Where To See Santa In Basking Ridge This Christmas Season

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Visits and pictures with Santa Claus are treasured traditions for many Basking Ridge families. In Basking Ridge, kids have several chances to see jolly old St. Nick in person.

Here are the details:

• Basking Ridge Fire Co. No 1 & EMS will bring Santa to your home on a fire truck on Saturday, Dec. 21. As you may already know, the Basking Ridge Fire Department is “all-volunteer” and responsible for raising the majority of their own funds. Santa knows this! And each year, he does his best to help raise money for the fire department by hitching a ride on a fire truck and delivering holiday gifts to children’s homes. Want your child to meet Santa while you help the firefighters? Simply register and pay online using the link below. Wrap and mark gifts with child’s name and the delivery address.*IMPORTANT* Each gift must be wrapped and marked with your address and your child’s name and delivered to: Basking Ridge Fire Station 30 Washington Ave: Monday, Dec. 9, 7-9 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 7-9 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 15, 7-9 p.m. *Gift deliveries without Santa are also available. To reserve your child’s visit with Santa visit: brfco.com/events
• The Basking Ridge Business Alliance will host the 11th Annual Winter Market and Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 7. This signature community event includes shopping with local vendors and artisans, live entertainment, the Christmas Tree Lighting itself, and even a visit from Santa.

Santa is also holding court at several shopping malls in the local area, including:

Santa will be available for photos in a new home in the Bridgewater Commons, set amidst 25 garland-topped light curtains (each adorned with thousands of white, glistening lights) and candy-cane-inspired twists cascading from high above.

Kris Kringle will sit in a grand velvet chair in front of a redesigned set that includes a majestic new 30-foot tree with a 5-foot topper, additional 10-foot trees and scenic elements as well as new "Elf Training" interactives on the line to entertain kids (and their parents) while they wait.

Photo packages will be available for purchase. Santa will be at the center from Nov. 16 through Dec. 24. Reservations for photos will be available Monday through Thursday from Nov. 15 through Dec. 12. Fridays through Sundays during that period will be walk-ins only.

From Dec. 13 through Dec. 24 also will be walk-ins only. For more information and to make a reservation, visit www.bridgewatercommons.com.

In addition to helping those in need at Santa’s birthday party, other events include:

• The Salvation Army hosting its Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas gifts for thousands of children and seniors around the country. Once a child or senior has been registered and accepted as an Angel, their Christmas wish list will be shared with donors in the community who purchase gifts of new clothing and toys to put under the Angel’s own family tree. Shoppers can pick an angel off Bridgewater Commons’ tree and return the unwrapped gift with the Angel to the red bin located next to the Angel Tree, located on the Main Level by L’Occitane.
• The long-awaited return of Pet Night with Santa for our furry, four-legged friends, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 5.
• The free Santa + Friends, where Santa is joined by his famous holiday friends for a meet and greet, photos, story time and autographs. Meet Elsa and Anna of Disney’s “Frozen” from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7; and Disney Princesses Belle and Cinderella on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.