The Jersey girls from Thats4Entertainment love giving a post-Christmas surprise: tickets for Christmas Con 2026 go on sale at 12 pm this Saturday, January 17.
Thousands of fans of movies, Christmas, and both, have been flocking to the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison every year since 2019 for Christmas Con, a fan’s dream, with the biggest attraction being the meet-and-greets with more than 30 celebrities. The actors have appeared in various movies across Hallmark Channel, Great American Family, Lifetime and UPtv.
The selfie line is the way to go if you want to chat for a minute or two with your favorite celeb. (Pro tip: B.J. Britt gives the best hugs!). Make sure you have cash on hand and be prepared to wait, possibly for hours – but it’s totally worth the wait. The bonus is that you can get personal with each actor, ask for an autograph, bring your whole crew, and fully immerse yourself in the experience.
The other option is buying a timed, professional photo op; this can be done online in advance or at the show, if there is availability. The downside is that photo op lines breeze through without a chance to say more than “hi” to your favorite star – but the upside is you have a set time to get in line, you don’t wait as long as on the selfie lines, and you have a beautifully printed photo with your celebrity crush. It’s perfect for a picture frame on the mantel. Or head back to the selfie line to get it autographed.
You can only bring up to four people for the picture, but a lot of the professional photos include groups of actors from their movies or shows – for example, at the 2024 show, the cast from “The Good Witch” was available all together. And the most popular group is always Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell, who have worn their costumes from “The Three Wise Men” series each of the past three years.
There are many more ways to get into the Christmas spirit. The event kicks off with a Christmas tree lighting on Friday and a gathering of celebs in front of the tree each morning. There is a kids’ corner, a collection site for Toys for Tots, the strolling Village Carolers, and arts and crafts.
There are celebrity panels scheduled all weekend, where you can hear actors talk about their lives and careers, judge an ugly sweater contest or play Minute to Win It. It’s a great opportunity to see your faves up close while hearing behind-the-scenes stories and watching them have fun as regular people.
There are also special events, like after-hours movie screenings and concerts. In 2024, stars from “Three Wiser Men and a Boy” walked the White Carpet before a Q&A and screening of the movie on Friday, and several actors put on a concert for VIP ticketholders on Saturday night. In 2025, ticketholders signed up for special free movie screening of “A Suite Holiday Romance” on Saturday, following a red carpet and Q&A with actress Jessy Schram and People Magazine’s Executive Editor of TV & Events Breanne Heldman.
When it comes time to shop, there are dozens of vendors selling everything from artisan chocolates and baked goods to alcohol-infused gummy bears to skincare to home decor and ornaments. Authors sell their Christmas themed books, artists from Disney and The Muppets showcase their work, and there’s a hair design center so you can prep for your photo. The convention center has a small food court, plus there is an empanada stand, snacks like gingerbread cookies and popcorn – or pack your own lunch if you’re staying the day. Insider’s tip: Harold’s New York Deli is just 5 minutes away, and is an institution for its gigantic deli sandwiches.
Make sure to stop by all the selfie stations. Stand in front of Santa’s sleigh (you can take pictures with Santa, too), sit in a winter wonderland, step inside a larger-than-life toy box, and check out several Christmas Con-themed backdrops.
Whether you go for a few hours on one day or the entire weekend, it’s perfect for anyone who loves Christmas, especially holiday movies. Grab your girlfriends and make it the perfect Christmas gift IOU.
Christmas Con is produced by That’s 4 Entertainment and will be held at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison, December 11-13, 2026. Weekend and VIP tickets sell out almost instantly, so set your alarm for 12 pm on January 17 when tickets go on sale.
Parking is free, but the lot fills up super quickly, so be prepared to wait in a car line, and walk a considerable distance. It also gets very hot inside the convention center, so decide if you want to carry your belongings or leave your coat in the car.
Check out our Instagram feed for a recap of the 2023 convention, the best of 2024, and what you may have missed in 2025.
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