Christmas Activities & Events in Elizabeth, New Jersey

A Special Visit with Caring Santa

Caring Santa offers a sensory-friendly experience designed exclusively for children with special needs and their families.

• Date & Time: December 6, 2026 | 9-10:30am
• Admission: Free (photos available for purchase at visit)

Pet Photos with Santa

Bring your pets to pose with Santa Claus. Pets are part of the family, so don’t miss this fun opportunity for a perfect holiday photo op.

• Dates & Time: November 22 & December 13, 2026 | 6:30-8pm
• Admission: $19.99-$64.99

Santa Photos

Join the ultimate holiday tradition! Santa is making his list and checking it twice, so reserve your Santa photos at the Mills at Jersey Gardens today.

• Dates & Times: November 14-December 24, 2026 | Various times
• Admission: $19.99-$64.99

Miracle on Winfield Scott

Gather downtown for this beloved annual tree lighting and holiday night out in Elizabeth! Admire the twinkling lights, sing along with carolers, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and enjoy holiday magic.

• Location: City Hall, 50 Winfield Scott Plaza
• Date & Times: 2026 Date TBD | 5-8pm
• Admission: Free

Holiday on the Square

Keep the holiday fun going with EAP’s Holiday on the Square, a series of celebrations occurring on three Saturdays in December. Enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, and breakfast with Santa.

• Location: North High Street & Elizabeth Avenue
• Date & Times: 2026 Dates TBA
• Admission: Free

Keep an eye on the City of Elizabeth Facebook page for more event information and dates!

Festival of Trees: A UCPAC Fundraising Event

Enjoy free hot cocoa, carolers, and a visit from Santa. Walk through our winter wonderland of trees decorated with gifts from your favorite local businesses, and try to win your favorite in our tricky tray-style auction! Admission packages include raffle tickets and a one-of-a-kind holiday experience at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage.

• Location: Hamilton Stage | 360 Hamilton St
• Date & Time: November 22, 2026 | 2-5pm
• Admission: $10 for 1 sheet of raffle tickets, $25 for 3 sheets of raffle tickets

NJ Ballet’s The Nutcracker: A Sensory-Friendly Theater Performance

Start your holiday season with a special performance of "The Nutcracker" adapted for children and adults with autism and sensory sensitivities. Watch as Clara and her Nutcracker Prince battle toy soldiers and larger-than-life mice, and travel through a whirlwind of dancing snowflakes to the Land of Sweets.

• Location: UCPAC Main Stage | 1601 Irving St
• Date & Time: November 29, 2026 | 1pm
• Admission: $8

Frozen: A Sensory-Friendly Movie Experience

One of Disney’s most beloved films, “Frozen” (2013) is a tale of sisterhood, snow, and letting it go. UCPAC’s Sensory-Friendly Theatre movie screening of Disney’s “Frozen” is a digital presentation specially adapted for children and adults with autism and other sensory sensitivities.

• Location: UCPAC Main Stage | 1601 Irving St
• Date & Time: December 11, 2026 | 6pm
• Admission: $5

Two Nutcrackers

Experience a holiday tradition like never before! “Two Nutcrackers” brings together two unforgettable interpretations of the beloved classic, featuring the timeless elegance of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” alongside the vibrant jazz reimagining of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “The Nutcracker Suite.”

• Location: UCPAC Main Stage | 1601 Irving St
• Date & Time: December 13, 2026 | 1pm
• Admission: Free

Season of Joy!: NJYS Philharmonia and the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra

Celebrate the season's joy with a festive afternoon of holiday favorites for the whole family! Featuring the NJYS Philharmonia and the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra, this concert brings together musicians of all ages for an uplifting program filled with beloved seasonal classics.

• Location: UCPAC Main Stage | 1601 Irving St
• Date & Time: December 13, 2026 | 6pm
• Admission: Free

Santa’s Circus

Make the holidays merry and magical! Bring your family and friends to see “Santa’s Circus,” a brand-new spectacular Christmas-themed circus production. Enjoy breathtaking stunts, amazing skills, magic and illusions, comedy, and holiday surprises in a night of family fun for all ages.

• Location: UCPAC Main Stage | 1601 Irving St
• Date & Time: December 18, 2026 | 7pm
• Admission: $37-$77

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas: Popcorn & Pajamas Film Series

Get into the holiday spirit with “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas!” Whether you’re an adult who watched it when it first aired on television in 1977 or a child seeing it for the first time, this Jim Henson special is sure to become a holiday favorite. Free popcorn and crafts are available while supplies last!

• Location: Hamilton Stage | 360 Hamilton St.
• Date & Times: December 19, 2026 | 10am & 1pm
• Admission: $10

The Polar Express in 35mm

Set on Christmas Eve, this classic Christmas movie follows a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas. Stop in our lobby to snap a selfie and tell Santa your last-minute holiday wishes!

• Location: UCPAC Main Stage | 1601 Irving St
• Date & Time: December 23, 2026 | 7pm
• Admission: $17 in advance/ $22 day of show

Holiday Tours at Liberty Hall Museum

Celebrate the holiday traditions of countries around the world, inspired by 250 years of travel by the Livingston and Kean families. Each first-floor room will feature holiday traditions and décor from five countries.

• Location: 1003 Morris Avenue
• Dates & Times: Wednesday-Sunday | 11am-4pm
• Admission: $10-$14

St. Joseph Social Service Center’s Holiday Wish List

St. Joseph Social Service Center is hosting The Giving Tree program, which gives donated clothing, winter accessories, gift cards, and toiletries to underserved community members. Holiday wish list donations include hats, gloves, scarves, toiletries, pajamas, and $25 gift cards. For more information, visit the official St. Joseph Social Service Center website here.

• Location: 118 Division Street