It's time for holiday family fun in Montclair and we can hardly wait! We are lucky to have so many holiday attractions and events in Essex County where families have been making memories for years. From Santa sightings to Hanukkah happenings to craft fairs... Macaroni KID Clifton-Montclair has all the details for you and your family to make the most of this holiday season in town.
Macaroni KID Clifton-Montclair is adding holiday events regularly as we find them, so check back often for updates! Have an event to submit to our calendar? Submit events here!
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Hanukkah happenings in Essex County, NJ
November 30
December 3
December 7
- 🕎 Hanukkah Celebration at Westfield Garden State Plaza
- 🕎 Mommy and Me: Chanukah Wonderland with Chabad Montclair (ages 0-3)
December 10
December 11
- 🕎 Montclair Chanukah Fest and Menorah Lighting
- 🕎 Verona Hanukkah Celebration & Menorah Lighting at Verona Town Hall
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Kwanzaa Happenings in and around Montclair
Christmas Events in and around Montclair
Tree Lightings:
🎅🤶 61st Annual Santa’s Arrival at Nutley High School Park Oval
- 🎅🏼 Cedar Grove 57th Annual Tree Lighting at Community Park
- 🎄 Verona's 26th Annual Fair in the Square
Ongoing Events:
- 🌟 Let It Glow! A Holiday Lantern Spectacular at Bergen County Zoo(Th-Sun, November 9, to January 14)
- 🌟 Holiday Lights 2023 w/ Ice Sculpting Demonstrations at Turtle Back Zoo (Nov. 17-19, 24-26; Dec. 1-3, Nightly starting Fri, Dec. 8 - Sat. Dec. 31)
- 🎅 Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms (Nov 22-Dec 29)
- 🎅🏼 Meet and Greet with Santa at Turtle Back Zoo Gazebo (Fri-Sun Nov 17 – 19, Nov 24 – 26, Dec 1 – 3 Dec 8 – 10 Daily: December 15 – 23)
Toy Drives:
- 🎅🏼 Bloomfield Cruisers Holiday Party, Toy Drive, and Raffle at Old Canal InnDecember 1, 2023
- 🎅🏼 Toys for Tots Toy Drive and Photos with Santa at Athenia Veterans PostDecember 2, 2023
- 🧸Homecorp's Unwrapped Toy Giveaway at HOMECorp Montclair
One-Time Events:
December 1
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎅🏼 Cedar Grove 57th Annual Tree Lighting at Community Park
- 🎅🏼 Meet and Greet with Santa at Turtle Back Zoo Gazebo
- 🎅🏼 Bloomfield Cruisers Holiday Party, Toy Drive, and Raffle at Old Canal Inn
December 2
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- ✨ Joe Fischer's Holiday Magic Show at Nutley Public Library
- 🎄 Verona's 26th Annual Fair in the Square
- 🎅🏼 Bloomfield Cruisers ~ Santa's Classic Car Parade
- ☃️ Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
December 3
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎄Nutley Annual Holiday Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting at John H. Walker Middle School/Nutley Park Oval
- 🎶 Christmas Celebration of Italian Music Around The World at Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Montclair
- 🌟 Nutley Live Nativity at Vincent United Methodist Church
- 🎅🏼Story Time and Hot Cocoa with Santa in Upper Montclair (Macaroni KID's Holiday Extravaganza)
December 8
December 9
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎅 Milk and Cookies with Santa at Art on the Avenue Nutley
- 🎄Ally's Elves at Verona Community Center
- 🎅🤶 Santa Story Time at Abma's Farm
- 🎁 Holiday Pop-Up Boutique at Clifton Arts Center
December 10
- 🛍️ Montclair Flea Holiday Market at 18 Label Studios
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎶 Snowflakes and Sleigh Rides at Clifton High School
- 🎄Holiday Cookie Decorating Workshop with Andrea from Good Cookie Co. (ages 16+)
- 🎄 "Winter Wonderland" Open House at Crane House and Historic YWCA
December 11
December 12
December 13
December 15
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎄New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker w/ New Jersey Symphony at MPAC (ages 4+)
- 🎄A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage at MPAC
December 16
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎵 Christmas Caroling in Downtown Nutley
- 🍷 Taste of the Holidays at Stew Leonard's Wines and Spirits of Clifton
- 🎅 Holiday Delivery Truck Holder at Lowe's (all locations)
- 🐢 FNC: Nature Guardians: Christmas Bird Count at Turtle Back Zoo (ages 6+)
- 🎅🤶 Santa Story Time at Abma's Farm
- 🎄Holiday Storytime 2023 at Turtle Back Zoo (ages 8 and under)
- 🎄A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage at MPAC
- 🧸Homecorp's Unwrapped Toy Giveaway at HOMECorp Montclair
December 17
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride at Delaware River Railroad Excursions
- 🎄A Christmas Story Escape Room Adventure at Brighton Asylum (family-friendly)
- 🖤 Kwanza Art-Making with Armisey Smith at Art with All
- 🎁 That Naughty Grinch... In Person at Cedar Bean's Coffee Joint
- 🎄Holiday Storytime 2023 at Turtle Back Zoo (ages 8 and under)
- 🎄A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage at MPAC
- 🎄Holiday Sing-along for All at The Women's Club of Glen Ridge
- 🎄 "Winter Wonderland" Open House at Crane House and Historic YWCA
December 23
December 24
December 26
Holiday-themed Library Events:
December 26
✂️ Holiday Break Drop-in Craft at Nutley Public Library (all ages)
December 27
📽️ Holiday Movie and Craft at Nutley Public Library (all ages)
December 30
🥳 Noon Year's Eve at Woodland Park Public Library at Berkeley College (all ages)
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Looking for local Christmas Tree Farms? Check out our complete guide for local farms and day trips.
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Holiday craft fairs in Montclair
December 10
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