New Jersey has 8 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Holiday Pajama Party in Jersey City on November 27 to Gingerbread Storytime in Brick, on December 22. 5 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 8 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in New Jersey for 2026, in New York, Atlantic City, Barnegat, Brick, Jersey City and Philadelphia
- First: Holiday Pajama Party, Jersey City, November 27. Runs latest: Gingerbread Storytime, Brick, through December 22
- Free: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park, ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting and Gingerbread Storytime
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our New Jersey Christmas train rides page.
New Jersey Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 8 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- New York, Atlantic City, Barnegat, Brick, Jersey City and Philadelphia
- Season
- November 27 to December 22, 2026
- Free events
- 5
- Kinds of events
- breakfast with Santa, holiday story time, Santa visit and tree lighting
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each New Jersey Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Holiday Pajama Party in Jersey City on November 27; the last runs to December 22. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Holiday Pajama PartyJersey City · Nov 27 to Dec 20
- Holiday Tree Lighting CeremonyJersey City · Dec 3
- Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic CityAtlantic City · Dec 5
- Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's GloucesterBlackwood · Dec 5
- Visit with Mr. and Mrs. ClausBarnegat · Dec 8
- 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the ParkJersey City · Dec 16
- ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament PaintingBayonne · Dec 19
- Gingerbread StorytimeBrick · Dec 22
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in New Jersey? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in New York
3 confirmed events for kids in New York, including nearby Bayonne and Jersey City, soonest first.
Jersey City: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Tree lightingFreeJersey City Free Public Library · Jersey City
- Host
- Jersey City Free Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Jersey City Free Public Library, West Bergen Branch, 476 West Side Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304 (near New York)
- When
- Thursday, December 3, 2026, 6 to 7:30 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Jersey City Free Public Library's West Bergen Branch is holding a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on the evening of December 3. The library promises holiday treats, live music, and the lighting of the tree, plus more festive touches, in a program listed for a general, all ages audience.
The celebration runs from 6 to 7:30 pm, which makes it a manageable weeknight outing for families with young children who still want to get home in time for bedtime. It appears in the library's Christmas program category and no fee or registration is mentioned. Because it is a neighborhood branch event, it tends to feel smaller and calmer than the big Manhattan tree lightings, which can be a plus with toddlers.
Parent tip: It is a weeknight evening program, so plan dinner around the 6 pm start.
See dates and details from Jersey City Free Public Library (opens in a new tab)Jersey City: 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park
Holiday showFreeJersey City Free Public Library · Jersey City
- Host
- Jersey City Free Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Pavonia Branch Library and Hamilton Park Gazebo, 326 8th St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 (near New York)
- When
- Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 4 to 5:30 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Pavonia Branch of the Jersey City Free Public Library is hosting its fourth annual Holiday Extravaganza, a simple and festive late afternoon for all ages. Things start at 4 pm inside the branch with hot cocoa, then everyone heads over to the gazebo in Hamilton Park at 5 pm to sing favorite Christmas carols and holiday songs with library staff.
Lyrics are provided, so kids and grown-ups do not need to know every verse to join in. The library lists it in its children's events category and no fee or registration is mentioned. Since the caroling portion is outdoors at the gazebo, warm layers and gloves will make the half hour of singing more comfortable. Questions can go to the Pavonia Branch by email or phone.
Parent tip: Start at the branch at 4 pm for cocoa, then walk to the Hamilton Park gazebo for caroling at 5 pm. Lyrics are provided.
See dates and details from Jersey City Free Public Library (opens in a new tab)Bayonne: ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting
Holiday story timeFreeBayonne Public Library · Bayonne
- Host
- Bayonne Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bayonne Public Library, Gallery, 697 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 (near New York)
- When
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, 12:30 to 2 pm
- Cost
- Free, registration required
- Ages
- Children 12 and under with their families
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Bayonne Public Library, the Boricua Community Building Center, and Nuyorican Books are teaming up for a bilingual story time celebrating Puerto Rican stories and holiday traditions. Children's author Samantha J. Garcia-Sherpa will read from her picture books in English and Spanish, introducing families to stories about Puerto Rican identity, language, and heritage.
After the reading, kids get to paint wooden holiday ornaments to bring home. The event is free and recommended for children 12 and under with their families. Advance registration is required, and the library asks that you register only the children attending, not the adults. Walk-ins will be welcomed if space allows. It takes place in the library's Gallery on a Saturday afternoon, so it fits easily into a weekend of holiday errands.
Parent tip: Register in advance and list only the children, not adults. Walk-ins are accepted only if space permits.
See dates and details from Bayonne Public Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Atlantic City
1 confirmed event for kids in Atlantic City, soonest first.
