10 Winter Festivals & Events New Jersey Residents Shouldn’t Miss

Winter festivals make cold weather fun for New Jersey residents seeking an antidote for cabin fever that can set in at this time of year.

Whether you’re looking to take part in a local festival like Light of Day WinterFest, see an ice carving competition, or take part in a community celebration, there are plenty of events happening around New Jersey you can check out.

We’ve rounded up 10 winter events that bring people together and create warmth against the cold. Before we get to them, a reminder:

If you’re planning a winter event, feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this! Some events may require tickets or registration.

Light of Day WinterFest 2026

• Date: Various dates throughout January
• Location: Asbury Park, Red Bank, Montclair
• Details: The 26th annual Light of Day WinterFest will take place throughout January with performances and events raising money and awareness for the continuing quest to end Parkinson’s Disease and its related illnesses (such as ALS and PSP) in our lifetime.

Super Pet Expo

• Dates: Jan. 9-11
• Location: NJ Convention & Exposition Center (97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison)
• Details: Meet adoptable pets, shop pet products and more at the Super Pet Expo in Edison. Learn more from Patch’s previous reporting.

Ice Carving Competition

• Date: Jan. 17
• Location: The Blue Wave at Pier Village (110 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch)
• Details: Join Pier Village for their Ice Carving Competition and watch skilled ice sculptors transform massive blocks of ice into artwork right before your eyes.

Art of the Mocktail

• Date: Jan. 18
• Location: The Graduate Princeton
• Details: Start the new year fresh with the Arts Council of Princeton by learning the Art of the Mocktail with local celebrity bartender Henry Bartman.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

• Date: Jan. 19
• Location: The Vogel (99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank)
• Details: See inspirational performances and reflections from community leaders as the Red Bank community comes together in recognition of Dr. King’s enduring impact and the power to inspire connection, dialogue, and social progress.

Monster Jam: Freestyle Mania

• Dates: Jan. 23-25
• Location: The Prudential Center (25 Lafayette Street, Newark)
• Details: Monster Jam comes to the Prudential Center with four shows in January.

NJ Symphony: Romeo & Juliet

• Dates: Jan. 29 through Feb. 1
• Location: NJ Performing Arts Center & Count Basie Center for the Arts
• Details: See Shakespeare’s story of two star-crossed lovers and their warring families when the New Jersey Symphony presents “Romeo & Juliet” with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience

• Date: Jan. 30
• Location: State Theatre New Jersey (15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
• Details: Broadway, television and film star Robert Neary will bring his tribute to the life and career of Neil Diamond to State Theatre New Jersey in January.

Atlantic City Wing Fest

• Date: Jan. 31
• Location: Golden Nugget Atlantic City (Huron Ave. & Brigantine Blvd., Atlantic City)
• Details: Enjoy all-you-can-eat wings from 21 South Jersey restaurants, craft beer, cocktails, contests and more at Atlantic City Wing Fest. Presented by WMGM Rocks 103.7-FM, the festival will take place in Golden Nugget Atlantic City’s Grand Ballroom. Must be 21+ to attend.

NJ Symphony: 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration

• Date: Feb. 7
• Location: NJ Performing Arts Center (1 Center Street, Newark)
• Details: Enjoy an evening of community and cultural exchange as the New Jersey Symphony celebrates the Year of the Horse.