Sponsored Post: Give your holiday photos some pizzazz this season at Westfield Garden State Plaza's Season to Sparkle. From now through January 2nd, bring your crew to this immersive experience with five holiday scenes to choose from, including Glitz and Glamour, Picture Perfect, Ice Cavern, Woodsy Wonderland and Fantasy Forest (the latter two which "snows" for your realistic holiday pics). Reserve your spot today, and prepare your best holiday smiles!Events Not to Miss:
Why: Enjoy a candy cane chute, skating with santa, Shrek the Halls and more holiday-themed fun at American Dream.
When: Friday November 26-Thursday December 23, select dates
Where: American Dream, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford
Why: The wintry fun is back with ice skating, a kids zone, games, Santa's North Pole, food trucks and more.
When: Friday November 26-Sunday January 2, check schedule for times
Where: Van Saun Park, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus
Why: Make your way through more than 30 animal-themed lanterns at the zoo.
When: Thursdays-Sundays starting Friday November 26-Sunday January 30, 4-9 pm
Where: Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus
Why: The Peanuts crew discovers the true meaning of Christmas in this musical celebration of the TV classic.
When: Friday November 26, 1 pm and 4 pm
Where: bergenPAC, 30 N Van Brunt St., Englewood
Why: Put on your biggest holiday smiles.
When: Friday November 26, Saturday November 27, Saturday December 11, check for available times
Where: Abma's Farm, 700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff
Why: A full day of family-friendly activities.
When: Saturday November 27, 11 am-6 pm
Where: Rock Rd., Glen Rock
Why: Celebrate Chanukah with a nightly lighting of the Jonathan Adler-designed menorah
When: Sunday November 28-Sunday December 5, nightly
Where: American Dream, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, Court A
Why: Celebrate the first of eight nights with a special holiday lighting.
When: Sunday November 28, 5:30 pm
Where: Memorial Park, Van Neste Square on E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
Why: Enjoy hot chocolate and caroling as the tree gets lit.
When: Sunday November 28, 4 pm
Where: The Hermitage, 335 Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus
Why: Celebrate the holiday with carnival rides, games, latkes, donuts and more Hanukkah fun.
When: Sunday November 28, 4:30-6 pm
Where: 375 Larch Ave., Bogota
Why: Support local and shop a number of vendors for the holidays.
When: Sunday November 28, 10 am-5 pm
Where: Paramus High School, 99 E Century Rd., Paramus
What: Public Menorah Lighting
Why: Enjoy the ice menorah, glow show and fire truck gelt drop as the menorah is lit.
When: Tuesday November 30, 5:30 pm
Where: River Vale Town Hall, 406 Rivervale Rd., River Vale
What: Porsha Williams
Why: Join the RHOA star as she chats about her new book, The Pursuit of Porsha.
When: Tuesday November 30, 6 pm
Where: Bookends, 211 E Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
What: Santa Pictures
Why: Make and take holiday memories with Santa and friends.
When: Now through Friday December 24, 10:15 am-7:45 pm
Where: Paramus Park, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus
What: Santa Photo Experience
Why: Have a happy holiday with a Santa photo shoot.
When: Now through Friday December 24, check schedule for photo times
Where: The Shops at Riverside, 390 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack
What: Photos With Santa
Why: Put on your holiday smiles for a safe snap with Santa.
When: Now through Friday December 24, 11 am-8 pm
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, 1 Garden State Plaza Blvd., Paramus
What: Santa Photos
Why: Santa's back in town for photos with your fam.
When: Now through Friday December 24, check schedule for photo times
Where: Bergen Town Center, One Bergen Town Center, Paramus
What: Orchard of Lights
Why: A drive-thru light experience on the farm.
When: Now through Saturday January 9, check schedule for daily times
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
Bergen Gives Back:
What: #10Days4Good
Why: Help the community by donating to or making Kindness Kits, Food and Hygiene products and more for those in need.
When: Friday November 26-Sunday December 5
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades,
What: Lasagna Love
Why: Neighbors helping neighbors in this program where you can request a free meal -- no questions asked.
When: Ongoing
Where: Request a meal through their website
Why: Drop off select food and personal care items at Westwood Prime's donation box inside the shop to benefit Helping Hands Food Pantry.
When: Now through the next few weeks
Where: Westwood Prime, 190 Westwood Ave., Westwood
If you're heading out of Bergen:
Why: Come out to watch the famous floats and flying balloons.
When: Thursday November 25, 9 am-12 pm
Where: Macy's Herald Square, NYC
Why: Model trains make their way around the tracks.
When: Weekends starting Friday November 26-December 12, January 8-9, 1-5 pm
Where: 575 High Mountain Rd., North Haledon
Why: Model trains, for sale trains and more train fun chugging along.
When: Saturday November 27-Sunday November 28, 10 am-4 pm
Where: NJ Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison
What: Diggerland Winterfest
Why: All the construction-themed fun plus live music, Parade of Machines, Santa visit and more fun. Stay for the evening light show.
When: Now through November 28, 11 am-5 pm, light show begins Wednesday November 17, 5:30-9:30 pm
Where: Diggerland USA, 100 Pinedge Dr., West Berlin
What: Holiday Train Show
Why: Chug chug to see the model trains on display.
When: Weekends through December 5, 10 am-3 pm
Where: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Rd., Scarsdale
Why: Stroll through the beaming lights and meet winter and animal characters along the way, plus more wintry fun on select days.
When: Now through Friday December 21, 5-9 pm
Where: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
Why: Climb aboard for a magical trip to the North Pole.
When: Now through Thursday December 30, check schedule for daily times
Where: 1 Railroad Plz, Whippany
What: Magic of Lights
Why: Take a drive through a dazzling display of holiday lights at every turn.
When: Now through Sunday January 2, 5-10 pm Sundays-Thursdays, 5-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays
Where: PNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Pkwy, Holmdel
What: Holiday Lights
Why: Take a journey through holiday lanterns and enjoy special events from ice carving to holiday train rides.
When: Now through Sunday January 9, 3-8 pm
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Why: Drive through more than 2 million lights and enjoy holiday rides, photos, skating and more.
When: Now through Sunday January 9, check schedule for daily times
Where: Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta
Why: Ice skating, shopping, live shows and activities.
When: Now through March 2022
Where: Bryant Park, NYC
Upcoming Events:
Why: Bring to family to build and decorate a delicious house for the holidays.
When: Friday December 3, 4 pm and 6 pm-Saturday December 4, 10 pm-4pm
Where: Stokes Farm, 23 DeWolf Rd., Old Tappan
Why: Experience the magic of this timeless holiday ballet.
When: Saturday December 4-Sunday December 5, 1 pm and 4:30 pm
Where: bergenPAC, 30 N Van Brunt St., Englewood
Why: Enjoy some frost-tea fun with the snow queen.
When: Sunday December 5, 3:30-5:30 pm
Where: Harmony Tea Room, 224 Fairview Ave., Westwood
