‘Tis the season for holiday lights! Whether you’re looking for a drive-through experience with millions of lights or want to stroll through a spectacular display, New Jersey has all the holiday lights you could ever want and then some! We’ve rounded them up here to help you get into the spirit of the season. Make sure you check for weather and event updates before heading out.
North Jersey
Christmas Light Show & Village at Skylands
94 Championship Pl., Augusta
Nov. 22 – Dec. 30
The Sussex County Miners baseball stadium gets transformed for the holiday with more than 2 million lights in their drive-thru show. Afterward, you can walk through their village, ice skate and make s’mores.
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
Nov. 22 – Dec. 29
Take a ride through shimmering lights at Demarest Farms. Their Orchard of Lights Drive-Thru traverses their 32-acre plot of land. Santa is only visiting through Dec. 24, when he has to leave for the North Pole.
Holiday Lights Spectacular
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
Select dates, Nov. 22 – Dec. 31
This special event throughout the zoo includes an evening stroll outdoors through light displays and photo ops with friends and family, featuring some fun seasonal activities such as a s’mores station, Grinch weekend and photos with Santa.
Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular
Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus
Thursdays – Sundays, Nov. 7 – Jan. 12, 2025
More than 30 lanterns will be handcrafted in the shapes of your favorite zoo animals. While you’re there, take the train ride, too, which is also covered in beautifully lit lanterns.
Twinkling Tides
SEA LIFE, American Dream, East Rutherford
Nov. 29-Jan. 1
Celebrate the holidays under the sea with thousands of lights under the sea; more than 10 interactive zones will be decked out in holiday décor. Spot Scuba Claus in the ocean tunnel on select dates. Grab a map for the Coldwater Creature Scavenger Hunt. There’s a special Noon Year’s Eve celebration in the Ocean View exhibit on December 31.
Central Jersey
Six Flags Holiday in the Park
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson
Nov. 23 – Jan. 1, 2025
The mega amusement park transforms into a massive winter wonderland. Enjoy all of the festivities with food, fire pits, hot cocoa and cool light displays.
The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular
655 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick
Nov. 29 – Jan. 5, 2025
The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular is, well, spectacular. Though their trail is only half a mile long, they’ve crammed in 1.5 million lights. They’re open seven days a week, so there’s no excuse not to stop by.
The Village at Anne Ellen
Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, Manalapan
Wednesdays-Sundays, Nov. 9-Dec. 30
You’ll be surrounded by over 100,000 Christmas lights as you take the hayride from the farm market down to the holiday lights display. Visit Santa’s house, the train room, the life-sized igloo, the gingerbread house, the old school tree lot, the wall of lights, the post office, the cherry blossom field, the maple sugar shack. There’s a shooting range where you can take aim at holiday-themed targets using Orbeez ammunition. New this year is the first and only 4D Santa sleigh ride experience.
Magic of Lights
PNC Bank Arts Center (116 Garden State Parkway), Holmdel
Nov. 22 – Jan. 4, 2025
The drive-thru is 2.5 miles long and full of classic holiday scenes. You can also check out the Mega Tree Spectacular to see the tallest and brightest trees in NJ.
LuminoCity Festival: Wonder Journey
Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Twp.
Select dates, Nov. 15 – Jan. 5, 2025
The larger-than-life lights displays are based on “Alice in Wonderland,” and include the Wonderland Tea Party, the iconic butterfly seat, the life-sized Queen’s Castle and a slide down the Queen of Heart’s tower.
Tulips: Winter Wonderland
Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge
Nov. 30-Dec. 30
This mega tulip farm that’s a must-see in the spring will open this winter for a walkthrough of 30,000 illuminated tulips. There will be a winter market, lots of holiday photo activations, Santa’s Workshop, and hot chocolate with stroopwafel.
South Jersey
GLOW to Bed: A Journey Through Time
217 Berlin-Cross Keys Rd., Washington Twp.
Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving) – Jan. 5, 2025
This light display is epic–so epic that the family moved it offsite from their house (formerly known as Deptford Dazzling Lights), and won an episode of The Great Christmas Lights Fight TV show in 2023. This year’s drive-through takes you from Christmas Eve to Christmas morning through the eyes of a child.
Historic Smithville & Village Green
E. Moss Mill Rd., Smithville
Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving) – Jan. 6, 2025
This quaint South Jersey shopping town gets all decked out for the holidays with a talking Christmas tree and “dancing” trees on Lake Meone.
