Following the celebration, head to 30th Street Beach at 6:30 pm for a Christmas Movie on the Beach featuring “The Polar Express.”
Veteran’s Plaza, Avalon, NJ
Stone Harbor Island Holiday
November 24, 11 am – 9 pm
Experience Thanksgiving in Stone Harbor with a day full of festive activities. From 11 am to 5 pm, enjoy the Carousel & Holiday Market at the Water Tower Lot on 95th Street & Second Ave. At 1 pm, join the Paw Prints Pet Parade, sponsored by the Borough of Stone Harbor and Paw Prints. As the evening unfolds, gather at 96th Street (200 block) at 6 pm for the Tree Lighting ceremony. Following the tree lighting, from 6 pm to 9 pm, partake in Hospitality Night in the Business District, rounding out the day with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Downtown Stone Harbor, NJ
Cranford Christmas Tree Lighting & Pictures with Santa
November 24, 5 pm
The cherished Cranford winter tradition is scheduled for Friday, November 24. The tree decorating session by the Girl Scouts will take place from 10 am to noon. Caroling is set to commence at 5 pm, with the tree illumination ceremony scheduled for 6 pm. Following the lighting, there will be an opportunity for attendees to take pictures with Santa.
Downtown Cranford, NJ
Madison Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
November 24, 5 pm
The annual Madison Christmas Parade is one of the most beloved Madison holiday traditions. Each year throngs of people gather on the route down Main Street to enjoy the parade and tree lighting sponsored by the all-volunteer Madison Christmas Committee.
Downtown Madison, NJ
Red Bank Town Lighting with Holiday Express
November 24, 5:30 pm – 8 pm
Join in the festivities and celebrate the official commencement of the holiday season at the 31st Annual Town Lighting and Holiday Express Concert on Friday, November 24th. Enjoy complimentary parking and kick off your day with the Gobble, Wobble, and Shopping event, exploring the town’s fantastic shops and restaurants. The pre-show and parade at Two River Theater start at 5:30 pm, featuring a special holiday music and dance performance before Santa leads the parade down to Broad Street. The main event takes place at 7 pm on Broad Street in front of Garmany, where Tim McLoone and the Holiday Express band will rock the street until 8 pm, culminating in a dazzling lights-on countdown. Don’t forget to capture the beauty of the Red Bank Christmas Tree in Riverside Gardens Park for a picturesque photo opportunity before or after the main show. Remember, the concert and countdown occur on Broad Street, and you won’t want to miss it!
Broad St, Red Bank, NJ
Clinton’s Lighting of Christmas Tree
November 24, 6:30 pm
Clinton Parks & Recreation along with the Board of Selectmen and Clinton Tree Lighting Committee invite everyone to come join in on this festive occasion in Central Park. Come enjoy some free, family fun that will include holiday music, light refreshments and maybe (if your good) a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Main St, Clinton, NJ
Hasbrouck Heights Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
November 24, 7 pm
The parade begins at approximately 7:30 p.m. starting at Williams Avenue and proceeding up to the traffic circle where the tree lighting will take place. Floats in the Parade will be judged and be awarded prizes in the following categories: Original, Artistic, Creative, Unusual or Funniest.
On the Boulevard from Williams Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Downtown Candlelight Shopping
November 24
Candlelight Shopping features Santa, carriage rides, carolers and twinkling luminarias lining the quaint streets. With over 200 shops and restaurants offering distinctive gifts and friendly customer service, businesses along Kings Highway and Downtown Haddonfield’s charming side streets – which include Mechanic Street, Ellis Street, Tanner Street, Haddy Lane, Kings Court, and Haddon Avenue – welcome everyone to shop in their beautifully curated stores and find delightful holiday treasures. Discover an array of incredible gifts in distinctive shops, food/beverage establishments, and boutiques, while enjoying the festivities and town-wide twinkling décor.
