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Christmas with kids in Barnegat
Christmas in Barnegat is a Jersey Shore small-town season. Families gather at the Fred Watts Gazebo for the tree lighting, hop on a holiday train and trolley to see the lights, and wave to Santa on a fire truck.
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Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
When: Tue, Dec 8, 10:15 to 11:15 am
Where: Ocean County Library, Barnegat Branch, Barnegat
Cost: Free, registration required
The story of Christmas in Barnegat
How Barnegat celebrates
Barnegat's Christmas season centers on a tree lighting at Fred Watts Gazebo Park, held with a pop-up holiday market in early December. Another favorite is the Barnegat Express, a holiday train and trolley ride that tours the town to see Christmas light displays, a classic Jersey Shore outing, according to a local listing. The Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company runs an annual Santa Run so families can learn when Santa will visit their neighborhood. Bigger parades happen in nearby towns, such as the Lacey Christmas Parade, which held its 37th annual parade in 2022.
Christmas last year in Barnegat
In 2025 the Barnegat Express ran on December 11 and December 18, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each night. Tickets cost $15 per person for ages 1 and up, with a limit of 8 per buyer, and were sold in person only on November 15 at 900 West Bay Avenue. Nearby, Ship Bottom held a Christmas parade on December 6 celebrating 100 years of Christmas, Toms River lit its tree on December 5 with Santa arriving on a fire truck, and Seaside Heights held its tree lighting on December 6 with fireworks.
Fun facts about Christmas in Barnegat
The Barnegat tree lighting takes place at a gazebo park named for Fred Watts, and it comes with a pop-up market, so families can shop while they wait for the lights. The Barnegat Express is a train and trolley ride, which gives kids two vehicles in one outing. Barnegat Township School District ran its first Holiday Lights Bus Tour, raising money for Paws for a Cause. And the Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company's Santa Run means Santa sometimes comes right down your street.
Trains and Christmas in Barnegat
Barnegat does not have a railroad museum on our list, but it does have a Christmas train. The Barnegat Express is a holiday train and trolley ride that carries riders around Barnegat and the surrounding area to see Christmas light displays. In 2025 it ran on two December evenings, December 11 and 18, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., with tickets at $15 each for ages 1 and up. Barnegat Recreation sold them in person only, so mark the November date on your calendar next year.
Traditions today
- Barnegat tree lighting: Families gather at Fred Watts Gazebo Park in early December for the tree lighting and a pop-up holiday market.
- The Barnegat Express: A holiday train and trolley ride around town to see Christmas lights, on two December evenings in 2025.
- Santa Run: The Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company announces dates each year when Santa visits neighborhoods.
- Holiday Lights Bus Tour: The school district's first lights tour by bus raised money for Paws for a Cause.
- Nearby parades: Lacey and Ship Bottom have held Christmas parades, a short drive from Barnegat.
- Light shows nearby: Storybook Land, Historic Smithville and Six Flags Great Adventure all run holiday light displays.
A fact for kids
In Barnegat you can ride a train and a trolley at the same time to see Christmas lights. It is called the Barnegat Express, and it runs on two December evenings.
Questions about Christmas in Barnegat
How does Barnegat celebrate Christmas?
Barnegat celebrates with a tree lighting at Fred Watts Gazebo Park, a pop-up holiday market, the Barnegat Express train and trolley ride, and a Santa Run by the volunteer fire company. It is a small-town, Jersey Shore season, with bigger parades in nearby towns like Lacey and Ship Bottom.
Where is the Barnegat Christmas tree lighting?
The tree lighting takes place at Fred Watts Gazebo Park in Barnegat, held together with a pop-up holiday market. Past listings put it on a Saturday in early December, at 1 to 5 p.m. in 2022 and 4:30 p.m. in 2023. Our Barnegat Christmas events guide on this page has current details.
What is the Barnegat Express?
The Barnegat Express is a holiday train and trolley ride that takes riders around Barnegat and the surrounding area to see Christmas light displays. One local listing calls it a classic Jersey Shore outing. For kids, it is a short, festive adventure that combines two kinds of rides in one evening.
When did the Barnegat Express run in 2025?
In 2025 the Barnegat Express ran on two evenings, December 11 and December 18, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each night. Dates can change from year to year, so check our Barnegat Christmas events guide on this page and Barnegat Recreation before planning your visit.
How much was a Barnegat Express ticket?
Tickets were $15 per person for ages 1 and up in 2025, with a limit of 8 tickets per buyer. Barnegat Recreation sold them in person only, at 900 West Bay Avenue, on a single advance sales day, November 15. Prices and sales rules may differ in future years.
What is the Barnegat Santa Run?
