Top 15+ {kid-friendly} Things To Do in NJ, December 22-24

Spend time with your family this weekend celebrating the holidays at the Bergen County Winter Wonderland at Van Saun County Park in Paramus, riding in a real-life Polar Express train that was inspired by the movie in Whippany’s The Polar Express Ride, watching Santa arrive in style at Princeton Airport’s Santa Flys in for a Christmas Eve Visit, plus s many more kid-friendly festivals around New Jersey this weekend.

Here are 15+ Things To Do This Weekend in NJ:

Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.

Gingerbread Lane in Brick Township. via

1. Gingerbread Lane, An Elf Block Party
Friday, December 22, 2017 | 6:00PM to 8:00PM
All families are welcomed on December 22nd for holiday fun, surprises, and the Christmas version of Trick or Treat. This Elf Inspired Block Party will make your whole family want to ring the bells on gingerbread lane and invite all the elves out to play. Activities for this grand event include visiting the Elves’ houses, decorating a Gingerbread Cookie, and Make Your Very Own Elf Puppet. After all that holiday fun, join in singing amazing holiday tunes with Santa himself.
Brick PAL
60 Drum Point Rd, Brick Township, New Jersey 08723
Cost: $15 Child, Free for Adults, Tickets can be purchased here

2. Santa’s Sleigh Ride 2017
Saturday, December 23, 2017 | 8:00AM to 7:00PM
Sayreville Emergency Squad presents the 2017 Santa’s Sleigh Ride. Santa and his helpers will make their way through the Borough of Sayreville greeting children and handing out candy to bring everyone special holiday cheer. Routes, times, and stops of the whole event will be updated here.
Sayreville Emergency Squad
776 Washington Rd, Parlin, New Jersey 08859
Cost: Free

3. Lyndhurst Holiday Flea Market & Gift Fair
Saturday, December 23, 2017 | 9:00AM to 5:00PM
This flea market has over 50 exhibitors displaying a variety of merchandise including: handbags, sports collectibles, candles, jewelry for all ages, clothing, dollar items, gift items, gloves & scarves, toys, perfumes, antiques & collectibles, garage/tag sale items all at bargain prices. Grab that last minute gift you’ve been meaning to get!
400 Weart Ave. Lyndhurst NJ 07071
Cost: Free

4. Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten’s Weihnachtsmarkt
Saturday, December 23, 2017 | 12:00PM to 7:00PM
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten’s Weihnachtsmarkt is a Rooftop Europmean Holiday Market featuring over 25 vendors and live music. There will be artisanal gifts, speciality foods, handcrafter toys, and pictures with Santa from 2pm to 5pm.
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten
527 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Cost: Free

Kids Craft Corner at the Holiday Bazaar in Asbury Park. via

5. Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar & Pop Up Market
Saturday, December 23, 2017 | 12:00PM to 5:00PM
The Asbury Park Bazaar and the Asbury Park Boardwalk have partnered together to bring your family one of the most spectacular holiday markets in New Jersey. Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar will feature shopping from amazing handcraft and vintage vendors, live music, special performances, and seasonally-inspired foods. From 1pm-4pm, there will be a kids craft corner where kids will be able to make holiday-themed crafts.
Asbury Park Convention Hall
1300 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Cost: Free

6. Community Christmas Event
Saturday, December 23, 2017 | 5:00PM to 8:30PM
This free family event will ensure fun for all attending. There will be opportunities to share some holiday cheer through donations that go towards American Cancer Society. Other than the good spirits, there will also be plenty of decorations, hot chocolate, Santa, and live holiday music that will make your family sing all night.
Psycho Trail
311 Harrison Ave, Blackwood, New Jersey 08012
Cost: Free

7. Peddlers Warehouse and Marketplace
Saturday, December 23 – Sunday, December 24, 2017 | 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Finding an upscale indoor flea market offering everything from antiques and collectibles is hard to find, but your family is in luck. This holiday season, Peddlers Warehouse will offer crafts, collectibles, knives, wreaths, comic books, skull jewelry, crystal, trains, kids wear, records, toys, kitchenware, furniture, vintage clothing and so much more for your holiday shopping pleasure.
Peddlers Warehouse and Marketplace
366 Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville NJ 08081
Cost: Free

8. Santa’s Country Christmas
Saturday, December 23 – Sunday, December, 24, 2017 | 11:00AM to 4:00PM Both Days
Just this one time a year, Santa will be touching down here at Alstede Farms in time for the perfect family portrait. Enjoy Country Christmas with Santa, roast a marshmallow, and then make a delicious stop into the farm store for fresh baked treats, homemade ice cream and freshly picked produce. Visitation with Santa is free.
Alstede Farms
1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, New Jersey 07930
Cost: Free

9. Ice King’s Holiday In Ice Featuring The 12 Days Of Christmas
Now – Saturday, December 30, 2017 | Fridays 4:00PM to 10:00PM, Saturdays 1:00PM to 10:00PM, Sundays 1:00PM to 7:00PM
This crowd favorite event is great for families of all ages. Your family will enjoy gazing into intricate ice sculptures, and the fantastic 12 Days of Christmas. The facility is kept at 15 degrees, so don’t forget to bundle up.
Ice King Holiday In Ice
4045 New Jersey 33, Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07753
Cost: $8 Child, $11 Adult, Tickets can be purchased here

