Looking for some festive fun? These holiday light shows happening around the state are a wondrous sight to see this season.
NORTH JERSEY
Let It Glow! A Holiday Lantern Spectactular at the Bergen County Zoo • Paramus
📅: Select dates from Thursday, November 7-Sunday, January 12
📍: 216 Forest Avenue
ℹ️: Take a walk and a train ride through the zoo to experience larger-than-life lanterns of various animals. Enjoy fire pits and s’mores, and browse the gift shop.
💸: $10 per child; $20 per adult (kids 2 and under, free)
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms • Hillsdale
📅: Weekends starting Friday, November 22; weekends and select weekdays from Sunday, December 1-Sunday, December 29
📍: 244 Werimus Road
ℹ️: Take a guided tour from the comfort of your car through 32 acres of magical holiday light displays. While at the farm, cozy up by the fire pit, make your own s’mores, take photos with Santa, and purchase hot cocoa and treats from the market.
💸: $35 per vehicle
Christmas Light Show & Village at Skylands Stadium • Augusta
📅: Thru Monday, December 30
📍: 94 Championship Place
ℹ️: Take a 30-minute drive to see a spectacle of holiday lights, then enjoy time in the Christmas Village with the whole family (don’t miss the delectable confections!).
💸: $29 per vehicle
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Turtle Back Zoo • West Orange
Photo: Courtesy of Turtle Back Zoo
📅: Friday, November 22-Sunday, November 24; Friday, November 29-Wednesday, December 4; Friday, December 6-Tuesday, December 31; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
📍: 560 Northfield Avenue
ℹ️: It’s a real treat to walk through the zoo at night while taking in a display of lights depicting dozens of animals and characters.
💸: Free; consider bringing donations for needy of non-perishable food, new and unwrapped toys, and/or new or gently used winter coats
CENTRAL JERSEY
The Village at Anne Ellen • Manalapan
📅: Select dates from Thursday, November 14-Saturday, December 30
📍: 114 Daum Road
ℹ️: Take a hayride through a field of trees to the Christmas Village, then walk down winding trails to explore the lights, a life-size igloo and gingerbread house, a candy cane factory, Santa’s house and so much more. There are plenty of photo opportunities and sweet treats to enjoy, too.
💸: $12.80 per child ages 3-12; $23.46 per adult; kids 2 and under, free. Tickets must be purchased online.
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2024 LuminoCity Lights Festival at Freehold Raceway Mall • Freehold
📅: Select dates from Friday, November 15-Sunday, January 5
📍: 3710 US-9
ℹ️: Enter a vibrant wonderland of illuminated sculptures, food trucks, a gift shop and more. At theme nights, guests can come dressed in costumes.
💸: $29.42+ for general admission; $21.49+ for kids ages 4-12
Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center • Holmdel
📅: Friday, November 22-Saturday, January 4
📍: 116 Garden State Parkway
ℹ️: Drive though magical light displays featuring multiple holiday scenes, including a toy land, snowflake tunnel, Nativity scene, and plenty of Santas and elves.
💸: $20-$25 per car; $65 per limo or party bus; $85 per bus
Winter WonderLights • East Brunswick
📅: Opens Friday, November 29; runs through Tuesday, December 31 for general admission and through January 5 for season pass holders
📍: 655 Cranbury Road
ℹ️: The state’s largest animated holiday light show features over 1.5 million lights animated to twinkle to classic holiday songs. The half-mile drive celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali and Kwanzaa.
💸: $30-$40 per vehicle for general admission; $75 per vehicle for unlimited season pass
SOUTH JERSEY
DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express • Hammonton
📅: Weekends in November; Sunday, December 1-Monday, December 23
📍: 1151 South White Horse Pike, Hammonton
ℹ️: Enjoy the magic of the holiday season aboard a train ride through millions of Christmas lights. You’ll also get to explore the holiday village, meet Santa and his elves, enjoy Santa’s favorite treat and enjoy more spirited fun.
💸: $19.95-$26.95 per person (kids 12 months and under, free)
Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show at Diggerland USA • West Berlin
Photo: Courtesy of Diggerland USA
📅: Select dates from Friday, November 15 through Sunday, January 12
📍: 100 Pinedge Drive
ℹ️: Set in the country’s only construction-themed amusement/water park, Diggerland USA has fun light displays, tunnels, and a radio station to tune into during your drive.
💸: $36.99 per vehicle
Winter Wonderland Walking Trail at Indian Acres Tree Farm • Medford
📅: Select dates starting Friday, November 22; select dates from Sunday, December 1-Monday, December 30
📍: 111 Tuckerton Road
ℹ️: Bundle up and take a stroll through this South Jersey Christmas tree farm and experience large light displays as well as miniature scenes. There are opportunities to pose with Santa, relax at bonfires with s’mores and hot cocoa, and check out the gift shop. This trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible, weather permitting.
💸: $12.60-$18 per person
Holiday Lights Trolley Ride • Cape May
📅: Saturday, November 23 and Friday, November 29-Saturday, November 30; Sunday, December 1-Tuesday, December 31 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
📍: Trolly stop on Ocean Street
ℹ️: Bundle up in coats and blankets on this 30-minute trolly ride throughout historic Cape May to see Victorian homes decked out for the holidays.
💸: $20 per person; $15 for children ages 3-12
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure • Jackson Township
📅: Select dates from Saturday, November 23-Wednesday, January 1
📍: 1 Six Flags Boulevard
ℹ️: Celebrate the holidays at Six Flags! Many rollercoasters and attractions are still open and covered in lights. Other festive entertainment across the park includes dazzling light shows and displays, Santa stationed at the North Pole, story time with Mrs. Claus, and plenty of delicious treats.
💸: Starting at $59 per person
Light Show on the Lake at Historic Smithville • Smithville
📅: Thursday, November 28-Monday, January 6
📍: 615 East Moss Mill Road
ℹ️: More than 120 Christmas trees made from 50,000 Christmas lights cover the beautiful Lake Meone in the center of Historic Smithville, a quaint village filled with more than 60 shops and eateries. Every 30 minutes, the lights dance across the lake to orchestrated holiday music.
💸: Free
Creamy Acres Night of Lights • Mullica Hill
📅: Friday, November 29-Saturday, November 30; select dates through Friday, December 6-Monday, December 23
📍: Creamy Acres Farm, 448 Lincoln Mill Road
ℹ️: Creamy Acres Farm gets transformed into a winter wonderland at this drive-thru event. Visitors drive the one-and-a-half-mile route through a bevy of beautiful light displays; a private radio station offers Christmas tunes. Afterward, guests can purchase food and hang out at the fire pits.
💸: Tickets and prices TBA
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