With the holidays upon us, there are so many wonderful family and kid-friendly events happening around the state to be enjoyed. At NJ Mom, we love all of the family time spent together and holiday cheer that December brings. From meet and greets with Santa to Menorah lightings, The Nutcracker and holiday craft fairs, there’s things to do with the family no matter where you live in the state. Our roundup of 35 things to do in NJ this weekend will hopefully help your family enjoy all the fun December has to offer in New Jersey.
35 Things To Do In NJ This Weekend That Will Get You In The Holiday Spirit
NJ Mom put together this weekend event guide of 35 things to do in NJ to help you find fun happenings around the state that we know you’ll enjoy.
MERCER COUNTY
Cookies with Santa
Friday, December 12th at 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm
MyGym Princeton
Space is limited so reserve your spot early
Everyone is invited to come and meet Santa at My Gym Princeton. Games, relays and puppet shows, cookies, cocoa, and each child gets their picture taken with Santa.
http://www.princetonkids.com/Cookies-with-Santa/12-12-2014/e/5568/
Christmas Carols and Readings
Friday, December 12th and Saturday December 13th at 8:00pm
Westminster Choir College at Princeton University Chapel
http://www.princetonol.com/holidays/polCalendarEvent.cfm?Event_Id=32892#.VIrtN1bZqbA
El Sueno – A Cultural Celebration at Kelsey Theatre
Saturday, December 13th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm
A Latin American adaptation of “The Nutcracker.”
http://www.kelseyatmccc.org/El_Sueno14.shtml
Tickets: $14 students/ children, $16 seniors, $18 adults
Breakfast with Frosty
Saturday, December 13th at 9:00am
West Windsor Plainsboro High School South
Enjoy a delicious breakfast, face painting, crafts, coloring contest, games and photos with Frosty.
$10/ person, kids under 2 are free
“Home for the Holidays” (performed by the American BoyChoir)
Sunday December 14th at 4:00pm
Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium
Tickets starting at $25
Americanboychoir.org
HOBOKEN/ JERSEY CITY
Santa’s Elf Factory
Saturday & Sunday December 13th & 14th (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Tickets are $20/child
http://www.jcfunraisers.com/
Holiday Banding Concert
Sunday December 14th (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
Hoboken Elk’s Lodge, 1005 Washington St.
Popular local musicians, performing favorite holiday classics. Admission is $8 and proceeds support Movies Under the Stars series for 2015.
http://www.hobokennj.org/holiday-banding-concert/
Christmas Tree Lighting 2014
Monday December 15th at 5:00pm
In front of City Hall, 94 Washington Street
Elvis the Elf, an appearance by Santa Claus & much
http://www.hobokennj.org/departments/human-services/cultural-affairs/holiday-tree-lighting/
MORRIS COUNTY
Country Christmas with Santa
Runs until December 14th (11:00am – 4:00pm)
Alstede Farms LLC, 1 Chesterfield Dr., Chester, NJ 07930
Santa will be visiting the farm and taking photos with little ones. Enjoy Christmas music and a cozy campfire. Hot cidar, hot chocolate, donuts and s’mores kits available for purchase.
http://alstedefarms.com/family-fun-nj/country-christmas-with-santa/
New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker
Runs until December 24th
Mayo Performing Arts Center
100 South St., Morristown, NJ 07960
For tickets and showtimes visit their website
WARREN COUNTY
The Polar Express
Runs until December 21st
Lehigh Junction
99 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
For tickets and times, visit their website
Monmouth County
Max & Ruby The Nutcracker Suite at iPlay America
Sunday, December 14, 2014 1:00 pm
Location: iPlay America
110 Schanck Rd
Freehold, NJ 07728
Cost: $25.00 – $100.00
http://www.iplayamerica.com/special-event/max-and-ruby-nutcracker-suite
Pictures with Santa
Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14 (11:00am- 6:00pm)
Location: iPlay America
110 Schanck Rd
Freehold, NJ 07728
Santa stops his sleigh every weekend before Christmas at iPlay America. Kids are invited to greet our jolly friend Santa Claus as he arrives at iPlay America for the holidays.
http://www.iplayamerica.com/special-event/meet-santa
SUMMIT (and surrounding)
Santa’s Arrival and Annual Tree Lighting
December 12th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
http://www.summitdowntown.org/events/events/santa-arrives/
Holiday Lights & Merry Grinch-mess
December 12th to December 14th 5:00pm- 9:00pm
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052
Featured films: “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”
Free admission
http://turtlebackzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/holiday-lights-weekends-flyer-final.pdf
BERGEN COUNTY
Cresskill Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, December 13, 11:00am-4:00pm
Support local veterans, purchase handmade gifts, and eat delicious food!
American Legion Hall, 75 Legion Dr., Cresskill
http://www.thecraftique.com/Craftique_Fairs.html
Carolers & S’mores at Abma’s Farm
Saturday, December 13, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
700 Lawlins Rd., Wycoff
Serenades by carolers, bonfires and S’mores.
http://www.abmasfarm.com/events.php
CC Sabathia Book Signing
Saturday, December 13, 12:00pm- 1:00pm
Books and Greetings; 271G Livingston St., Northvale, NJ
Meet the beloved New York Yankee and purchase a signed copy of his Christmas baseball book “CC Claus”.
When you purchase a book, you will receive a ticket which is your number in the signing line.
