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New Jersey's Most Popular Christmas Events to Book Now Before They Sell Out for 2025

More than 50,000 illuminated tulips will line the fields of Holland Ridge Farms' Winter Wonderland show. Photo courtesy of the farm
More than 50,000 illuminated tulips will line the fields of Holland Ridge Farms' Winter Wonderland show. Photo courtesy of the farm
10/24/25 - By Laurie Rein

As we put our finishing touches on Halloween costumes and hit up some final harvest festivals, it's definitely not too early to start thinking about the next set of holidays! The official winter holiday season is sneaking up on us, and some of New Jersey's big-ticket Christmas and holiday events have already started ticket sales.

Don't miss out on tickets to New Jersey's Polar Express Train Rides, which fill up quickly, and snag early tickets to the area's most popular holiday light spectaculars.

Load up your calendars with more upcoming holiday events, featured in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for NJ Families, as well as our New Jersey calendar, which is updated daily. 

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey to Book Now

The Polar Express on the Morristown & Erie Railway

Whippany
Select dates from Saturday, November 1-Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Tickets on sale now
Take a magical trip on the Polar Express, powered by the Morristown & Erie Railway. Each ticket includes fantastic entertainment, delicious hot chocolate, shortbread, and a keepsake sleigh bell to bring home. READ MORE

Christmas Fantasy With Lights at Storybook Land

Egg Harbor Township
Select dates from Saturday, November 15-Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Tickets on sale now
Help welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to Storybook Land through the end of December. Each night at dusk, Santa appears at the chimney and waves his wand, magically lighting up the park with over 1 million lights. READ MORE

PNC Bank Arts Center Magic of Lights

Holmdel
Daily from Friday, November 21-Saturday, January 3, 2026
Tickets on sale now
Take a drive through this spectacular holiday light experience, which uses LED technology and digital animation. Tune your radio into a holiday soundtrack and wind past themed displays like "Christmas Around the World," "Toyland," "Nativity," and more. READ MORE

U-Pick Tulips: Winter Wonderland at Holland Ridge Farms

Cream Ridge
Daily from Friday, November 21-Sunday, January 4, 2026
Tickets on sale now
Holland Ridge Farms debuts a magical, walk-through light show, featuring 50,000+ illuminated tulips, millions of twinkling lights, a windmill music and light show, drone show nights, character visits, an igloo snowball pit and much more. READ MORE

Winter WonderLights 6th Annual Holiday Light Drive-Thru

East Brunswick
Daily from Friday, November 21-Sunday, December 28, 2025
Tickets on sale now
The spectacular Winter WonderLights drive-thru boasts more than 2 million lights animated to favorite holiday tunes, with a tunnel of lights and stunning, larger-than-life, holiday-themed displays synchronized to music playing in your car. READ MORE

Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms

Hillsdale
Select dates from Saturday, November 22-Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Tickets on sale now
It's that magical time of year when Demarest Farms is adorned with holiday lights. Take your car on a guided tour through 32 acres of brilliant holiday light displays. Then, visit Santa, warm up by the fire pit, and enjoy hot cocoa and treats in the retail farm market. READ MORE

Black River & Western Railroad North Pole Express

Flemington
Select dates from Sunday, November 23-Sunday, December 28, 2025
Tickets on sale now
Climb aboard the Polar Express for a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookies and hot cocoa, a photo booth, sleigh bells for the kids, photo-ops, and more. New this year are photo-ops with Santa's giant mailbox. READ MORE

The Polar Express at the Delaware River Railroad

Phillipsburg
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Friday, November 28-Sunday, December 21, 025
Tickets on sale now
Make sure the Christmas jammies are ready for this experience straight out of the beloved movie of the same name. The Polar Express at Delaware River Railroad Excursions is set to sounds from the motion picture, and sells out fast, so don't procrastinate. READ MORE

The Nutcracker at McCarter Theater

Princeton
Friday, November 28-Sunday, November 30, 2025
Tickets on sale now
American Repertory Ballet's beloved production of The Nutcracker tells the magical story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they battle toy soldiers and larger-than-life mice, traveling through a whirlwind of dancing snowflakes to the Land of Sweets. READ MORE

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About the Author

Laurie Rein
Laurie Rein is passionate about finding fun (especially free!) activities for her twin daughters. Before joining Mommy Poppins New Jersey, Laurie worked in the television industry, with roles as an NBC page, copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and research manager for CBS.
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