It’s the best time of the year, and this weekend, enjoy all the holidays with a bunch of festive fun for the whole family. Get your photo taken with Santa, check out the running train display, and admire the gingerbread house entries at the 4-H Holiday Craft Festival in Bridgewater, enjoy gelt, a giant menorah lighting, festive music, and ice skating at Vorhees Hanukkah On Ice or watch dance and musical performances and shop at a Kwanzaa marketplace at the Kwanzaa Festival in Edison. For more family fun, make sure you hit up all the local holiday activities before January 1. (Featured Photo Credit: istock/Balasubramaniam Natarajan)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Parent and Baby FREE Swim Class
December 9 at 11 AM
Join Five Star Swim School at Cherry Hill for a FREE 30-minute swim class on December 9 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (class starts at 11:30 AM)! No experience is required – just come ready to make a splash with your little ones aged 6 months to 3 years old. Contact Five Star Swim School Cherry Hill to secure your spot for this splashin’ good time. Limited spaces available.
Cost: Free
Five Star Swim School, 5 Esterbrook Lane, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
2023 Holiday Tree Lighting
December 8 at 6:30 PM
Is it even the holiday season without a tree lighting? Watch the big tree get a glow up, and then head inside to a Winter Wonderland filled with hot chocolate and cookies, face painting, Santa meet and greet, and more.
Cost: Free
Elmwood Park Recreation, 500 Mola Boulevard, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park
December 8-9 at 5 PM
This light show will delight every member of your family and runs every half hour. Over the weekend, there will be complimentary hot chocolate, popcorn, letter writing to Santa, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Can’t make it? The light show and decorations will run through mid-January.
Cost: Free
Holly Beach Park, 123 E Andrews Ave, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Happy Holiday Market
December 9-10 at 12 PM
Last-minute gifting is inevitable, so why not stop by for live music, food, and gifts made by local artisans? You’ll find that and more at this festive market in historic Jersey City, offering a unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.
Grove Street PATH Plaza and The Ashford Rooftop, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Flounder’s Annual Kringle Market
December 9-10 at 11 AM
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s time to celebrate with this annual event. There will be vendors, a brass band playing nostalgic classics, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus strolling through the market.
Cost: $10 parking, cash only
Carriage Farm, 2 Clerico Lane, Hillsborough, NJ 08821
Reed’s Farm Holiday Market
December 9-10 at 9 AM
Grab every member of the family and take in the holiday season. This day will be filled with local vendors, holiday treats, and adorable baby animals.
Cost: Free
Reed’s Farm and Animal Sanctuary, 5075 Spruce Avenue, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Holiday Wonderland and Christmas Market
December 9 at 12 PM
This winter festival in NJ has everything from vendors to fire pits. There will be live entertainment and shopping, and don’t forget to take a family photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Heritage Park, 49 West Bay Ave., Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Festival of Trees and Storytime
December 9 at 10 AM
Bring the entire family for a memorable holiday morning with the Festival of Trees, followed by the Princeton Storytelling Circle. The morning will start with a self-guided visit to the 2023 Festival of Trees, activities, treats, and a fun storytime.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Harambee Breakfast & Kwanzaa Celebration
December 9 at 9 AM
Feast on breakfast and learn more about Kwanzaa and the unique traditions that reinforce seven fundamental values of African culture, which contribute to building and supporting family, community, and culture among African American people and Africans worldwide.
Cost: $15 and up
The Renaissance, 1110 Valley Road, Ocean, NJ 07712
Voorhees Hanukkah on Ice
December 9 at 7:30 PM
Head to Flyers Skate Zone for a night of Hanukkah-themed fun. All ages can enjoy gelt, a giant menorah lighting, festive music, and refreshments. Admission includes doughnuts, a skate rental, and drinks.
Cost: $15
601 Laurel Oak Avenue, Voorhees, NJ 08003
Family Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 9 at 9 AM
Bring the entire family and spend the day celebrating the magic of the season. There will be holiday-themed crafters, movies, photos with Santa, choir performances, and more.
