The tree lightings and Santa visits South Jersey towns have posted so far for 2026, from Wildwood Crest on December 1 to Gloucester Township on December 12.

Thanksgiving is still a few weeks out, but tree lighting dates are starting to land. Here's what's posted so far, earliest first.

Tree lightings:

  • Wildwood Crest: Tuesday, December 1, at 5 PM at Sunset Lake. Free, with music, refreshments and Santa.
  • Ventnor: Friday, December 4, at 5:30 PM at City Hall.
  • Washington Township: Friday, December 4, at the Washington Lake Park amphitheater. Village opens at 5:30 PM, tree lights at 7. The rain date is Sunday, December 6.
  • Wildwood: Friday, December 4, around 7 PM at Byrne Plaza downtown. The Jaycees Christmas Parade ends there after stepping off at 6 PM from 16th Avenue.
  • North Wildwood: Saturday, December 5, at 5 PM in the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse courtyard. Free, with the Margaret Mace School choir and Santa and Mrs. Claus.
  • Burlington City: Saturday, December 5. The Holiday Village and Parade runs 3 to 9 PM along the Riverfront Promenade and High Street, and a tree lighting ends the day.
  • Gloucester Township: Saturday, December 12, at the Christmas Village at Veterans Park, 3 to 8 PM. The tree lighting is at 6:30 PM. The rain date is Sunday, December 13.

Yes, December 4 is crowded. Glassboro's Boro in Lights is that night too, 6 to 9 PM downtown, so Gloucester County folks have options.

Where to find Santa:

  • Ocean City: Santa in the Downtown runs 9 to 11 AM and Photos with Santa runs noon to 3 PM on Sunday, November 29, then Saturdays and Sundays from December 5 to 20. The December listings put them at Soifer Park and the Music Pier. oceancityvacation.com/events/month/2026-12
  • Ventnor: Santa on a Fire Truck, Friday, December 18, 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
  • Santa also shows up at Gloucester Township's Christmas Village on December 12, and Burlington City's holiday village has free Santa photos on December 5.

Wildwood's Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park runs Fridays and Saturdays, December 11, 12, 18 and 19, from 5 to 9 PM, with a free light show every half hour. The Wildwoods' full holiday calendar is here: wildwoodsnj.com/holiday-events

Don't see your town? We add tree lightings and Santa visits to the holiday guide as towns post them: southjersey.today/holidays