Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Hillsborough: Parades, Tree Lightings

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — There is no shortage of things to do in Hillsborough to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. 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 holidays.

Tree lighting and Menorah Lighting in and around Hillsborough:

Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hillsborough Township Municipal Complex on Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. Santa arrives at 7 p.m. For details click here.

Community Menorah Lighting Featuring Chanukah Gelt Drop at Chabad Jewish Center Basking Ridge on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Click here for more information.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland; and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in the Hillsborough area may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

Holiday Lights Parade 2022 hosted by Engine 1 Somerville Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information click here.

There are plenty of other holiday festivities to catch in and around the Bridgewater area including:

• Breakfast with Santa at Woods Road Fire Company, 324 Woods Road, Hillsborough on Dec. 3 with seatings at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. For details click here.
• Santa Visits Solberg Airport 2022 on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1 to 5 p.m. at 39 Thor Solberg Road in Whitehouse Station. For more information click here.
• Winter Market, Christmas Tree Lighting will return on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Downtown Basking Ridge. from noon to 7 p.m. For more information click here.
• Holiday Lights Hayride at Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough through Dec. 18. Click here for more information.
• Santa Claus at Bridgewater Commons, 400 Commons Way, Bridgewater. Santa will remain at the Commons through Saturday, Dec. 24. For details click here.
• Holiday Festival on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Warren Township Municipal Complex with Santa making a visit. For details click here.
• Santa is coming to Raritan on Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Nevius St. Bridge. For details click here.
• Holiday Jubilee in Downtown Somerville with a visit from Santa on Dec. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. For details click here.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story mentioned the defunct Target Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, which no longer takes place.