Christmas
Christmas Lights in NJ: 13 Drive-Throughs and Light Shows for the 2026 Season
Christmas lights in NJ for 2026: drive-through light shows, farm villages, a holiday train and free town displays, with dates as each organiser posts them.
By Tessa Moretti, our virtual host
Researched and edited by the Chefbouyon team
Updated · 11 min read
Quick picks
- For a drive-throughMagic of Lights HolmdelA nightly drive-through at the PNC Bank Arts Center, posted for November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027.Directions
- For a walk in the woodsThe Village at Anne EllenA wagon ride through the tree fields, then a lit path through the woods past little houses and shops.Directions
- For train loversMagical Holiday Express at DiDonato Family Fun CenterA train ride through millions of Christmas lights, with Santa and Mrs. Claus on site.Directions
- Free to seeHoliday Light Show on the Lake at Historic SmithvilleMore than 120 lit Christmas trees float on Lake Meone, and the show is free to enjoy.Directions
- For a theme-park nightHoliday in the Park at Six Flags Great AdventureHoliday in the Park returns to Six Flags Great Adventure in 2026 with a 65-foot tree and themed lands.Directions
There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over a car on a light-show night. The radio is tuned to a station that plays nothing but carols. Someone in the back seat has gone silent with their nose against the window. You are moving at walking pace through a tunnel of color, and for once nobody is in a hurry to get anywhere.
New Jersey does Christmas lights in the most New Jersey way possible: on a minor-league ballpark, on a tulip farm, at a construction-themed park where the excavators wear tinsel, and across a lake in a 19th-century village. This guide rounds up the Christmas lights in NJ that organisers have confirmed for the 2026 season, from the long drive-through shows to the walk-in farm villages and the free town displays you can pop into after dinner.
It is written for the planner. The one who wants to know which nights, whether to book, and whether it's a drive or a walk before the whole family is bundled into the car.
How I picked these
Every show here is listed on its organiser's own website for the 2026 season, or, in a couple of clearly marked cases, is a long-running event whose organiser has not yet posted this year's dates. I've printed dates exactly as published and left out prices that change by the night, so check the link on each card before you buy. Nothing here comes from a visit; it comes from what each venue says about itself. I've grouped the shows by region so you can find one near home or build a December day trip around one.
North Jersey: ballparks, orchards and a free zoo stroll
Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village
Known for A mile-long drive-through light show with over two million lights plus a free-entry Christmas Village with vendors, a light tunnel and Santa. 2026: select dates Nov 21–Dec 30.
94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822
- free parking
- wheelchair accessible
Also in Christmas Markets in NJ
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Up in Sussex County, Skylands Stadium swaps baseball for bulbs. The home of the Sussex County Miners turns into the Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village, which runs on select dates from November 21 to December 30, 2026. The drive-through is about a mile long, passes more than two million lights, and takes around 30 minutes, according to the stadium.
The part I love on paper is the Christmas Village. It's free to enter, no ticket needed, and has a walk-through light tunnel, vendor shopping and photos with Santa (those cost extra). There are s'mores at a fire pit, hot cocoa and coffee, and a Winter Beer Garden for the grown-ups. So you can do the drive and then park and stretch your legs, which is a mercy if your passengers are under ten.
Practical notes from the stadium: standard tickets need a reserved date and time slot and must be bought online in advance, there's a VIP option with an express lane, parking is free, and the show runs in all weather. Pets aren't allowed, apart from service animals.
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
Known for A guided in-vehicle tour through 32 acres of holiday light displays; November 21–December 29, 2026, reservation required.
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Demarest Farms in Hillsdale is the kind of Bergen County farm that does apple picking in October and pumpkins by the wagonload. In December it becomes Orchard of Lights, a guided tour you take in your own vehicle through 32 acres of light displays. The 2026 season runs November 21 to December 29.
You tune your car radio to the farm's station and roll through for about 20 to 25 minutes. A reservation is required, and the farm is firm about it: tickets aren't sold at the farm market, and you're asked to arrive ten minutes before your slot. At busy times there can be a wait of up to half an hour. Transit vans and other oversized vehicles can't fit the route.
The farm also offers a bundle with its petting zoo and a Santa visit, which turns a 25-minute drive into a proper outing. Pair it with a stop in Ridgewood or Westwood for dinner, and you have a very cozy North Jersey evening.
Holiday Lights at Turtle Back Zoo
Known for A winter stroll under lights with more than 50 winter and animal characters; free with no reservation in the 2025 season. 2026 dates not yet posted.
