Holiday Lights, Festive Celebrations In NJ For Christmas Weekend

NEW JERSEY — Communities across New Jersey are decked out for the holidays, and with Christmas Day on Monday, there are plenty of events going on this weekend to brighten these long winter nights.

Here are some events in the area this Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 23 and 24, 2023). If an event is open on Christmas Day, we noted that in the description.

WinterFest Ice Skating is ongoing at Cooper River Park in Camden County, running through Feb. 25. The rink's park location is near the corner of Cuthbert Boulevard and Park Avenue in Cherry Hill, and you can rent skates to glide on the ice. Click here to read more.

• Address: Cooper River Park, 510 Park Blvd, Cherry Hill, NJ

Do you enjoy gliding through the ice, or want to learn? The outdoor skating rink in Jersey City — a short walk from trains, ferries, and the Newport Centre Mall — has reopened for the 2023-2024 season. Click here to read more.

• Address: 95 River Drive South, Jersey City NJ

A popular, free holiday display featuring a million lights, animal exhibits and costumed characters is back at the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County for 2023, running through Dec. 31. Click here to read more.

• Address: 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange NJ

The Monmouth Museum’s Holiday Train Display has opened up in the Main Gallery. Model trains wind their way through winter scenery, passing festive towns and snowy landscapes “that will fill your heart with holiday joy!”

• Tickets are part of general admission.
• Address: 765 Newman Springs Rd. Lincroft, NJ

The annual Festival of Trees winter exhibition at the Morven Museum and Garden in Princeton is open now through Sunday, Jan. 7. The porches, mantles, and galleries of Morven are decorated for the holiday season by local businesses, garden clubs, and non-profit organizations.

• Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors, students (with ID), youth ages 7-18, and active military or veterans (with ID). Children 6 and under are free.
• Address: 55 Stockton St, Princeton, NJ

Winter WonderLights has returned at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds., with more than 1.5 million lights animated to classic holiday tunes. Open nightly through Dec. 31 including on Christmas Day.

• Tickets are $30 per car.
• Address: 655 Cranbury Rd, East Brunswick, NJ

Drive through more than 2 miles of lights and holiday scenes at Magic of Lights, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Also, families can enjoy visits with Santa at Toyota Holiday Village. Open nightly through Dec. 30 including on Christmas Day.

• Tickets are $35 per carload.
• Address: 116 Garden State Pkwy, Holmdel, NJ

The Winter Asian Lantern Festival is an indoor exhibition at American Dream, weekends through Jan. 2. More than 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns are on display - inspired by Chinese myths, legends and the zodiac.

• Tickets are $10 for kids aged 4-13, $17 for adults.
• Address: American Dream, East Rutherford, NJ

More than 30 acres of light displays are twinkling at the Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms, which is open through Dec. 29.

• Tickets are $35 per car.
• Address: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd. Hillsdale, NJ