December 2026 brings a full holiday calendar to Maplewood, South Orange and Millburn, NJ: Dickens Village in Maplewood Village, tree lightings in two towns, a community menorah lighting, Millburn's Winter Villages and holiday shows at SOPAC. This roundup lists the confirmed dates and locations, each drawn from the town website or local page named as its source, so you can plan a holiday weekend in Essex County without guessing. Dates and details are reported as stated by those sources, so confirm with the organizers before you head out.
Dickens Village returns to Maplewood Village
The Maplewood Village Alliance's Dickens Village runs on the first three Saturdays of December: December 5, 12 and 19, 2026, at Ricalton Square in Maplewood Village. The miniature Victorian holiday houses are open for viewing, Santa visits on each date, and later weekends add horse-and-wagon rides, a petting farm and holiday concerts. The houses typically stay lit through early January.
The Maplewood Holiday Tree Lighting
The township's holiday celebration takes place Saturday, December 12, 2026, 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Springfield Avenue gazebo, 1688 Springfield Avenue. The program includes local school choruses, music, donuts and hot chocolate, and it coincides with a Dickens Village weekend, so the village makes a full day of it.
The menorah lighting at Spiotta Park
South Orange's Menorah Lighting and Hanukkah Celebration is Monday, December 7, 2026, 5:00 to 7:30 PM at Spiotta Park, at South Orange Avenue and Kroll Plaza. The program includes blessings, songs and a community menorah lighting with donuts and music, hosted with MAPSO faith leaders.
Hometown Holiday in South Orange
South Orange Downtown's Hometown Holiday and Tree Lighting Ceremony is Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2:00 to 6:00 PM at Spiotta Park in the downtown. Expect Santa photos, kids' activities, live performances and the community tree lighting, all free and open to the public.
Winter Villages in Millburn
Millburn's Winter Villages of Millburn-Short Hills runs Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12, 2026, 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Town Hall Plaza in downtown Millburn. It is a free holiday celebration with lights, music and seasonal activities, organized by Explore Millburn-Short Hills.
Holiday shows at SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center fills December with holiday programming: John Pizzarelli on December 3, Martin Sexton on December 11, and the family show Frosty on December 12 at 1:00 PM. Tickets and the full schedule are on SOPAC's events page.
Handmade Holiday at The Woodland
For holiday shopping, Handmade Holiday at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road in Maplewood, runs Sunday, December 13, 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with 60-plus artisan vendors spread over two floors. It is one of several arts-and-culture markets that close out the year in Maplewood.
Plan a holiday weekend in Essex County
December 12 is the busiest day of the season, with the Maplewood tree lighting and Dickens Village in Maplewood, Hometown Holiday in South Orange and Winter Villages in Millburn all on the same day. The towns are close enough that you can easily take in two of them in one afternoon. If you are visiting the area to look at homes, this is a good weekend to see the villages at their most festive, and 12 Meadowbrook Place is a short walk from the Maplewood train station.
Sources
The event dates and details in this post are drawn from the public sources below. Details may have changed since publication; confirm with the organizers before you head out.
- Dickens Village, Maplewood Village Alliance · December 5, 12 and 19, 2026, Ricalton Square
- Maplewood Arts & Culture upcoming events · Maplewood Holiday Tree Lighting, December 12
- Menorah Lighting and Hanukkah Celebration, South Orange Village · December 7, 2026, Spiotta Park
- Hometown Holiday and Tree Lighting, South Orange Downtown · December 12, 2026, Spiotta Park
- Explore Millburn-Short Hills events · Winter Villages, December 11-12, Town Hall Plaza
- SOPAC events calendar · December holiday shows
- Handmade Holiday at The Woodland, Maplewood Arts & Culture · December 13, 2026, 60 Woodland Road
Related reading on Sorelle's main site: weekend events in Essex County, a weekly roundup of things to do across the region, and sorellesellsnj.com, Sorelle's main site for buying and selling in Essex County and Northern New Jersey.