560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Essex County's Turtle Back Zoo has been one of the gentlest holiday traditions in North Jersey: a winter stroll under lights with more than 50 glowing winter and animal characters, and in past seasons free admission with no reservations. Some extras carry a fee, like the carousel, the pony track and face painting, and the zoo has asked visitors to bring non-perishable food, new toys or gently used coats to donate.
Last season ran from late November into early January, closing on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The zoo has a 2026 Holiday Lights listing in its menu but had not posted this year's dates when I checked, so dates are announced each fall on the zoo's site. It's a lovely pick if you'd rather walk than drive, and if you'd like something low-key with little ones who will want to see the reptile house too.
If you're coming from the city, West Orange is an easy hop. Make a weekend of it with the cafés in Montclair the next morning.
Central Jersey: the big drive-throughs and the farm villages
Magic of Lights Holmdel
Known for Touring drive-through light show at the PNC Bank Arts Center; November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027.
PNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Magic of Lights is the big touring drive-through that sets up in the parking areas around the PNC Bank Arts Center, right off the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel. Its organiser lists the Holmdel show from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, so it's one of the few that carries you past New Year's.
It's the easy choice for a lot of people because of the location. If you live anywhere along the Parkway, it's a straight shot, and it slots neatly into an evening without much planning. Buy tickets through the Magic of Lights site, where you can choose your night. My suggestion: go on a weeknight early in the season, when the lines are shorter and the lights still feel brand new.
Holmdel sits close to Red Bank and the Navesink, so dinner nearby is easy. If you want to stretch this into a full shore weekend, the Jersey Shore towns guide has ideas for where to sleep.
Winter WonderLights
Known for Drive-through with more than two million animated lights synchronized to holiday music. 2026 dates not yet posted.
Middlesex County Fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Winter WonderLights sets up at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds on Cranbury Road in East Brunswick. The organiser describes a drive-through with more than two million animated lights synchronized to holiday music, so this is the one for people who like their lights to dance.
The show has returned to the fairgrounds for several seasons, but when I checked, its website had not yet posted 2026 dates, hours or ticket prices. Dates are announced each fall on the Winter WonderLights site, and the organiser also lists a phone line for questions. The company asks drivers to search for "Winter WonderLights" in their map app so they reach the right fairground gate, which is a small, useful tip.
East Brunswick is about 15 minutes from New Brunswick, so you could start the evening with a warm drink from one of the New Brunswick coffee shops.
The Village at Anne Ellen
Known for A walk-through Christmas village reached by hayride at a cut-your-own tree farm; select nights Nov 6–Dec 30, 2026, tickets online only.
Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, 114 Daum Rd, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Also in Christmas Markets in NJ
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
If you only pick one farm on this list, consider this one. The Village at Anne Ellen opens at a Christmas tree farm in Manalapan on select nights from November 6 to December 30, 2026. It starts with a wagon ride through the tree fields after dark. Then you walk a winding path through the woods, past animated displays, interactive scenes, life-sized houses and little shops, all lit.
It's an on-foot, storybook sort of evening rather than a drive-through. The farm sells tickets online only, with none at the door, and warns that weekends usually sell out and that weekdays can too. The Village Greene is an optional add-on, and Santa's 4D Sleigh Ride is bought on site. The farm's one-line advice, which I'd frame on a wall: dress warm.
Because it opens in early November, this is also the show to book if you want to do your Christmas lights before Thanksgiving crowds.
U-Pick Tulips: Winter Wonderland at Holland Ridge Farms
Known for A flower-themed walk-through holiday light show with a glowing sea of tulips and a music-and-light show every 30 minutes; November 13–January 10.
108 Rues Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Holland Ridge Farms is famous in spring for its tulip fields in Cream Ridge. In winter the farm turns that idea inside out with U-Pick Tulips: Winter Wonderland, which it calls a flower-themed holiday light show like no other. Expect millions of lights, a glowing sea of tulips, and a music-and-light show every 30 minutes.
The farm lists the event from November 13 to January 10, with tickets on its site for the 2026 season. It's a walk-through, so plan on good boots and a scarf. The windmill-and-tulip setting makes it the most photogenic stop on this list, the sort of place you'll want to see in person and then again on everyone's camera roll.
Cream Ridge is in Upper Freehold, horse-and-farm country in western Monmouth County. It's a quiet, pretty drive in the late afternoon, which is half the pleasure.
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure
Known for Millions of lights, a 65-foot holiday tree and themed holiday lands; select dates November 21, 2026–January 3, 2027 (November 20 passholders only).
