Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Manalapan, Englishtown

MANALAPAN-ENGLISHTOWN, NJ — There is no shortage of things to do in the Manalapan and Englishtown area to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Holiday tree and menorah lightings in the Manalapan and Englishtown area include:

Englishtown: Historic Village Inn will have photos with Santa Saturday. Dec. 10, Sunday Dec. 11, 1-4 p.m., $15. This benefits Village Inn, 2 Water St., Englishtown. Free cider and donuts will be available.

Manalapan: The Parks and Recreation Department has posted a notice on its site that the Christmas tree lighting is Dec. 13. The menorah lighting is Dec. 20. Manalapan Township Municipal Building, 120 Route 522; call 732-446-3200 for more information.

Freehold Borough: Freehold Downtown presents the following events: Holiday Tree lighting, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Rain date is Dec. 7. Monmouth County Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St. The menorah lighting is Monday, Dec. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Carolers will be downtown Thursday, Dec. 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There are also restaurants offering breakfast or brunch with Santa. See here for all details.

Freehold/Manalapan: On Dec. 17, Santa Claus will be visiting the area on the Santa Train as he travels with friends on the Delaware & Raritan River Railroad. Santa will be making four stops with his big red caboose, including stops in Freehold and Manalapan.
Meet Santa at one of these free events:

• 10 a.m.: Jamesburg Fire Department, 82 W. Railroad Ave., Jamesburg
• 12 p.m.: Reed & Perrine Co., 396 Main St., Tennent
• 1 p.m.: Builders General, 222 Throckmorton St., Freehold
• 2 p.m. Freehold Borough Fire Department, 49 W. Main St., Freehold

Reed & Perrine has a spur from the Chesapeake & Delaware freight line and gets deliveries that way too, the company said. This is the first time the Santa Train is making a stop there, and the store hopes to continue the tradition, a company representative said.
At the Freehold Fire Department stop, a member of the fire company the train will be stopped right at the bus stop on the freight train line.
Builders General is closed Saturdays, but a company representative said the Santa Train will stop outside the gates there.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Monmouth County are:

In Holmdel:
PNC Bank Arts Center: Magic of Lights show through Dec. 30. See website for tickets and times.

In Wall:

Allaire Community Farm: Christmas Light Spectacular fundraiser for a sanctuary farm in Wall. There is also a large dreidel display this year. Take in the twinkling lights surrounding the farm as seen from our tractor-pulled holiday wagon as you spend the evening with family and friends. Tickets are $17 for anyone over age 2 and must be purchased online. No walks ups will be accepted. Christmas plants, baked goods, hot chocolate, hot cider and more will also be available for purchase inside the market; 1923 Baileys Corner Road, Wall.

More holiday tips:

Look here for suggestions for nearby places to visit Santa. And check out this Patch story to see where to get fresh Christmas trees.