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There are several holiday festivities to choose from in Ocean City.

Kids can enjoy Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at a different downtown restaurant on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. For more information, call 609-398-4662.

There will be photos with Santa from 12 pm to 3 pm at the Music Pier on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. There will be free horse and carriage rides in front of city hall from 12 pm to 3 pm on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

Don't miss the Winter Holiday Spectacular at the New Jersey Children's Museum in Paramus. Each exhibit will be festively decorated and on December 10, 11, 17 and 18, kids can listen to holiday songs, special stories and watch puppet shows - and meet Santa. Admission is $14.99 per child and $10 per adult and for additional fees, kids can participate in special activities including meet-and-greets with princesses and a holiday craft. Check their website for more information.

Historic Smithville has some holiday fun for families including the Holiday Light Show, an orchestrated show of lights and music played out across the lake 5:30 - 8 pm, running until Jan. 2.

Each weekend in December, Smithville also offers a Christmas Train ride to see the decorated village, a Magical Talking Tree and a free story time with Mrs. Claus in her Christmas Cottage from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

On December 10 and 17, families can go to Fred and Ethel's Lantern Light Tavern for a buffet breakfast with Santa. There also will be a chance for a picture with Santa. For more information, call 609-652-0544.

The Yuletide Carolers in Westfield, part of Welcome Home to Westfield Holiday Events with lots of different activities and events, including carolers, holiday performances, holiday music in the downtown, festive concerts and more.

The Yuletide Carolers are Saturdays • Dec. 10 & 17  • 1 to 2 pm
"Dickens" attired carolers stroll throughout downtown
For information on the holiday events in Westfield, go here:

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Villagers Theatre
December 10-18, 2011

In this hilarious holiday story, the two directors of the Christmas pageant at the local church are struggling with all the little complications of this annual production. But, this year, they have a new, and much bigger problem—finding parts in the pageant for the horrible Herdman kids—possibly the most creatively maniacal and totally dreadful group of siblings in history. These kids are a pack of lying, stealing, cussing, cigar smoking terrors…the boys, too! The last place anyone expected to see them was in church. But you will want to see them. And you won’t want to miss the mayhem—and the fun!—for there will be no silent night when the uncontrollable, unholy Herdmans drop like a ton of yule logs on the once peaceful story of Christmas!
General Admission - All tickets $10
Saturdays at 12NOON and 3:00PM, Sundays at 12NOON.
Reservations can be made via this web site under 'Tickets',
e-mail boxoffice@villagerstheatre.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 732-873-2710
Group Rates available upon request.

Celebrate the holidays in Red Bank each weekend including December 17 and 18, with horse and carriage rides, carolers and a Gingerbread Walk. Get a photo with Santa at the Galleria between noon and 4 pm the first three weekends in December.

There will be Photos with Santa at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne until December 24. Santa's Hours at Bloomingdale's Exhibit Court will be: Monday - Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday 11 am to 6 pm and Christmas Eve: Open all mall hours.

Watson Highlanders Bagpipe Band perform throughout the downtown of Westfield
Saturdays • Dec. 3, 10 & 17 • 2 to 5 pm

part of Welcome Home to Westfield Holiday Events with lots of different activities and events, including carolers, holiday performances, holiday music in the downtown, festive concerts and more.

Winter Wonder Lights at the Raritan Valley Planetarium
Saturday, December 3 (Dec 3 sold out)
Sunday, December 4
  Saturday, December 10 (Dec 10 sold out)
  Sunday, December 11 (Dec 11 sold out)
Saturday, December 17
Sunday, December 18
     show starts at  3:00 p.m.(Recommended for ages 6 - adult)
Listen to songs such as "Wizards in Winter," "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree," and "Jingle Bell Rock" while lasers dance on the dome overhead.

The Alien Who Stole Christmas at the Raritan Valley Planetarium
Saturdays & Sundays, December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18
2:00 p.m.

(Recommended for ages 6 - 10 accompanied by an adult)
Discover the stars visible in the winter sky.  Then follow Santa on a trip through the solar system when a friendly alien kidnaps.  The kids on the other planets need presents too, you know!