It didn’t take much convincing to get the kids to change into their holiday PJs and jump in the car to see Winter WonderLights in NJ at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick. I was excited, too, because it’s known as New Jersey’s Largest Animated Drive Through Holiday Light Show, and for a good reason—with 1.5 million lights animated and synchronized to holiday tunes, 30-foot Christmas trees, four light tunnels, and displays that celebrate all the holidays this season—it is truly a larger-than-life, fantastic show. Read on for our experience and the highlights of what we saw, and be sure to catch all the holiday activities in NJ this season. (featured photo credit NJ MOM)

Buckle Up For 1.5 Million Lights

Pulling up to fun

As we turned off Cranbury Road in East Brunswick and entered Winter WonderLights, we were greeted by a breathtaking display of every color of the rainbow that seemed to go on for miles. The light show is a family-owned business that began as a display at home for friends and neighbors and has become a fun event for anyone to enjoy. As we drove down the winding path to the entrance of the drive-through light show, we saw signs telling us to tune our radio to 95.3 FM so our music synced with the lights. We immediately noticed that the lights were “dancing” to the music from a distance.

Viewing special sites along the way

We purchased tickets in advance, and as soon as we showed our QR code at check-in, we were off to see the show from the comfort of our car. It all started with a magical light tunnel into a candy cane forest. As we made our way into the brilliant display (we drove slowly to catch every detail), the light tunnels were colorful and exciting, the holiday character displays were detailed and bright, and the 30-foot trees were dazzling and unique. There were also memorable scenes along the way, such as the tribute to first responders and the United States Armed Forces, featuring twinkling lights and displays celebrating all the holidays—Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. Every display was animated, filled with movement in the festive scenes and pop culture characters, and timed perfectly to all the music on the radio. Unlike other light displays, these lights were like scenes from a movie that seemed to dance throughout our drive. By the end, my kids happily talked about what they loved the most—they gave top marks to the light tunnels, animated trees, and the lively Disney scene. The best part for me? There were no complaints from the kids about how cold it was since we had a front-row seat to the show in our warm car.  

What to know before you go

Winter WonderLights at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick is a 1/2-mile-long drive, and the show lasts 20-25 minutes. Food is available at Dave’s Delicious French Fries & Lemonade Food Truck before you enter check-in, and you can park and get out to purchase snacks to have in your car. The grounds are open seven days a week from November 21 to December 28, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 10 PM (the last vehicle is allowed in the gate by 9:45 PM). Tickets are $35-$45 per car, and they are date-specific; you can go in at any time during their hours that day, but always double-check before purchasing. There is also an option to buy a VIP Season Pass, which can be used at any time during the season. The whole experience is a drive-through, and there are restrooms available in the queue line area before entering the show. Once through the light show, the recommended driving speed is 1-2 mph. The show is open rain or shine, and the unlimited season pass is $100, valid until December 28, 2025. 

Learn more about Winter WonderLights at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick, NJ, by visiting their website, Facebook or Instagram.

Winter WonderLights – Middlesex County Fairgrounds
655 Cranbury Road
East Brunswick, NJ 08816

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