Atlantic City: Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City
Breakfast with SantaDave & Buster's · Atlantic City
- Host
- Dave & Buster's (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Dave & Buster's Atlantic City, 2120 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10 am to noon
- Cost
- $27.94 food only, $33.01 food plus play, per person
- Ages
- All ages
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Dave & Buster's in Atlantic City opens early on Saturday, December 5 for a breakfast with Santa. The buffet includes pancakes, eggs, bacon and fruit with unlimited soda and juice, and kids can take a photo with Santa, work on a holiday craft and write a letter to Santa.
Two ticket types are offered. Food only is $27.94 per person, and food plus play is $33.01, which adds a $10 Power Card with three hours of unlimited video games. Both prices include tax and gratuity, and tickets are sold through Fever. The breakfast runs from 10 am to noon, before the restaurant opens to the public, so the space is set aside for breakfast families.
Parent tip: The Fever listing shows an incorrect ZIP code, so map the street address, 2120 Atlantic Ave, before you leave.
See dates and details from Dave & Buster's (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Barnegat
1 confirmed event for kids in Barnegat, soonest first.
Barnegat: Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Story time with Mrs. ClausFreeOcean County Library · Barnegat
- Host
- Ocean County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Ocean County Library, Barnegat Branch, 112 Burr St, Barnegat, NJ 08005
- When
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 10:15 to 11:15 am
- Cost
- Free, registration required
- Ages
- Ages 2 to 6
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library hosts a morning holiday program for children ages 2 to 6. It opens with Christmas stories and songs, and then Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive so kids can greet them and pose for photos together.
Cookies and drinks are served, courtesy of the Friends of the Barnegat Library, who sponsor the event. The program is free, but the library asks families to register each child, and registration opens Tuesday, Nov 24, at 9 am. Space is limited to 35 children in the Barnegat Meeting Room, so it is worth signing up early. Families with food allergies should contact the library ahead of time about the treats.
Parent tip: Register when signups open Nov 24 at 9 am, and call ahead about allergens in the cookies and drinks.
See dates and details from Ocean County Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Brick
1 confirmed event for kids in Brick, soonest first.
Brick: Gingerbread Storytime
Holiday story timeFreeOcean County Library · Brick
- Host
- Ocean County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Ocean County Library, Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Rd, Brick, NJ 08723
- When
- Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 10:30 to 11:30 am
- Cost
- Free, registration required
- Ages
- Ages 3 to 5
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library hosts a festive story time for preschoolers during the week of Christmas. Children ages 3 to 5 will enjoy a gingerbread story together and then make their own gingerbread person to bring home.
The program is free and capped at 10 children, so it has a cozy, small-group feel. Registration is required and opens Tuesday, Dec 8, at 9 am. The library asks that each child be registered separately, with only one child per submission, so it can plan space and craft supplies. It is a calm, low-key option for families looking for something to do once school breaks for the holidays.
Parent tip: With only 10 spots, register right when signups open Dec 8 at 9 am, and submit one form per child.
See dates and details from Ocean County Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Jersey City
1 confirmed event for kids in Jersey City, soonest first.
Jersey City: Holiday Pajama Party
Santa visitLiberty Science Center · Jersey City
- Host
- Liberty Science Center (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305
- When
- Fri November 27, Sat November 28, Sun November 29, Fri December 4, Sat December 5, Fri December 11, Sat December 12, Fri December 18, Sat December 19 and Sun December 20, 2026, 5:30 to 9:30 pm
- Cost
- Museum admission; page lists no general price
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Liberty Science Center stays open late on Friday and Saturday nights from Thanksgiving to Christmas for its Holiday Pajama Party, plus two Sunday nights, November 29 and December 20. Families are invited to come in their holiday pajamas and get a photo with Santa.
The evenings run from 5:30 to 9:30 pm at the museum in Liberty State Park. The page does not list a general admission price for these nights, so check the museum's ticket page before you go. A separate winter train add-on is sold for a small extra fee, but the pajama party and Santa photo are the main draw for most families. Liberty Science Center is at 222 Jersey City Boulevard in Liberty State Park. Each evening lasts four hours, so families can arrive after dinner and still have plenty of time.
Parent tip: Dress the kids in holiday pajamas for the Santa photo, and check ticket prices on the museum site before heading over.
See dates and details from Liberty Science Center (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Philadelphia
1 confirmed event for kids in Philadelphia, including nearby Blackwood, soonest first.
Blackwood: Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester
Breakfast with SantaDave & Buster's · Blackwood
- Host
- Dave & Buster's (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Dave & Buster's Gloucester, Gloucester Premium Outlets, 200 Premium Outlets Dr, Blackwood, NJ 08012 (near Philadelphia)
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10 am to noon
- Cost
- $27.94 food only, $33.01 food plus play, per person
- Ages
- All ages
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Dave & Buster's at the Gloucester Premium Outlets hosts a breakfast with Santa before the doors open to the public. Families enjoy a buffet of pancakes, eggs, bacon and fruit with unlimited soda and juice, then take a photo with Santa, make a holiday craft and write a letter to Santa.
