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! at the Bergen County Zoo
📅: Thursday, November 16-Sunday, January 14; (Thursdays & Sundays, 4-8 pm; Fridays & Saturdays 4-9 pm)
📍: 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus
ℹ️: Take a walk and train ride throughout the zoo to experience larger-than-life lanterns of animals in more than 30 scenes. Fire pits and s’mores are also available, and the gift shop will be open.
💸: $9-$18 (kids ages 2 and under, free)
Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights Spectacular
📅: Friday, November 17-Sunday, November 19; Friday, November 24-Sunday, November 26; Friday, December 1-Sunday, December 3; Nightly from Friday, December 8-Sunday, December 31 (closed December 24-25); 5-9 pm
📍: 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange
ℹ️: It’s a real treat to walk through the grounds of the zoo at night while taking in a lovely display of sparkling lights depicting 50 winter and animal characters. The train, carousel , reptile house, Essex farm, and pony rides are set to be open.
💸: Free (Please consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food items, new unwrapped toys, and/or gently used coats
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
📅: Wednesday, November 22; Friday, November 24-Sunday, November 26; Friday, December 1-Sunday, December 3; Friday, December 8-Sunday, December 10; Wednesday, December 13-Friday, December 29 (closed December 24-25); 5-9 pm
📍: 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
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
📅: Friday, November 22-Saturday, December 30 (various dates and times)
📍: 94 Championship Place, Augusta
ℹ️: Take a 30-minute drive to see a true spectacle of holiday lights, then enjoy time in the Christmas Village.
💸: $29 per vehicle
CENTRAL JERSEY
Village at Anne Ellen
📅: Wednesday, November 15-Sunday, November 19; Wednesday, November 22; Friday, November 25-Sunday, November 26; Wednesday, November 29-Sunday, December 3; Wednesday, December 6-Sunday, December 10; Tuesday, December 12-Sunday, December 17; Tuesday, December 19-Saturday, December 23; Wednesday, December 27-Saturday, December 30; 5-9 pm
📍: 114 Daum Road, Manalapan
ℹ️: Arrive to the Christmas Village on a hayride through a field of trees. 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-$22 per person (kids ages 2 and under, free), tickets can only be purchased online.
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Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center
📅: Friday, November 17-Saturday, December 30 (Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 pm; Friday-Saturday 5-11 pm)
📍: 116 Garden State Pkwy, Holmdel
ℹ️: Drive though magical light displays featuring multiple holiday scenes, including a toy land, snowflake tunnel, Nativity scene, and so many Santas and elves.
💸: $30-$35 per vehicle; $60 per limo; $80 per bus
Winter WonderLights
📅: Friday, November 24-Sunday, December 31 (open daily); 5:30-10 pm
📍: 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick
ℹ️: With over 1.5 million lights animated to twinkle to classic holiday songs, this is the state’s largest animated holiday light show. This half-mile-long drive celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali and Kwanza.
💸: $30 per vehicle
SOUTH JERSEY
DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express
📅: Friday, November 17-Saturday, December 23 (Sunday-Thursday, 4:45-8 pm; Friday-Saturday, 4:45-8:45 pm)
📍: 1151 S. 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 (a cookie) and enjoy more spirited fun.
💸: Starting at $19.95-$24.95 per person (kids 12 months and under, free)
Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show at Diggerland USA
📅: Friday, November 17-Sunday, November 19; Wednesday, November 22-Sunday, November 26; Wednesday, November 29-Monday, January 1; Saturday, January 6-Sunday, January 7; 5:30-9:30 pm
📍: 100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin
ℹ️: Set in the country’s only construction theme and water park, Diggerland USA has fun light displays, tunnels, and a radio station to tune into during your drive.
💸: $34.95 per vehicle
Light Show on the Lake in Historic Smithville
📅: Thursday, November 23-Sunday, January 7; 5:30-9 pm
📍: 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Smithville
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. The lights dance across the lake to orchestrated holiday music, and the light show runs in loops every 30 minutes.
💸: Free
Creamy Acre Farms Light Show Extravaganza
📅: Friday, November 24-Saturday, December 23 (closed Sundays); 5:30-8 pm
📍: 448 Lincoln Mill Road, Mullica Hill
ℹ️: Creamy Acres Dairy Farm gets transformed into a winter wonderland at this drive-thru event. Cars drive the one-and-a-half-mile route through a bevy of beautiful light displays. A private radio station offers Christmas tunes. Afterward, visitors can purchase food and hang out at the fire pits.
💸: $35 per vehicle in advance, $40 per vehicle at the gate
Winter Wonderland Walking Trail at Indian Acres Tree Farm
📅: Friday, November 24-Sunday, November 26; Thursday, November 30-Sunday, December 3; Thursday, December 7-Sunday, December 10; Thursday, December 14-Saturday, December 23; Tuesday, December 26-Saturday, December 30 (Friday-Saturday 5-9 pm; any other night, 5-8pm)
📍: 111 Tuckerton Road, Medford
ℹ️: Bundle up and take a stroll through this South Jersey Christmas tree farm and experience large, colorful light displays and 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-$16 per person
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure
📅: Friday, November 24-Sunday, November 26; Friday, December 1-Sunday, December 3; Saturday, December 9-Sunday, December 10; Saturday, December 16-Sunday, December 17; Friday, December 22-Monday, January 1 (closed December 25) (Friday, 12-9 pm or 4-9 pm; Saturday, 12-9 pm; Christmas Eve, 12-7 pm; all other days, 12-8 pm)
📍: 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson Township
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 a displays, Santa stationed at the North Pole, story time with Mrs. Claus, and plenty of delicious treats.
💸: $45-$50 per person
Holiday Lights Trolley Ride
📅: Friday, November 24; Sunday, November 26-Wednesday, November 29; Sunday, December 3-Friday, December 8; Sunday, December 10-Friday, December 15; Sunday, December 17; Tuesday, December 19-Sunday, December 31 (closed December 24-25); 5:30-9 pm
📍: Trolly stop on Ocean Street, Cape May
ℹ️: Bundle up in coats and blankets on this 3o 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
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