Holiday Events in Monmouth & Mercer Counties

Holiday Events in Monmouth and Mercer Counties, NJ

  • Posted By: Shah, Pinak on 2015-12-19
Category: Local Events
The holiday season brings with it many events in Central New Jersey. If you tend to find the holiday season overwhelming and can't stop thinking about getting your home clean or all of the work you have to do, you may want to take some time to decompress with some of these local events.


Monmouth County Events


iPlay America's Christmas

Where: iPlay America, Freehold

When: Every Saturday & Sunday in December

Cost: No Admission Fee, See iPlayAmerica site for attraction pricing.


iPlay America

Source: instagram.com/daydreamerproductions


Just a few miles up the road from our Howell showroom, iPlay America will be decking their halls for the holiday season. In addition to photo ops with Santa, carolers will stroll around every Saturday and Sunday singing holiday carols at Noon and 4 p.m. You can also watch the "City Square Players" act three holiday carols - A Christmas Carol, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, or The Grinch - with a twist. The audience will choose the story to be told, and you could star as a special guest in whatever story is chosen.


Asbury Park Bazzar: Holiday Pop-Up Market

Where: The Grand Arcade at Convention Hall

When: Every weekend through Dec. 20, Noon to 5 p.m.

Cost: Free


Holiday Pop-Up Market


Every Saturday and Sunday through the holiday season, The Grand Arcade at Convention Hall will be turned into a holiday market. Shop from a variety of vendors, offering products from customized ornaments, to vintage artwork of Asbury Park and surrounding beach towns. Other businesses regularly open during the summer, like Criterion Candies and the Asbury Park Roastery, will also be open. This is a great spot for those of you looking for a special gift with a local flavor. While you are shopping, enjoy music from local bands.


Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Hunt

Where: Downtown Red Bank

When: Now through Dec. 18

Cost: Free


Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Hunt


Want to do a scavenger hunt with you and your family? Over 40 businesses in Downtown Red Bank are participating in this year's event. Shoppers will search for window displays featuring items found in "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Simply pick up a form at any of the shops found in the link above, and complete it before December 18 for a chance to win Red Bank prize packages.


Monmouth County Events


Festival of Trees

Where: Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton

When: Now through January 3, 2016

Cost: $10 General Admission, $8 for seniors and students, Free for children ages six of under, Free for Friends of Morven.


Festival of Trees


Local businesses, non-profits, and garden clubs decorate Morven Museum and Garden every holiday season. Check out the dozens of Christmas Trees glittering in the museum's porches and galleries. You can also learn how to create a wreath or write a letter to Santa.


Cranbury Christmas Light Show

Where: 128 North Main Street, Cranbury

When: December 10-13, 18-23, and 25-31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cost: Monetary Donation tolocal foodbank is recommended.



Enjoy a great lightshow and give back to those in need at the same time. This three-hour holiday light show features 19 holiday tunes and over 120,000 lights. Last year's show was featured on NBC Nightly News and raised over 14,000 USD for a local food bank. While there is no cost to watch the display, a donation of 10 USD is recommended. Parking and viewing instructions can be found here.


Princeton Holiday Trolley Tour

Where: Starts at Palmer Square, Princeton

When: Every Saturday In December, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: $15 per person.


Princeton Holiday Trolley Tour

Source: palmersquare.com


See the homes and hangouts of Albert Einstein, Nancy Drew, Robert Oppenheimer and other iconic figures within an hour in a climate-controlled trolley. This attraction has been rated the number one activity in Princeton by TripAdvisor, and has been recommended by Travel and Leisure Magazine, The Washington Post, and AAA Magazine. Walking tours with Santa are also offered for $5 per person at the same time and also start in Palmer Square.


Is there an event you and your family go to that wasn't featured here? Let us know about it on Facebook. Happy Holidays from all of us at Home Living Furniture!