Feel the joy of the festive season in Montclair! Our guide has all the top holiday events and activities. Whether you're a Montclair native or a holiday pilgrim, this guide reveals the city's seasonal soul.
One of the highlights of the season is the Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center, where a dazzling drive-through light display transforms the landscape into a sparkling wonderland. Families will also appreciate the Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village, featuring festive scenes and a charming marketplace. And the Polar Express is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it brings the classic holiday story to life with a magical train ride experience. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Montclair
- Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel)
- Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village (Augusta)
- The Polar Express (Phillipsburg)
- The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular Drive-Thru (East Brunswick)
- Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms (Hillsdale)
- Weihnachtsmarkt German Christmas Market (Augusta)
- Fanwood’s Famous Christmas House (Fanwood)
- Festival of Trees (Basking Ridge)
- Cape May Christmas Holiday Season (Cape May)
- Roxbury’s Annual Home for the Holidays (Succasunna)
See these and even more events listed below!
Montclair Holiday Light Displays
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
What to Expect:
Guided holiday light tour with Santa and s'mores.
Description:
At Demarest Farms, experience a guided tour through 32 acres of brilliant holiday light displays. Enjoy hot cocoa and treats by the fire pit in the retail farm market. Take pictures with Santa and make your own s'mores. The tour takes about 20-25 minutes, and you must tune your radio to 107.9FM.
Where: Hillsdale | More Info: Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village
What to Expect:
Over two million lights in a one-mile drive-thru course.
Description:
Skylands Stadium's Light Show & Christmas Village features a one-mile drive-thru course with over two million lights, a Christmas Village with shopping, food, and photo opportunities, including a visit with Santa and a S’mores Station.
Where: Augusta | More Info: Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village
Fanwood’s Famous Christmas House
What to Expect:
Extensive light and decoration display with Santa visits.
Description:
Fanwood’s Famous Christmas House is a spectacular display featuring over 30,000 lights and hundreds of decorations. The event includes a visit from Santa Claus and raises funds for the NJ Institute for Disabilities. The display is lit from 4:30 to 10 p.m. daily from Black Friday through January 8.
Where: Fanwood | More Info: Fanwood’s Famous Christmas House
Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center
What to Expect:
Dazzling drive-through holiday light display with iconic characters and scenes.
Description:
At PNC Bank Arts Center, Magic of Lights features over 2 million sparkling lights, including a 32-foot-tall animated Holiday Barbie display, a supersized Bigfoot Monster Truck, and life-sized dinosaurs in Prehistoric Christmas. The event offers a drive-through experience with various holiday light features, making it a memorable holiday celebration.
Where: Holmdel | More Info: Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center
The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular Drive-Thru
What to Expect:
Animated holiday light show with synchronized displays and holiday music.
Description:
Over 1.5 million lights are animated to some of your favorite holiday tunes in a ½ mile drive-through experience featuring 4 magic tunnels, giant holiday light displays, and 30’ tall Christmas trees.
Where: East Brunswick | More Info: The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular Drive-Thru
Montclair Holiday Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday celebration with festive music and Santa visit.
Description:
The Montclair Holiday Tree Lighting is an annual event in Church Street Plaza featuring holiday music, activities for kids, and a visit from Santa Claus.
Where: Montclair | More Info: Montclair Holiday Tree Lighting
Montclair Holiday Markets and Shopping
Weihnachtsmarkt German Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday market with authentic German food and crafts.
Description:
The Weihnachtsmarkt German Christmas Market at Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, New Jersey, features 150 vendors offering handmade crafts, traditional German food, and live entertainment. The event includes a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and pony and wagon rides. Proceeds support local charities.
Where: Augusta | More Info: Weihnachtsmarkt German Christmas Market
Montclair Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Polar Express
What to Expect:
Interactive storytelling with festive entertainment.
Description:
The Polar Express is a festive holiday event where families can relive the classic story of a young boy's journey to the North Pole. Passengers are treated to a motion picture soundtrack, hot chocolate, and cookies, while car hosts punch golden tickets and Santa greets each guest with a silver sleigh bell. The event features dancing chefs and singing hobos, creating a memorable experience for both children and adults.
