Oh What Fun! NJIB Presents the Epic New Jersey Holiday Events Round Up

It’s the most magical time of the year in New Jersey! Get out your calendars! The holiday season is approaching and there’s plenty to do until the end of 2022. Whether it’s a festival of trees, a drive-thru light show, an outdoor Winter Wonderland, or holidays lights at the zoo..there’s something for everyone this season. And yes, this will be updated frequently when events are posted..  Please note: Events are listed in date order and some require tickets.

Due to the ongoing restrictions and safety regulations with Covid-19, please verify these events before attending in case of any last-minute cancellations. And always check the weather!

For more events throughout the year, be sure to check out our Event Guide.

If you’d like to submit your event, click here.

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New Jersey Holiday Events Round-Up:

The Village At Anne Ellen 2022
Select Dates November 12 – December 30
Your journey begins with a hayride through fields bringing you to the start of your own hallmark movie. You will follow winding pathways through Christmas lights and interactive displays transporting you into a Christmas wonderland like no other. Inside the village you will find many unique displays, from mesmerizing lights to incredible photo-ops. You will also find an array of interactive exhibits such as our post office, where you can write and send your letters to Santa, and a massive interactive wall of lights. Don’t forget to also check out the life-size gingerbread house and igloo!
Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, 114 Daum Road Manalapan, NJ
Cost: $22, Kids $12

Festival of Trees
November 16 – January 8, 2023, Wednesdays through Sundays from 10AM – 4PM
Morven’s annual winter exhibition has become a must-see 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. The installation is open to the public during regular museum hours, Wednesdays through Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St, Princeton, NJ
Cost: $10, Seniors, Students, and Kids $8

South Jersey Holiday Light Show
November 18 – December 31
The South Jersey Holiday Light Show is the premiere drive-through light show in Southern New Jersey. They proudly feature dozens of dazzling displays to delight the entire family.  The show is approximately 20-25 minutes long.
Bridgeport Freeway, 83 Flood Gate Rd, Swedesboro, NJ
Cost: $25

Christmas in Cape May
November 18 – January 1, 2023
What better place to get into the true spirit of Christmas than Victorian Cape May? 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.
Cape May, NJ

Magic of Lights
November 18 – December 31
Schedule: Sunday – Thursday 5PM – 10PM. Friday & Saturday 5PM – 11PM
Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of New Jersey’s favorite holiday tradition. One carload, one price.
PNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Pkwy, Holmdel, NJ
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the gate

Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights
November 18 – 20, 25 – 27, December 2 – 4, 9 – 31(closed Dec 24 & 25), 5PM – 9PM
About 50 animal and holiday-themed figures will light up the winter night in Turtle Back Zoo and the surrounding Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. Over 100,000 lights will illuminate figures of bears, tigers and elephants, along with holiday lights designed to look like wooden soldiers, stars and winter scenes. Several animal exhibits will be open, including the Sea Lion Sound, Essex Farm, Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve, Tropical Currents Aquarium and the Reptile Building. Myrtle the Turtle, the mascot of Turtle Back Zoo, and several of his winter friends will be on hand to greet visitors at the Zoo. “Selfies” with Santa Claus and a mailbox where children can send letters to Santa Clause at the North Pole will be available each night until December 22nd.
Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange, NJ
Cost: Free. Donations accpeted

Diggerland Drive-Thru Light Show
November 19 – January 1, 2022
2022 marks the third holiday light show at Diggerland, and you won’t want to miss this! Experience a light show like no other. Drive a course through America’s only construction theme & water park to witness lights, holiday displays, tunnels, and our very own radio station to fill your car with holiday spirit!
Diggerland USA, Berlin, NJ
Cost: $34.95 per card

Renault Winery Resort and Golf Vinter Wonderland
November 20 – February 26, 2022
The Renault Winery grounds have been transformed into a festive winter wonderland! Come experience the 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: Free to enter. Activity costs vary

Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show & Village
November 23 – December 30
Christmas Oasis Features Drive-Thru Lightfest, Photos With Santa, Live Music, S’mores Station, Local Artisan Shops, and Seasonal Food & Drink. The event features a One Mile Long Drive Thru, with over 2 Million+ Lights. Plus Ride the Ferris Wheel & Carousel, Skate the Rink, Take a Family Photo, and stop by the Winter Beer Garden!
Skylands Stadium, Augusta, NJ
Cost: $29 – $79

Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
November 23 – December 30
Join Demarest Farms during the most magical time of year and experience the joy and wonder of the Orchard of Lights. Take your vehicle on a guided tour through 32 acres of brilliant holiday light displays, warm up by the fire pit and enjoy hot cocoa and treats in their retail farm market. Take pictures with Santa, make your own s’mores, listen to Santa’s singing Reindeer, and more.
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale, NJ
Cost: $35 per car

Smithville Village’s Holiday Light Show
November 24 – January 6, 2022 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
Watch in wonderment as over 100 Christmas trees magically float on lake Meone and light up to the music around you.  It is an orchestrated show of lights and music played out across the lake.
​​615 East Moss Mill Road, Galloway, NJ
Cost: Free