1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ 08527
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
After skipping 2025, Holiday in the Park returns to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson. The park lists select dates from November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with November 20 reserved for season passholders. It describes millions of lights, a 65-foot holiday tree at the entrance that lights up nightly during a Tree Lighting Spectacular, and themed areas including Santa's Arctic North Pole with fire pits and s'mores, a candy-themed Sweet Street, and a Coastal Christmas boardwalk festival at Shoreline Pier.
There are live holiday shows, a North Pole Post Office for letters to Santa, and the Winter Wonder Wheel for a view over the lights. The park says light displays, live shows and most rides are included with park admission; food and some holiday experiences cost extra. This is the high-energy option, best for teens and anyone who wants a ride with their tinsel.
South Jersey: diggers, a holiday train and a storybook park
Diggerland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show
Known for More than two million lights and 35+ light-wrapped construction and emergency vehicles on a 1.5-mile course; returns November 20, 2026.
100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Diggerland USA in West Berlin is a construction-themed park where kids ride and operate construction machines in season. For the holidays, its Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show returns on November 20, 2026, and it might be the most charmingly odd show in the state.
The park describes more than two million lights, more than 35 construction and emergency vehicles wrapped in holiday lights, more than 1.5 miles of drive-through course, more than 440 feet of illuminated tunnels, and over 40 holiday scenes. A radio station plays music as you go. The rides are closed during the show, and it's separate from theme-park admission. There's access to a main restroom near the bus lot, which, if you've ever done a long light show with a four-year-old, you'll appreciate.
West Berlin is in Camden County, an easy pick for Philadelphia readers too. Check the park's calendar for operating nights.
Magical Holiday Express at DiDonato Family Fun Center
Known for A train ride through millions of Christmas lights with Santa and Mrs. Claus; 2026 dates November 14–29 (select) and December 4–23.
1151 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
DiDonato Family Fun Center on the White Horse Pike in Hammonton runs the Magical Holiday Express, a train ride through millions of Christmas lights. Its 2026 dates are posted: November 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29, then nightly December 4 to 23. You can also meet Santa and chat with Mrs. Claus.
A train ride is a different kind of light show. Nobody has to drive, nobody has to navigate, and the littlest passengers get to sit on an actual train. Hammonton sits at the edge of the Pinelands, so the drive in is pine trees most of the way, and the town's Main Street is an easy place for dinner before your ride.
Christmas Fantasy with Lights at Storybook Land
Known for Santa lights more than a million lights each operating night at dusk; Santa's Fantasy Flights sleigh ride and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
6415 E. Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township has been a South Jersey childhood rite for generations. For Christmas Fantasy with Lights, the park says Santa lights up more than a million lights each operating night at dusk. During the event, the Jumping Jumbos ride becomes Santa's Fantasy Flights, a flying sleigh ride through falling snow, and you can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in their home.
Storybook Land notes that it was featured on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight. Santa is there through December 23, and the park opens on more nights after Christmas, from December 26 to 30, without Santa. Tickets are bought online in advance, aren't timed, and are good only on the date you choose. Check the park's calendar for each night.
This is the softest, most little-kid-friendly show on the list, and it's a short drive from Atlantic City if you want to turn it into an overnight.
Free town displays worth the drive
Holiday Light Show on the Lake at Historic Smithville
Known for More than 120 lit Christmas trees on Lake Meone synchronized to holiday music; free to enjoy. 2025 season ran Thanksgiving night–January 6; 2026 dates announced each fall.
Lake Meone, 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Historic Smithville, in Galloway Township, is a village of old shops and inns around Lake Meone. In winter, more than 120 lit Christmas trees float on the lake, synchronized to holiday music. It's free to enjoy, and you can shop, eat and stroll the village around it.
For 2026 the village lists the show nightly from November 26, 2026 to January 6, 2027, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (one village page gives November 27 as the start). Check the Historic Smithville site before you go in case of weather changes.
This is my pick for a date night. Walk the lakeside slowly, and duck into a shop when your fingers go numb. Smithville comes up again in our Christmas markets guide, for shoppers.
Wildwood's Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park
Known for A free family light show every half hour on December 11–12 and 18–19, 2026, with cocoa, popcorn and letters to Santa.
123 E. Andrews Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Wildwoods aren't just a summer story. Wildwood's Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park, on East Andrews Avenue, runs on December 11–12 and December 18–19, 2026, according to the Wildwoods tourism site. A family light show runs every half hour on those evenings, with free hot cocoa and popcorn, a station for writing letters to Santa, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It's free.
