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30+ Free Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey in 2022

Stroll by Fanwood's Famous Christmas House, which boasts a 30,000-light display. Photo courtesy of Fanwood's Famous Christmas House
Stroll by Fanwood's Famous Christmas House, which boasts a 30,000-light display. Photo courtesy of Fanwood's Famous Christmas House
12/4/22 - By Laurie Rein

Looking for FREE Christmas events in New Jersey? Read on for dozens of great options. 

It's the most wonderful—and expensive—time of the year. While big-budget gifts take a toll on your wallet, our gift to you is this list of holiday events and FREE Christmas activities in New Jersey that don't cost a penny. In a season where finances may be tight, treat the family to FREE and fun holiday festivities for the kids across New Jersey, including Christmas light shows and small-town celebrations in areas like Toms River and Maplewood. 

Mark your calendars with these 30+ no-cost holiday events that take place nearly every day of the season. For more seasonal fun, don't miss our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for New Jersey Families. 

 

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Meet Santa at Bass Pro Shops. Photo courtesy of the retailer
Meet Santa at Bass Pro Shops. Photo courtesy of the retailer

Free Holiday Activities in New Jersey

Palmer Square Holiday Entertainment

Princeton
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 18, 2022
Get into the holiday spirit at Palmer Square, which presents festive holiday entertainment, including a Strolling Santa, every weekend this holiday season. READ MORE

Holiday Harmonies

Red Bank
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 18, 2022
The streets of Red Bank come alive with holiday music every Saturday. Traditional carolers, choirs, brass bands, handbells, rock, folk, and jazz musicians bring their individual flavor of holiday tunes to the downtown sidewalks. READ MORE

Strolling Santa Claus in Chester

Chester
Sundays through December 18, 2022
Catch Santa strolling along Main Street on Sunday afternoons. Feel free to take photos. READ MORE

Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops

Atlantic City
Daily through Saturday, December 24, 2022
Bass Pro Shops welcomes visitors to make a holiday shopping trip more fun by adding a Santa visit to your outing. Pose for a free photo with Santa in-store. Reservations must be made online. READ MORE

Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights

West Orange
Select dates through Saturday, December 31, 2022
Take a nighttime stroll through the Turtle Back Zoo to see more than 50 illuminated winter scenes and animal characters. Santa stops by the fun on select days.  READ MORE

Fanwood's Famous Christmas House

Fanwood
Daily through Saturday, December 31, 2022
Stroll by Fanwood's Famous Christmas House, which boasts a spectacular 30,000-light display. Monetary donations are accepted to support the NJ Institute for Disabilities.  READ MORE

Lilonsky Family Light Show

Smithville
Daily through Monday, January 2, 2o23
Drive by this fun family light display. Just sit in your car, tune your radio, and watch as the lights dance to the music. READ MORE

Holiday Light Show on Lake Meone

Smithville
Daily through Friday, January 6, 2o23
Watch in wonderment as more than 100 Christmas trees magically float on Historic Smithville Village's Lake Meone. Visit any day of the week between 5:30pm and 8:30pm to catch a choreographed light show synchronized to music. READ MORE

Winter Walk Snowflake Stroll in Taylor Park

Millburn
Daily through January 15, 2023
Take a brilliant walk through Taylor Park's winter wonderland. The trees along the path are wrapped in lights, and the bridge is adorned with hundreds of lights reflecting into the stream that runs along the Main Street section of the park.  READ MORE

Toms River Winter Wonderland Weekend

Toms River
Daily from Friday, December 2-Sunday, December 4, 2022
Toms River hosts a weekend of fun to ring in the holiday season. A tree lighting kicks off the weekend and Santa arrives for photo-ops. Shop the Winter Village all weekend long for wares from local vendors, plus enjoy children's activities and music. READ MORE

Fleetwood Lights–A Christmas Lights House Display

Rockaway
Daily through Sunday, December 25, 2022
Fleetwood Lights, a Christmas lights house display, features almost 19,000 light pixels that are synchronized to music, creating a holiday display that you will not forget.  READ MORE

Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar 2022

Asbury Park
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 18, 2022
Celebrate the holidays with family and friends at the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar 2022. Shop and stroll at two locations on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. The event features music, holiday photo stations, craft workshops, kids activities, and beautiful décor.  READ MORE

Kick off the Holiday Season Weekend at Terhune Orchards

Princeton
Saturday, December 3-Sunday, December 4, 2022
Enjoy holiday fun for the whole family, featuring a visit to the barnyard of animals and holiday shopping. Take photos in the Winter Wonderland display, and have fun in our North Pole. Warm up by the bonfire with hot chocolate and roasting marshmallow kits. READ MORE

Essex County Holiday House Tour

Montclair
Saturday, December 3-Sunday, December 4, 2022
Be among the first to see this year’s decorations at one of the Essex County Holiday House Tour sites. See the beautiful period decorations by the Garden Club of Montclair. Self-guided tours let you explore this 226-year-old home at your leisure. READ MORE