The Santa Run is an annual event run by the Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company. The company announces the dates each year, so families can see when Santa visits their neighborhood. For small children, it is a special way to meet Santa without a long line, right outside your front door.
Does Barnegat have a Christmas parade?
We did not find a Christmas parade in Barnegat itself. Nearby towns hold them: Lacey held its 37th annual Christmas parade in 2022, and Ship Bottom held a parade on December 6 in 2025 celebrating 100 years of Christmas. Our Barnegat Christmas events guide on this page lists what is planned this year.
Is there a pop-up holiday market in Barnegat?
Yes. Barnegat's tree lighting at Fred Watts Gazebo Park has been held alongside a pop-up holiday market, including in 2022 and 2023. The market gives families a chance to shop and browse before the lights come on. Check the Barnegat Recreation and township listings for the current year's vendors and times.
Who is Fred Watts?
Fred Watts is the name of the gazebo park where Barnegat holds its tree lighting. We did not find a history of the name in our sources, so we cannot say who he was. You can ask Barnegat Recreation, who may be able to share the story with your family.
What happened at the Barnegat Township school lights tour?
The Barnegat Township School District ran its first Holiday Lights Bus Tour, and the tour raised funds for Paws for a Cause. It is a good example of how local groups use Christmas lights to help others. Check district announcements to see if the tour returns this year.
Where can we see big Christmas light shows near Barnegat?
Nearby holiday light shows have included Christmas Fantasy with Lights at Storybook Land, the Holiday Light Show at the Lake at Historic Smithville, Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure, and Lighting Up Nature at Jakes Branch County Park. Dates change yearly, so check the current listings first.
Where can we see Santa near Barnegat in 2025?
In 2025, Santa arrived by fire truck to light the tree in downtown Toms River on December 5, and appeared with Mrs. Claus at the Seaside Heights tree lighting on December 6. Barnegat's own Santa Run is run by the fire company. Our Barnegat Christmas events guide on this page has current dates.
What was the Ship Bottom Christmas parade in 2025?
Ship Bottom is a short drive away. On December 6, 2025, its Christmas parade ran from 1 to 4 p.m. between 5th and 25th Streets, with a December 7 rain date. The parade celebrated 100 years of Christmas. It is a good outing for families.
What should we bring to the Barnegat Express with little ones?
The Barnegat Express runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m., so it is an evening outing, and riders ages 1 and up are welcome. Bring warm layers for the ride and a hat or mittens for little hands. Because it is a night out, you may want to plan a calm bedtime routine afterward.
Do Barnegat families celebrate Hanukkah too?
Hanukkah and Christmas often share the calendar. Local guides for the Barnegat and Manahawkin area list menorah lightings together with Christmas tree lightings, and note that Hanukkah overlapped Christmas on December 25 in 2022. Check each town's recreation listings for this year's schedule.
How can I explain a tree lighting to my kids?
Tell them neighbors gather outside, count down together and switch on the lights at the start of the holiday season. In Barnegat, you can add the gazebo, the pop-up market and maybe cocoa. Ask your kids to count down from ten with you to build the excitement before the moment arrives.
What is the best way to see Barnegat Christmas lights?
The Barnegat Express train and trolley ride is a ready-made way to see Christmas light displays around town without driving. In 2025 it ran on two December evenings. You can also drive local streets after dark. Our Barnegat Christmas events guide on this page has current dates and tips.
Where can I find updates on Barnegat Christmas events?
Local news sites such as Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch post yearly roundups of tree lightings, parades, markets and the Santa Run, and Barnegat Recreation handles Barnegat Express ticket sales. Dates move each year, so see our Barnegat Christmas events guide on this page, then confirm times with the organizer before you go.
Is there a railroad museum in Barnegat?
There is no railroad museum for Barnegat on our list, so the train story here is the Barnegat Express, a holiday train and trolley ride around town. It makes a good first train experience for young children. If you want a museum visit, look at our museum pages for other places in New Jersey and nearby states.
Can toddlers ride a train in Barnegat at Christmas?
Yes. The Barnegat Express sold tickets for ages 1 and up in 2025, at $15 each. It is a holiday train and trolley ride around town to see lights, so it is a gentle first train ride for a toddler. Tickets went on sale on a single in-person day, so plan ahead.
Sources
- Christmas and Hanukkah events in Barnegat: parades, tree lightings and more (2022), Patch
- Christmas events in Barnegat and Manahawkin: parades, tree lightings and more (2023), Patch
- Barnegat Express NJ, 1057 The Hawk
- Barnegat-Manahawkin holidays, Patch
- New Jersey Christmas tree lightings and parades for December 2025, New Jersey Isn't Boring