Christmas Lights 2024-2025 in New Jersey

Though New Jersey may be small, it’s packed with holiday festivities. From scenic Christmas train rides and the chance to cut down your Christmas tree to visits to festive theme parks and some of the largest, most dazzling light displays, there's no shortage of holiday cheer. Whether you're looking for family fun or winter adventures, New Jersey has something for everyone this holiday season!

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson (Select Dates November 23 - January 1, 2024)

Every winter, Six Flags Great Adventure hosts a spectacular holiday extravaganza called Holiday in the Park. Running from mid-November to early January, this event features millions of glittering lights, fantastic entertainment, and delicious seasonal treats. Visitors can stop by Santa’s village and enjoy one of the thirty popular rides. Kids particularly love the Carousel, Big Wheel, Tea Cups, Adventure Seaport, and Bugs Bunny National Park areas. For thrill-seekers, there are exciting coasters like Nitro, Batman: The Ride, The Green Lantern, Superman: Ultimate Flight, The Dark Knight Coaster, and Skull Mountain. The park’s atmosphere is magical, with holiday light shows, illuminated trees and trails, and festive treats from numerous vendors.

Historic Smithville's Holiday Light Show, Smithville (November 28, 2024–January 6, 2025)

Each year, Lake Meone at Historic Smithville and Village Greene transforms into a breathtaking spectacle with its Light Show on the Lake. Running from Thanksgiving through January 6, the show features over 120 Christmas trees beautifully illuminated with more than 50,000 lights, floating gracefully on the lake's surface. As darkness falls, visitors can experience a mesmerizing display where the lights dance and chase each other in sync with festive music, creating a magical atmosphere. This captivating performance can be enjoyed from both sides of the village and the bridge, offering multiple vantage points for viewers.

Storybook Land's Christmas Fantasy with Lights, Egg Harbor Township (November 16–December 30, 2024, Select Dates)

Storybook Land Park in Egg Harbor Township, near Atlantic City, is a magical destination for the Christmas season. Kicking off with Santa’s Grand Arrival Parade, where Santa and Mrs. Claus join beloved storybook characters, the festivities culminate in the park's enchanting Christmas Fantasy with Lights. Each night at dusk, Santa illuminates the park with over one million lights, a spectacle celebrated for over 35 years and featured on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight. Guests can also enjoy Santa's Fantasy Flights, where the Jumping Jumbos ride becomes a whimsical sleigh experience. Santa is available for visits until December 23, providing a chance for children to share their Christmas wishes.

Special event tickets for the Christmas Fantasy with Lights are available online only, starting October 28. Tickets are date-specific, allowing for changes if plans shift, and unused tickets can be exchanged for general admission in 2025.

Christmas in Cape May (November 22, 2024–January 5, 2025)

Victorian Cape May is a perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit. During the holidays, the picturesque seaside town is transformed into a Dickens village adorned with garlands of green pines, twinkling candles, and gaslights. Kick off the holiday season at the Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony on November 23, where the John Walter Cape Community Band performs before Santa lights the estate’s massive Christmas tree. Enjoy the beloved Christmas Candlelight House Tours, a self-guided exploration of beautifully decorated homes, inns, and churches, and partake in festive events like the Holiday Lights Trolley Rides and Santa’s Trolley Rides led by Mrs. Claus.

Special tours at the Emlen Physick Estate feature guided history tours and holiday exhibits. For a unique experience, visit Breakfast with Santa at The Inn of Cape May or join in the fun of ‘Tis the Season: The Christmas Caper, an interactive mystery at the Physick House.

Christmas Light Show and Village at Skylands Stadium, Augusta (November 22–December 30, 2024)

The impressive Christmas Light Show and Village at Skylands Stadium in Sussex county receives many visitors from New York City and Jersey City during the holidays. The event features more than two million dazzling lights on a mile-long drive-through course. Christmas Light Show admission is $29 per vehicle. The Outdoor Christmas Village offers free admission and parking. Attractions include walk-through light displays, Santa’s Workshop, Skating Rink, eight-foot Polar Bear Statue, Yuengling’s Ice Cream Shop, and Hot Chocolate Bar, S’more Station, Carnival Games, and lots of Christmas shopping with local artisans.

Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green (December 1–22, 2024)

Stop by historic Morristown this holiday season to enjoy the cozy Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green. This month-long, family-friendly event kicks off on Sunday, December 1, with Santa’s arrival and the traditional lighting of the Morristown Green. The festival runs through December 22, with family activities every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Visitors can enjoy visits and photos with Santa, ice sculpting demonstrations, holiday crafts, and mini train rides around the Green. The dazzling “Lighting of the Green” features thousands of sparkling lights and festive wreaths, with a new centerpiece tree for 2024.

Santa’s House will be open for photos and visits, and children can enjoy free treats and hot beverages, provided by the Hyatt Regency Morristown. The festival is packed with holiday entertainment, including carolers and live performances, creating the perfect setting for families to make cherished holiday memories.