James E. McGreevey
Governor

William D. Watley
Secretary of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Wolfe - 609.292.2523

New Jersey: A Child's Wonderland of Holiday Activities

Trenton, N.J. (November 12, 2003)—In New Jersey, the holidays provide a wonderland of activities for children and their parents to enjoy. "From train-traveling with Santa Claus and riding on a fire truck with the Grinch, to making wreaths, toys and Menorahs, there are many fun, family activities all over the Garden State this holiday season," said Nancy J. Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism.

Children can visit with Santa and stroll through his Enchanted Woods at Demarest Farm in Bergen County for free. From Dec. 1 through 23, Santa will visit the farm amid a dazzling display of more than half a million white lights and characters that are animated or hand-painted works of art. The fantasyland includes Santa’s workshop and Noah’s Ark. The farm also sells Christmas trees and wreaths, produce and baked goods.

Santa will visit from 2 to 4 p.m. on weekends, with the Enchanted Woods open from noon to 5 p.m. seven days a week. For more information about Demarest Farm, 244 Werimus Rd., Hillsdale, call (201) 666-0472 or (201) 666-0350 or visit www.demarestfarms.com.

Also in Bergen County, a holiday celebration will light up the New Jersey Children’s Museum when Santa Claus arrives to visit with children and give out goodie bags. He'll be there only from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 13 and 14, but the rest of the celebration continues until Dec. 21. Children can also ride a fire truck with the Grinch, create Menorahs and other holiday crafts, and hear stories about Hanukkah, Christmas, and winter.

The cost is $8 per person, plus tax. Children younger than one year old are free. For more information about the museum located at 599 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, call (201) 262-5151 or visit www.njcm.com.

The Camden Children’s Garden Holiday Festival of Lights opens Nov. 29, with the Garden illuminated with thousands of lights. There will be indoor attractions including Santa Claus, animated holiday scenes and children’s crafts.

Admission is $2 per person when you enter through “Ginkgo’s Gift Shop.” The light display will be open from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 27. There are also train and carousel rides for an extra $1.25 each. For more information about the Garden, 3 Riverside Dr., next to the NJ State Aquarium, call (856) 365-8733 or visit www.camdenchildrensgarden.org.

At Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a daily, grand entrance at the park from Nov. 15 through Dec. 23. At dusk, Santa will come up (yes, up) his chimney and wave his magic wand to set the park awash in a sea of multi-colored lights. Then, he and Mrs. Claus will visit with children in their chalet.

The park rides will be open during the holiday events. The park is closed on Dec. 24 and 25, but will then be open again, complete with the light display, from Dec. 26 through Dec. 30. Admission is $14.95 per person for most visitors, except senior citizens pay $12.95 and those one year and younger are free.

For more information about hours and other details about Storybook Land, 6415 Black Horse Pike (Routes 40/322), in the Cardiff section of Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, call (609) 641-7847 (a recording only) or (609) 646-0103 ext. 5 or visit www.storybookland.com.

Children can take train rides with Santa at Allaire State Park in southern Monmouth County, and at Northlandz in Hunterdon County.

At the Pine Creek Railroad at Allaire, Santa goes from one child to the next to visit them as they ride an antique steam train. The cost is $5 per person. The railroad’s volunteer staff has already begun selling tickets to the event, which runs on weekends from Nov. 29 through Dec. 21. Anyone wishing to buy tickets must do so at the park on weekends only. For more information, call at (732) 938-5524 or visit www.njmt.org.

There will be a “Christmas at Allaire” event from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and from noon to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 7, featuring Santa, live music, Christmas caroling and dancing. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children. For an extra $5 per person, there will be horse-drawn wagon rides. For more information, contact Allaire State Park, Route 524, Wall Township, at (732) 919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

At Northlandz, Santa will be doling out peppermint sticks to young train passengers riding in the caboose on weekends. Northlandz also features an outdoor railroad ride and a 94-room dollhouse.

Northlandz is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends, but Santa will visit from noon to 4 p.m. weekends only from Thanksgiving weekend through Dec. 21. Admission is $13.75 for adults, $9.75 for children and $12.50 for seniors. For more information about Northlandz, Route 202 South, Raritan Township, two miles north of Flemington, call (908) 782-4022 or visit www.northlandz.com.

In northern Monmouth County, children can visit the Monmouth Museum at Brookdale Community College which features a theme of “Exploring the Great Outdoors: Sports and Recreation in Original Illustrations from Children’s Books” plus “Trains, Trees and Trimmings.” This holiday exhibition, on display from Nov. 23 until Jan. 11, will present illustrations from children’ s books, with themes from some of the illustrations included in the decorations decked out on Christmas trees. The museum will also have its annual holiday train display.

Children up to six years old can also play at the museum’s Wonder Wing, the year-round play room with an under-the-sea theme. The museum’s Becker Wing is for those 7 to 12 years old. The fee is $5 per person with those younger than two years old admitted free. For more information about the museum, Newman Springs Road, Middletown, call (732) 747-2266 or visit www.monmouthmuseum.org.

Families can make holiday wreaths at Johnson’s Corner Farm, 133 Church Rd., Medford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Dec. 1 through 21. Prices range from $14.95 to $19.95, depending on the size. Reservations are preferred. Children can also see a miniature farm scene set up like “The Night Before Christmas.” For an additional $1.80 per person, visitors can see live animals, including goats, sheep, chickens and llamas. For more information, call (609) 654-8643 or visit www.johnsonsfarm.com.

For more information on these and other activities, contact the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism at 609-292-2470. To place your order a free copy of the 2004 New Jersey Travel Guide can contact the office at 1-800-VISITNJ (847-4865) or visit the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism’s Web site at www.visitnj.org.