Where To See Santa In The Manalapan Area This Christmas Season

MANALAPAN-ENGLISHTOWN, NJ — Visits and pictures with Santa are treasured traditions for many Manalapan-area families. For them, there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person.

In Manalapan and Englishtown, kids can catch up with Santa at these events:

Dec. 6: Starting at 6:30 p.m., Manalapan Township Christmas Tree Lighting. Rising Stars Dance Performance at 6:30 p.m.; Santa arrives and lights the tree at at 7 p.m. Manalapan Regional Orchestra 7:15 p.m. Manalapan Town Hall, 120 Freehold Road.

Dec. 9: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Santa at the Village Inn in Englishtown, 2 Water St., Englishtown, 07726. Join us and Santa for your holiday photos at the charming Village Inn in Englishtown. Enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies while getting your pictures taken. Event proceeds benefit the upkeep and maintenance of The Village Inn which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cost is $15 and well-behaved pets are welcome. For more information, contact info@thebattlegroundhistoricalsociety.org.

Dec. 17: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Gordon's Corner Fire Co. Winter Wonderland at the firehouse. Pictures with Santa, games, food and more. $20for the first child, $10 for each additional and siblings under age three are admitted free. For tickets, email AUXILIARY@GCFIRE.ORG

Holmdel

Dec. 17, 18: Noon to 3 p.m. Come to Historic Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, and enjoy an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas. Children can visit with Santa, then take a walk to the farmhouse and have a cup of cider. Be sure to bring your camera. Free event.

Wall

Dec. 2, 3 weekends through Dec. 16, 17: New Jersey Museum of Transportation presents the Christmas Express with Santa, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Fare is $7 for all. is Located at Allaire State Park on Route 524, Wall. Click the museum's Facebook site for details.

Dec. 10, 17: Historic Allaire Village - Christmas at Allaire from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 10 and 17. See the Village transformed into an enchanting showcase of holiday cheer. Visit includes a surprise visit by Santa Claus. Tickets can be purchased in advance for just $8 per person (children 2 and under admitted for free) or at the door (if available) for $10 (children 2 and under admitted for free). Advanced purchase is highly recommended. See the Village event website for more details.

And you can find other chances to meet with Santa:

Freehold Raceway Mall, 3710 Route 9, Freehold Township offers "Experience the Magic of Santa." Children can visit Santa’s winter wonderland at the Lower Level, Zara Court. A visit with Santa is always free and photo packages are available for purchase.

Here's how to go about making an appointment: Pre-Booking your visit is recommended to help reduce wait time and it's easy.

There are also special holiday events:

Santa Cares: In partnership with Autism Speaks, the mall has reserved a time for special sensory-friendly Santa experiences. Sunday, Dec. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Pet Night: Bring your favorite pets to see Santa and support the Humane Society with any photo experience on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 4. Please enter and exit via the lower level entrance by Old Navy just prior to, and immediately after, your Santa visit.

Check the mall website for other shopping tips and to learn about partnership of the mall and the United Way of Monmouth & Ocean Counties for winter coat donations.

Monmouth Mall: Eatontown, Routes 35 and 36; Santa is now located in the common area opposite Macy's. You can make reservations here for this holiday tradition and see the full schedule. There is also an opportunity for photos for your pet. See the "Santa Paws" site to book a reservation.

Magic of Lights, PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, through Dec. 30. Sundays to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays to Saturdays, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy visits with Santa at Toyota Holiday Village.

Santa at American Dream: Here are the hours: https://www.americandream.com/photos-with-santa# They also offer pet photos with Santa Sundays: Dec. 3, 10 and 17 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.