DiDonato Family Fun Center is well known in South Jersey for its 26 lanes for bowling, a new arcade that opened this summer, and a full-service restaurant – but there’s also a Christmas village out back that is a hidden winter wonderland.
The Rolling Railway Magical Holiday Express leads you through a holiday display of more than a million lights. You can see it peeking above the fence from the parking lot, but you have no idea how expansive and beautiful it is until you walk through the archway.
You board an open-air tram car and travel around – twice – to see the Victorian houses, illuminated displays, Santa’s workshop and magical set-ups. The train ride takes about 15 minutes, and then you can walk around the village to visit with Santa (who is very patient and takes his time chatting with kids) and get a cookie from Mrs. Claus.
Stop for a selfie with Frosty under a machine that blows snow, sit down in the Holiday Movie Igloo (a picnic-like area) to watch a Christmas movie (like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman) and get some hot cocoa or gifts from the Toy Market, which is South Jersey’s largest independent toy store.
Each ticket for the train comes with a free gift for kids (tip for parents: hide the train whistle on your drive home); plus, you get a free game of bowling and shoe rental per person.
Since the train ride opens at dusk, it’s a good idea to call the bowling alley ahead of time to ask when the ticket booth opens that day – at that point, you’re able to redeem your ticket to bowl. For example, a 4:45 pm train ride asks you to line up starting at 4:30 pm, but you can redeem your bowling ticket inside when the ticket booth opens at 3 pm. If you have little kids, ask about bumpers and a slide-like apparatus from which they can roll their bowling ball.
You can also come early to eat inside The Alley Bar and Grille (which has several large TVs), or order food straight to your lane. There is a full, two-page menu that includes pizza, salads, taco, truffle fries, crabby sliders, primavera wraps, short rib mac & cheese, cheesesteak eggrolls and sesame seared tuna salad. There’s a menu of beer, wine and cocktails, too.
The Pin Deck has a counter to order ice cream, sundaes and floats, or to pick up a last-minute birthday cake or a boozy shake.
The Spare Change Arcade & Gaming is another good addition to the outdoor fun, since the new space has dozens of ticket redemption and virtual reality games.
If your child has a November or December birthday, ask about The Elf Holiday Birthday Party package. There are other birthday and party packages offered year-round.
Throughout the year, DiDonato’s has open bowling daily and leagues several nights a week. Plus, the train rides come back around in Easter and Halloween.
DiDonato Family Fun Center is located at 1151 White Horse Pike, Hammonton. The bowling alley, arcade and restaurant are open all week. The holiday train has varying times throughout the season: November 22-24, November 29-20 and December 1-23. Tickets are $19.95 per person Monday – Thursday, $21.95 per person Friday and Sunday, and $26.95 per person on Saturday; tickets are available at the door only if they are not sold out online prior, and cost $4 per person extra.
See the magical train ride on our Instagram page.
Get the latest on the best things to do with your family in and around New Jersey by signing up for our newsletter and following us on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!
Read More:
This South Jersey Tree Farm Becomes a Winter Wonderland For the Holidays
Peddler’s Village in New Hope Has All the Holiday Vibes This Season
Meet Scub Santa at Adventure Aquarium During Christmas Underwater
20+ Ways to Spend the Holidays in The Wildwoods
A Winter Wonderland is Coming to Cape May
This Year’s Must-See Holiday Attractions
