Winter is upon us, and the Holidays are here! This time of year offers a unique opportunity to take advantage of the plentiful Winter wonderland activities, events, and happenings in your community! These events foster core memories, and keep the spirit of the holiday season bright, despite the sun setting at 4pm. From the jingle of sleigh bells to the warmth of community celebrations, discover the joyous events that make this season a truly magical time for all!
❄️ CHATHAM ❅ MADISON ❄️
✨ Winter Holiday Festival ⏐ 58 Meyersville Road, Chatham (Town Hall) ⏐ Thurs., December 14th, from 6-8 pm
This enchanting evening is the perfect opportunity for families to revel in the holiday spirit, and it’s all free of charge. The air will be filled with the joyful sounds of live carolers as you enjoy the timeless tradition of horse-drawn carriage rides through our decorated winter wonderland. Warm up with hot cocoa and delight in a variety of snacks as you mingle with neighbors and make new friends.A very special guest, Santa Claus himself, will be visiting from the North Pole to share in the merriment. Children will have the chance to meet Santa and take memorable photos, so make sure they bring their letters to Santa to ensure their holiday wishes are heard.In the spirit of giving, the Girl Scouts will be hosting a food drive during the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to support those in need within our community.
❅ More info here!
🎄 Drop-In Craft: Ornament Making ⏐23 Main Street, Madison⏐Wed., Dec 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
As we countdown to winter break, join us afterschool between 3 and 6pm to create ornaments to decorate your home, decorate our holiday trees, or both! With lots of festive options to choose from, you will be immersed in the spirit of the season. Every time you attend an event at METC in December, you are entered to win one of the three “Festival of Trees” on our front lawn, donated by The Farm at Green Village.
❅ Get tickets here!
❄️ MORRISTOWN ❄️
🌲 Festival of Trees – Frelinghuysen Arboretum –
353 East Hanover Avenue Morristown ⏐Fridays & Saturdays, 12/8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 and Tuesday, 12/27 -12/30 ⏐ 10am-4pm
Tour the Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Mansion decorated for the holidays in the Festival of Trees. Enjoy trees decorated by scouts, families, floral designers and garden clubs in this outing for the family.
$10 per person
❅ Register here! (Required to attend)
🌡️ Ignite the Night (must be 21+)
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown| Thursday, December 14 | 6:00-10:00 PM
The Corning Museum of Glass will demo their mobile flameworking studio for you while you sip drinks from the open bar and listen to tunes from the DJ. At this live, narrated presentation of glass working, you’ll see the flameworker melt rods and tubes using a 4,000-degree torch and then shape the softened glass into any variety of objects, from glass animals and beads to ornaments and sculptures. Come for the Sonny Seltzer drinks and the glass working demo, and stay for art exhibitions, activities, and the “most festively dressed” contest. This series of demos was inspired by the breathtaking exhibition, From Flame to Flower: The Art of Paul J. Stankard.
Join the Toys for Tots drive by bringing a new toy in its package.
❅ Get tickets here!
❄️ MAPLEWOOD ❅ WEST ORANGE ❄️
💫 Handmade Holiday at the Woodland
60 Woodland Road, Maplewood | Sunday, December 17, 2023 | 10:00 AM 4:00 PM
Take a stroll through local merchants’ creative designs and show appreciation for local talent! A truly unique opportunity to enjoy downtown Maplewood and find something truly one-of-a-kind!
🕯️ Annual Menorah Lighting
Gazebo @ 1688 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood | Monday, December 11, 2023 | 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Celebrate together with Kosher donuts and hot chocolate galore!
🎺 Maplewood Community Music Presents: Sounds of the Season
60 Woodland Road, Maplewood Dec. 11 at 7:30 pm Join the woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments of the Maplewood Concert Band for their annual Sounds of the Season Winter Concert!
❅ Check out more on ALL Maplewood events here
🐢 Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights
560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange | Nightly Starting Friday, December 8th – Saturday, December 31st 5pm To 9pm
Take a winter stroll through the Turtle Back Zoo this holiday season under the sparkling lights of winter and animal characters. The fun includes: Carousels, touch tanks, face painting, reptile house, and the fan favorite train!