Where: Phillipsburg | More Info: The Polar Express
Montclair Other Holiday Activities
Roxbury’s Annual Home for the Holidays
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with activities and festivities.
Description:
Roxbury’s Annual Home for the Holidays is a fun-filled, family event that kicks off the holiday season with activities and festivities inside the library and two churches next door on Main Street in Succasunna.
Where: Succasunna | More Info: Roxbury’s Annual Home for the Holidays
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-decorated trees with live holiday music.
Description:
The Festival of Trees at the Somerset County Park Commission's Environmental Education Center features an indoor exhibit of decorated trees by various community groups and individuals. Enjoy holiday music while viewing beautiful trees.
Where: Basking Ridge | More Info: Festival of Trees
Howell Farm Christmas
What to Expect:
Unique holiday celebration with steam tractor arrival of Santa.
Description:
Visit Howell Farm for Christmas crafts, live music, farm animal visits, and a chance to stroll through a decorated historic farmhouse before meeting Santa, who arrives by steam tractor. Enjoy warm drinks, homemade cookies, and unique gifts in the gift shop.
Where: Lambertville | More Info: Howell Farm Christmas
Cape May Christmas Holiday Season
What to Expect:
Self-guided walking tours through gaslit streets with Victorian and modern holiday decorations.
Description:
Cape May transforms into a Dickens village during the holiday season with garlands of fragrant greens and twinkling gaslights. The town offers a variety of tours and events, including the Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Candlelight House Tours, and Holiday Lights Trolley Rides. Visitors can explore beautifully decorated Victorian homes, inns, and hotels while enjoying live music and carolers.
Where: Cape May | More Info: Cape May Christmas Holiday Season
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Bloomfield (2 miles)
- West Orange (2 miles)
- Nutley (3 miles)
- Clifton (3 miles)
- Belleville (4 miles)
- Orange (4 miles)
- East Orange (4 miles)
- Passaic (5 miles)
- Kearny (5 miles)
- Livingston (6 miles)
- Garfield (6 miles)
- Newark (7 miles)
- Paterson (7 miles)
- Irvington (7 miles)
- Elmwood Park (7 miles)
- Maplewood (7 miles)
- Lodi (8 miles)
- Wayne (8 miles)
- Millburn (9 miles)
- Hillside (9 miles)
- Fair Lawn (9 miles)
- Union (9 miles)
- Hackensack (10 miles)
- Jersey City (10 miles)
- Union City (10 miles)
- North Bergen (10 miles)
- West New York (11 miles)
- Paramus (11 miles)
- Hoboken (11 miles)
- Summit (11 miles)
- Palisades Park (11 miles)
- Elizabeth (11 miles)
- Teaneck (11 miles)
- Parsippany (12 miles)
- Cliffside Park (12 miles)
- Ridgewood (12 miles)
- Bayonne (12 miles)
- Hell's Kitchen (12 miles)
- Roselle (12 miles)
- Cranford (13 miles)
- Fort Lee (13 miles)
- Morningside Heights (13 miles)
- Manhattan (13 miles)
- Bergenfield (13 miles)
- New York City (13 miles)
- Gramercy Park (13 miles)
- Englewood (13 miles)
- Financial District (13 miles)
- East Village (13 miles)
- Chinatown (13 miles)
- Westfield (14 miles)
- Harlem (14 miles)
- East Harlem (14 miles)
- Linden (14 miles)
- Washington Heights (14 miles)
- Brooklyn Heights (14 miles)
- Long Island City (15 miles)
- Mott Haven (15 miles)
