LIGHT & TRAIN DISPLAYS just in time for the holiday season! Our Top List of Things To Do This Holiday Season

There’s a chill in the air, but the fun is still hot, hot, hot!  Looking for the Best Things to Do?  We’ve got them for you!  Whether you are looking for Seasonal Activities, Outdoor Fun, Vacation Break Ideas, Special Events or Early Holiday Shows - there’s tons to do this month and NJ Kids has found the best of the best right here in NJ (and close by in PA and NY).   It’s time to get up and go! 

THE SHAPE OF LIGHT AT NEWARK MUSEUM
49 Washington St, Newark 973.596.6550
New planetarium shows: The Little Star That Could on Sat and Sun, 1 & 3pm;  Experience The Aurora on Wed through Fri, 2pm and Sat and Sun 2 & 4pm.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS SPECTACULAR

Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange 973-731-58
Friday-Sunday, 11/27 - 11/29 and 12/4 - 12/6 and 12/14-1/4.  (no lights 12/24 and 12/25). 5-9PM.  100,000 bulbs illuminate the winter nights. Admission is free, but please donate nonperishable 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 27-Dec 6, Tues-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-5.

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. Sun: Nov 22 & 29; Dec 6, 13 & 20, 1-4

HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW
NY Society of Model Engineers, 341 Hoboken Rd, Carlstadt (1 mile from Giants Stadium)
Nov 14-15, 21-22, 28-29. Sat and Sun 1-6PM.  5,000 sq ft of model trains. Holiday model train show. See NJ Kid’s ad for $1.00 off admission.

BARRON ARTS CENTER
582 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge
732-634-0413. Nov 28- Dec 27 (closed 12/25) 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.  

MODEL RAILROAD CLUB
295 Jefferson Ave, Union, 908-964-9724
Nov 27-29, Dec 4-6, 11-13 Annual train and holiday light show and open house. 100-car trains, large scale steam locomotive & steel mill displays!

NYC TRANSIT MUSEUM - GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
Through Sunday Feb 10, 2016. FREE.
Small display takes visitors on an imaginary journey from Grand

CENTRAL TO THE NORTH POLE.  NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
Bronx, NY. Nov 21 through Jan 18, 2016.
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 14-15, 1-4pm.
All aboard the Arrow River Express! Enjoy model train vendors and displays, train themed crafts, and of course the Garden’s very own train ride. Meet & Greet our friends from PBS’ “Dinosaur Train” from 1:30PM-3PM (Saturday only)!

FESTIVAL OF TREES AT MORVEN MUSEUM & GARDEN
Nov 25 – Jan 3; 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.

HOLIDAY SHOW: TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES - MONMOUTH MUSEUM
765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft. 732.747.2266.
Nov 22 Thru Jan 3; A Historical art exhibition to launch the return of the Museum’s annual Model Train Display!

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR ON MAIN STREET
Nov 28 – 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 27, 28 & 29 Dec 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 (Days) and 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19 (nights) Christmas train ride with Santa on
beautifully decorated trains.

WHIPPANY RAILWAY MUSEUM’S 24TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS SPECIAL
Nov 29, Dec 5, 6, 12, 13 Whippany Train Station
The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return. During each excursion, Santa makes his
way through the train and visits with every child onboard.

THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW
Dec 12, 13, & 19; 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 14 - Dec 30 (Closed 11/26, 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 26 - Jan 6; 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.

GARDEN RAILROAD AT LONGWOOD GARDEN
1001 Longwood Road,Kennett Square,  PA.  On view through January 10, 2016
Bring your little ones to play, imagine, and get up close to our Garden Railway. Four locomotives rumble through the G-scale model train display, which features a new bridge, more tracks, and a beautifully landscaped display.