Holiday Happenings in Red Bank
November 23 – December 24
THE MOST MAGICAL TIME OF YEAR IN RED BANK! During the months of November and December enjoy the annual Holiday Happenings around downtown! Elf Scavenger Hunt, Holiday Harmonies, Holiday mannequins and more. Plus enjoy FREE HOLIDAY PARKING November 25-27 & December 12-25!
Downtown Red Bank, NJ

Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
November 25 – 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

Dasher’s Lightshow Newark
November 25 – December 31
Ayana and Siree Morris, owners of Moonlight Cinema, are partnering with Dasher’s Lightshow, one of the fastest growing holiday light companies in the country, to bring an immersive “Drive-Thru Christmas Light Show” to Newark. Families can connect their vehicle’s radio to 97.5 FM to listen to their favorite holiday tunes and watch the hundreds of thousands of lights dance and blink in sync with the music. The light show is open seven days a week, starting at 5 p.m. with the latest entry at 10:30 p.m.
20 Orange St, Newark, NJ
Cost: $30+

Winter WonderLights
November 25 – January 1, 2023, 5:30PM – 10PM
Over 1.5 million lights are animated to some of your favorite holiday tunes. Guests are welcome to bundle up in their car, bring their snacks/beverages, and tune their radio to enjoy the show to give you an incredible experience.
655 Cranbury Rd East Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $30 per car, $125 season pass

Bloomfield Center Holiday Hunt
November 26, 1PM – 4PM
The Bloomfield business owners and the Bloomfield Center Alliance welcome shoppers to Bloomfield Center! An afternoon of holiday cheer, festive entertainment, giveaways and of course great local shopping awaits. Bloomfield Center’s 2022 Holiday Hunt takes place between 1PM and 4PM on Small Business Saturday – November 26th This FREE family-friendly event at Six Points Plaza will be filled with music, hot cocoa, ice sculpture and more. Attendees will receive a Bloomfield Center Holiday Hunt Map highlighting the various Holiday Hunt Destinations.
Six Points Plaza, 48 Washington Street, Bloomfield, NJ
Cost: Free

Holiday on Haddon Township Festival
December 2, 7PM
Santa Claus is coming to town during Haddon Township’s annual “Holiday on Haddon” celebration on Friday, December 2nd along Haddon Avenue. The celebration kicks off at 7:00 p.m. with the “Parade of Lights,” sponsored by the Westmont Fire Company No. 1. Decorated fire trucks, bands, floats, holiday characters, and Santa will parade along Haddon Avenue to the Haddon Township Municipal Building where all of Santa’s helpers will be encouraged to help Santa light the tree. Haddon Township will also be collecting unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items for the Annual Holiday Toy & Food Drive during the event.
Haddon Ave, Haddon Twp, NJ

Historic Barclay Farmstead Gingerbread Holiday House
December 2 – 4
The Barclay Farmstead, an 1816 house on the NJ and National Register of Historic Places in Cherry Hill, NJ, will host a Gingerbread Holiday House and Contest on Dec. 2nd from 5-8, and Dec. 3rd and 4th from 1-4. During Friday evening, “Here We Go A Wassailing” visitors will enjoy holiday treats and wassail punch, beautiful decorations and music. Entries for the gingerbread house contest can be dropped off at 11 on Saturday morning; Saturday afternoon is focused on children, with crafts, stories, treats, and a visit from Santa from 1:30 to 3:30. (Photos can be taken with Santa at no additional charge). On Sunday, costumed guides will give house tours, and Cynthia Smith from the Colonial Hearth Players will perform.
209 Barclay Lane, Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: $8 in advance; tickets for children are $10 at the door, and adults are $12

Krampus Asbury Park
December 2 – 4
Celebrate the annual Krampus held in Asbury Park hosted by the Paranormal Museum. Add names to the Naughty List to be read from the rooftop (literally) get tickets for the Krampus Film Festival and yeah- brunch with Krampus. Also a lot more stuff and some awesome vendors. ⁣
Asbury Park, NJ

New Brunswick’s Winter Wonderland
December 2 – December 31
New Brunswick City Center is YOUR Host for the Holidays! Starting with the annual Tree Lighting at Monument Square Park on Friday, December 2nd, and every day through until the New Year, the season will be filled with multiple activities celebrating the holidays creating a Winter Wonderland of festivities in New Brunswick! Come out for activities such as Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Live Ice Sculpture and Glass Blowing Demonstrations, Sip & Paint Nights, Holiday Themed Bars and Cocktail Specials, Date Nights, and Local Boutique Shopping!
Various Locations in New Brunswick, NJ

Roxbury’s Annual Home For The Holidays Street Festival
December 3, 11AM – 3PM
Kick off the holiday season on Main Street in Succasunna for Roxbury Township’s Annual Home for the Holidays. You can shop, eat, meet Santa, listen to music and take a free carriage ride with jingle-belled horses! They’ll have food trucks, vendors selling unique gifts, and strolling carolers singing holiday songs. Explore “Santa Land” inside the Library from 1-4PM where you can get a photo with Santa, listen to holiday book readings, and do fun crafts. Enjoy hot drinks and homemade treats.
103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ
Cost: Free

