New Jersey knows how to celebrate Christmas! Every year, charming small towns and cities alike host winter carnivals, holiday events, meet and greets with Santa, and more. Things may be a bit different this year but that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in some Christmas cheer. You can visit a family-friendly drive-thru Christmas lights display in New Jersey or drive around town if you’re on a budget (or don’t want to be bothered waiting in a line of cars). Another fun option is traveling to one of the Garden State’s twinkliest towns – towns that have organized holiday lights competitions where you can expect to find some of the best and brightest displays in the state.
Bridgewater
Chuck Savage/The Image Bank Collection/Getty Images Merry and Bright Bridgewater is sponsored by the Friends of Bridgewater History, a wonderful local group that advocates for historical properties around town. Participating households pay a nominal fee to enter and their decorations are voted on by friends and neighbors. Proceeds support the organization and participants can win prizes in a variety of categories.Those who wish to take part in the contest should enter online by December 11th. On December 12th, there will be a drive-thru event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Martinsville Community Center where participants can pick up hot cocoa and maps featuring all the contestants.
Marlton
Giantstep Inc/Stockbyte Collection/Getty Images Marlton in Lights is a magical event where neighbors compete to have the best and brightest house in town. This year, there will be a special category dedicated to healthcare heroes.Sponsored by Long and Foster Realtors and supported by other local businesses, there will be 6 random prize drawings and 1 larger prize for the most creative display dedicated to our healthcare workers. Nominations will be accepted but all entries must be submitted by December 14th. After the 15th, a driving tour featuring all the homes will be released.
Roselle Park
ArtBoyMB/E+ Collection/Getty Images Roselle Park’s Christmas and Holiday Lighting Contest is now open for nominations. There are a wide range of categories! The People’s Choice award is dependent on social media votes (Facebook and Instagram) and the Judge’s Choice award will recognize a home that did not win any main categories, but was chosen by the judges because of their “exemplary effort and decorating style.“Other categories include Best of the East, Best of the West, Most Colorful, and Traditional/Classic. The prizes are recognition and bragging rights, and participants are really doing something special for the community that we all can appreciate. If you’d like a souvenir, you can purchase an “I love RP” ornament online that supports community programs.
Berlin
EJS9/E+ Collection/Getty Images The Berlin Township Lights Decorating Contest is sponsored by Century 21 Reilly Realtors agent Amanda Jenkins. Participants can enter until December 11th and judging will be done on the week of the 14th. There will be one grand-prize winner and one runner up. Both will receive prizes.
Hopatcong
Bauhaus1000/E+ Collection/Getty Images The Borough of Hopatcong Christmas House Decorating Contest is on! Sponsored by Accurate Pest Management and other local businesses, there will be prizes. Though the final category and prize announcements have not been made yet, last year’s event had over 50 participants and a whopping $3,000 in prizes. To enter the contest, homes must be decorated by the residents, not professional decorating companies. However, all decorated homes can be enjoyed by those driving through, whether in the contest or not.
Other towns in New Jersey with local holiday decorating contests include: Collingswood (homes and businesses), Cape May, (homes & businesses) Gloucester Township (homes), Pompton Lakes (homes), Pennsauken (homes), and Maywood (homes).
Chuck Savage/The Image Bank Collection/Getty Images
Merry and Bright Bridgewater is sponsored by the Friends of Bridgewater History, a wonderful local group that advocates for historical properties around town. Participating households pay a nominal fee to enter and their decorations are voted on by friends and neighbors. Proceeds support the organization and participants can win prizes in a variety of categories.Those who wish to take part in the contest should enter online by December 11th. On December 12th, there will be a drive-thru event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Martinsville Community Center where participants can pick up hot cocoa and maps featuring all the contestants.
Giantstep Inc/Stockbyte Collection/Getty Images
Marlton in Lights is a magical event where neighbors compete to have the best and brightest house in town. This year, there will be a special category dedicated to healthcare heroes.Sponsored by Long and Foster Realtors and supported by other local businesses, there will be 6 random prize drawings and 1 larger prize for the most creative display dedicated to our healthcare workers. Nominations will be accepted but all entries must be submitted by December 14th. After the 15th, a driving tour featuring all the homes will be released.
ArtBoyMB/E+ Collection/Getty Images
Roselle Park’s Christmas and Holiday Lighting Contest is now open for nominations. There are a wide range of categories! The People’s Choice award is dependent on social media votes (Facebook and Instagram) and the Judge’s Choice award will recognize a home that did not win any main categories, but was chosen by the judges because of their “exemplary effort and decorating style.“Other categories include Best of the East, Best of the West, Most Colorful, and Traditional/Classic. The prizes are recognition and bragging rights, and participants are really doing something special for the community that we all can appreciate. If you’d like a souvenir, you can purchase an “I love RP” ornament online that supports community programs.
EJS9/E+ Collection/Getty Images
The Berlin Township Lights Decorating Contest is sponsored by Century 21 Reilly Realtors agent Amanda Jenkins. Participants can enter until December 11th and judging will be done on the week of the 14th. There will be one grand-prize winner and one runner up. Both will receive prizes.
Bauhaus1000/E+ Collection/Getty Images
The Borough of Hopatcong Christmas House Decorating Contest is on! Sponsored by Accurate Pest Management and other local businesses, there will be prizes. Though the final category and prize announcements have not been made yet, last year’s event had over 50 participants and a whopping $3,000 in prizes. To enter the contest, homes must be decorated by the residents, not professional decorating companies. However, all decorated homes can be enjoyed by those driving through, whether in the contest or not.
Are there any other Christmas contests I’ve missed? Please share with us in the comments or let us know via our nomination form. You can also nominate attractions, small businesses, local restaurants, and more to be featured in future articles.
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