Holiday events in North Jersey
17 upcoming. Holiday events across North Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Union, Somerset and Hunterdon counties, late Nov 2026 through early Jan 2027.
WednesdayNovember 18
7:30pm, through Nov 22
Paper Mill PlayhousePaper Mill Playhouse's holiday musical, based on the P.L. Travers stories and the 1964 Disney film, with songs like A Spoonful of Sugar and Step in Time. 2.5 hours with intermission; multiple shows on most days, see the event page for all times.
FridayNovember 20
5 to 9pm, through Nov 22Free
Essex County Turtle Back ZooWalk-through light show at the zoo with more than 50 winter and animal light displays, free Santa meet-and-greets on select nights, and Friday ice-carving demos. Free admission with no reservations; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
All day, through Nov 22
Music Mountain TheatreThe Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens musical adaptation of Dickens, a holiday tradition at Music Mountain Theatre for fifteen years. 2026 showtimes were not published on the event page; check before going.
FridayNovember 27
All day, through Nov 29
Red Mill Museum VillageOutdoor holiday market at the historic Red Mill with more than 40 craft artisans, food and drink, live entertainment, and Santa photos, presented with Marketspace Vendor Events. Ticketed; hours were not published on the organizer's calendar.
SaturdayNovember 28
All dayFree
Morristown GreenThe century-old tradition (since 1913) kicking off the Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green: Santa's arrival, a Santa house, holiday music and crafts, ice sculpture demos, and free miniature train rides. All free except $15 Santa photos. Start time was unpublished on the organizer page; the festival continues weekends through Dec 20.
SundayNovember 29
2pm$8
Union County Performing Arts CenterSensory-friendly, judgment-free performance of New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker for children and adults with autism and other sensory sensitivities. $8 tickets; it sells out each season.
ThursdayDecember 3
All day, through Dec 24
Mile Square TheatreJoe Landry's adaptation of Dickens reimagined as a live 1940s radio broadcast, complete with foley sound effects and a full cast of voices. Runs December 3 through 24; performance days and times vary, check the theater's page.
SaturdayDecember 5
1pm, through Dec 6
Bergen Performing Arts CenterNew Jersey Ballet brings its annual Nutcracker to Englewood, a Bergen County holiday tradition since 1986, with two shows each day (1pm and 4:30pm). Two hours with intermission.
2:30pm, through Dec 6
Morristown Unitarian Universalist FellowshipLight Opera of New Jersey presents Menotti's one-act holiday opera, first televised on Christmas Eve 1951, in an intimate staging. Two shows Saturday (2:30pm and 7:30pm).
7:30pm, through Dec 6
F.M. Kirby Shakespeare TheatreThe Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 2026 holiday musical, weaving O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi and The Cop and the Anthem into one story with music by Randy Courts. Tickets $55 to $95; multiple shows on most days, see the event page for all times.
FridayDecember 11
10:30am, through Dec 13
Mayo Performing Arts CenterNew Jersey Ballet's annual Nutcracker, the longest-running original professional production in the state, with Tchaikovsky's score played live by the New Jersey Symphony. Two hours with intermission; multiple shows on most days, see the event page for all times.
All day, through Dec 13
Red Mill Museum VillageAnnual display of decorated Christmas trees throughout the museum's historic buildings, with a silent auction benefiting the Red Mill Museum Village.
SaturdayDecember 12
3pm
Victoria Theater at NJPACThe renowned all-brass quintet plays an afternoon holiday concert of carols and classics at NJPAC's Victoria Theater, joined by the New Jersey Youth Chorus Coriste ensemble.
SundayDecember 13
3pm
New Jersey Performing Arts CenterThe State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine performs its traditional Nutcracker with hand-painted sets, more than 200 costumes, and Tchaikovsky's score, at NJPAC.
FridayDecember 18
All day, through Dec 20
Music Mountain TheatreMusic Mountain Theatre's annual festive concert of holiday classics in the style of Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald, with a 17-piece big band. Showtimes were not published on the event page; check before going.
SaturdayDecember 19
11am
F.M. Kirby Shakespeare TheatreThe Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey closes its Classics for Kids series with an hour-long scripts-in-hand medley of wintry tales, seasonal songs, and poems. Tickets $20 to $25.
SundayDecember 20
7pm
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred HeartThe New Jersey Symphony's annual holiday tradition: Handel's Messiah with conductor Kedrick Armstrong, four vocal soloists, and the Montclair State University Singers, in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
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