Downtown Haddonfield, NJ
Collingswood Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights
November 24 at 7:30 pm & 25 at 10 am
In Collingswood, Santa makes a grand entrance, descending from atop Borough Hall via the Collingswood Fire Department’s ladder truck, just in time for the official Tree Lighting Ceremony. Choral groups fill the air with festive tunes as the town tree is adorned with twinkling lights, accompanied by season’s greetings from Mayor Jim Maley and Commissioners Rob Lewandowski and Morgan Robinson. Following the tree lighting, on November 24, a live ice carving demonstration at the Millennium Clock/Zane Schoolhouse on Irvin Ave at 7:30 p.m. provides additional seasonal delight. After greeting Santa at Borough Hall, one can explore the downtown, visit merchants, and enjoy the live ice carving show. On November 25, at 10:00 AM, the town hosts its Holiday Parade, a highlight in South Jersey, featuring vibrant seasonal entertainment such as marching bands, dancers, holiday characters, stilts walkers, floats, mummers, sports mascots, and live music. The parade route starts at Zane and Haddon Avenues, winding through the heart of Downtown Collingswood along West Linden Avenue.
TreeLighting – Collings and North Atlantic Avenues, Collingswood, NJ
Parade of Lights – Best viewing spot, Park Avenue, Collingswood, NJ
GSWGA’s Holiday Wine Trail Weekend
November 24 – 26
Beginning on Black Friday and continuing through the weekend, shoppers will have a few cozy and enjoyable stops to make before rushing home with their treasures. Winery tasting rooms from Sussex to Cape May will invite patrons to travel the New Jersey Wine Trail, with special tastings, entertainment, food pairings, discounts and sales. The Garden State Wine Growers Association’s annual Holiday Wine Trail Weekend is held at over 45 participating New Jersey wineries and vineyards statewide.
Participating Wineries and Vineyards
Cost: Varies Per Location
Dickens’ Days
November 24 – 26
Enjoy holiday festivities in downtown Clinton! Victorian characters, carolers, horse and carriage rides, and more,
Main St. Clinton, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Official Winter Village at the Red Mill Museum
November 24 – 26, 10 am – 6 pm
Marketspace Vendor Events is proud to collaborate with The Red Mill Museum Village’s 14th annual Festival of Trees 2023 and Dickens Days, presenting the Winter Village at The Red Mill. This six-day outdoor winter craft market in Clinton, New Jersey boasts over 50 local craft artisans, activities, and food trucks daily. Dog-friendly for well-behaved pups, the event includes The Red Mill Museum Village’s Festival of Trees, featuring a silent auction fundraiser for museum preservation. General admission is $12 (free for children aged 6 and under), supporting the museum. On-site, guests can enjoy food trucks and craft beer. Family-friendly, the event offers a Victorian-era experience in Downtown Clinton, complete with visits from Father Christmas, Charles Dickens, Scrooge, and a horse-drawn carriage tour. Don’t miss the tree lighting in this day-long celebration in Clinton, NJ!
56 Main St, Clinton, NJ
Cost: $12 (kids 6 and under are free)
2023 Holiday Bazaar
November 24 – 26, 12 pm – 5 pm
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Join The Bazaar for a festive and fun-filled 2023 Holiday Bazaar in Asbury Park and Long Branch, NJ! The Bazaar is inspired by the traditional “Weihnachtsmarkts” holiday markets held in Germany and was rated the best holiday market in New Jersey by Food & Wine. The Holiday Bazaar will showcase handcrafted goods and unique holiday gifts by local and regional makers and small businesses, holiday music and entertainment, Photos with Santa, delicious food and libations, craft workshops, kids activities, festive décor, music, and more. Check out all the details below and mark your calendars for a magical holiday season you won’t forget.
