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!
We’ve updated this article with all the information you need to visit NJ Christmas light show displays in 2024.
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/
2024 Dates: Fri & Sat, Nov 29 & 30
Fri & Sat, Dec 6 & 7
Wed – Sat, Dec 11 -14
Mon – Sat, Dec 16 – 21
Mon & Tues, Dec 23 & 24
2024 Times: 5:30 pm – 8 pm, all dates
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.
Drive-thru tickets are $45 on Fridays and Saturdays, and $35 all other days. Drive-thru tickets are valid for vehicles with up to 8 passengers, and vehicles must not exceed 9 feet in height.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Have a printout of your ticket or ticket barcode on mobile device available upon arrival.
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/
2024 Dates: Sat. & Sun., Nov 23-24
Fri. & Sat., Nov 29-30
December 1-23
2024 Times: Sunday-Thursday 4:45 – 8 pm – no guest admittance after 6:45pm
Friday-Saturday 4:45-8:45 pm no guest admittance after 7:30 pm
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.
2024 online ticket prices are $19.95 per person Monday – Thursday, $21.95 Friday & Sunday and $26.95 on Saturday. Tickets include a nominal Simpletix ticketing fee.
Guests can purchase tickets at the door, but ticket prices are slightly higher in person and time slots tend to sell out quickly. 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/
2024 Dates: Nov. 15, 2024 through Jan. 12, 2024 (select dates are closed, please refer to their website)
2024 Times: 5:30 – 9:30 pm, all dates
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 $36.99 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
2024 Dates: Thurs., Nov 28, 2024 – Mon., Jan 6, 2025
2024 Times: Dusk (roughly 5:30 pm) – 8:30 pm, nightly
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.
Arrive early and visit the delightful shops of Historic Smithville. Shop hours are Monday-Thursday from 10 am – 7 pm, Friday-Saturday from 10 am – 9 pm, and Sunday from 11 am – 7 pm.
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/
2024 Dates: Fri. to Sun., Nov 22 – 24
Fri., Nov 29 – Wed., Dec 4
Fri. Dec 6 – Tues., Dec 31 (CLOSED Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024)
2024 Times: 5 pm – 9 pm, all dates
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.
Please note: the lights show is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024.
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.
LuminoCity Lights Festival
Freehold Raceway Mall — 3710 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728
https://www.luminocityfestival.com/
2024 Dates: Nov 15, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
(CLOSED Dec 9-10, Dec 16-17, Dec 24-25, and Jan 2)
2024 Times: 4:30 – 8:15 pm (select weekend nights until 8:45 pm)
Billed as the largest immersive light show in America, LuminoCity returns in 2024 with two locations — East Meadow, NY, and Freehold Raceway Mall in New Jersey. This massive lights display includes 50+ attractions, special theme nights, food trucks and a gift shop.
Visitors are treated to an impressive array of holiday light exhibits — from Christmas lights to fairy tale lands, dinosaurs, undersea and jungle adventures.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Children under 3 do not require a ticket to enter, but all children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. If you plan to purchase tickets in person, please note that cash is not accepted — you can use Apple Pay, Google Pay and most major credit/debit cards.
Tickets are available at General Admission, Ages 4-12 and VIP price points. Prices change based on your desired date and time — please check the website for specific pricing.
Can’t make your scheduled time? That’s okay — LuminoCity NJ allows flexible ticket changes before your scheduled date.
Type: Drive to the Freehold Raceway Mall, head to the West side of Winners Circle, and step out of your vehicle and into this immersive walking lights show.
Magic of Lights New Jersey
116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ
https://magicoflights.com/locations/holmdel-nj/
2024 Dates: Open through Saturday, Jan 4, 2025
2024 Times: 5 pm – 10 pm, Sunday – Thursday
5 pm – 11 pm, Friday and Saturday
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.
2024-25 holiday tickets for Magic of Lights New Jersey are available through LiveNation. Tickets are $35 per vehicle and are good for one general admission on any date through Jan 4, 2025.
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/
2024 Dates: Dec 6, 2024 – Dec 29, 2024
(CLOSED Dec 9-10, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
2024 Times: 5 pm – 8 pm, all days (entry times are every half hour)
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!
2024 online ticketing is now available, with general admission at $35 per carload.
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/sea-of-lights/
2024 Dates: Dec 7, 14, 21, 22 and 28, 2024
2024 Times: 4 pm – 8 pm, all nights
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.
Take Photos with Santa on December 7, 14, 21 and 22 from 5-8 pm. Enjoy Storytime with Mrs. Claus on December 7, 14, 21 and 22 at 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm.
Some of your favorite holiday characters will make special appearances at Jenk’s Sea of Lights this year! Little Miss Christmas-ville and the Green Gift Stealer come to town on Dec 7 and 22. The Ice Princess and Ice Man visit on December 14. And the Friendly Elf comes to Sea of Lights on Dec 21 and 28.
You can also see the Dancing Snowman and a Winter Princess Show on select dates. Then, Santa himself dives into the Jenkinson’s Aquarium tanks on December 28th at 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm!
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/
2024 Dates: Dec 5-8, Dec 12-23, and Dec 26-30, 2024
2024 Times: 4:30 pm – 10 pm (time slots vary on specific dates, please refer to the website)
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/
2024 Dates: December 2024, all dates
(Note: Expect heavy volume from December 20-28)
2024 Times: 5:30 – 10 pm, Dec 2-5, Dec 8-12, Dec 15-19, Dec 29-31 (last car 9:45 pm)
5:30 – 11 pm, Dec 6-7, Dec 13-14, Dec 20-28 (last car 10:45 pm)
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.
What’s new for 2024? Dave’s Delicious Fries Food Truck joins the festivities to offer their famous fries and snacks. A special light-up tribute to our first responders and the US Armed Forces returns this year.
The 2024 Winter WonderLights show runs through December 31, 2024 — time slots vary by date, and last admission is 15 minutes before closing time.
General admission tickets are $30 per car Sunday through Thursday, $35 per car Fridays and Saturdays, and $40 on December 20-28. VIP season passes are $75 and offer unlimited admission while the exhibit is open.
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 11 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!
