There’s nothing better than a dazzling light display to get in the holiday spirit. From shining decorations to glittering light exhibits, we traveled the Garden State to find the 10 most beautiful NJ Christmas light show displays to see this year.
What sets a fantastic New Jersey Christmas light show apart from the rest? There’s 3 things to look for in a great holiday light display:
- Dazzling effects and over-the-top lighting. Our top NJ light shows don’t just showcase holiday spirit, they go above and beyond with amazing decor and automated lighting effects.
- Convenient location. We spread our picks for the best Christmas light displays around New Jersey — you’re sure to find one that’s close to you!
- Accessible for all ages. These light shows are suitable for all ages and cover any way you wish to take in the experience. We’ve selected walk through Christmas light displays, and drive thru Christmas light shows you can watch from your car.
This list offers you a collection of well-known shows and hidden gems — we’re excited to tell you about the ones you don’t know about, as well as the ones you know and love!
So let’s dive into our list of NJ’s top 10 Christmas light shows with a simple question — do you want to drive through the show, or take a holiday stroll through a lit-up display?
Where Do You Drive to See Christmas Lights in NJ?
The 2 primary types of Christmas light shows in New Jersey are drive thru displays and walking experiences.
New Jersey Drive Thru Christmas Lights
Grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, pack the kids in the back seat and enjoy a beautiful holiday light show from the warmth of your car. Drive thru Christmas light displays are a great way to stay comfortable and cozy while you drink in the best holiday decorations in town.
Interactive Walk Through NJ Light Displays
If you prefer a brisk walk through the snow, take an interactive walk through New Jersey’s holiday light displays. You’ll find photo opportunities, see light displays and decorations from all angles, and who knows — you might bump into Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus or some elves along the way!
This Year’s 10 Best NJ Christmas Light Show Displays
This list of the 10 best NJ Christmas light show displays is presented in alphabetical order — we love them all for different reasons, so explore the list to find the best one nearest to you!
Creamy Acres’ Night of Lights
448 Lincoln Mill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ
https://www.nightoflightshayride.com/
Creamy Acres decorates its 100 acre dairy farm with beautiful light displays and cute lit-up decorations — the lit-up tractor with presents is adorable.
After you drive the 1 ½ mile light course, stop in for s’mores around the fire pit, a visit to the Creamy Acres retail store, and a visit from Santa Claus himself.
Buy your entry online to save $5 — the cost is $35 per vehicle online and $40 at the gate. Vehicles may contain up to 8 passengers.
Type: Enjoy the Night of Lights from inside your vehicle that comes with a private radio station.
DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express
1151 S White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ
https://www.didonatofuncenter.com/magical-express/
All aboard! DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express is one of our favorite NJ Christmas attractions — take a ride on the holiday express train and enjoy millions of Christmas lights along the way!
DiDonato’s also offers a walkthrough holiday village, holiday movie tent and pop-up toy market at the venue. Santa and his elves are on hand for a free photo op, and kids can even get a free present from Santa.
Tickets are $19.95 ($24.95 on Saturdays) and available online — individual time slots sell out quickly, so purchase them in advance. Kids under 1 year old are free.
Type: DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express isn’t drive thru or walk through — get on board the rolling railway for a holiday train ride!
Diggerland USA Holiday Drive-Thru Light Show
100 Pinedge Dr, West Berlin, NJ
https://diggerlandusa.com/special-events/holiday-light-show/
If your little ones (or you!) love construction, check out the Diggerland USA Holiday Drive-Thru Light Show in West Berlin. This construction-themed experience features light displays, lit-up tunnels, and construction equipment decked out in thousands of lights.
Tune your radio to the private Diggerland “HoliDIG” station for an extra taste of holiday spirit. After the drive, grab a treat at the Fork Lift Cafe to cap off your evening.
Tickets are available online at $34.95 per vehicle. As with most NJ holiday light shows, guests are advised to purchase entry ahead of time to avoid being sold out at the gate. Tickets to the light show are separate from standard Diggerland theme park tickets.
Type: Diggerland USA offers a drive thru construction-themed holiday light show.
Holiday Light Show on the Lake
Lake Meone, Historic Smithville, NJ
https://historicsmithvillenj.com/27-holiday-light-show
Historic Smithville is a quaint trip into the past located in South Jersey and one of top picks for charming NJ Christmas towns. After a day walking the cobblestone streets and visiting charming historic boutiques and shops, the light show on Lake Meone is a wonderful way to end your trip.
Over 120 Christmas trees appear to “float” on Lake Meone, adorned with over 50,000 Christmas lights. The light show on the lake is accompanied by your favorite holiday music played on the Village Greene.
The Smithville holiday light show runs from Thanksgiving through the first week in January, nightly from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Type: Park your car and enjoy the holiday light show on Lake Meone.
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ
https://turtlebackzoo.com/discover/holiday-lights-spectacular/
The Holiday Lights Spectacular at Turtle Back Zoo is one of NJ’s most unique Christmas traditions. Where else can you enjoy a beautiful light display as you walk through a zoo full of wild animals?