Medford Dickens Festival
December 3, 4:30PM – 9PM
Venture back to a simpler, magical time for children and grown-ups alike. This will be the 30th year that Main Street in Medford will be transformed into a quaint winter wonderland, featuring holiday festivities galore with an old-time flair. The festival is free and typically attracts more than 10,000 people from Medford and many surrounding communities. Locals never fail to catch up with old friends on the street; there’s something for everyone!
Downtown Medford, NJ

Downtown Toms River Winter Wonderland
December 3 & 4, 12PM – 6PM
The courtyard will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland Village. Vendors, kid’s activities, hot chocolate station, holiday music and more. Downtown businesses will be open.
Toms River Town Hall, 33 Washington St, Toms River, NJ
Cost: Free

Cheer the Holiday Season Weekend at Terhune Orchards
December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, and 17 & 18, 12PM – 5PM
Join us for holiday festivities. Enjoy fun for the whole Family – a visit to our barnyard of animals. Choose the perfect Christmas tree and wreath. Let us help you with holiday shopping. A unique selection of gift baskets, with Terhune Orchards fruit, baked goods, and even wine – perfect for anyone on your list! Warm up by the bonfire with hot chocolate. Roasting marshmallow kits are available. Try our award-winning wines in the wine tasting room from 12 pm-5 pm and warm up with our hot mulled wine. Enjoy live music from 1 pm-4 pm. Visits with Santa from 12-3pm on December 10, 11, 17 & 18.
330 Cold Soil Rd. Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend

Christmas at Allaire
December 4, 11 & 18
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: $8

5th Annual Santa Fun Run
December 11, 11AM
The Highlands Business Partnership’s 5th Annual Santa Fun Run will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 11AM. Registration is FREE and begins at 11AM, Run begins promptly at 12PM. The event is hosted and sponsored by Proving Ground, 56 Shrewsbury Avenue, where the run will begin and end. There will be a post-run celebration with costume contests, and food and drink specials. Come early and bring the kids for Breakfast with Santa, 10AM-1PM. There will be a special brunch menu (additional cost) and Free Photo with Santa. Runners of all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Costumes are mandatory! Santas, Elves, Reindeer, Grinches, Ugly sweaters, wear your craziest holiday attire! There will be a costume contest with cash prizes following the run! Categories include Best Family, Best Male, Best Female and Best Child!
The event will be collecting toy donations for the Highlands Fire Department Toys For Tots program, and canned goods and non-perishable items for the food pantry.
Proving Ground 56 Shrewsbury Ave., Highlands, NJ
Cost: Free

Festival of Trees
December 11, 11AM – 3PM
This outdoor winter festival celebrates Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and the Winter Solstice! The day’s activities will include arts and crafts, games, stories, musical entertainment, a story walk, photo opportunities with Santa, as well as food vendors and a holiday market. And don’t forget to tour the festival trees located throughout the grounds – all decorated by local non-profits, families, school and scout groups, as well as local businesses. The creativity and fun themes make this day extra special. Vote for your favorite one!
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ
Cost: Members $7; Non-Members $12. Children under 3 are free. If walk-ins are allowed on the day of the event, the cost per person will be $10 for Members and $15 for Non-Members.

Wonderland Walkthrough
December 15 – 18
Beautiful open-air Christmas Wonderland! This walkthrough features vintage figures from the 1950s-70s. Numerous different scenes change every year, from the traditional Nativity Scene to the new-age, like Olaf and Anna. Perfect for ALL ages. As you approach the end of the walkthrough, you’ll be greeted by Santa. Pictures are encouraged.
Maple Leaf Farms, 525 Route 9, Manalapan, NJ
Cost: $11 for Adults, $9 for Children, tickets sold at the door

Hoboken SantaCon
December 17, 10AM – 5PM
Get in the festive Christmas spirit by dressing up as Santa or even Santas helpers. You may bring those Ugly sweaters and Santa hats to get the full experience of this pub crawl! Hoboken SantaCon has been a phenomenon as so many people will just be celebrating the joyous Holiday of Christmas at all their favorite bars. With some of the best Dj’s in the world you won’t be disappointed as they will play music just anyone can vibe out too! Not only will you be enjoying the best music but for this event there will be top of the line exclusively low drink specials that you cannot find anywhere else!
*Must be 21 years or older to participate. Participating bars, food and drink specials are subject to change at the bars discretion.
76 River St, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $20

Holiday Fest at Lambertville Station Restaurant & Inn
December 17 & 18
Experience two days of festive family fun along the banks of the Delaware River at Lambertville Station Inn & Restaurant’s Holiday Fest. Enjoy delicious seasonal food and drinks, browse through tables of over local specialty vendors, be entertained by local school choirs, and visit and take photos with Santa! Lambertville Station is proud to be partnering with local food pantry, Fisherman’s Mark. Please help by bringing canned and non-perishable food items. For every canned good donated, you will receive one raffle ticket for a chance to win a one-night stay at the hotel! Come and be merry on Saturday, December 17th 11:00 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, December 18th 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
11 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
Cost: Free