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Best of December: 15 Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Dasher's Lightshow makes for a brilliant outing in Newark. Photo courtesy of the event
Dasher's Lightshow makes for a brilliant outing in Newark. Photo courtesy of the event
12/2/22 - By Laurie Rein

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey in December? Christmas lights and holiday activities are among our top picks this month. 

The last month of 2022 boasts full-on holiday fun in the Garden State, and we can't wait to see the holiday lights at drive-thrus like Dasher's Lightshow and walk-throughs like Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights and Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular. Santa Claus is also all over town in December, strolling through Palmer Square and Chester, and taking a dip at Adventure Aquarium's Christmas Underwater.

Find more top December fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey, and consider taking a festive drive to these 11 New Jersey Christmas Towns.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Really cool things to do with kids often book up quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

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Catch "The Muppet Christmas Carol" at UCPAC. Photo courtesy of Disney

Top Things To Do in New Jersey this December with Kids

Palmer Square Holiday Entertainment

Princeton–FREE
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 18, 2022
Get into the holiday spirit at Palmer Square, which presents festive holiday entertainment, including a Strolling Santa, every weekend this holiday season. READ MORE

Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights

West Orange–FREE
Select dates through Saturday, December 31, 2022
Take a nighttime stroll through the Turtle Back Zoo to see more than 50 illuminated winter scenes and animal characters. Santa stops by the fun on select days.  READ MORE

Newark Winter Village

Newark–FREE
Wednesdays through Sundays through Sunday, January 29, 2023
Newark Winter Village, a much-loved holiday tradition, returns for the season to transform downtown Newark into a winter wonderland. Visitors can enjoy ice skating, Go-Karts,  games and activities, an open-air holiday marketplace with local vendors, and cozy heated private igloos to enjoy hot cocoa and treats. READ MORE

Christmas Underwater at the Adventure Aquarium

Camden
Daily through Saturday, December 24, 2022
Scuba Santa swims through the Adventure Aquarium alongside sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays during Christmas Underwater. Kids can see the world's tallest underwater Christmas tree amid submerged light displays. READ MORE

Dasher's Lightshow

Newark
Daily through Saturday, December 31, 2022
Stunning light tunnels and acres of twinkling lights await as Dasher's Light Show takes over the parking lot of Newark's Moonlight Cinema. Cruise through the course as holiday music pulses through your car's speakers.  READ MORE

Dreamland at American Dream

East Rutherford
Daily through Sunday, January 1, 2023
Dream big this holiday season at American Dream, a one-stop shop for shopping and entertainment. Festivities include Nick the Halls at Nickelodeon Universe, Shrek the Halls at DreamWorks Water Park, menorah lighting and Skate with Santa. READ MORE

Strolling Santa Claus in Chester

Chester–FREE
Sundays through December 18, 2022
Catch Santa strolling along Main Street on Sunday afternoons. Feel free to take photos. READ MORE

Blue’s Clues & You

Englewood
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Bergen PAC presents this epic new adventure, starring Josh, Blueskiddo, Magenta and Rainbow Puppy. Enjoy Broadway-style song and dance as Josh solves Blue's Clues to put together a show. READ MORE

Lighting Up Nature Drive-Thru

Beechwood–FREE
Friday, December 16-Monday, December 19, 2022
Take an evening drive through the Discovery Play Trail at Jakes Branch County Park, which is adorned with holiday lights.  READ MORE

Kwanzaa Festival and Marketplace

Newark
Saturday, December 17, 2022
This free Newark tradition honors the seven principles of Kwanzaa with joyous programs, including dance classes, storytelling, face painting, a Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremony, live performances, and much more. READ MORE

Hanukkah Village Walk

Medford–FREE
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Experience Hanukkah festivities on a stroll through Medford Village Park. Local vendors host latkes and donuts, a photo booth, crafts, music and more. Stick around for the Grand Menorah Lighting at 7pm. READ MORE

The Muppet Christmas Carol at UCPAC

Rahway
Friday, December 23, 2022
Catch a showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol on the big screen at UCPAC. The movie is preceded by an organ concert of holiday favorites played on the “Biggest Little Wurlitzer” half an hour before the movie begins. READ MORE

Jurassic Quest

Edison
Thursday, December 29, 2022-Sunday, January 1, 2023
The New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center goes back to prehistoric times when it hosts this over-the-top dinosaur attraction. More than 100 life-sized, animatronic dinos roar to life, plus kids can hop on dinosaur-themed rides and take part in interactive shows and inflatable attractions. READ MORE

Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular

Paramus
Select dates through Sunday, January 15, 2023
The Bergen County Zoo is illuminated with holiday cheer in the evening all season long. Larger-than-life glowing lanterns have been installed, creating 30+ glowing scenes. See animals real and imagined laid out throughout the zoo. READ MORE

Free Horse & Carriage Rides

Ocean City–FREE
Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, January 1, 2023
Start off the holiday season on a scenic horse and carriage ride through downtown Ocean City. The rides are first-come, first-serve. READ MORE

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About the Author

Laurie R
Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com
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