Enter a Snow Globe World
If there was ever a town custom-made for the most wonderful time of the year, it's none other than charming Cape May at our Southern Shore. Plan a picture-perfect winter getaway illuminated by magical festivities – from the official tree lighting at the Emlen Physick Estate on November 23, 2024 to Candlelight Tours of Cape May's stunning Victorian homes and inns. Start here to plan your glittering getaway.
A Ride to Remember
Whether you love the book or movie (or both!), there’s no doubt The Polar Express delivers the magic of Christmas. Here in New Jersey, you have not one but two locations in the Skylands Region to experience it for yourself! Climb aboard the Polar Express Train Ride to get your golden ticket punched, guzzle hot chocolate and enjoy even more holiday hijinks – with trains chugging out of Whippany Station and Delaware River Railroad Excursions in Phillipsburg!
Fantastically Festive Shopping
It’s the most wonderful (shopping) time of the year! Join in the excitement of the Shore Region’s Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar being held Fridays through Sundays, November 29 – December 22, 2024 at the Grand Arcade of Convention Hall and Sundays, December 1 – 15, 2024 in The Asbury Hotel.
You’ll find a flurry of one-of-a-kind goods and holiday gifts handcrafted by local and regional artisans. Festive music, entertainment, craft workshops, and fun activities for the kids make this event one you won’t want to miss. Want to shop ‘til you drop all around the state? Check out our story on Christmas Markets!
Frolicking Floats
Thirty-eight years ago, Central Jersey’s Clinton hosted its first Christmas Parade. It’s now become a beloved annual tradition and one of the most anticipated New Jersey holiday events. Find a premium spot along the route (East Main to Main to Lower Center Street) to enjoy the festive procession with your family and friends on December 6, 2024. Also marching to the pa-rum-pum-pum-pum beat of a drummer boy are the 2024 holiday parades in Vineland (November 30 with a rain date of December 1), Pitman (December 1 with a rain date of December 7) and Ocean City (December 6).
Dive into the Holidays
Every year, all of the good little boys and girls look forward to Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium in Camden (Delaware River Region). Watch for Scuba Santa in the Ocean Realm, the World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree plus more holiday magic among 15,000 incredible aquatic animals at this perennially popular annual event. Find this year’s dates and details on the aquarium’s official website.
Down on the Farm Festivities
The Garden State grows more than just Jersey fresh produce. Feel the spirit of the season bloom in your heart with holiday activities at farms all around the state. For one, you and your family can climb aboard a tractor-pulled cart for the luminous Holiday Lights Hayride at Norz Hill Farm & Market in Hillsborough weekend nights from November 29 – December 22, 2024.
Storybook Season
Visit Storybook Land November 16 – December 30, 2024 during their Christmas Fantasy with Lights, and you’ll feel as if you’ve walked into a sparkling winter wonderland. This time-honored holiday tradition in Greater Atlantic City’s Egg Harbor Township is over 30 years old and features Santa Claus, festive tunes, jolly characters and twinkling lights as far as the eye can see. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the amusement park’s official website.
Historic Holiday Happiness
Prance over to Historic Smithville for double the seasonal fun. At the Smithville Holiday Light Show on the Lake (November 28, 2024 – January 6, 2025) you’ll spy 120 Christmas trees made from over 50,000 lights magically floating on Lake Meone in an orchestrated show of brilliant visuals and music. Lovers of tradition will flip for the two-day outdoor Dickens Fest, an original musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” with performances on November 30 and December 1, 2024.
An Army of Nutcrackers
You have your choice of dates and venues to watch Clara's wondrous holiday adventures this season. The American Repertory Ballet presents The Nutcracker at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton November 29 – December 1. The New Jersey Ballet performs the seasonal classic with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, December 13 – 26. And the Atlantic City Ballet stages many performances, including December 20 in at Levoy Theatre in Millville.
Making Spirits Bright
Jingle all the way along a one-mile-long drive-thru featuring over two million lights at Skylands Stadium Light Show and Christmas Village in Augusta. Looking for a holly-jolly holiday light show closer to your neck of the woods? We have all the brilliant details here!
Face Time With the Big Man
This is the time of year when it’s important for kiddos to prove that they’ve been nice. Meet-ups with Santa Claus himself are happening all over, including an early Central Jersey arrival (November 16!) in Bridgewater Commons. Plus appearances at the Downtown Somerville Holiday Jubilee (November 30) and Morristown Green Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 1). For grown-ups who want to cosplay Santa for a night, you can catch a sleigh (read: a ride share) to Jersey City (December 14) or Hoboken (December 21) for lively SantaCon events in our Gateway Region.
Festivals For All of Us
Jingle all the way to the Festival of Trees at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit on December 8, 2024. This outdoor winter festival celebrates Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas and the Winter Solstice. Delight in arts and crafts, games, music, stories, photos with Santa and a joyful holiday market. Be amazed by a wonderland of festival trees located throughout the grounds. Find even more holiday and seasonal festivities on our events page.
Before you dash away to your favorite New Jersey holiday events, be sure to check with your chosen destinations for the latest times, details and any ticketing information. To unwrap even more fun at any time of the year, download a free NJ travel guide and sign up for our e-newsletter.