Santa siting at the Princeton Airport. via

10. Santa Flys in for a Christmas Eve Visit
Sunday, December 24, 2017 | 10:30AM to 1:00PM
The Nierenberg family will graciously open the hangar doors to children looking forward to Santa’s arrival. Santa is planning to arrive at 11:00 A.M, which mean parents and children are advised to arrive early. Attending this incredible event will also come with hot cocoa and cookies served by the Princeton Airport Flying Tigers. Along with that, local folk singer Pat McKinley will be leading the audience in holiday songs during the anticipated arrival of Santa. Santa will also be handing out pre-delivered gifts, so bring a pre-wrapped gift with your child’s name on it in large print to the Princeton Airport lobby, and they’ll be delighted when Santa hands it to them.
Princeton Airport
41 Airpark Rd, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Cost: Free

11. Christmas Light Show & Market at Skylands Stadium
Now – Saturday, December 30, 2017 | Times vary by day, please check here to view the full schedule
Their spectacular drive-through Christmas Light Show is bigger and better than before, which includes more than 2 million dazzling lights on a mile-long course. Other prominent features during this event include: Christmas Light Show, Walk-Thru Lightfest, Pompton Sport Center Skating Rink, Polar Bear Statue photo opportunities, a mouth-watering S’mores Station, Christmas Village, and the illustrious WheelHouse Craft Kitchen and Bar.
Skylands Stadium
94 Championship Pl, Augusta, New Jersey 07822
Cost: $17/Carload Monday-Thursday, $20/Carload Friday-Sunday, Tickets can be purchased the gate, box office, or participating Walgreens

12. Holiday Candlelight Tour
Now – Saturday, December 30, 2017 | 7:00PM to 8:00PM
This guided tour of Essex County Kip’s Castle will include viewing the stained glass Tiffany windows and learning about its great history. Your entrance fee includes coffee, hot chocolate & cookies.
Essex County Kip’s Castle
22 Crestmont Rd, Verona, NJ
Cost: $8 General Admission; pre-registation required (space is limited)

13. Whippany The Polar Express Ride
Now – Sunday, December 31, 2017 | Times vary by day, please click here for the full schedule
Inspired by the hit movie, this holiday favorite comes to life as you and your family take a ride on The Polar Express. One of the most popular events throughout the state of New Jersey; this event will be set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack as families take their trip to the North Pole. Your family will of course be accompanied by hot chocolate and cookies served on board the train. Passengers will then be entertained by a reading of The Polar Express. Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa will greet the children and each child will receive their own sleigh bell, just like in the movie, to those who believe. Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride and join in on the magic of Christmas.
Whippany Station
1 Railroad Plz, Whippany, NJ 07981
Cost: Tickets can be purchased here
Coach Class:
Value: $45 Adult, $40 Child (2-11), Standard: $50 Adult, $45 Child (2-11), Holiday: $65 Adult, $60 Child (2-11)
First Class:
Value: $60 Adult, $55 Child (2-11), Standard: $70 Adult, $65 Child (2-11), Holiday: $75 Adult, $70 Child (2-11)

14. Cosmic Celebration
Now – Monday, January 1, 2018 | Times vary by day, please click here to view the full schedule
Liberty Science Center is now home to the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. To celebrate this amazing feat, there will be a month-long, out-of-this-world cosmic celebration. Starting Dec. 9, there will be telescopes, gyroscopes, astronomical activities, and spinning into physics on rotational stools. Even more out of this universe, families attending can attempt to perform basic tasks with astronaut gloves, such as: feel moon sand, whipping up a mini-comet, and learn to handle a telescope like a pro.
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, New Jersey 07305
Cost: $18.75+ Child, $22.75+ Adult, Tickets can be purchased here

Winter Wonderland at Van Saun Park in Paramus. via

15. Bergen County Winter Wonderland
Now – Monday, January, 1, 2018 | Times vary by day, please click here to view the full schedule
Bergen County’s Winter Wonderland is finally here, and it cannot come soon enough. The open Air Ice Skating Rink is open for kids, beginners, and adults alike. There will be additional kids activities, games, express train rides, carousel rides, petting zoos, beer gardens, and the ultimate North Pole Workshop. Other than all the holiday festivities, your family should come out and enjoy the fabulous food trucks available on site as well.
Van Saun County Park
216 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652
Cost: $16 General Admission, Tickets can be purchased here

16. A Season of Wonder
Now – Sunday, March 4, 2018 | 11:00AM to 05:00PM
There is no successful holiday without toys right? It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, but your memories for your favorite doll, toy car or truck will always be with you. Check out the unique collection of toys which re-creates some of the most classic holiday vignettes. Step back into the memories and nostalgia of yesteryear’s childhood.
Morris Museum
6 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ
Cost: $7 Child, $10 Adult