The season of winter vacation has arrived! Celebrate the season with family-friendly events in North Jersey.
bergen county
glen rock
annual tree lighting will be held outside Kilroy’s Wonder Market at the top of Rock Road on November 25th at 4.30pm. Join your neighbors, friends, Santa, Mrs. Claus and Snowy in this annual event organized and funded by the Christmas His Tree Committee, made up of all voluntary volunteers. Toys are collected for a toy drive.
santa’s feet is offering a free photo shoot service from 10am to 11am on December 9th. At the Glen Rock NJ Dog Park (350 Doremus Avenue) behind the recycling center, Santa will be ready to take her family photos (with or without humans).
hackensack
of The Annual Green Tree Lighting Celebration It will be held at 10 Bergen County Plaza on Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. There will be a special appearance from Santa Claus, refreshments, traditional Victorian carols and performances by the cast of “The Christmas Caper” and the Hackensack High School Choir.
hillsdale
Celebrate Hillsdale Recreation’s annual event Vacation at Veterans Park December 4th from 6pm to 8pm. Celebrate with the lighting of the Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah. Music, donuts, coffee, hot chocolate and holiday treats will be provided. In addition, special guests will also appear. This event is open to all Hillsdale residents. Rain/snow day is December 6th.
Ho Hawks
annual tree lighting It will be held on December 1st from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
of tree lighting It will be held on December 1st from 6pm to 8pm.
old tappan
have breakfast with santa Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. at the fire station, 227 Old Tappan Road.
paramus
Bergen County Winter Wonderland Return to Van Thorne County Park for outdoor ice skating, ice bumper cars, heated hospitality tents, games, activities, food trucks, indoor/outdoor beer and wine gardens, live holiday music, and the iconic carousel. I’m going to ride. From November 24th to January 1st. Business hours are Fridays from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The ice rink will be open for skating on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3pm to 9pm. Closed on Christmas Day. All access fees (admission, skating, merry-go-round) are $20. General admission is $10.
Let it shine! Holiday Lantern Spectacular Through Jan. 14, the Bergen County Zoo will feature traditional Chinese lanterns with a modern twist, including hand-painted structures celebrating culture, animals and the warmth of the holidays. The event will also feature a train ride, fire pit, and s’mores kits for sale in the gift shop. Hours: Thursday and Sunday 4pm to 8pm. Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day. Open daily from December 26th to January 1st. Adults $18. Children are $9.
park ridge
Park Ridge Recreation offers: 2023 Annual Tree Lighting December 3rd at 5pm at Depot Square near the station. The rainy day is December 9th. Meet Frosty and her friends. Music is by PRHS Band. Hot chocolate and surprise. Kids can win a free raffle ticket to try lighting up the tree with Frosty and win prizes. Cookies from Il Freno Espresso Bar, popcorn from Vozza Agency and Wells Architecture, and goodies from Lightbridge Academy. Bring non-perishable food items to the Tri-Boro Food Pantry. Please call 201-573-1800 ext. If you have any questions, please contact us at 521.
ridgewood
of tree lighting It will be held on December 1st from 6pm to 9pm. The lighting ceremony will be held on Broad Street at 6:30 p.m., with s’mores and a fire pit set up at Memorial Park.
Rochelle Park
of tree lighting The rainy day is December 2nd.
rutherford
of Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland It will be held at Lincoln Park, 6 Highland Cross, on November 25th from 4pm to 8pm.
westwood
of Home of the 2023 Holiday Parade It will be held on December 2nd from 6pm to 8pm.
On Dec. 10 at 5 p.m., Valley Chabad will be menorah lighting Located at Westwood Station at Broadway and Third Avenue.
wyckoff
of menorah lighting and celebration It will be on December 7th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
essex county
montclair
The township holds an annual holiday tree lighting It will be held on November 30th at Church Street Plaza and will feature holiday music and activities for children. Activities begin at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. A special appearance by the Montclair Community His Band, a bell ringing for holiday songs, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled. Other attractions include photos inside a giant snow globe, a holiday magic show, and an inflatable gingerbread slide.
nutley
of holiday christmas tree lighting Dec. 3, 4:30 to 6 p.m., John H. Walker Middle School, 325 Franklin Ave.