- Astoria (15 miles)
- Scotch Plains (15 miles)
- Morris Heights (15 miles)
- Greenpoint (15 miles)
- Williamsburg (15 miles)
- Rahway (15 miles)
- Sunnyside (16 miles)
- Melrose (16 miles)
- Morrisania (16 miles)
- University Heights (16 miles)
- Park Slope (16 miles)
- Tremont (16 miles)
- Sunset Park (16 miles)
- New Springville (16 miles)
- Kings Bridge (16 miles)
- Fordham (16 miles)
- East Tremont (17 miles)
- Woodside (17 miles)
- Plainfield (17 miles)
- Hunts Point (17 miles)
- Fort Hamilton (17 miles)
- Maspeth (17 miles)
- Carteret (17 miles)
- Borough Park (17 miles)
- Dyker Heights (18 miles)
- Kensington (18 miles)
- Jackson Heights (18 miles)
- Bushwick (18 miles)
- North Plainfield (18 miles)
- Flatbush (18 miles)
- Yonkers (18 miles)
- The Bronx (18 miles)
- Ridgewood (18 miles)
- Van Nest (18 miles)
- Brooklyn (18 miles)
- Parkchester (18 miles)
- Elmhurst (18 miles)
- Mahwah (18 miles)
- East Elmhurst (19 miles)
- Staten Island (19 miles)
- Bath Beach (19 miles)
- Middle Village (19 miles)
- Unionport (19 miles)
- East Flatbush (19 miles)
- Glendale (19 miles)
- Brownsville (19 miles)
- Great Kills (19 miles)
- Corona (19 miles)
- Bensonhurst (19 miles)
- College Point (19 miles)
- Wakefield (19 miles)
- Woodrow (20 miles)
- Randolph (20 miles)
- Cypress Hills (20 miles)
- Basking Ridge (20 miles)
- Rego Park (20 miles)
- South Plainfield (20 miles)
- Flatlands (20 miles)
- Forest Hills (20 miles)
- Gravesend (20 miles)
- East New York (20 miles)
- Mount Vernon (20 miles)
- Throgs Neck (20 miles)
- Canarsie (20 miles)
- Coney Island (21 miles)
- Whitestone (21 miles)
- Woodhaven (21 miles)
- Kew Gardens Hills (21 miles)
- Sheepshead Bay (21 miles)
- Brighton Beach (22 miles)
- Richmond Hill (22 miles)
- Spring Valley (22 miles)
- Ozone Park (22 miles)
- Queens (22 miles)
- Briarwood (22 miles)
- Perth Amboy (22 miles)
- Fresh Meadows (23 miles)
- West Milford (23 miles)
- Howard Beach (23 miles)
- Bayside (23 miles)
- Jamaica (23 miles)
- South Ozone Park (23 miles)
- Hillside (24 miles)
- Edison (24 miles)
- Greenburgh (24 miles)
- Hollis (24 miles)
- Piscataway (25 miles)
- New City (25 miles)
- Queens Village (25 miles)
- Sayreville Junction (26 miles)
- Springfield Gardens (26 miles)
- Cambria Heights (26 miles)
- Laurelton (26 miles)
- Sayreville (27 miles)
- New Brunswick (27 miles)
- Somerset (27 miles)
- Rosedale (27 miles)
- Elmont (27 miles)
- White Plains (27 miles)
- Harrison (28 miles)
- Bridgewater (28 miles)
- Far Rockaway (28 miles)
- Valley Stream (28 miles)
- Franklin Square (29 miles)
- Ossining (30 miles)
- Old Bridge (30 miles)
- East Brunswick (30 miles)
- South Old Bridge (30 miles)
- Glen Cove (30 miles)
- Middletown (30 miles)
- Garden City (31 miles)
- Port Chester (31 miles)
- Rockville Centre (32 miles)
- Hempstead (32 miles)
- Oceanside (32 miles)
- Hillsborough (33 miles)
- Long Beach (33 miles)
- Uniondale (33 miles)
- Baldwin (34 miles)
- Freeport (35 miles)
- East Meadow (35 miles)
- Marlboro (35 miles)
- Peekskill (35 miles)
- Kiryas Joel (36 miles)
- Hicksville (36 miles)
- Merrick (36 miles)
- Long Branch (38 miles)
- Stamford (38 miles)
- Plainview (39 miles)
- Massapequa (40 miles)
- Princeton (41 miles)
- North Stamford (41 miles)
- Huntington Station (42 miles)
- Darien (42 miles)
- Copiague (44 miles)
- Middletown (44 miles)
- Lindenhurst (45 miles)