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We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
Events Not To Miss:
What: Baking to Believe
Why: Magic in the form of holiday treats and crafts delivered to your door by the elf himself.
When: Available now
Where: The Cupcake Carriage
Why: Snap your safe and perfect pic with Santa in time for the holidays.
When: Saturdays December 12, December 19
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
Why: Treats from The Cupcake Carriage and pics with Cat in the Hat.
When: Saturday December 12, 9-11 am
Where: The Village, 250 Old River Rd., Edgewater
Why: Join the legend himself as he discusses Do You Feel Like I Do? A Memoir
When: Sunday December 13, 2-3 pm, $36
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades virtual link
What: Tracks and Scat
Why: A pawsome day of finding and indentifying animal tracks.
When: Sunday December 13, 2-3 pm, $8
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
Why: Enjoy a fun afternoon with upcycled winter crafts.
When: Monday December 14, 2:30-3:30 pm
Where: Teaneck Creek Conservancy, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck
What: Weekly Crafting
Why: Kids make accessories for their elfs and dolls on Tuesday, or holiday wreaths and flowers on Thursday.
When: Tuesday December 15 and Thursday December 17, 3:15-5:30, $35
Where: Clay Paper Scissors Studio, 380 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell
What: Orchard of Lights
Why: Enjoy a magical holiday light display, plus s’mores, Santa, fire pit and more festive fun.
When: Now through Tuesday December 29, 5-8 pm
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
What: The Grinch’s Grotto
Why: Visit the Grinch for photos, ornaments and more in this fun and fitting experience for 2020.
When: Now through Thursday December 31, 11 am-8 pm
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, 1 Garden State Plaza., Paramus
What: Socially Distanced Santa
Why: Wear a smile under your mask as Santa comes to town.
When: Now through Thursday December 24, 11 am-7 pm by reservation only
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, 1 Garden State Plaza., Paramus
What: Kids Holiday Market
Why: Let kids cross things off their list in this mini shopping experience for the littlest ones.
When: Now through Thursday December 24, 11 am-6 pm
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, 1 Garden State Plaza., Paramus
What: Photos With Santa
Why: Grab your mask and visit Santa with a smile.
When: Now through Friday December 25, 11 am-7 pm
Where: Paramus Park, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus
Why: Visit the North Pole with Santa and enjoy storytime and more personalized holiday happiness.
When: Now through Thursday January 7, reservations required
Where: Paramus Park, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus
Why: Get into the winter spirit with ice skating, carousel, a train ride and more.
When: Now through Sunday February 21, $10
Where: Van Saun Park, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus
What: Breakfast With Santa
Why: Meet and eat with Mr. Claus, plus kids leave with special surprises.
When: Saturday December 12-Sunday December 13, 10-11 am, 12-1 pm
Where: Fresh and Fancy Farms, 575 River Rd., New Milford
Why: Holiday shopping, haystack climbing to the Christmas Village and blow-up displays to celebrate the holidays.
When: Open Daily, 8 am-7 pm
Where: Lupardis Nursery, 75 Blanch Ave., Closter
If you’re heading out of Bergen:
Why: Run, climb, dig and big as you interact and play with nature.
When: Sunday December 13, 1-3 pm, $10
Where: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
What: Santa’s Steam Train Ride
Why: The holiday spirit is still alive with a ride with Santa and his helpers.
When: Now through Sunday December 27, check schedule for available times, starting at $59.99
Where: New Hope Railroad, 32 West Bridge St., New Hope, PA
What: LuminoCity Festival
Why: A dazzling light installation filled with nature, history and more, illuminated.
When: Now through Sunday January 10, 4-10 pm
Where: 20 Randalls Island Park, NY
What: NYBG Glow
Why: Check out the glowing color and light in the night, plus ice sculping, entertainment and more.
When: Now through Saturday January 9, 5-10 pm
Where: New York Botanical Gardens, 2900 Southern Blvd., The Bronx
Why: Drive through over a million lights set to to your fave holiday songs.
When: Now through Sunday January 3, 5:30-10 pm, $27
Where: Winter Wonder Light Spectacular, 655 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick
What: LSC Junior Days
Why: Little ones age 6 and under experience more planetarium shows, science dance party and storytime.
When: Thursdays and Fridays through December 24
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Why: Mile-long lights dazzling, plus an outdoor village and carnival with rides, s’mores, skating and more.
When: Now through Sunday January 3, check calendar for daily times
Where: Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta
What: Holiday Lights
Why: Go on a lights safari with lanterns aglow in the African, Asian, North American, Latin American and Ocean sections.
When: Now through Sunday January 10, 3-8 pm, kids/$22.95, adults/$34.95
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., The Bronx
What: A Very Furry Christmas
Why: Celebrate the holidays with a festive drive-thru of lights and friends, special shows and train rides.
When: Now through Sunday January 3, $53.99
Where: Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne, PA
Why: Let the drive-thru light show illuminate your life during the holidays.
When: Now through Saturday January 2, 5-11 pm, $25-$30
Where: PNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Pkwy., Holmdel
What: Holiday in the Park
Why: Lights, entertainment, Santa’s village and more festive fun.
When: Now through Sunday January 3, check schedule for park hours
Where: Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson Township
What: Skyline Drive In NYC
Why: Take in a movie with a view, including Clueless, Finding Nemo and Up.
When: Daily, check schedule for times, $55/car
Where: 1 Oak Street, Brooklyn
Why: Ice skating, holiday shops, and personal cozy igloos for your first taste of winter.
When: Daily through January 3, 11 am-8 pm
Where: Bryant Park, 42nd Street and 6th Ave., NYC
Why: Jump into a winter wonderland packed with a snowflake maze, sock skating rink, holiday light show and much more.
When: Now through Sunday January 3, 10 am-5 pm
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City,
What: Christmas Wonderlands
Why: Walk through old-fashion Christmas displays with friends from Sesame Street, Frozen, Disney and more, and take pics with Santa.
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12-5 pm, Fridays 12-6 pm, Saturdays 10-6 pm, Sundays 10-5 pm, kids/$9, adults/$11
Where: Maple Leaf Farms, 525 Route 9, South Manalapan
What: Christmas Wonderlands
Why: Take a walk through the holiday path filled with magic and meet Santa along the way.
When: Open daily, check website for schedule
Where: Maple Leaf Farms, 525 Route 9, South Manalapan
Upcoming:
What: Bonfire & S’mores
Why: Pick up your s’mores kit to warm up by the fire.
When: Friday December 18, 12-5:30 pm, Saturday December 19-Sunday December 20, 11 am-4 pm, $10
Where: Secor Farms, 85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah