With the ongoing pandemic, many of the typical holiday events are not happening this year. However, there are still a lot of exciting things going on in our local community! We've compiled a list of the neighborhood holiday happenings along with other festive fun events throughout the state of New Jersey to help you and your family make it an amazing holiday season in 2020. Enjoy these adventures with your family this holiday season!
Magic of Lights - Holmdel - New Jersey will shine bright as guests weave through a spectacular drive through lights display, Magic of Lights, which opens November 13th at the PNC Bank Arts Center and runs through January 2nd, 2021.
Saving Santa Escape Room - Holmdel - This game is designed for children, and those who are children at heart, so it's perfect for any age. Adults may find this game too easy so bring the children and let them solve the puzzles! The room has a fun design and there are things to find along the way. Remember, Christmas is at stake! Escapees MIGHT actually get to meet Santa who MIGHT have a small gift to thank them for saving him!
You've Been Elf'd - This holiday season is going to look a little bit different this year, but in this case, different is going to be amazing! Macaroni Kid Lincroft-Holmdel-Tinton Falls is excited to announce that we will be starting a trend to pay it forward and flood our community with kindness this holiday season with our You've Been Elf'd event for families in Lincroft, Middletown, Holmdel, Tinton Falls, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Colts Neck, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Sea Bright, Farmingdale, Wall, North Howell, and Howell.
Dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Middletown Sports Complex- Includes Brunch, Photo Ops, Games, and Giveaways!
Drive-Through Event: Santa Claus comes to the Crawford House in Tinton Falls - Santa Claus is coming to town on Sunday, December 6th from 1-3pm. Tell Santa what you want for Christmas. Meet and greet Santa at this special drive through event at The Historic Crawford House. Masks required.
Red Bank 28th Annual Town Lighting (COVID-style)- Holiday Express may not be rocking the center of Broad Street this year, but Red Bank is still where you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year in the the best town in NJ! The holiday lights throughout town will be lit in the late afternoon.
Visit With Santa in Holmdel - Father Christmas will invite young visitors and their families to come join him and welcomes them to bring their letters for Santa to read. Pictures are encouraged.
Tree Lighting in Tinton Falls - Join us as we light the Town Tree on Friday at Liberty Park II. We will have Kevin O'Malley, Ice Sculptures entertain the crowd as he carves a snowman out of ice! Let's hope Santa stops by... get your letter to Santa ready for him to take to the North Pole.
Parent's Night Out: Holiday Party at Snapology- Drop your kids off at the Snapology Discovery Center while you catch a meal out or run errands. Kids will take part in Holiday LEGO building projects, games, crafts, and having fun with friends. Kids will have their own table to sit at with their own materials.
Christmas Lantern Tours at Allaire- Spend an evening strolling through the Historic Village at Allaire by candlelit lantern and enjoy the history of Christmas in the 1800s!
Brunch with the Grinch at Middletown Sports Complex - Includes Brunch, Photo Ops, Games, and Giveaways!
Virtual Holiday Decorating Contest in Tinton Falls - Please take a picture of your house in all festive glory. Please submit to Tinton Falls recreation department. Once we received your pictures, we will post on our Facebook Page. We will have a list of all the decorated homes for you to have your own Holiday Light Tour. We will have multiple winners with the homes that have the most likes for the contest.
Visit With Santa at Longstreet Farm - Father Christmas will be coming to Longstreet Farm. He will invite young visitors and their families to come join him and welcomes them to bring their letters for Santa to read. Pictures are encouraged.
Virtual Story Time with Santa - Join Santa Claus and his Elves for a fun and light-hearted night sharing the spirit of family and friends together! Let's gather together virtually to sing Christmas carols, draw with Doodle Dude, and listen to Santa read a festive favorite! Limited spaces available. This virtual event will last approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour. Two dates - December 13th and December 20th.
Menorah Lighting in Red Bank- Join Rabbi Klein on Saturday, December 12 as we continue the Festival of Lights celebration as a community with the Menorah Lighting ceremony at Riverside Gardens Park.
Holiday Harmonies in Red Bank- Immerse your ears in the various harmonies of the season including traditional carolers, choirs, brass bands, handbells, rock, folk, and jazz as musicians fill the sidewalks of Red Bank.