Christmas on the Farm & Walk-Through Light Show
Allaire Community Farm, 1923 Baileys Corner Rd., Wall Twp.
Thurs. – Sun., Nov. 29 – Dec. 29
Take a tractor-drawn hayride (known as the Yuletide Wagon) through the 25-acre farm that has tens of thousands of lights in a massive Christmas village. Stop inside the market for hot chocolate and cider donuts – and to get a feed bag to feed the animals. Ask about photos with Santa, too.
Night of Lights at Creamy Acres
448 Lincoln Mill Rd., Mullica Hill
Select dates, Nov. 29-Dec. 24
Hayrides aren’t just for Halloween anymore! The folks at Creamy Acres are going all out with their holiday light display this year. Bundle up and take a hayride through their display while you sing along to all of the Christmas classics.
DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express
1151 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton
Select dates, Nov. 16-Dec. 23
You’ll have to get out of your car to hop in one of the trains, but then they’ll drive you through the light show themselves. Hop aboard their Magical Holiday Express train and gaze at the millions of lights around you.
Christmas Fantasy with Lights
Storybook Land, 6415 E. Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Twp.
Select dates, Nov. 16-Dec. 30
Storybook Land will be covered by a million lights! Plus, you’ll get to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus on select nights.
Light Show Hayride at Johnson’s Corner Farm
133 Church Rd., Medford
Nov. 22-Dec. 23
It’s not your typical drive-thru, but we still think that hayrides count. Take a leisurely ride through the farm. Even the barn and the tractors will be decorated. The ride is set to a jolly Christmas playlist to keep your holiday spirits high.
Holidig Light Show
100 Pinedge Dr., West Berlin
Nov. 15-Jan. 12, 2025
Diggerland USA is decked out in Christmas lights. Explore this one-mile drive-thru with your family. Construction vehicles will be lit up and animated holiday scenes will shine bright. Visit on weekends for Winterfest fun, with Santa pics, parades and more.
Holiday Lights Trolley Ride
526 Washington St., Cape May
Select dates, Nov. 22 – Jan. 5, 2025
Hop onto one of Cape May’s festive trolleys. As you listen to holiday tunes, you’ll glide past the historical Victorian houses of South Jersey. This ride will blast you into the past. It’s an open-air trolley, so don’t forget to bring a blanket.
Winter Wonderland Illuminated Walking Trail
Indian Acres Tree Farm, Medford
Select nights, Nov. 22-Dec. 30
Your night begins with a stroll through the woods filled with fun snowmen and trees, illuminated boxes with miniature scenes, and a fairy garden box. Further down the trail, you might even pass a secret gnome village. The path flows out of the woods and into the live Christmas Tree fields. You’ll pass by a penguin igloo town, “fly by” BirdHouse Row, and watch out for a runaway toboggan! The trail is draped and decorated with tens of thousands of lights. After the trail, make sure to stop by the bonfires for some hot chocolate and s’mores!
Sea of Lights
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, 300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach
Dec. 14-15, 21-22, 28
Visit the sea creatures at the aquarium but stay for dazzling holiday lights spectacular at night. On select dates, you can meet Santa, or even watch him dive into a tank! There will be treats, games, crafts and holiday entertainment.
Holiday Light Show
Holly Beach Park, Wildwood
Dec. 13-14, 21-22
During the Winter Wonderland kickoff, watch the dazzling lights and enjoy free hot chocolate and popcorn, as well as a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus! Lights and decorations will be on display nightly through mid-January.
Holiday Light Walk
Sunset Park, Wildwood Crest
Dec. 16
Walkers meet at the corner of Rambler Road and New Jersey Avenue to take an approximately 30-minute walk along Sunset Lake and the surrounding neighborhood to view the various holiday and Christmas light displays. You should wear warm clothes and bring a flashlight. Everyone will get a small holiday gift!
New York
Shine Bright at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards, Manhattan
Nov. 25-Jan. 5, 2025
Holiday decor will illuminate the Public Square and Gardens, The Shops at Hudson Yards, Vessel and Edge with white lights set against evergreen trees and one-of-a-kind set pieces.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY
Select dates, Nov. 29-Dec. 30
This neighborhood is lit up with millions of lights, inflatables, displays and activations. Walk along or take a bus tour through the neighborhood.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Rockefeller Center
Dec. 4-January
The magnificent tree will be lit daily from 6 am to midnight after the yearly beloved lighting celebration on Dec. 4. On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 6 am to 9 pm.