Tickets are $27.94 per person for food only, or $33.01 for food plus play, which adds a $10 Power Card good for three hours of unlimited video games. Prices include tax and gratuity. Tickets are sold through Fever. The breakfast runs from 10 am to noon at 200 Premium Outlets Drive in Blackwood, before the restaurant opens to the public.
Parent tip: Prices include tax and gratuity, so the ticket price is the full cost of breakfast.
See dates and details from Dave & Buster's (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in New York, Christmas events for kids in Delaware and Christmas events for kids in Connecticut list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonNew Jersey Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in New Jersey in 2026?
We confirmed 8 Christmas events for kids in New Jersey for 2026 on each host’s own page: Holiday Pajama Party in Jersey City (November 27), Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Jersey City (December 3), Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City in Atlantic City (December 5), Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester in Blackwood (December 5), Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Barnegat (December 8), 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park in Jersey City (December 16), ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting in Bayonne (December 19) and Gingerbread Storytime in Brick (December 22). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in New York, New Jersey?
For families in and around New York, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (in Jersey City, Thu, Dec 3, 6 to 7:30 pm, free); 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park (in Jersey City, Wed, Dec 16, 4 to 5:30 pm, free); ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting (in Bayonne, Sat, Dec 19, 12:30 to 2 pm, free, registration required). Details and the host’s link for each are in the New York section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Atlantic City, New Jersey?
For families in and around Atlantic City, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City (Sat, Dec 5, 10 am to 12 pm, $27.94 food only, $33.01 food plus play, per person). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Atlantic City section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Barnegat, New Jersey?
For families in and around Barnegat, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus (Tue, Dec 8, 10:15 to 11:15 am, free, registration required). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Barnegat section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Brick, New Jersey?
For families in and around Brick, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Gingerbread Storytime (Tue, Dec 22, 10:30 to 11:30 am, free, registration required). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Brick section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Jersey City, New Jersey?
For families in and around Jersey City, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holiday Pajama Party (Fridays and Saturdays, Nov 27 to Dec 19, plus Sun Nov 29 and Sun Dec 20, 5:30 to 9:30 pm, museum admission; page lists no general price). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Jersey City section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Philadelphia, New Jersey?
For families in and around Philadelphia, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester (in Blackwood, Sat, Dec 5, 10 am to 12 pm, $27.94 food only, $33.01 food plus play, per person). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Philadelphia section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in New Jersey?
Yes. 5 of the 8 events here are free: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Jersey City, Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Barnegat, 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park in Jersey City, ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting in Bayonne and Gingerbread Storytime in Brick. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in New Jersey this December?
Santa appears at Holiday Pajama Party in Jersey City (November 27), Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City in Atlantic City (December 5), Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester in Blackwood (December 5) and Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Barnegat (December 8). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in New Jersey?
Holiday story times on this page: Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Barnegat, ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting in Bayonne and Gingerbread Storytime in Brick. Library story times are usually free; story times with a meal or show are ticketed.
Where can we have breakfast or a meal with Santa in New Jersey?
Meals with Santa confirmed for 2026: Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City in Atlantic City (Sat, Dec 5, 10 am to 12 pm) and Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester in Blackwood (Sat, Dec 5, 10 am to 12 pm). These usually sell out, so book as soon as you pick a date.
Which New Jersey Christmas events are best for toddlers?
These are aimed at babies, toddlers and preschoolers: Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Barnegat (Ages 2 to 6).
How much is Holiday Pajama Party in Jersey City?
Museum admission; page lists no general price. Holiday Pajama Party is on Fri November 27, Sat November 28, Sun November 29, Fri December 4, Sat December 5, Fri December 11, Sat December 12, Fri December 18, Sat December 19 and Sun December 20, 2026, 5:30 to 9:30 pm at Liberty Science Center. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Jersey City?
Free. Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is on Thursday, December 3, 2026, 6 to 7:30 pm at Jersey City Free Public Library, West Bergen Branch. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City in Atlantic City?
$27.94 food only, $33.01 food plus play, per person. Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10 am to noon at Dave & Buster's Atlantic City. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester in Blackwood?
$27.94 food only, $33.01 food plus play, per person. Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Gloucester is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10 am to noon at Dave & Buster's Gloucester, Gloucester Premium Outlets. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Barnegat?
Free, registration required. Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus is on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 10:15 to 11:15 am at Ocean County Library, Barnegat Branch. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park in Jersey City?
Free. 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza: Caroling in the Park is on Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 4 to 5:30 pm at Pavonia Branch Library and Hamilton Park Gazebo. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting in Bayonne?
Free, registration required. ¡Buen Día! Bilingual Children's Story Time & Holiday Ornament Painting is on Saturday, December 19, 2026, 12:30 to 2 pm at Bayonne Public Library, Gallery. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Gingerbread Storytime in Brick?
Free, registration required. Gingerbread Storytime is on Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 10:30 to 11:30 am at Ocean County Library, Brick Branch. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in New Jersey?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our New Jersey Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
