One Of Oldest Christmas Displays Is Now Open In Essex County, With Events Coming Up

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Lights will shine this weekend to celebrate the season and honor beloved Livingston toymaker Ernie Camuso, who launched this holiday display tradition more than 50 years ago.

Camuso passed away in 2010 at age 89, but residents loved the display at his home so much, his family donated it to be set up each year in Livingston for children of all ages.

Since then, organizers have opened the display for one month each year with special events on Saturdays, including an upcoming visit from Santa, and another event for people with special needs.

This year, the Camuso Holiday Display in Livingston opened on Saturday, Dec. 3.

An event is coming up this Saturday, Dec. 10, with Santa and his elves visiting the gazebo at 6:30 p.m., sponsored by UNICO. Hot chocolate will be served.

The following weekend, an event will include horse and buggy rides with Clydesdale horses, pony rides, a petting zoo, Santa on a firetruck, hot cocoa, and more.

"For many decades prior to his passing, Ernie Camuso of Burnet Hill Road in Livingston designed and built one of the most elaborate Christmas Displays New Jersey has ever seen," the website explains. "A toymaker, and later machinist by trade, Mr. Camuso collected numerous animated robotic figures. Many were designed to be doing specific tasks related to toy building and loading Santa’s Sleigh full of gifts."

Other events coming up include one for kids with special needs on Dec. 17 (see below) and a menorah lighting on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Hanukkah begins at Sunday on Sunday, Dec. 18.)

For Those With Special Needs

The LACD (Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities) and the Camuso Committee announced this week that a special event with Santa will be held Saturday, Dec. 17 for people with special needs and their families, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The event will take place at the Livingston Oval Gazebo on Robert Hart Drive. In case of snow or rain, the event will be postponed to Monday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. To check on the event status or for more information, call 973-535-7961 extension 231.

In addition to enjoying the Camuso holiday display, those attending will be able to meet and take pictures with a fully vaccinated Santa and will receive a gift and refreshments.

RSVP by Dec. 9 by emailing Ana Millan at amillan@livingstonnj.org, or by calling 973-535-7961 extension 231.

At 7 p.m. on that same day, another event will be held for everyone, with pony rides, hot cocoa, and more. Details are here.

What's New This Year

The Livingston Community Partnership announced last month, "The Camuso Holiday Display committee has been hard at work preparing all the characters and scenes for display this December. Barney is returning to the display this year! He has been under the weather, but the elves are bringing him back to life. The holiday workshop at the looks as though it could be the North Pole!"

They noted, "The winter display is hard on the characters that are over 50 years old. Each year the 'elves' work on the characters, repairing or replacing their motors, clothing and body parts. The tree is always in need of repair. This year the tree needs to be rewired."

The Camuso Holiday Display runs through Dec. 31 starting at 5 p.m. each night. Hours are here.

is located at Robert Harp Drive, Livingston, NJ 07039. Get directions and more information here.