Cost: Free
The Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Kwanzaa Festival
December 9 at 12:30 PM
Celebrate Kwanzaa with a festival that includes dance and musical performances, spoken word, a Kwanzaa marketplace, a photo booth, and memories made with the whole family.
Cost: Free
Edison Job Corps, Athletic Center, 500 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817
Township Tree Lighting
December 9 at 2:30 PM
This event is fun for the entire family. Events include photos with Santa, music, Colonial reenactors, decorating a gingerbread man, and refreshments. After all the fun, watch the beautiful tree get lit.
Cost: Free
Jacobus Vanderveer House and Museum, 3055 River Road, Bedminster, NJ 07921
4-H Holiday Craft Festival
December 9-10 at 10 AM
Everyone will have a ball at this event, where you can shop for unique gifts with makers, crafters, and artisans, take photos with Santa, enjoy refreshments, watch a model running train, and admire all the gingerbread house entries on display.
Cost: Free
Ted Blum 4-H Center, 310 Miltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Big Blue Paramus’ Holiday Market
December 9-10 at 2 PM
This holiday market is filled with photos of Santa, activities for the kids, and shopping with local vendors. All proceeds will benefit Toys for Tots.
Cost: Free
Big Blue Swim School, 305 Route 17 South, Paramus, NJ 07653
Festival of Trees
December 10 at 11 AM
You will want to put this outdoor winter festival on your calendar. There will be arts and crafts inclusive of all the holidays, games, stories, music, and the chance to hang out with the Big Guy from the North Pole.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
Car Menorah Parade Cherry Hill
December 10 at 4 PM
The parade will be led by a car-top Menorah and a police escort through the streets of Cherry Hill. There will also be a menorah music truck, classic and antique cars, and first responder vehicles. The parade will end with a menorah lighting at the Barclay Shopping Center.
Cost: Free
1925 Kresson Road to the Barclay Center, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Holiday Tree Jubilee
December 10 at 12 PM
Come and vote for your favorite holiday trees. After you view the trees, decorate an ornament for the community, have hot chocolate and cookies, and then take a photo with Santa.
Cost: Free
Wildwood Crest Arts Pavilion, 6301 Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Grand Menorah Lighting
December 10 at 5:30 PM
It’s time to get lit and celebrate the Hanukkah season. Once the giant ice menorah is lit, there will be hot latkes, live music, games, and crafts for the whole family.
Cost: Free
Chabad of Closter, 1 Ruckman Rd, Closter, NJ 07624
Brunch with Santa
December 10 at 10 AM
Enjoy a buffet brunch with Santa this season. The Big Guy will be taking photos with each family who attends, so make sure to have your phones ready.
Cost: $40 for adults and $20 for children
Proving Ground Waterfront Dining, 56 Shrewsbury Avenue, Highlands, NJ 07732
2nd Annual “Washington’s Landing in New Jersey”
December 10 at 11 AM
Start with a brief march led by reenactors over the bridge to the Overlook, where you’ll find cozy fires, hot cider, and skilled reenactors who will share tales of the rich Revolutionary War history of Mercer County. NJ historians will narrate Washington’s famous crossing and landing in NJ in real-time with an interactive and engaging style so that even the youngest visitors will want to learn more about New Jersey history.
Cost: Free
Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ 08560
Santa in the Forest
December 10 at 12 PM
This magical afternoon in the forest is a great way to spend the holiday season. There will be ‘smores by the fire, a scavenger hunt, live music, cookie decorating, and a professional Santa photo post-event.
Cost: $40 per child; siblings 2 and under are free, and one free adult ticket
Wyanokie Recreation Area and Preserve, 550 Snake Den Road, West Milford, NJ 07480
1st Annual Christmas Bazaar
December 10 at 9 AM
Bring the family to this traditional Christmas bazaar with vendors, raffles, games, food, a kid’s zone, and a visit from Santa.
Cost: Free
Resurrection Catholic School and Preschool, 402 Kings Highway N, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
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