Holiday Lights Displays in New Jersey and Family Friendly Festive Holiday Events

Looking for something fun and festive to do with your family for the holidays in New Jersey? We’ve got you covered! We’re sharing all the best places to see holiday light shows in New Jersey, as well as fun celebrations and festive events you can visit together. There’s nothing like a little festive holiday cheer to make the season merry and bright!

Holiday Lights Displays In New Jersey For The Whole Family

The Bergen County Zoo is hosting Let It Glow! A Holiday Lantern Spectacular on selected dates from now through January 11th.  You and your family can take a stroll through the zoo as well as a festive train ride to check out the larger-than-life animal lanterns.  There is also a seasonal holiday gift shop as well as cozy fire pits and s’mores making!

Demarest Farms in Hillsdale is hosting the Orchard of Lights event on select dates now through December 30th.  Enjoy a guided tour from your car through 32 twinkling acres of magical holiday lights displays. After you’re done, you can head over to the fire pits for DIY s’mores, grab a hot chocolate, shop the holiday market, and pay a visit to Santa to find out if you're on the naughty or nice list.

Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange is bringing back its annual Holiday Lights Spectacular event. Enjoy a walk through the zoo at night while enjoying the spectacle of seasonal decor and holiday characters.  Visitors are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food, new and unwrapped toys, and new or gently used winter coats to contribute to the local charity drive for the holidays.

Fanwood’s Famous Christmas House features a 30,000-light Christmas display and is raising money to help suppor the NJ Institute for Disabilities.  Open for a stroll-throuhg from now through Thursday January 8th.

The Village at Anne Ellen in Manalapan has a beautiful Christmas Village and lights display on selected dates now through December 30th from 5PM to 9PM.  Enjoy a hayride through a field of trees to the Christmas Village, and then walk down the winding trails to explore festive lights, a life-size igloo and gingerbread house, a candycane factory, Santa’s house and more!  Lots of delicious holiday treats and festive photo ops to enjoy with your loved ones.

The Magic of Lights returns once again to Holmdel on selected dates now through January 3rd. This drive-through lights display pairs with festive music on your radio and features multiple large-scale holiday scenes including a snowflake tunnel, nativity scene, Santa and his elves, and toy land just to name a few!

Winter Wonderlights at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick is the state’s largest animated holiday lights show featuring more than 20million lights set to twinkling displays with classic holiday songs. Enjoy a half-mile drive through experience with multicultural displays including Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa.

DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express experience in Hammonton is worth the visit! Enjoy a train ride through millions of Christmas Lights to celebrate the holiday season. It all culminates in a holiday village visit with Santa and his Elves, seasonal festive treats, and more surprises in store! Available on selected dates now through Tuesday December 23rd.

The Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show at Diggerland in West Berlin is always a favorite event for the holidays.  Enjoy it on selected days now through Sunday January 11th for maximum fun. It’s a blast of festive cheer in the country’s only construction-themed water and adventure park!  Enjoy lights displays, festive trucks and decorated equipment, lighted tunnels, and more all set to a festive series of tunes on your car radio.

Light Show on the Lake in Historic Smithville is taking place now through Tuesday January 6th. Featuring more than 130 Christmas trees made from more than 50,000 glimmering lights, this display covers the gorgeous Lake Meone in the center of Historic Smithville Village. There are more than 60 shops and restaurants to enjoy and evry 30 minutes the light display will take place on the water to orchestrated holiday music!

Family Friendly Festive Holiday Events in New Jersey

The Car Menorah Parade in Cherry Hill is happening on December 14th! Celebrate with the Chabad of Camden and Burlington Counties as they host this fun and unique South Jersey festival celebration of Hanukkah!

The 2025 Holiday Train Show at the Model Railroad Club of Union takes place on Sunday December 14th at 11AM to 6PM each day; last guests are admitted 30 minutes prior to closing. The gift shop and snack bar will also be open!  At the bottom of every hour, a special performance of 15 minutes in duration will be presented for maximum holiday fun!

The Muppet Christmas Carol in 35mm film is coming to UCPAC in Rahway for its annual Chirstmas celebration! Enjoy Charles Dickens classic tale as it was always meant to be told: with the charm of the Muppets. (We bet you didn’t know it’s actually one of the most faithful-to-the-text adaptations in cinema history!)  Get your tickets ASAP for December 18th at 7PM.

The Polar Express Popcorn & Pajamas event is coming to Hamilton Stage at UCPAC in Rahway on Thursday December 18th and 19th and 20th.

Get your tickets to Breakfast with Santa at Kean and have a delicious hot breakfast buffet, holiday themed games and fun, and a commemorative photo of the whole experience at the Liberty Hall Museum in Union!  Event takes place December 21st starting at 9AM and tickets are limited! 

Mt Zion#135  in Metuchen is hosting Story Time with Santa on Saturday, December 20th starting at 3PM. This free event is open to all families and is a fun way to spend a festive afternoon together!

The Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar 2025 is happening on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 21st! Enjoy holiday shopping, seasonal music and live entertainment, photos with Santa, kid and family friendly activities, food and libations, festive decor, craft workshops and more.

The Kwanzaa Festival and Marketplace Event in Newark is coming to town on Decmber 20th. This free Saturday event is a Newark Tradition honoring the 7 principles of Kwanzaa with dance class, storytelling, facepainting, crafting workshops, a special Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremony, live music and performances, and more!