Things to Do in New Jersey in December 2026 — Holiday Lights, Markets & Winter Family Fun

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December in New Jersey is the month when the whole state lights up — drive-through light shows, German Christmas markets, small-town parades, and Santa visits from the Shore to Sussex County. This guide gathers the December 2026 events worth planning around, published a month early so you can book tickets and Santa slots before they sell out. Always confirm hours and ticket details with the organizer before you go, since weather and sellouts can change schedules.

Christmas market lights at night


Seasonal highlights — December 2026 picks:

Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ — November 21 to December 29, 2026. A drive-through light show across 32 acres of orchards, synced to music on your car radio, plus a farm market, fire pits, hot cocoa, s'mores, Santa visits through December 24, and a Winter Lights petting zoo.

German Christmas Market of New Jersey (Weihnachtsmarkt), Sussex County Fairgrounds — December 4–6, 2026. The state's largest annual German Christmas market, with a Biergarten, food market, folk dancers, live music, and a visit from St. Nicholas and Mrs. Claus.

Noyes Holiday Market & Gingerbread Village, Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City — December 5–6, 2026. A free two-day market with local vendors, craft activities, seasonal food, Santa photos, and a gingerbread village contest.

Jersey City Christmas Lights, Arts & Holiday Market, Van Vorst Park, Jersey City — December 4–6, 2026, plus a Heights Holiday Market on December 5. An easy train-accessible market for Bergen County families.

Winter Wonderland in Downtown Toms River — Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Washington Street. Nearby, the Seaside Heights Tree Lighting is also December 5 on the boardwalk, with Santa, carolers, hot chocolate, and fireworks.

Cape May's Dickens Christmas — November 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The whole seaside town turns into a Victorian Christmas village, with a tree lighting on November 21, free Winter WonderWalk events, Physick Estate tours, and candlelight house tours.

The Village at Anne Ellen Tree Farm, Manalapan — November 6 to December 30, 2026. An immersive lights village with shops, festive scenes, a lighted maze, Christmas mini-golf, and a 4D Santa sleigh ride. Book ahead for weekends.

Storybook Land's Christmas Fantasy with Lights, 6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township — selected dates November 14 to December 25, 2026. More than a million lights transform this South Jersey family park into a winter wonderland, with a lights parade on selected nights.


How to plan December: pick one drive-through light show, one market, and one town event, and spread them across the month — the crowds peak on the two weekends before Christmas. Pack hot chocolate in a thermos, dress kids in layers for outdoor lights, and book Santa photos early; several farms and markets use reserved time slots. Seasonal foods to try: hot cocoa at Demarest Farms, German market sausages and stollen at Sussex County, gingerbread at the Noyes market, and boardwalk hot chocolate in Seaside Heights.

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