Oh What Fun! NJIB’s Guide to Christmas and Winter Festivals 2021
Get out your calendars! The holiday season is approaching and there’s plenty to do until the end of 2021. Whether it’s a festival of trees, a drive-thru light show, an outdoor Winter Wonderland, or a holidays lights at the zoo..there’s something for everyone this season. And yes, this will be updated frequently when events are posted.
NJIB’s Guide to Christmas and Winter Festivals 2021:
Dasher’s Lightshow Newark
Now – 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 – $35
Diggerland Drive-Thru Light Show
Now- January 2, 2022, 5:30PM – 9:30PM
2021 marks the second 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: $29.95 per card
Festival of the Trees
Now – January 9, 2022
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
Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights
November 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, December 3 – 5, December 10 – 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
South Jersey Holiday Light Show
Now – December 30
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: $23
Christmas in Cape May
Now – January 2, 2022
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
Now – January 2, 2022
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
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
November 23 – January 9
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.
Schedule: November 23, 26-30, all of December until January 9, 2022 from 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale, NJ
Cost: $35 per car
Skylands Stadium’s Light Show and Christmas Village
November 24 – January 9
Visit Your Favorite Stadium for the Holidays and Experience Our Outdoor Christmas Village Full of Cool Attractions Including Drive-Thru Lightfest, Outdoor Skating Rink, Photos With Santa, S’mores Station, Local Artisan Shops, Carnival Rides, and Seasonal Food & Drink
Skylands Stadium, Augusta, NJ
Cost: $29 per car
Smithville Village’s Holiday Light Show
November 25 – January 3, 2022 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
Watch in wonderment as over 100 Christmas trees magically float on our very own 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
Red Bank Holiday Happenings
November 26 – November 29
November 26: Gobble, Wobble, Shop!
From 1-6pm enjoy free refreshments, live music, photo ops and Black Friday deals across town.
November 26: Annual Town Lighting and Holiday Express Concert
Festivities begin at 5:30pm at the Red Bank Train station with a special holiday dance performance. Santa and Mrs. Claus board the Red Bank Fire Engine at 6:45pm for their parade down Monmouth to Broad for a 7pm concert from Holiday Express. At 8pm it’s 3…2…1… LIGHTS ON!
November 26-December 24: Red Bank Elf Scavenger Hunt
Spot the Red Bank Elf at participating businesses to win a prize!
November 27: Small Business Saturday
Make a BIG impact by shopping small and local. Red Bank RiverCenter is proud to be an official American Express neighborhood champion.
November 27-December 19: Holiday Harmonies
From 12-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, enjoy live music from local performers throughout downtown Red Bank to get you into the spirit as you shop.
November 28: Barbizon Holiday Mannequins
From 1-4pm, see some of your favorite shop windows come to life as live models dress as holiday mannequin displays!
November 29: Menorah Lighting
Join Rabbi Marc Kline in Riverside Gardens Park at 6:30 pm for the annual town menorah lighting.
Downtown Red Bank, NJ
Winter WonderLights
November 26 – January 2, 2022, 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: $28 per car, $100 season pass
Bergen County Winter Wonderland
November 26 – January 2, 2022
Bergen County’s Winter Wonderland at Van Saun Park is northern New Jersey’s premier winter event featuring open-air ice skating, a kids zone ice rink, hospitality tent, children’s games, and activities, carousel rides, food trucks an indoor/outdoor beer garden, and the Bergen County Express Train Ride! All activities (including skate rentals) are included with admission.
Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ
Cost: $15. Kids under 3 are Free
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
November 26 – 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
Renault Winery Resort and Golf Vinter Wonderland
November 26 – February 27, 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
Back to Nature Home & Garden Christmas Market
November 27 – December 24
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
Salem Holiday Adventure
November 27 – December 25
Beginning on Small Business Saturday & ending on Christmas night, we are hosting a holiday adventure through event app, Eventzee-! Shop local, solve riddles, take pictures, answer trivia, & much more to rack up points & win awesome prizes!
Krampus Asbury Park
December 3 – 5
Celebrate the 7th 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 3 – January 3, 2022
New Brunswick City Center is YOUR Host for the Holidays! Starting with the annual Tree Lighting at Monument Square Park on Friday, December 3rd, 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
Cost: Free to Attend
Christmas at Allaire
December 5, 12 & 19
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 – $10