verona
From noon to 5 p.m. on December 2nd, 26th Annual Fair on the SquareA festival of Verona and the surrounding area, it celebrates the holiday season with crafters, vendors, entertainment, and activities. The event will be held at Verona City Hall, 600 Bloomfield Avenue. Food and drinks will be sold. Santa will arrive and oversee the traditional tree lighting. For more information, please contact media@veronanj.org.
morris county
Butler
of Holiday park lighting ceremony It will be held at Butler Park on December 2nd from 7pm.
lincoln park
Lake Winter Wonderland It’s December 2nd from 3pm to 6pm.
passaic county
bloomingdales
Local crafters and food trucks will be featured at the 2nd Annual Holiday Vendor Fair and Toy Drive on Nov. 26 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Firefighters Hall on Hamburg Turnpike 97. Please bring an opened toy with you when entering. Let’s take a photo with Santa! If you have any questions, please contact us at bbcocommunity.org@gmail.com.
of Holiday park walk The event, which will take place on Dec. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sloan Park on Main Street, will include s’mores, hot chocolate, Santa, Victorian carols, horse-drawn carriage rides and more.
clifton
There are four in the city Christmas tree illumination. First, both plant village and lake view The illumination will take place on December 1st from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at Sullivan Square and the corner of Lakeview and Merceris streets.Then Athenian Business Association The tree will be lit at Richardson Scales Park on Dec. 2 from 5 to 6 p.m. City Hall900 Clifton Ave., will light the tree Dec. 3 from 5 to 6 p.m.
Kick off the holiday season with free music Clifton Community Band “Sledding with snowflakes”” concertdirected by Robert D. Morgan, Dec. 2 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Clifton High School, 333 Colfax Avenue.
recreation department gifts candy land Dec. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at City Hall, 900 Clifton Avenue. There will be a train ride, candy cane hunt, rides, a visit from Santa, letters to Santa, crafts, games, hot cocoa and cookies, a fireplace, food and more. For purchases etc. $8 in advance. $11 (cash only) at event. Everyone over the age of 3 requires a ticket. Please collect your wristband upon arrival at the event. Purchase advance tickets at cliftonrec.com or at the office (900 Clifton Ave. 2nd floor). Online registration ends December 7th. For the latest weather-related information, call 973-470-5680. For information about the event, call 973-470-5956.
of City Hall Menorah Lighting It will be held on December 11th from 4pm to 5pm.
hawthorn
of Borough Tree Lighting and Parade It will be held at Borough Hall, 445 Lafayette Avenue, on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.
Totowa
Friends of the Totowa Library will be holding a bus trip on November 30th. “Christmas at the Playhouse”, a new musical written exclusively for Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. Lunch includes a choice of lunch and dessert buffet from the menu. There is also a boutique shop. Pay $120 to Friends of Totowa Library. Call 973-790-3265 or stop by the library to make a reservation. The bust will depart from the parking lot behind the library at 9:30 a.m. No refunds will be given if seats are not filled.
The Recreation Commission, Mayor and Council Annual tree lighting On Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m., Disney characters will make a special appearance for photos and hot chocolate will be provided by Cindia’s.
Spread some holiday cheer 3rd annual Christmas carol ride around the borough on a trolley Choose from 6pm, 7pm or 8pm on December 17th. Trolley pickup will take place in the parking lot behind the library. The capacity of the trolley is 28 people. Register at parkrec.egov.com/totowa. Please contact Recreation Director Mark Monteyne at 201-803-6111.
wayne
Let’s ride with Santa santa train, Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. in the No. 5 train at the Transit Center, Route 23 southbound, West Belt Parkway. The target age is 3 years old and above. All passengers will be given a round-trip train ride of about an hour with musicians, costumed characters, Mrs. Claus, and the opportunity to meet Santa, where children will receive a small gift from Santa. Non-perishable food donations are being collected for the Wayne Interfaith Network Food Pantry. Registration is open to town residents and non-residents will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 13. All registrations close on December 7th at 4:30pm. Participation capacity is limited to 45 people. $25. Children under the age of 2 are free when riding on the lap of a ticketed adult.