The Sounds of Christmas at Longstreet Farm in Holmdel - Celebrate the holidays taking a stroll on Longstreet Farm with the backdrop of wistful music as Larry Moser and Mary Nagin play Christmas carols on the hammered dulcimer and fiddle.
Menorah Lighting in Tinton Falls- Please gather outside at Liberty Park as we will host a prayer service on Thursday, December the 10th. Cantor Gabrielle Cissole from the Monmouth Reform Temple will be start the prayer service and then will light the first candle.
How the Grinch Stole Lego® Workshop at Snapology in Tinton Falls - Kids will enjoy the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, play Lego games, create Lego builds related to theme, all while they learn that Christmas is more than presents! It’s the we and not the me. Have fun and get creative with the Grinch.
Holiday "Make & Take" Workshop at Snapology in Tinton Falls - We will have fun building holiday creations while we sneak in some time to make a cool present. Join us for 2 hours of holiday fun and make an awesome gift for Mom, Dad or whomever you choose!
Miracle: A Christmas Themed Pop Up Bar at iPlay America in Freehold - Miracle at Game Time Bar and Grill is a Christmas-themed Pop-Up Bar featuring over-the-top decor for indoor and outdoor dining plus holiday inspired cocktails. Open from November 17 to January 3, 2021 for the ultimate nostalgic holiday experience, it's sure to get even the grouchiest Grinch in the holiday spirit!
Snowman Decorating in Tinton Falls - Get creative and submit your snowman made out of items other than snow. Kits will be available. Snowmen will be displayed outside of Borough Hall.
Holiday Sweater Contest in Tinton Falls - Let's see who has the best Holiday Sweater!! Please submit a picture of your Holiday Best!
Drive-Thru Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure - For the first time in its history, Six Flags Great Adventure will offer a drive-thru experience of its winter spectacular, Holiday in the Park. Featuring more than a million dazzling lights, festive holiday theming, and seasonal music favorites, this innovative, one-of-a-kind, nighttime event will operate Monday through Thursday evenings Nov. 30 through Dec. 17. While the thrill of the park’s iconic roller coasters, festive fire pits, and delicious holiday treats will operate only on weekends, this unique Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience will delight revelers of all ages on weeknights, and offer an exciting way to celebrate the spirit of the season from the comfort and safety of their own vehicles.
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure - Six Flags Great Adventure’s spectacular winter festival, Holiday in the Park, will sparkle with more than a million glittering lights, festive foods, thrilling rides, and holiday entertainment with a continued focus on safety. Weekends and select days November 14, 2020 through January 3, 2021, the World’s Ultimate Thrill Park will transform into an eye-popping winter wonderland.
Drive-In Chanukah Spectaular - Celebrate Chanukah, 2020 Style! Introducing a drive-in Chanukah celebration: BMX Stunt Bike Show, Grand Menorah Lighting, Chanukah Swag Bag, with doughnuts, Gelt and prizes, Immersive Multimedia Chanukah, Experience featuring music videos and digital games, and meet our Dreidel Mascot. Safe. Fun. Jewish Free & open to all. Limited space available - RSVP REQUIRED.
Scones and Santa in Toms River - Come visit with Santa and have fresh warm scones at the Historic Mathis House.
Santa's Workshop in Bayville - Come visit us by reserving online your 10 minutes with Santa to help him build a birdhouse for Mrs. Claus and tell him what you want for Christmas. This is Santa's and Mrs. Clause's favorite time of the year and they want to spend it with you.
Holiday Adventure at Liberty Science Center - Are you ready for a holiday adventure? Liberty Science Center is ready for you! From Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, enjoy holiday experiences throughout LSC to celebrate the joy – and the science – of the season. Just a few of our seasonal highlights include a Snowflake Maze, Sock Skating Rink, Gift Stacking Face-Off, Holiday Dance Party, glow-in-the-dark Shadow Wall, Snowman Riddle Scavenger Hunt game, Laser Wonderland laser show with songs from Mariah Carey, Alvin and the Chipmunks, “Frozen,” and more! Plus our permanent and featured exhibitions.
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquariums, Camden- ‘Tis the season for an underwater Christmas experience! See Scuba Santa swimming in Shark Realm along with the World’s Tallest Christmas Tree. Take a stroll through Caribbean Currents to see the World's Smallest Underwater Christmas trees.
