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Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Holiday Lights, PJ Masks, Skate with Santa

Six Flags Great Adventure lights up this weekend for Holiday in the Park. Photo courtesy of Six Flags!
Six Flags Great Adventure lights up this weekend for Holiday in the Park. Photo courtesy of Six Flags!
12/3/19 - By Laurie Rein

There's holiday spirit happening throughout New Jersey this weekend, from seasonal shows to Santa visits.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday prep to take in a kid-friendly show, including Elf: The Musical, Angelina Ballerina, and PJ Masks Live. Santa's popping in this weekend at Kale's Garden Center, Terhune Orchards, and Warinanco Sport Center, and he'll be making appearances in towns like Chester and Warren.

Celebrate Christmas past this weekend at Wassail Day, Dutch Christmas, and Sinterklaas Day, and on horse and buggy in Red Bank and at Maplewood's Dickens Village.

Find even more weekend options in our Holiday Guide, including Where to Take Pictures with Santa in NJ and Spectacular Holiday Light Displays. And look to our December GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

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Visit with Scuba Santa this weekend at Adventure Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Visit with Scuba Santa this weekend at Adventure Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium

Things To Do All Weekend

Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights

Gingerbread Wonderland 2019

Morris Township
Get lost in a Gingerbread Wonderland and admire dozens of delicious creations. The magic of gingerbread goes beyond houses; it includes landmarks, trains, planes, animals, and themes varying from family vacations to superheroes. READ MORE

Santa Visits Kale's Garden Center

Princeton
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Kale's Garden Center. Santa visits the greenhouse, where all Christmas displays are housed this year. Bring a camera. READ MORE

Six Flags Holiday in the Park

Jackson
Six Flags Great Adventure transforms into a holiday wonderland with millions of glittering lights, dazzling holiday entertainment, delicious seasonal treats, and a little flurry of magic nightly. Visit the North Pole Village, and hop aboard many popular rides.  READ MORE

Kick Off the Holiday Season Weekend with Santa

Princeton – FREE
Join Terhune Orchards for holiday festivities. Visit with Santa, ride on Santa’s sleigh, and bring your camera to pose for a free photo shoot with Terhune’s own Santa. READ MORE

Santa's Snack and Swim

West Berlin
Get in the holiday spirit at this one-of-a-kind event. Santa Claus is making his way from the North Pole down to a swimming pool in West Berlin. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., enjoy a breakfast buffet and the opportunity to snap photos with the jolly man himself. READ MORE

Christmas Train Show

Ocean City
All aboard the Ocean City Music Pier for the annual train show, featuring large scale trains running around a Christmas village that has to be seen to be believed.  READ MORE

Elf: The Musical at Union County Performing Arts Center

Rahway
Pixie Dust Players Presents Elf: The Musical on the UCPAC stage. Based on the beloved holiday film, the fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. READ MORE

Free to Be...You and Me

Leonia
The beloved award-winning children’s musical creatively illustrates the value of one’s individuality and fulfillment of one’s potential.  Come see the landmark musical that’s inspired millions. READ MORE
Celebrate Wassail Day at Historic Cold Spring Village on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Historic Cold Spring Village
Celebrate Wassail Day at Historic Cold Spring Village on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Historic Cold Spring Village

Things To Do on Saturday, December 7, 2019

Wassail Day

Cape May – FREE
The Village paths come alive with the sounds and smells of wintertime at this free family event. Select buildings will be open where guests can enjoy hands-on crafts, live music, hot beverages and holiday treats served by historical interpreters in period clothing. READ MORE

Dickens Village

Maplewood – FREE
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

Holiday Horse & Wagon Rides

Red Bank – FREE
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with a classic horse ride through the Red Bank Business District. READ MORE

Cookies & Cocoa with Santa at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Summit – FREE
Drop by Reeves-Reed Arboretum for cookies and cocoa and have your picture taken with Santa in the Arboretum's beautifully decorated, historic Wisner House. Kids may also enjoy stories and crafts. READ MORE

Dutch Christmas at the Dey Mansion

Fair Lawn
Come see Sinterklaas (Dutch Santa Claus) and tour this 300-year old farmstead, formerly home to six generations of the Garretson family. READ MORE

Home for the Holidays Festival in Roxbury Township

Succasunna – FREE
Come kick off the holiday season on Main Street for the 5th Annual Home for the Holidays street festival. Shop, eat, meet Santa, listen to music and take a free carriage ride with jingle-belled horses. READ MORE

Santa Visits The One Room School House

Medford – FREE
The Medford Historical Society offers a low-key visit with Santa in The One Room School House. Bring your own camera for the unique photo op. READ MORE

Morris County Park Palooza: Holiday Cheer

Morris Plains
Enjoy 20+ food trucks, a biergarten offering hand-crafted beers, wine and sangria, and live music featuring 2 bands. Keep warm by the outdoor heaters, roast s’mores over the fire pits, take a memorable photo with Santa, play carnival games, and enjoy the many activities for adults and kids. READ MORE

Santa's Comin' to Town

Downtown Chester – FREE
Jolly Ol' Saint Nick strolls through downtown Chester, spreading holiday cheer and giving good little boys and girls a chance to join him in some 'Santa Selfies.' READ MORE
See Angelina Ballerina in
See Angelina Ballerina in "The Very Merry Holiday Musical" at SOPAC on Sunday. Photo courtesy of HIT Entertainment

Things To Do on Sunday, December 8, 2019

Angelina Ballerina: The Very Merry Holiday Musical

SOPAC
Angelina Ballerina dances her was to the SOPAC stage in a holiday musical. With dancing, singing and festivities, this heart-warming musical is perfect for everyone’s holiday season. READ MORE

Holiday Craft & Shopping Bazaar at iPlay

Freehold – FREE
The Holiday Craft and Shopping Bazaar presented by CentralJersey.com is coming to iPlay America. This will be a great opportunity to find holiday gifts the whole family will enjoy. READ MORE

Celebrate the Season & Skate with Santa

Roselle
Skate with Santa and his elves at Warinanco. Bring your family & kick off the holiday season at the newly modernized Sports Center. Skate on the newly modernized rink. READ MORE

Sinterklaas Day

River Edge – FREE
Start off the holiday season at Historic New Bridge Landing as the Bergen County Historical Society celebrates Sinterklaas Day. READ MORE

Warren Township Holiday Walk

Warren Township – FREE
Don't miss Warren's Annual Holiday Walk with a Christmas Tree lighting. There will be pictures with Santa and a petting zoo, supplied by Next Home Premiere, and more. READ MORE

PJ Masks Live: Save the Day

New Brunswick
PJ Masks Live is back with an all new musical show, featuring the heroic trio from your favorite series: The PJ Masks. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

One Room School House
Downtown Chester
Warinanco Ice Skating Center