The decorations stay up into mid-January, so even off the event nights there's something to see. Wildwood is a short drive from Cape May, whose Victorian streets make their own December show. Pair the two with our Christmas in Cape May guide and the Cape May bed and breakfasts list, and you have a whole winter shore weekend.
When to go, and how to make it easy
Book weeknights. Almost every organiser above mentions sell-outs, waits or timed slots on weekends. A Tuesday or Wednesday in late November or early December is calmer.
Buy online, and early. Skylands Stadium, Orchard of Lights, The Village at Anne Ellen and Storybook Land all ask for online or advance purchase. Anne Ellen sells nothing at the door, and Orchard of Lights sells nothing at the farm market.
Know your format. Drive-throughs: Skylands, Orchard of Lights, Magic of Lights, Winter WonderLights, Diggerland. On foot: Anne Ellen (after a wagon ride), Holland Ridge, Turtle Back Zoo, Storybook Land, Holiday in the Park, Smithville, Wildwood. On a train: DiDonato's.
Tune the radio. Several drive-throughs pipe music to a radio frequency. Make sure your car radio works before you go, and turn your headlights to parking lights if the venue asks.
Mind the vehicle. Orchard of Lights can't take transit vans or oversized vehicles. If you're bringing a big group, check before you book.
Dress warm. Even the drive-throughs end with a cocoa stand, and the walk-throughs are outdoors in December. Hats, gloves, boots.
Make a weekend of it. Pair a North Jersey show with a café morning in Morristown, a central show with things to do in Princeton, or a South Jersey night with a shore stay. Our weekend getaways and romantic getaways guides have the slower ideas, and the Christmas markets guide covers the German-style markets and Christmas villages around the state.
Dates in this guide are as each organiser published them on November 4, 2026. Shows can add nights, close for weather or sell out, so check the organiser link on each card the week you go.
Every place in this guide, on the map
- Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822
- Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
- Holiday Lights at Turtle Back Zoo560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
- Magic of Lights HolmdelPNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ 07733
- Winter WonderLightsMiddlesex County Fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
- The Village at Anne EllenAnne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, 114 Daum Rd, Manalapan, NJ 07726
- U-Pick Tulips: Winter Wonderland at Holland Ridge Farms108 Rues Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
- Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ 08527
- Diggerland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
- Magical Holiday Express at DiDonato Family Fun Center1151 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037
- Christmas Fantasy with Lights at Storybook Land6415 E. Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
- Holiday Light Show on the Lake at Historic SmithvilleLake Meone, 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205
- Wildwood's Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park123 E. Andrews Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Questions people ask
What is the biggest drive-through Christmas light show in NJ?
Several shows count their bulbs in the millions. Skylands Stadium in Augusta and Diggerland in West Berlin each describe more than two million lights, and Winter WonderLights in East Brunswick says the same of its animated drive-through. Diggerland's course runs more than 1.5 miles and Skylands' about a mile, so either makes a long, slow evening drive. Check each organiser's site for 2026 tickets.
Are there free Christmas light displays in New Jersey?
Yes. Historic Smithville's Holiday Light Show on the Lake is free to enjoy, with more than 120 lit trees on Lake Meone. Wildwood's Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park is free on December 11–12 and 18–19, 2026. Turtle Back Zoo's Holiday Lights in West Orange has been free with no reservation in past seasons, though its 2026 dates are not posted yet.
Do I need tickets in advance for NJ light shows?
For most of the big ones, yes. Skylands Stadium sells tickets online in advance, Orchard of Lights requires a reservation, The Village at Anne Ellen sells online only with nothing at the door, and Storybook Land asks you to buy online ahead. Free town displays like Smithville and Wildwood need no ticket. Weekends near Christmas sell out first, so book early.
When do Christmas light shows open in NJ in 2026?
The earliest posted opening is The Village at Anne Ellen in Manalapan on November 6, 2026, followed by Holland Ridge Farms on November 13 and DiDonato's Magical Holiday Express on November 14. Magic of Lights and Diggerland open November 20, and Skylands Stadium and Orchard of Lights on November 21. Several run past New Year's into early January.
Which NJ light shows can you walk through instead of drive?
Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge is a walk-through among illuminated tulips, and The Village at Anne Ellen pairs a wagon ride with a lit woodland path. Storybook Land and Six Flags' Holiday in the Park are on foot inside the parks, and Skylands Stadium adds a free walk-through Christmas Village with a light tunnel next to its drive-through.
Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.
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