Big Santa Could Be Big Draw For This Bergen County Mall

PARAMUS, NJ — The Big Santa at Garden State Plaza was a Bergen County staple from the 1950s through the 1980s. Recently, the folks at Westfield brought the winter feature back, and will do so again this year for the fourth time.

For people in the county, it also signaled the start of the most festive time of year.

"From the 1950s through the 1980s, the 50-foot Big Santa was perched atop a chimney in the mall’s parking lot and was seen for miles. For generations of Bergen County residents, Big Santa’s arrival signaled the official start of the holiday season," said officials from Westfield Garden State Plaza.

The 50-foot Big Santa lighting is back for this winter, and the lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday in Paramus. But this year's event, put on in partnership with bergenPAC, includes more than just the lighting ceremony.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., the parking lot in the plaza will fill with food trucks, a performance from the Paramus High School March Band, emerging artists from the Performing Arts School at bergenPAC and even The Grinch.

Then at 7 p.m., the lighting ceremony begins with Santa being welcomed in a fire truck.

The night will be filled with special appearances, a DJ and more, and tickets for the event are on sale now.

Tickets for the event can be found here.