Christmas Tree Lightings in Ocean County NJ 2026

Ocean County kicks off the holiday season with tree lightings from the boardwalk to the Pinelands. Here are the 2026 Christmas tree lightings across Ocean County, NJ, listed in date order, with times and locations confirmed for this year.

Point Pleasant Beach Christmas Tree Lighting

• Town: Point Pleasant Beach
• Where: Bay Avenue
• When: Friday, November 27, 2026, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.)

Point Pleasant Beach lights its tree the night after Thanksgiving, which makes it one of the first lightings in the county. Santa arrives by fire truck shortly after the lighting, with pictures with Santa at Ocean County Music.

Expect horse and carriage rides, fire truck rides and karaoke with a DJ along Bay Avenue.

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Little Egg Harbor Holly Jolly Tree Lighting

• Town: Little Egg Harbor
• Where: Little Egg Harbor Municipal Building, 665 Radio Road
• When: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The township’s second annual Holly Jolly Tree Lighting brings pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, kids’ crafts, cookies and cocoa, and a live nativity.

A donation box will collect new, unwrapped toys for a local toy drive, so bring one along if you can.

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Ocean County Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

• Town: Toms River
• Where: West lawn of the Ocean County Administration Building, 101 Hooper Avenue
• When: Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 4:45 p.m.

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners hosts the county’s official tree lighting in downtown Toms River. The Pine Beach Elementary School Chorus provides the music.

The ceremony is brief, and cookies and refreshments follow, so it is an easy stop on the way home from work.

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Hotel LBI Sip and Shop and Christmas Tree Lighting

• Town: Ship Bottom
• Where: Hotel LBI, 350 West 8th Street
• When: Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.)

Long Beach Island’s tree lighting season starts with an evening of holiday shopping and seasonal drinks at Hotel LBI, right at the foot of the Causeway in Ship Bottom.

Plan to arrive early to browse the vendors before the tree is lit at 6:30 p.m.

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Downtown Toms River Tree Lighting

• Town: Toms River
• Where: Toms River Town Hall, 33 Washington Street
• When: Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Toms River lights its tree outside Town Hall on the first Friday in December. Make a weekend of it: the downtown Winter Wonderland follows on Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Washington Street.

Downtown shops and restaurants are steps away for dinner before or after.

Downtown Toms River

Seaside Heights Tree Lighting

• Town: Seaside Heights
• Where: Seaside Heights Boardwalk (410 Boardwalk)
• When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, starting at 12 p.m.

Seaside Heights turns its tree lighting into a full day on the boardwalk, presented by the mayor, Borough Council and the Seaside Heights Business Improvement District.

Plans include carousel rides, an iceless skating rink, coffee and hot chocolate, snow, carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and fireworks. The borough says a full schedule is coming soon.

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Brick Township Winter Fest and Tree Lighting

• Town: Brick
• Where: Windward Beach Park, 265 Princeton Avenue
• When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Admission: Free

Brick’s Winter Fest packs a Christmas tree lighting into an afternoon of photos with Santa, a makers market craft fair, holiday music and free skating on a synthetic rink.

There is also a gingerbread house competition, a Christmas train, a Christmas sweater contest and food trucks.

Brick Township

Jackson Township Christmas Tree Lighting Extravaganza

• Town: Jackson
• Where: 95 West Veterans Highway
• When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Jackson’s tree lighting is one of the bigger celebrations in western Ocean County, with live music, food and drinks, free ice skating and photos with Santa.

A holiday market rounds out the evening, so you can check a few gifts off the list while you are there.

Jackson Township

Lavallette Tree Lighting Festivities

• Town: Lavallette
• Where: Lavallette Borough Hall, 1306 Grand Central Avenue
• When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 6 p.m.
• Admission: Free

Lavallette keeps it classic: a visit from Santa, hot cocoa and Mueller’s sugar cookies as the lights come on.

The lighting caps Lavallette’s Hometown Christmas Weekend, held December 4 and 5 with participating businesses throughout the borough’s business district.

Event details

Good to know: Outdoor events can shift for weather, so check each organizer’s page the day of the event before you head out.

More in Ocean County: holiday craft fairs, light displays and Thanksgiving week events are coming up across the county.