2023 DATES & LOCATIONS:
** Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar in the Grand Arcade of Convention Hall
Black Friday, Nov 24 & Every Sat & Sun, Nov 25-Dec 17, 12-5 PM
** Asbury Park Bazaar at The Asbury Hotel
Every Sun, Nov 26-Dec 17, 12-5 pm
** Holiday Bazaar at Whitechapel Projects
Small Business Saturday Nov 25 & Sunday, Nov 26th, 12-5 PM
Cost: Free to attend
Polar Express
November 24 – 26
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ for a magical hour and a half trip to meet Santa. Once on board, your car hosts will work their way through the coach and punch your golden ticket before hot chocolate and delicious cookies are served by dancing chefs.
Lehigh Junction, 99 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg, NJ
Cost: $38 per child and $48 per adult
WheatonArts Holiday Studio Sale
November 24 – December 3, 10 am – 4 pm
WheatonArts annual Holiday Studio Sale begins every year on Black Friday! Explore original works of pottery and glass art at discounted prices. Browse beautiful handcrafted pottery by artists Terry Plasket, Samantha Bartlett, Tessa Carlton, Clint Hunter, Amy Peseller, and Phyllis Seidner. Discover handmade glass art by guest artists Melanie and David Leppla, as well as unique works by the WheatonArts Glass Artists, including Kendall Frank, Jeremy Hayes, Tiffany Leps, Josh Metzger, and Katey Murphy.Admission is FREE to the sale, open ten full days from November 24 through December 3, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the WheatonArts Event Center. Visitors can also create personalized gift tags for all the perfect gifts they find at the complimentary art activity table.
1000 Village Drive, Millville, NJ
Cost: Free
Holiday Lights Hayride
November 24 – December 17
Looking for family Christmas activities and holiday fun? Bring your family and friends for a festive holiday lights tractor-drawn hayride. Norz Hill Farm offers Hayride experiences complete with holiday lights, outdoor interactive displays, a spin by the animals, and perhaps a stop by Santa’s cornfield office! If you looking for family Christmas activities, Norz Hill Farm’s provides the best family fun and holiday lights in New Jersey.
Norz Hill Farm, 120 South Branch Rd., Hillsborough, NJ
Cost: $13+
Holiday in the Park
November 24 – December 31
Experience the magic of Holiday in the Park! Make merry memories with millions of luminous lights, festive foods, and your favorite thrilling coasters. From coasters to cocoa it’s a holiday spectacular for the whole family.
Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ
Cost: $50
Night Forms
November 24 – April 7, 2024 ( Friday – Sunday, Sunset – 10PM )
In partnership with Klip Collective, this after-hours, multi-sensory light and sound experience uses projection mapping to engage with the Ground For Sculpture art and horticulture collections. Night Forms creates an evening landscape of creative exploration through lighting, sound, and video projection mapping, a process which Klip Collective pioneered. Designed to provide a dialogue with specific sculptures in the collection, such as Carlos Dorrien’s The Nine Muses and Bruce Beasley’s Dorion, this audio and visual exhibition offers new perspectives on these works and multi-dimensional space.
Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ
Cost: $24 – $30, children under 5 free
Ocean Grove Holiday Festival and Christmas in Ocean Grove
November 25, 10 am – 5 pm
A Holiday Festival Arts & Crafts show! Come shop amazing crafter & artisan booths. It’s a day full of fun, food, and festivities. Local businesses offer a wide variety of unique and special gifts for everyone on your holiday list. Stick around for the choir, live nativity, a tree lighting with carols, Santa’s arrival, and a Christmas Celebration Concert.
Crafters, artisans, and live music- Main Ave., Ocean Grove, NJ
Choir, nativity, tree lighting, and Santa- Auditorium Square, Ocean Grove, NJ
Cost: Free
Newton Holiday Parade
November 25, 10 am
The parade includes themed floats hosted by local organizations, bands playing live music, and community groups marching in celebration of the holidays. The final act is the guest of honor himself: Santa arriving in Newton! After the parade, children are invited to visit with Santa and tell him their holiday wishes.
Spring Street, Newton, NJ
Cost: Free
Bell Works Fresh Holiday Markets
November 25, 2 pm – 7 pm
A series of shopping events featuring a curated collection of 75 local handmade artists & makers coming together for a holiday celebration.
