Things to Do with Kids During the Holidays 

With the holiday’s right around the corner, get into the holiday spirit by visiting one of the many best light and train displays found throughout New Jersey.  As you look for things to do with family this holiday season check out our list of places guaranteed to make you feel warm and bright.  Wander the brightly lit displays and listen for the sounds of holiday trains running along the tracks as you feel the spirit of the season. 

Holiday Lights Spectacular
Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange 973-731-5800
Friday thru Sunday: Nov 18 – Dec 11; Every Night: Dec 12 – Jan 3, 2017; Closed: Dec 24 & 25 5-9PM.  Take a winter stroll through the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo this holiday season under the sparkling lights of over 50 winter and animal characters. Admission is free, but please donate non-perishable food, unwrapped new toys and winter coats.

Festival of Trees
Red Mill Museum Village, 56 Main Street, Clinton 908-735-0914 Dozens of beautifully decorated trees dot the village. Nov 25-Dec 11.     

Gigantic Holiday Model Train Show by Ramapo Valley Railroad
Ho-Ho-Kus VFW Hall, 620 Cliff St, HoHoKus.
Massive permanent, train layout, with cities, farms, drive-in movie theaters and wind mill farms (that work), mountains, and plenty of trains running. To celebrate more than 50 years of operation, donations will be reduced to $1 per person so as many people as possible can enjoy the shows. Nov 13, 20, 27 and Dec 4, 11 and 18; 1-4 PM.  

All Aboard! Historical Train Weekend
New-York Historical Society 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street) NY, NY 10024 All aboard! Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection is sure to delight and enchant kids of all ages — as well as kids at heart! While you’re here, don’t forget to journey on our special train scavenger hunt, create a train-inspired craft, listen to train tales, and move, giggle, and laugh out loud with Conductor Abe!  Free with Museum Admission Dec 10 – 11; 12:30 - 3:30 PM 

Holiday Model Train Show at the Barron Arts Center
582 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge 
732-634-0413. Nov 26 – Dec 30 (closed 12/25 & 26) FREE.  Holiday model train show.

Garden State Central Model Railroad Club Train Show at Info Age.  
2201 Marconi Rd, Wall 732-280-3000
Three weekends prior to Christmas.  Bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots for one free admission.  

Model Railroad Club 
295 Jefferson Ave, Union, 908-964-9724
Nov 25-27; Dec 2-4, 9-11 Annual train and holiday light show and open house. 100-car trains, large scale steam locomotive & steel mill displays!

New York Botanical Garden Train Show 
Bronx, NY.  Nov 18 through Jan 16, 2017.
Dozens and dozens of trains glide through intrinsically constructed models of NYC landmarks and beautifully landscaped backgrounds. 

Camden Children’s Garden Train Festival 
3 Riverside Dr, Camden
856-365-8733, Nov 12-13, 1-4pm. 
The Camden Children’s Garden salutes a nostalgic favorite – Trains! Join them for train themed crafts, games, and fun railroad stories.  

Festival of Trees at Morven Museum & Garden
Nov 23 – Jan 8; 55 Stockton Street, Princeton The holiday event features the museum’s elegant galleries decorated for the holidays and adorned with trees artfully decorated by local businesses, garden clubs, and non-profit organizations. Festival of Trees is open to the public during regular museum hours. No reservations are required.

Christmas Spectacular on Main Street 
Nov 26 – Dec 31; 128 North Main Street, Cranbury
Come and see the 100,000 lights Dance! The shows are approximately 45 minutes long. Shows run certain nights 6-9pm.

Christmas Express with Santa Claus
NJ Museum of Transportation, Allaire State Park, Farmingdale 732-938-5524. Nov 25, 26 & 27 and Dec 4, 11 & 18: 11 AM to 4 PM; Dec 3, 10 & 17: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM; Dec 9 & 16: 6 PM to 8:30 PM Christmas train ride with Santa on beautifully decorated trains. 

The Christmas Light Show 
Dec 10, 11, & 17; 6:30 and 8:30PM; 2744 Belmar Blvd, Wall Township (Parking located at the North Wall Little League Field) This Christmas Light Show is a family tradition at the Jersey Shore. The show is an impressive displays of lighting, fog, and pyrotechnics synchronized to powerful concert quality sound!  

Christmas Fantasy with Lights at Storybook Land
Nov 12 - Dec 30 (Closed 11/24, 12/24, 12/25) 6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township (609) 646-0103 
Come and experience holiday magic right before your eyes! Santa Claus appears at 5pm in his chimney, waves his magic wand, and lights the park with over one million lights for the holiday season!  2-9pm. Parade begins: 4:30pm. Lighting: Immediately following the Parade, around 5:00pm

Holiday Light Show in Historic Smithville
Nov 24 - Jan 2; 5:30pm - 8:30pm 
615 E. Moss Mill Rd., Smithville 609.748.8999 
Watch in awe as over 100 Christmas Trees, magically floating on Lake Meone, light up to the music around you. Orchestrated show of lights and music played out across the lake.

Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green
Nov 27 through Dec 18
Four weekends of Activities & Entertainment on the Green including: visits & photos with Santa in the Santa House, Goody Bags, miniature Electric Train Rides around the Green, Ice Sculpting Demonstrations, hands-on activities including Gingerbread House and Snowflake Making.

Skylands Stadium Christmas Lights Show 
94 Championship Place, Augusta
Nov 18 – Jan 1, 2017
Experience their spectacular Christmas Light Show at Skylands Stadium! Drive through a 1-mile course of breathtaking holiday displays. They will have more than 2 MILLION LIGHTS for your viewing pleasure! And back by popular demand is a festive Christmas Village!