Sponsored Post: After this year, if you’re feeling a little less like Cindy Lou Who than usual, a visit to The Grinch’s Grotto at Westfield’s Garden State Plaza might just sum up your holiday vibe perfectly. Purchase tickets for The Grinch Experience here. And “Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.”We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our holiday PLAYlist!
Events Not To Miss:
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
Why: Snap a shot with Santa at The Village’s North Pole, and dig in on sweets and treats.
When: Saturday December 19, 12:30-2:30 pm, $25
Where: The Village Edgewater, 250 Old River Rd., Edgewater
What: Santa Visits Secor Farms
Why: Snap a masked pic with Santa for the ho-ho-holidays.
When: Saturday December 19-Sunday December 20, 1-3 pm
Where: Secor Farms, 85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah
Why: Take a hike, play games and roast marshmallows by the fire.
When: Sunday December 20, 6:30-8:30 pm, $10
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
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
What: Winter Break Camp
Why: Give your kids an action-packed vacay at a mini camp with games, gymnastics, art and tons more.
When: Monday December 28 and Wednesday December 30, 12:30-3:30 pm, Tuesday December 29 and Thursday December 31, 1-4 pm, $45 per session
Where: My Gym Glen Rock, 522 Broad St., Glen Rock
What: Winter Break Camp
Why: Train like a real ninja warrior, rock climb, play games and more.
When: Monday December 28-Thursday December 31, 9 am-3 pm, $105 per day
Where: High Exposure Climbing, 266 Union St., Northvale
What: Winter Break Day Camp
Why: Give kids in first through sixth grade a dose of nature, plus crafts, stories and games.
When: Monday December 28-Thursday December 31, 9 am-3:30 pm, $50-$80 per day
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
What: CYCLEBAR bike rental
Why: Still on the Peloton wait list? CYCLEBAR Fort Lee and Closter are loaning their extra bikes for a minimum 3-month commitment to help you get fit through the winter.
When: Starting now, email clostergm@cyclebar.com for more information
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
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:
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,
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
More holiday light shows here!