Bell Works 101 Crawfords Corner Road Holmdel, NJ
Cost: Free
Annual Swedesboro Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
November 25, Parade at 1 pm. Lighting at 6:30 pm
Kings Highway will be alive with Christmas cheer as Swedesboro celebrates the start of the holiday season with its annual Christmas Parade at 1pm. The parade will take place on Kings Highway at Walter Hill School and will continue all the way through downtown where it will end at Church Street. The Parade will be concluded with an appearance by Santa. Immediately following the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting with children in the Woolwich Fire House until 4pm. The day’s events will wrap up at 6pm, with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and caroling at Borough Hall.
Swedesboro Borough Hall, 1500 Kings Highway, Swedesboro, NJ
Keyport Miracle on Front Street and Christmas Tree Lighting
November 25, 11 am – 8 pm
All are invited to enjoy the annual lighting of Keyport’s hometown holiday tree and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus as they arrive by fire truck. Expect family-friendly activities, Carolers singing, and watch as Ice Sculptor creates magical ice artwork live.
West Front St, Keyport, NJ
Bordentown City Christmas Tree Lighting
November 25, 4:30 pm
Join the Foundation for Bordentown Traditions in the center of Bordentown City to help light the Bordentown CIty Christmas Tree. Local students will perform while you wait for the arrival of Santa on the firetruck. Free refreshments. Santa will be available for photos after the event.
Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, NJ
Greenberg’s Great Train and Toy Show
November 25 & 26
The largest and longest-running train and toy show in the northeast, Greenberg’s has been running train shows since 1976. The shows feature thousands of trains and collectible toys for sale, hundreds of merchandising tables, huge operating layouts, free modeling seminars and more.
New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ
Cost:$11 Saturday or $10 Sunday. Kids 11 and under are free
Wayne PAL Holiday Flea Market and Gift Fair
November 26, 9 am – 4 pm
Enjoy shopping with over 75 exhibitors selling gift items, crafts, and stocking stuffers. There will be tables displaying an array of quality merchandise such as handbags, sports collectibles, jewelry for all ages, clothing, gift items, video games, vintage jewelry, gloves & scarves, toys, perfumes, antiques & collectibles, garage/tag sale items. This event is mainly held indoors, weather permitting there will be limited outdoors.
1 PAL Drive, Wayne, NJ
Cost: Free
Asbury Fresh Porta Holiday Pop Up Markets
November 26, 12 pm – 4 pm
A series of shopping events featuring a curated collection of 25 local handmade artists & makers coming together for a holiday celebration.
Porta Asbury Park 911 Kingsley Street Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: Free
Bradley Beach Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 26, 4 pm
Celebrate the holiday season at the Bradley Beach annual tree lighting event in Riley Park. On November 26th starting at 4pm, join the fun in the park as Santa Claus makes a very special visit, arriving on fire truck! There will be live music, hot chocolate and cookies, holiday games, free face painting and a holiday dance performance by one of the local dance studios. A horse and carriage will give rides around the park during the entire event. The Tourism Commission will be collecting hats, gloves and socks during the event to help local charitable organizations.
Riley Park, Bradley Beach, NJ
Long Branch Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
November 26, 4 pm – 6 pm
To kick-off the holiday season, The Long Branch Tree Lighting will be held on Sunday, November 26th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Attendees will enjoy a host of holiday activities such performances by the Long Branch High School Marching Band and Dance Team, Tim McLoone and the Shirley’s and a special appearance from Santa Claus.
Pier Village, Long Branch, NJ
Christmas Festival on the Green
November 26, 5 pm – 8 pm
The event kicks off on the Sunday after Thanksgiving with Santa’s rooftop arrival and welcome ceremony. Family activities and entertainment on the historic Morristown Green, add to the dazzling “Lighting of the Green” ceremony with brilliant lights and wreaths adorning streetlights town-wide – a 100+ year tradition!
Morristown Green, Morristown, NJ