Long Branch Holiday Bazaar 2022

Long Branch
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 11, 2022
Celebrate your holidays at the Long Branch Holiday Bazaar 2022 featuring shopping, gifts, music, workshops, kids activities, photo stations, food and libations. Don’t miss the Craft Workshops on Saturday and Meet a Holiday Character on Sundays. READ MORE

Free Horse & Carriage Rides

Ocean City
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, January 1, 2023
Start off the holiday season on a scenic horse and carriage ride through downtown Ocean City. The rides are first-come, first-serve. READ MORE

East Gate Square Photos with Santa

Mt. Laurel
Saturdays through December 17, 2022
Santa is coming to town at East Gate Square. Come to Santa's workshop, and take a free photo with Santa and his elves. READ MORE

Dickens Village

Maplewood
Saturdays, December 3-17, 2022
The Dickens Village returns to Maplewood for the holiday season. The Christmas Carol-inspired houses are decorated with fireplaces, stockings, and antique toys. Other activities include horse and wagon rides, a petting farm, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. READ MORE

MPAC Arts in the Community Presents: Theatre of Light

Morristown
Sunday, December 4, 2022
The universal symbol of light illuminates the rich cultural diversity of the community when Mayo Performing Arts Center partners with Morris Arts to transform the Vail Mansion Plaza into a Theatre of Light. READ MORE

Sinterklaas Day at Historic New Bridge Landing

River Edge
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Start off the holiday season at Historic New Bridge Landing as the Bergen County Historical Society celebrates Sinterklaas Day. All three 18th century Jersey Dutch sandstone houses, including the historic 1752 Steuben House, are open for tours. READ MORE

Photos with Santa at South Arcade

Point Pleasant
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Jenkinson's South Arcade plays host to Santa Claus—and good little girls and boys who want to stop by and share their wish lists. Snap a FREE photo with the man in red and score half-price arcade play with a playcard. READ MORE

The Newark Museum of Art Winter Wonderland

Newark
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Celebrate holidays around the world with the Newark Museum of Art at its FREE community day event. Enjoy a capella singers, step dancing, crafts, and vendors. READ MORE

Heights Holiday Market

Jersey City
Saturday, December 10, 2022
The Riverview Farmers Market presents the Heights Holiday Market, a brand new holiday market pop up. The one-day rain or shine event includes more than 50 local vendors and is more artisan- and maker-focused than the traditional farmers market. READ MORE

Holiday Paper Crafts Workshop (WAIT LIST)

Madison
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Join METC and the Book Arts Roundtable for this holiday paper craft workshop. Participants craft an accordion book with pockets and tags for the pockets, card and tag making, a gift box made from playing cards, and a simple paper ornament. READ MORE

Bayshore Holiday Bazaar

Atlantic Highlands
Saturday, December 10-Sunday, December 11, 2022
Celebrate the holidays with family and friends at the Bayshore Holiday Bazaar 2022. The bazaar features a curated roster of the best local and regional artists, vendors, and shops selling the cutest and coolest vintage, handmade, art, jewelry, home goods, and more.  READ MORE

Holiday Market in the Park & Tree Lighting

Hopatcong
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Pick up gifts and goodies at Modick Park's outdoor shopping experience, where food trucks, crafters, local businesses, and community groups peddle their wares. Top off the day with the town's tree lighting and a visit with Santa.  READ MORE

Lighting Up Nature Drive-Thru

Beechwood
Friday, December 16-Monday, December 19, 2022
Take an evening drive through the Discovery Play Trail at Jakes Branch County Park, which is adorned with holiday lights.  READ MORE

Pictures with Santa on a Harley

Morris Plains
Saturday, December 17-Sunday, December 18, 2022
Pose for a super-cool photo with Santa and the Grinch on a Harley-Davidson. Pets are welcome. Donations support local families in need. READ MORE

Kwanzaa Festival and Marketplace

Newark
Saturday, December 17, 2022
This free Newark tradition honors the seven principles of Kwanzaa with joyous programs, including dance classes, storytelling, face painting, a Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremony, live performances, and much more. READ MORE

Colonial Colleges Yule Log: Queen Charlotte’s Christmas Tree

Somerville
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Gather around the fire at Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Site to light New Jersey’s Colonial Colleges Yule Log. READ MORE

Red Bank Menorah Lighting

Red Bank
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Celebrate the Festival of Lights during Red Bank's annual Menorah Lighting. The festive event features local music and a prayer led by Rabbi Harrison. READ MORE

Hanukkah Village Walk

Medford
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Experience Hanukkah festivities on a stroll through Medford Village Park. Local vendors host latkes and donuts, a photo booth, crafts, music and more. Stick around for the Grand Menorah Lighting at 7pm. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Downtown Red Bank
Fanwood's Famous Christmas House
Lilonsky Family Light Show
Fleetwood Lights - A Christmas Lights House Display
Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites
Riverside Gardens Park
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