New Jersey knows how to dress for Christmas. Victorian homes get their holiday finery, trains fill with pajama-clad passengers and even Santa trades his red suit for scuba gear.

Whether you’re planning an outing with the grandchildren, an evening with friends or some seasonal sightseeing, these 12 celebrations offer plenty of ways to make December feel special. We’ll start in Central Jersey, then head north and south for more holiday adventures.

Asbury Park: Fridays–Sundays, November 27–December 20
New Brunswick: December 3

Give your gift list a little local personality. Inspired by traditional German Christmas markets, the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar fills the Grand Arcade of Convention Hall with handmade goods, vintage finds and gifts from local and regional makers.

Festive music, entertainment, workshops and children’s activities add to the shopping experience. Make an afternoon of it, with time for lunch and a stroll.

In Middlesex County, the New Brunswick Winter Wonderland Bazaar brings holiday shopping and seasonal fun to Monument Square and New Brunswick City Center on December 3.

Looking for more places to browse? Explore these New Jersey Christmas markets.

November 18, 2026–January 10, 2027 | Included with museum admission

Admire the decorations without untangling a single string of lights. Morven Museum & Garden’s Festival of Trees fills the historic museum’s galleries with creatively decorated trees and mantels designed by community organizations, schools, garden clubs and artists.

Take your time exploring, then vote for your favorite display. The museum gift shop also gets a seasonal makeover, with holiday décor, hostess gifts and distinctive presents.

Regular museum hours are Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Check for holiday exceptions before visiting.

The Nutcracker: November 27–29
A Christmas Carol: Check the performance calendar

Some traditions deserve an encore. At McCarter Theatre Center, American Repertory Ballet’s The Nutcracker brings Clara’s enchanted adventure to the stage over Thanksgiving weekend.

A Christmas Carol is also part of the holiday lineup, with December 8 listed in the event guide. Check McCarter’s calendar for the full schedule, performance times and tickets.

Choose a show, add dinner in Princeton and you have a holiday outing that requires very little wrapping.

December 4

For an old-fashioned evening of community cheer, find a spot along the route of Clinton’s Christmas Parade. The procession travels from East Main Street to Main Street and Lower Center Street, bringing a festive evening to the town’s charming downtown.

Public parking is available, and the announced plan includes shuttle service from South Ridge Community Church beginning at 5 p.m., with return trips after the parade.

Check the organizer’s latest arrival and parking instructions, then bundle up and enjoy a tradition that has been bringing people together for decades.

December 24 | Free

Before the dinner dishes and gift-opening commotion, make room for a little music. The Palmer Square Christmas Eve Sing-Along welcomes families to gather on the Green for holiday favorites led by the Palmer Square Christmas Eve Brass Band.

Santa is expected to stop by after the caroling, giving younger visitors one last opportunity to clarify the wish list.

Check the event page for the starting time and weather updates. Singing ability is considerably less important than enthusiasm.

Check the seasonal calendar for dates and departures

If the grandchildren love The Polar Express, here’s an opportunity to turn story time into a family adventure.

Aboard Delaware River Railroad Excursions, passengers can have their golden tickets punched, enjoy hot chocolate and take part in holiday entertainment inspired by the beloved story.

Book your preferred departure ahead, particularly if you’re coordinating several households. Getting everyone onto the same train is a holiday achievement in itself.

Check the seasonal calendar for operating dates

Let the car handle the walking at Skylands Stadium’s Light Show and Christmas Village. The mile-long drive-through route features more than two million lights.

Afterward, explore the Christmas Village for shopping, hot drinks, fire-pit treats and carnival rides. Dining at The Barnyard and drinks in the Winter Beer Garden offer reasons to linger.

Check which activities are included with your ticket and which require an additional purchase before planning the evening.

November 21–December 29 | Online reservations required

The orchard takes on a different kind of glow during Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms.

Drive through 32 acres of holiday displays, then make time for hot cocoa by the fire pit and seasonal treats from the farm market. Ticket options include a light-show-only visit and packages that combine the lights with the Winter Lights Petting Zoo.

Choose the experience that suits your group and reserve online before heading out.

Select dates beginning November 27

Cape May’s Victorian architecture practically comes gift-wrapped for the holidays. During the Emlen Physick Estate Yuletide House Tour, a guide portraying a member of the household leads visitors through first-floor rooms decorated for a Victorian Christmas.

The experience also includes the Carroll Gallery’s “An Old-Fashioned Christmas” exhibit, featuring a large Christmas tree, model trains and a Department 56 Dickens Village collection.

Find tour information through Cape May MAC, then leave time to enjoy the town’s decorated streets. There are more Christmas activities in Cape May if you decide one afternoon isn’t enough.

Check the aquarium’s calendar for dates

Santa’s holiday rounds include a decidedly unusual stop at Adventure Aquarium.

During Christmas Underwater, look for Scuba Santa in the Ocean Realm, an underwater Christmas tree, festive photo opportunities and indoor snowfall in the Rotunda. The aquarium’s thousands of aquatic animals provide plenty more to see between seasonal activities.

For families looking for an indoor outing, this one combines holiday fun with a whole underwater world to explore.

Begins November 14 | Advance tickets required

For a holiday outing with the grandchildren, Storybook Land’s Christmas Fantasy with Lights brings together Santa, seasonal music, familiar characters and a park dressed in sparkling lights.

The longstanding celebration has even appeared on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight. Check the park’s calendar for operating hours, Santa appearances and ticket availability before choosing your date.

Plan around the children’s energy levels, with enough time to enjoy the lights before tired feet take over.

Late November–January 6, 2027; check the opening date

Historic Smithville gives holiday lights a waterfront setting, with more than 120 Christmas trees appearing to float on Lake Meone.

Thousands of lights create a musical display that makes a fitting finish to an afternoon of shopping and dining in the village. Check the December calendar for additional activities, including seasonal performances, special shopping evenings and the talking Christmas tree.

Confirm the first operating night before visiting, as published opening dates have varied.

Pick an outing that suits your pace, reserve the ticketed experiences and leave some breathing room for a meal or a leisurely stroll. A festive afternoon doesn’t need to include every attraction in town.

And if hot chocolate appears on more than one itinerary, consider it a seasonal tradition.

Before you go: Dates, hours, ticket prices and activities can change. Follow the linked venues and organizers for current details, reservations and weather updates. Some rides, food, drinks and special experiences may cost extra.