Christmas Events In Manchester: Tree Lightings And More

Seasonal & Holidays

Christmas Events In Manchester: Tree Lightings And More See when Manchester is kicking off the holiday season.

(Alexis Tarrazi/Patch)

MANCHESTER, NJ — There are plenty of things going on around Manchester to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

Manchester Township will hold its Christmas tree lighting at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at town hall, 1 Colonial Drive. There will be Christmas songs, photos with Santa, popcorn, candy bar and hot cocoa. Visit with Santa's helpers and send a letter to Santa at the North Pole.

In Lakehurst, the borough will light its Christmas tree on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 207 Center St.

Saturday, Dec. 9, head over to Harry Wright Lake for Manchester's Christmas in the Pines. It is a new event in 2023, the Manchester Township Recreation Department said. Is set for 2 p.m.-7 p.m. and will include a visit from Santa, a tree lighting, music, food, vendors and firepits with s'mores and more.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Here are some to check out across New Jersey:

Six Flags Holiday in the Park , Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson. Through Jan. 1. Light displays, fire pits, food and hot cocoa.

Magic of Lights , PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel. Through Dec. 30. Drive through more than 2 miles of lights and holiday scenes.

Allaire Christmas Light Spectacular , Allaire Community Farm, 1923 Baileys Corner Road, Wall. Through Dec. 23. Take a hayride through the Christmas lights display.

Winter Lantern Festival , at American Dream, East Rutherford. Weekends through Jan. 2. More than 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns inspired by Chinese myths, legends and the zodiac.

DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express , 1151 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton. Through Dec. 23. Take a train ride through this expansive light show.

Christmas Fantasy with Lights , at Storybook Lane, 6415 E. Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor. Through Dec. 30. The little ones will love seeing the storybook characters under a million lights.

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