Several animal exhibits are open during light show hours — 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. through New Year’s Eve. Kids can ride a train and carousel, visit the Reptile House and Touch Tank, and meet Santa Claus.
Admission to the light display at Turtle Back Zoo is free. Some attractions, like the carousel, face painting and pony rides, are a separate fee.
Instead of an admission fee, the Zoo kindly asks visitors to bring a donation of gently used coats, new unwrapped toys, or non-perishable food items.
Type: The Turtle Back Zoo’s Holiday Lights Spectacular offers a stroll through the zoo.
Magic of Lights New Jersey
116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ
https://magicoflights.com/events/newjersey/
Magic of Lights New Jersey is part of the Toyota Holiday Village at PNC Bank Arts Center. This sprawling drive-through holiday light show takes your car through multiple “festive locations”, like the Snowflake Tunnel and Forest, Fairy Tales, Prehistoric and Toyland.
The Magic of Lights experience in Holmdel is more than lights. It incorporates state-of-the-art LED technology and digital animations to bring the displays (and your favorite characters) to life.
Enjoy Two for Tuesdays, where cars can travel the route twice for one price. Operation Sleighbell Mondays mean guests who donate warm coats, gloves, hats and toys save $5 on their admission.
Type: Magic of Lights NJ is a drive thru holiday light experience.
Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
244 Werimus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ
https://orchardoflights.com/
Demarest Farms is a wonderful farm to visit for the holidays. Their spooky Halloween event is replaced by a gorgeous Orchard of Lights for the Christmas season — all 32 acres of the farm are lit up for your enjoyment.
Your guided drive thru tour includes automated light displays and LED light designs, fields full of decorations and a lovely light tunnel. Afterwards, grab a cup of hot cocoa from the Farm Market, make your own s’mores, and meet Santa Claus every night until Christmas Eve. (He’ll be busy that night!)
Tickets are only available online and may not be purchased at the gate. Guests are encouraged to arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled time, and may experience a short wait due to the popularity of the show. Tune your radio to 107.9 FM for an interactive experience!
Type: The Orchard of Lights is a drive through Christmas light show experience. Stop the car and get out after the show to visit the fire pit, make s’mores and see Santa.
Sea of Lights at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk
300 Ocean Ave N, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
https://jenkinsons.com/events/
Most people think of “Jenk’s” as a summer hotspot, but the Sea of Lights is a wonderful holiday experience at the Jersey Shore. For 6 select nights in December, Jenkinson’s transforms into a shore-themed winter wonderland with an indoor light display and plenty of fun family activities.
The experience at Sea of Lights changes each day. Stop by December 22 for Elf Storytime, then return December 23 to meet some Happy Reindeer! If you want a special treat, visit Sea of Lights on December 27-28 — Santa will go diving inside the aquarium to celebrate another successful Christmas!
Enjoy Princess Sweets & Treats with the Winter Princess, and Snow-Ville Shows with a certain green grump who likes stealing presents.
Type: Walk through the indoor Sea of Lights display at Jenkinson’s Pavilion and Aquarium.
Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show and Village
94 Championship Pl, Augusta, NJ
https://skylandsstadium.com/lightshow/
The Skylands Stadium Light Show and Village is a one-mile long drive thru display of over 2 million holiday lights. It’s one of the biggest holiday light displays in New Jersey, but the fun is only getting started there.
After the over-the-top light show, stop the car and take a family photo with Santa in the Christmas Village. You can shop at the holiday vendors, and parents can step inside the Winter Beer Garden for a refreshing pint.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Time slot tickets are $29 for one carload of visitors (and parking is free). Purchase a VIP ticket for $79 and show up anytime you’d like — skip the line and receive 2 novelty toys.
Type: Skylands Stadium Light Show is a drive through display, while the Christmas Village is a walk through experience.
Winter WonderLights
655 Cranbury Rd, East Brunswick, NJ
https://winterwonderlightshows.com/
The Middlesex County Fairgrounds transform into NJ’s largest animated holiday light show each winter. Winter WonderLights features over 1.5 million lights, 4 magic tunnels, synchronized holiday displays, and 30’ tall Christmas trees.
The Winter WonderLights display celebrates the cheer of all winter holidays — enjoy the magic of Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali and Kwanzaa during the car ride. The light displays are programmed to work alongside your favorite holiday songs.
The 2023 Winter WonderLights show runs November 24 through December 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 per car, and a VIP full season pass is $125.
Type: Winter WonderLights is a ½ mile drive through light show.
What’s Your Favorite NJ Holiday Light Display?
Do you love a walk through experience like the Skylands Stadium Christmas Village? Or do you prefer a drive thru Christmas light display like the Magic of Lights in Holmdel?
Whatever you prefer, there’s no shortage of incredible holiday light shows to visit in New Jersey this winter. Print out this guide as a checklist, and see if you can cross all 10 shows off the list before the season ends!
We wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. Here’s hoping it’s filled with beautiful sights and sounds — and a beautiful light show or two!
