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Squirrel Nut Zippers in Newton NJ: the band brings its Christmas Caravan tour to the Newton Theatre, 234 Spring Street, on Thursday, December 10, 2026. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m., according to the official SKYPAC events list. Ticket prices are not listed there, so check skypac.org for tickets or call the box office at 973-940-6398.
It is one of the more unusual holiday shows in Sussex County this year, and a weeknight option in a busy December.
Squirrel Nut Zippers in Newton NJ: show details
- Event: Squirrel Nut Zippers, Christmas Caravan
- Date: Thursday, December 10, 2026
- Time: Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Newton Theatre, 234 Spring Street, Newton, NJ 07860
- Tickets: skypac.org or 973-940-6398
What is the Christmas Caravan show?
The tour takes its name from Christmas Caravan, the band’s 1998 holiday album. According to the tour announcement on Grateful Web, the show is “equal parts holiday concert, vaudeville revue, and vintage variety show,” drawing on jazz, swing, folk, blues and Americana, with sing-alongs and surprises along the way.
The Newton date sits in the middle of an East Coast swing. The night before, the band plays the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, and the night after, the Sellersville Theatre in Pennsylvania.
Who are Squirrel Nut Zippers?
Squirrel Nut Zippers got their start in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the early 1990s, drawing on early jazz, blues and old-time music. Their 1996 album Hot went platinum and its single “Hell” became their breakthrough hit, helping fuel the 1990s swing revival. The band is marking the 30th anniversary of Hot this year. Co-founder Jimbo Mathus fronts the band.
“The holidays are one of the few times when people slow down long enough to gather and share music,” Mathus said in the tour announcement. “Every year the audience becomes part of the show, and that’s what makes it so special.”
More holiday shows at the Newton Theatre
Squirrel Nut Zippers are one of several holiday shows on the theatre’s calendar between Nov. 29 and Dec. 20, including Sara Evans’ Holiday Road Tour on Dec. 5 and the Steven Page Trio two nights after this show, on Saturday, Dec. 12. See the full lineup in our guide to Newton Theatre holiday shows 2026.
Dinner near the Newton Theatre
A Thursday show makes for an easier dinner reservation. Our guide to where to eat in Newton NJ covers six spots on Spring Street, including Poy’s Kitchen Thai Lao Cuisine at 240 Spring Street, a few doors from the theatre, and Mi Rancho Mexican Grill at 195 Spring Street. For more ideas on a day in town, read about the student-run Arbor Bakeshop in Newton.
Know before you go
- Parking: The venue’s parking page lists the Adams Street Lot, the Main Street Parking Lot, Western Plaza and Central Plaza. Rates are not listed there.
- Box office: Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 hours before every show, per the venue’s contact page. Ticketing questions: ticketing@skypac.org.
- Weather: December nights in Newton can be icy. Give yourself extra time from the lot to the door.
- Plan ahead: Prices and seating are set by the venue; confirm current availability on skypac.org.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When are Squirrel Nut Zippers playing in Newton NJ?
Thursday, December 10, 2026 at the Newton Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.
What kind of music is the Christmas Caravan show?
A holiday concert with a vaudeville and vintage variety show feel, drawing on jazz, swing, folk, blues and Americana, according to the tour announcement.
How much are tickets?
Prices are not listed on the events list. Check skypac.org for tickets or call 973-940-6398.
Where do you park for the Newton Theatre?
The venue lists the Adams Street Lot, the Main Street Parking Lot, Western Plaza and Central Plaza in downtown Newton.
Will they play “Hell”?
Setlists are not published in advance, and the tour is built around holiday music, so there is no guarantee.
Primary sources for this guide: SKYPAC events list, SKYPAC Squirrel Nut Zippers page, SKYPAC parking page, SKYPAC contact page and the Christmas Caravan tour announcement.
Featured photo: stock image of a saxophone player, for illustration only. Photo by Yan Krukau via Pexels.
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