Santa’s Reindeer at Demarest Farms
Saturday December 14 12:00-2:00pm
244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
You’ve probably seen Santa a few times this season, but what about his reindeer? Free hayride ride with Santa included.
Holiday with the Animals at the Bergen County Zoo
Sunday, December 14, 12:00 -3:00pm
216 Forest Ave., Paramus
Visit with the Critters, Santa and Characters at this celebration of the holiday season.
Admission is free.
http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/3544
SHIRAH’s Annual Chanukah Concert
Sunday, December 14, 1:30-3pm, Free
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly
Celebrate Chanukah with music sang in four languages by the Shirah Choir.
http://www.jccotp.org/category.aspx?catid=915#7446
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins – a Musical Storytelling Performance by Play Me a Story
Sunday, December 14, 2014; 10-11:30 AM
Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, 275 McKinley Avenue, New Milford, NJ
A Hanukkah show aimed to please the 2-7 year old crowd.
RSVP to www.ssdsbergen.org/schechter-rocks
Admission is free.
http://www.ssdsbergen.org/upcoming-events/
Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Tuesday, December 16, 5:30 PM
Memorial Park at Van Neste Square
Enjoy this lighting ceremony in Ridgewood on the first night of Hanukkah.
http://www.ridgewoodnj.net/main.cfm
SOUTH JERSEY
Lunch with Elsa
Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Journey Cafe
Join Elsa at this magical party where your child will sing songs from Frozen, make a craft to take home, play games, enjoy pizza and take pictures with Elsa.
http://media.wix.com/ugd/c0e5bc_2bce76ec3ded46829c3cafa446189395.pdf
Annie
Friday, Decemeber 12th at 8:00pm
Saturday, December 13th at 8:00pm
Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 2:00 PM
Haddonfield Plays and Players
Haddonfield, NJ
Enjoy the classic Annie play.
Tickets starting at $20.
http://www.haddonfieldplayers.com/shows/2014/08_annie.php
The Christmas Light Show
December 13th, 2014 – December 14th from 7:00pm-8:30pm
The Christmas Show House, 2702 Woolley Rd., Wall Township, NJ 07719
The show is free, but donations are appreciated to benefit Challenged Youth Sports. Please plan on arriving 30 minutes prior to show.
http://www.thechristmaslightshow.com/
Holiday Spectacular & Train Display
Runs until December 21st from 12:00pm-5:00pm
InfoAge Science Center, 2201 Marconi Rd., Wall, NJ 07719
Enjoy pictures with santa and his reindeer, too!
Donation: $1 Kids/ $5 Adults (adults free with an unwrapped toy for “Toys for Tots”
http://www.gardenstatecentral.com/
The Christmas Fantasy with Lights
Runs until December 30th
Storybook Land, 6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
https://storybookland.com/index_hohoho.html
Christmas Fantasy with Lights Holiday Light Show (a 25 year tradition!)
Runs until January 6th, 2015
Historic Smithville & Village Greene
615 E. Moss Mill Rd., Smithville, NJ 08205
Arrive before 5:00pm when Santa Claus appears in his chimney, waves his magic wand and over one million lights turn on in the park. Rides, attractions and snack bars open.
https://storybookland.com/christmas/
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday December 13th at 9:00am
Fred and Ethel’s Lantern Light
Enjoy all your traditional breakfast favorites with everyone’s favorite…SANTA! Call for reservations: 609.652.0544
Cost: $13.95
A few events a little farther out of town….
Breakfast with Santa Cruise
Saturday, December 13th at 9:00am
Circle Line Downtown
89 South Street
New York, NY 10038
Cost: $35.00 – $45.00
http://www.circlelinedowntown.com/tours/breakfast-with-santa
Madeline Tea at the Carlyle Hotel
Saturday, December 13th at 10:00am & 12:45pm
Carlyle Hotel, NYC
Adults $75 / Child $35
Eats, treats, sing-a-longs and story time.
http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/location/things-to-do/events-at-the-carlyle
Nutcracker Market
The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
The Market will include daily free activities: “Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker” display, origami lessons, raffles, visits from the characters of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, arts & crafts, and a community stage featuring local dance performances and The Philly POPS. Other family activities will include: Land of Sweets candy shop, specialty food and drink offerings, and more. Attendees will enjoy indoor shopping on three levels of The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts in downtown Philadelphia. This festive holiday market- a fundraiser for Pennsylvania Ballet and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet- will feature over 75 select exhibitors offering a variety of gifts and hand-crafted works such as ornaments, jewelry, photography, and dance-inspired pieces.
http://www.paballet.org/nutmarket
Peddler’s Village Gingerbread House Competition
Runs through January 3, 2015
Visit dozens of creative gingerbread houses on display at the Village Gazebo. Peddlersvillage.com
https://www.peddlersvillage.com/festivals/gingerbread_competition_display.aspx
ShadyBrook Farms Holiday Lights Fest
Runs through January 5, 2015 from 5:00pm-10:00pm
Drive through the farm’s acres of light displays.
Admission is $20/ car
http://shadybrookfarm.com/holiday-light-show/
“A Longwood Christmas”
Runs through January 11, 2015
Trees and elaborate decorations at the beautiful Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.
Kids up to 4 are admitted free, $10/children 5-18, $20/Adults
http://longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/longwood-christmas
We hope you’ve enjoyed NJ Mom’s roundup of things to do in NJ with your family! Enjoy your weekend!
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