Princeton Winter Village Artist Chalets - ‘Tis the Season in Princeton! Discover artisan handicrafts and specialty items in Princeton’s new Winter Village Chalets, presented by the Princeton Merchants Association. Grab hot drinks and snacks from local restaurants and enjoy sidewalk sales at local retailers.
Brookhollow's Barnyard Christmas Drive Through Light Show in Boonton - Christmas light show Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December.
Diggerland Winter Festival & Holiday Light Show in West Berlin - It’s our Winter Festival here at Diggerland - you and your family can enjoy live music, our famous Parade of Machines, specialty food, hayrides and plenty of fun and games. Holiday Light Show - Drive a mile-length course through America’s only construction theme & water park to witness hundreds of thousands of lights, tour our holiday displays, enjoy tasty treats, and listen to our very own radio station to fill your car with holiday spirit!
South Jersey Holiday Light Show in Swedesboro - The South Jersey Holiday Light Show is the only drive-through light show in Southern New Jersey! Featuring dozens of dazzling displays to delight the entire family, the show is open select dates beginning November 19, 2020, through the end of December
North Pole Express in Flemington- Don't miss North Pole Express, BR&W's most popular annual event! This year's program will feature more entertainment staff, new and improved decor at "North Pole Station", a new choose-your-own props photo experience and more!
Magical Express Hammonton- Delight in the newest holiday tradition in South Jersey! Perfect for Kids age 1-92, DiDonato's Magical Holiday Express!
Kringle Railway Adventure Train Ride in Cedar Knolls - The Kringle Railway Adventure is a round-trip thematic Christmas train ride for all ages that is sure to put your family into the holiday spirit!
Jersey City Annual Historic Downtown Tree Lighting and Menorah Ceremony - Annual Historic Downtown Tree Lighting and Menorah Ceremony at the Pedestrian Mall on December 3rd at 5:30pm. Please join Mayor Fulop and the HDSID in celebrating the holiday season.
Kids Market Westfield in Paramus - Children are invited into a whimsical environment where they’ll learn how to manage a budget and shop for their friends and family... all on their own. A kid-sized entertaining & educational experience for our littlest shoppers, Kids Market teaches kids the joys of gift shopping and giving.
Crystal Golf Resort - Guests will love our new eco-friendly 'Glice' skating rink located at Grand Cascades Lodge, riding in a horse-drawn carriage, Frosty's Cantina, located at Minerals Hotel, our live Nativity at Grand Cascades Lodge, decorating their very own miniature Christmas tree, enjoy the craft of our professional photographer for a keepsake image, visit with Santa, heated outdoor snow pools which are perfect to enjoy on a chilly winter's day, and huddling around the fire and roasting marshmallows in the crisp winter air!
Grinch's Grotto at Westfield Garden State Plaza - 2020, you’ve been a mean one! So this year, celebrate the holiday season like never before with an exclusive visit to the Grinch’s Cave at Westfield Garden State Plaza. Your party will meet The Grinch and interact with him right in his cave, as well as pose for a photo. Your admission includes a FREE 6x8” printed photo with a perfectly playful Grinch catch phrase. With over 20 sayings to choose from, you can customize your own Grinch holiday memory. Admission also gets you a collectible Grinch ornament! Each ticket allows admission for up to 5 guests to meet the Grinch as a group. This ticket secures your individual time to meet the Grinch and experience his cave. Don’t let the Grinch steal Christmas this year, make him a part of your memories!
The Holiday Hunt at Westfield Garden State Plaza - Enjoy a fun, augmented reality experience on the hunt for 10 virtual holiday characters. Unlock exclusive savings and promotion in this AR holiday experience. Visit Godiva, Aveda, Zen Diamond, Fabletics, H&M, Makeup Forever, NARS, Toys R Us, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Milk n Cookies to unlock all 10 experiences for a final prize of a Starbucks gift card to pick up at the Concierge desk.
Orchard of Lights in Demarest - Join us 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 our retail farm market.
The Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker: Christmas Stream- A fantastic Christmas party is one click away! Gather the family for Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker: Christmas Stream. Enjoy the show from the best seat in the house: your living room couch! Take this opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and experience the smash-hit Holiday tradition in this ground-breaking Video on Demand debut.
Bright Star Theatre presents: A Dickens Tale: Scrooge- Virtual Event. Perfect for young and old alike, A Dickens Tale brings Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” to life in front of your very eyes. Join old Scrooge, bumbling Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, old Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future while discovering the true meaning of the season.