Admission By Donation: Celebrate The Season Of Giving By Bringing A Donation Of: Non-Perishable Food Items / New (Unwrapped) Toys / Gently Used Coats
❅ Register here!
❄️ MONTCLAIR ❄️
🎻 Christmas Benefit Concert
Salvation Army, 13 Trinity Pl, Montclair | Fri, Dec 15, 2023 at 7:00 PM
The concert will be hosted by our own Montclair Citadel Brass Band (B/M Mark Baker, Music Director) with special guests from Toronto, Award winning composer, brilliant trumpet/cornet soloist and emerging conductor, Marcus Venables, and his wife, vocal soloist Alexandria. They will partner with the North Jersey Home Schoolers Association Chorale in this concert raising funds in support of The Salvation Army’s homeless services in Montclair. This will be music of the Season and an event not to be missed.
❅ More information here!
❄️ MENDHAM ❅ CHESTER ❄️
🧑🎄 “Deer Santa”: Celebrating the “Nature” of Christmas
– Schiff Nature Preserve 351 Pleasant Valley Rd Mendham | December 14, 2023 (Thursday) | 4:00- 5:30 pm
Join in the magic of the holiday season as we share the joy of nature and enchantment of the animal world! Children will discover the differences between reindeer and the local white-tailed deer, learn about animals of the North Pole and what our wild neighbors are up to during this wintery holiday! Activities will include animal games of the North Pole, going on an “Evergreen” scavenger hunt in the woods to gather branches and pinecones that will be used to create a woodland scented “kindling kit” for the fireplace/fire-pit, and making “reindeer food” to sprinkle on the lawn Christmas Eve! This program is intended for children ages 3-6 years old (younger siblings welcome). Space is limited and pre-registration is required!
Member fee is $15 per child. Non- member fee is $20 per child.
❅ Register here!
❄️ SUMMIT ❄️
🎀 Celebrate in Summit
17 Beechwood Road, Summit | Saturday, Dec. 23rd | 1-4pm
Live music throughout town with strolling carolers and musicians playing holiday standards including: St. Peter’s Brass and other Street Sounds musicians. Horse and Carriage rides at Lyric Park! Rides start at the corner of Beechwood Road and Bank Street note the rides run until 4pm but the line is cut off by 3:30pm. Please keep that timing in mind.
Live ice carving in the Promenade and NEW this year! Winter Princesses with fun interactive crafts in The Promenade! All activities are free to the public!
❅ more info here!
❄️ SHORT HILLS ❅ MILLBURN ❄️
⛄ Winter Villages
Short Hills Station (next to Boxcar Bar) | Saturday, December 9th and Sunday, December 10th | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Enjoy free s’mores from Splurge Bakery all evening long. We will have skewers, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers for everyone. This year we will have gelatin free and gluten free options (while supplies last). When in doubt, you are welcome to bring your own s’mores to the event. Splurge will also be giving out samples of their hot chocolate!
A new addition to the event… Jack’s Lobster Shack of Short Hills will be giving out free samples of their lobster bisque and their Manhattan clam chowder. They will also have hot and cold soup for sale. There will be cozy igloos for you to sit and enjoy and take holiday photos. Each igloo has seating, a throw blanket, throw pillows, a retro comping light and more.Warm up by the fire pits (with screens) with our log seats and benches.
❅ Holiday music will be playing in the background and surprise entertainment is in store! In the spirit of the season, we encourage you to bring a non-perishable food donation to drop off at the Millburn Food Pantry table when you come to the Winter Village
❅ More info here!
❄️ Paramus ❄️
🌟 Let it Glow
Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus | November 10 – January 15 | Thurs. & Sun. 4pm-8pm / Fri. & Sat. 4pm-9pm
It’s a holiday spectacular with stunning, larger-than-life lantern displays of animals and nature that will wow you and your littles. Walk through the exhibits up close, then take a train ride through the zoo.
❅ Cost: $9 and up
❅ Get your tickets here!
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