Harlem Holiday Lights
125th St., Manhattan
Starting Nov. 19
Each holiday season, Harlem’s 125th Street is illuminated with more than 10,000 festive LED lights across nine blocks, from Broadway to Fifth Avenue. The iconic thoroughfare lights up with festive light and window displays, as well as a caravan of decorated floats traveling around Harlem to greet participating buildings and businesses.
Holiday Under the Stars
Shops at Columbus Circle, New York, NY
Mid-Nov. to Jan.
This year’s installation will have 300,000 twinkling lights and 44 illuminated stars that create a kaleidoscope of colors. The light show takes place every 30 minutes from 5 pm to midnight.
Lightscape
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn
Nov. 22-Jan. 5, 2025
This mile-long, after-dark illuminated trail is filled with beautiful plants, trees, water features and architecture of the gardens. When you first enter, you’ll catch an illuminated fountain show at the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Then you’ll see returning favorite Winter Reflections by ITHACA, covering the entire Cherry Esplanade with a moving light and music show. Winter Cathedral by Mandylights lets you walk through an immersive tunnel of thousands of lights.
Saks Fifth Avenue
5th Avenue, New York City
Late Nov.-Dec.
Behind the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a beautiful display of Christmas lights and windows on the façade of the iconic building. Note: the light show has been canceled for 2024.
Tianyu Lights Festival
Citi Field, Flushing, Queens, NY
Select dates, Nov. 29-Jan. 12
The gorgeous light show will integrate traditional Chinese artistry with technology through light sculptures, vibrant displays, and a tale that pulls you into a storybook adventure.
Holiday Lights at Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd., The Bronx
Nov. 22 – Jan. 5, 2025
During this festive celebration, visitors can enjoy five animal lantern safaris, as well as holiday-themed music, ice-carving demonstrations, costumed characters, stilt walkers, souvenirs, and seasonal treats like hot chocolate and s’mores.
Holiday Lights at Arthur Avenue
Arthur Ave., The Bronx
Beginning Nov. 30
Come walk the Bronx’s “Little Italy” and take in the bright lights strung along Arthur Avenue, as well as the area’s holiday windows.
Lighting of the Largest Menorah in Brooklyn
Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Dec. 25-Jan. 2, 2025
The annual lighting of Brooklyn’s largest Menorah at Grand Army Plaza will take place each night of Hanukkah, kicking off on December 25.
Pennsylvania
A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place
100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne, PA
Nov. 16-Jan. 5, 2025
The park is transformed into a one-of-a-kind Christmas wonderland with millions of twinkling lights and festive decorations all around. Get to Sesame Street for all the kids’ theme park fun. There are also celebrations planned for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve.
LumiNature
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 21-Jan. 4
There will be light tunnels, sculptures, Christmas trees and nature-themed displays throughout the zoo. You can meet Santa and watch performances.
Koziar’s Christmas Village
782 Christmas Village Rd., Bernville, PA
Nov. 2 – Jan. 1, 2025
There are more than a million lights that illuminate the Koziar property. Follow the arrows around the pathways to check out every corner of this dazzling scene. You’ll see storyboards, giant inflatables, barns decorated in various scenes, versions of Christmas from everything from the jungle to the ocean to prehistoric times, and train sets. The gift shops and snack shops are set up beautifully, too, with Christmas decorations literally everywhere – even in the restrooms.
Shadybrook Farm Holiday Light Show
931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA
Nov. 23- Jan. 5, 2025
Grab timed tickets to see more than 3 million lights on display across this farm. You can ride in your own car or opt for an open-air wagon ride. After, snag holiday treats and make s’mores at the campfire. There are 5K and Breakfast with Santa events planned throughout the season.
A Longwood Christmas
1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Square, PA
Nov. 22 – Jan. 12, 2025
This magical Christmas spot is a favorite, with a beautiful greenhouse filled with gorgeous holiday flowers and a shining tunnel of lights, and don’t miss the amazing miniature trains of the Garden Railway that travel around the greenhouse.
Winter Light Spectacular
Lehigh Valley Zoo, Schnecksville, PA
Select dates, Nov. 15-Jan. 4
This event has 1.2 million sparkling lights and displays. Visitors will find classic holiday scenes, fire pits, hot chocolate and s’mores and live performances from princesses Anna, Elsa, Belle and Cinderella.
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