Insider Tips for Seeing Christmas Lights in NJ

• For some of the busier displays, try to go at an off-peak time like weeknights to avoid a parking headache. 
• Many displays accept donations for charity. Consider donating!
• Pack snacks and drinks, or search up a nearby donut shop or restaurant to treat the kids (or use the bathroom) on the way home.

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Best Christmas Light Displays in North Jersey

1. Camuso Family Christmas Display of Livingston​ — Livingston

Robert Harp Drive
Ernest Camuso first put up this walk-through display featuring lights, decorations, and motorized characters more than 50 years ago, and families have enjoyed the holiday treat ever since. The Camuso family continues the tradition in Mr. Camuso's memory and accepts donations for  The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.

2. Fanwood's Famous Christmas Houses — Fanwood

83 Paterson Road and 87 Paterson Road
Fanwood's Famous Christmas Houses has expanded to include two homes, and it is truly a spectacular display featuring thousands of lights and hundreds of figures. Monetary donations are accepted to support the NJ Institute for Disabilities.

 3. Fleetwood Lights — Rockaway

32 Fleetwood Drive
Nearly 19,000 lights synchronized to music illuminate this beautiful home display in Morris County. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food pantry.

4. Morris Holiday Lights — Mine Hill

3 Indian Falls Road
Stop by this display—hosted by Mayor Sam Morris and his family—and be mesmerized by 40,000 lights programmed to holiday music.

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The Gress House Holiday Light Spectacular raises money for charity. Photo courtesy of the family

Holiday Houses and Christmas Light Displays in Central and South Jersey

5. The Gress House Holiday Light Spectacular — Union Beach

14 Johnson Avenue
This home, featured on ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight, has thousands of dazzling lights, hundreds of plastic figures, inflatables, and more to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network of Mountainside, N.J. No parking is allowed on Johnson Avenue; try Broadway and walk to the display. 

 6. Forrest Trail Circle Holiday Light Show — Toms River

Forrest Trail Circle
Interesting and familiar animations are projected onto this home in this unique and popular display set to music.

7. The Christmas Light Show — Belmar

704 Belmar Plaza (Connelly-Campion-Wright Building)
This two-night-only show takes place on Saturday, December 13 and 20, 2025, with shows slated for 6pm. Suggested donations are $25 for a family of four and $10 for an individual. Donations support RallyCap Sports, a charity that sponsors sports programs for children with disabilities.​

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Johnny's Hazlet Holiday Light Extravaganza lights up the neighborhood. Photo courtesy of the family

8. Johnny's Hazlet Holiday Lights — Hazlet

3 Bauer Avenue
This show draws tons of fans yearly to see two dozen inflatable decorations and more than 75,000 lights. Cars must park on side streets and walk to the display. Viewers can walk through the walkway back to the street. And Santa visits nightly from Friday, December 13, 2004 through Monday, December 23, 2004 around 6pm. Note: No parking on Laurel or Bauer.

9. Liam’s Spectacular Christmas Display — Middletown

13 Garrett Place
Take it all in! There are lots of lights and lighted figures to lift your spirits and usher in some holiday cheer at this two-story house that's practically wrapped in Christmas lights.

10. The Martin's Christmas Corner — Hazlet

11 Hudson Avenue
This cheery corner has tons of lights and inflatables, many of which are larger than life. In years past, the home was adorned with enormous Blues Clues characters and a 30-foot-tall SpongeBob!

11. Christmas at the Nietzer's — South Plainfield

201 Hamilton Boulevard
Set to 30 minutes of music, this house glows with a rainbow of lights and highlights the story of Christmas. The show runs from 5-9pm nightly. Select weekends will have additional activities during the show such as cookies, crafts, a photo booth, and more. Donations are accepted to support the First Baptist Church of South Plainfield, where Jesse Nietzer works.

12. The Cook's Christmas Lights — Jackson

1 Carlson Court
This home has more than 30,000 dancing lights and four singing Christmas trees. All the lights are synchronized to six songs for a show that is about 20 minutes long. The homeowners collect donations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.​​​

13. Koenig's Family Holiday Light Spectacular​ — ​Bayville

11 North Island Road
Tune your radio to 87.9 FM and check out this awesome display with tons of light synced to a diverse soundtrack of songs starting nightly at 5pm. 

14. Andrew's Christmas Wonderland — Middletown

12 Snyder Drive
There will be sparkling lights everywhere you turn at this display, with all the lawn figures creating a magical scene.

15. Ferone Family Christmas Light Show — Tom's River

184 Yellowbank Road
Lights dance to the music at this whimsical, magical display, which runs nightly through December 28. Donations are accepted in the silver mailbox and go to The Children's Hospital.

16. Lawlor Lights — Pittsgrove

182 Porchtown Road
See a beautiful display of programmed twinkling lights that dance to music played over the radio station. Donations are appreciated for Toys for Tots and the local food bank.

17. Lilonsky Family Light Show — Marlboro

34 Harness Lane, Marlboro
This light show is a smaller but fantastic music and lights synchronized display that runs in a continuous loop that starts around sundown.

18. Lights on Apollo — Yardville

Apollo Drive

Tune to 88.9 FM and watch this magical musical light display light up the night.

19. Lights on Hiwanth's Winter Wonderland — Hi-Nella

36 Hiawatha Road

Come to this home and see over 1,000 blow-molded Christmas decorations, scene set-ups, and tons of lights filling every corner of the property. The family hosts a walkthrough scavenger hunt of the display, if your kids would like to get up close and personal with this fantastic display that has some unique things like larger-than-life Mickey characters in display windows. You might even get to meet Santa in his workshop.

20. Frostland Village — Pitman

23 Euclid Ave

Don't miss this 2024 winner of The Great Christmas Light Fight. See a 35-foot blow mold tree, unique boxed scenes of animatronics, and more lights than you can imagine.

Neighborhood Christmas & Holiday Lights in New Jersey FAQ

Q: Where are the best Christmas lights in NJ?

A:

Q: Are there free Christmas light displays in New Jersey?

A: Absolutely! All these neighborhood displays are free, with many accepting donations for charity. To check out light shows and drive throughs, see our post here.

Q: When do Christmas lights start in New Jersey?

A: Most neighborhood lights usually go up right after Thanksgiving, and will be twinkling from dusk until about 9pm.

Q: Are New Jersey holiday lights kid-friendly?

A: Definitely, just pay attention to the parking recommendations and consider going at an off-peak time to avoid the crowds.

This post was first published in 2015 and is updated every year.