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December in Sussex County, NJ is the county’s coziest month, with the 25th German Christmas Market in Augusta from Dec. 4 to 6, drive-through Christmas lights at Skylands Stadium on 21 December nights, a holiday concert season at the Newton Theatre and choose-and-cut tree farms from Wantage to Lafayette. Our team pulled together 12 things to do in Sussex County this December 2026, with dates, times and prices taken from each organizer’s own website.
Looking for the bigger holiday picture? Our Christmas events in Sussex County NJ guide covers the whole season, and November’s picks are still up in our things to do in Sussex County this November roundup.
December 2026 in Sussex County at a Glance
- What: Holiday markets, Christmas lights, holiday concerts, tree lightings, tree farms, skating, skiing and museums
- Where: Augusta, Newton, Stillwater, Lafayette, Layton, Sparta, Ogdensburg, Hardyston and Vernon
- When: Tuesday, Dec. 1, through Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026
- Cost: Many picks are free to browse; ticketed events are noted below
- Top link: German Christmas Market of NJ
1. German Christmas Market of NJ, Augusta (Dec. 4 to 6)
The biggest market of the season marks its 25th year at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road in Augusta. The German Christmas Market of NJ runs Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 for ages 13 and up, $7 for seniors 65 and up, and free for veterans with ID and kids 12 and under. Expect wooden huts, bratwurst, handcrafted gifts and live choirs. Our German Christmas Market NJ 2026 guide has tips for each day.
2. Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show, Augusta (Select Nights Through Dec. 30)
The mile-long drive-through of more than two million lights at 94 Championship Place is open in December on Dec. 4 to 6, Dec. 10 to 13, Dec. 15 to 23 and Dec. 26 to 30, according to the stadium’s 2026 schedule. Standard tickets are $29 per carload and VIP tickets are $79, both bought online in advance on the Skylands Stadium Light Show page. The Christmas Village is free to walk in. See our Christmas lights in Sussex County NJ guide for every display this season.
3. Holiday Shows at the Newton Theatre (Dec. 4 to 20)
The historic Newton Theatre at 234 Spring Street has a December calendar packed with holiday concerts. From the SKYPAC events list:
- Friday, Dec. 4: Christmas with the Celts (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.)
- Saturday, Dec. 5: Sara Evans, The Holiday Road Tour, with special guest Braden Hull (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.)
- Sunday, Dec. 6: The Wood Brothers with Tyler Ramsey (doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.)
- Thursday, Dec. 10: Squirrel Nut Zippers holiday concert (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.)
- Saturday, Dec. 12: Steven Page Trio with holiday favorites (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.)
- Sunday, Dec. 13: Rocky Mountain Christmas, a John Denver tribute featuring Ted Vigil, matinee (doors 2 p.m., show 3 p.m.)
- Thursday, Dec. 17: The Rascals, Rockin’ the Holidays (doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.)
- Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19: From Good Homes (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.)
- Sunday, Dec. 20: Top of the World, A Carpenters Christmas Show, matinee (doors 2 p.m., show 3 p.m.)
4. Fairview Lake YMCA Tree Lighting, Stillwater (Dec. 4)
Fairview Lake YMCA Camps holds its annual holiday tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., with festive songs, a seasonal craft, indoor camp activities and a visit from St. Nick. For more ceremonies around the county, see our tree lighting guide for Sussex County NJ.
5. Peters Valley Handmade Holiday Event, Layton (Through Dec. 31)
The Peters Valley Handmade Holiday Event fills both floors of the gallery at 19 Kuhn Road in Layton with handmade work from craft artists through 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The gallery’s posted May through December hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is closed Mondays. Our Peters Valley guide has more.
6. SCAHC Holiday Market and Holiday Party, Newton (Reception Dec. 12)
The Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council Small Works Exhibition and Sale is on view at 133 Spring Street from Nov. 27 through Jan. 5, full of handmade gifts from local artists and crafters. Its Reception and Holiday Party is Saturday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and guests are invited to come in festive attire. Our SCAHC Holiday Market guide covers gallery hours.
7. Holiday Shopping Nights at The Shoppes at Lafayette (Dec. 13 or 20, and Dec. 17)
The Shoppes at Lafayette, 75 Route 15, lists a Holiday Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, or Sunday, Dec. 20, depending on the weather, and a Thursday After Hours evening of shopping on Thursday, Dec. 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. If you missed it in November, our Small Business Saturday in Sussex County guide maps out more local shops, and our Christmas markets guide lists every holiday market.
8. Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
Sussex County is one of the best places in New Jersey to cut a fresh tree, with choose-and-cut farms in Augusta, Lafayette, Wantage and beyond. Each farm sets its own season and hours, so check before you drive. Our Christmas tree farms in Sussex County NJ guide lists the farms, what they grow and how each one runs its season.
9. See Santa
Santa photos are part of the free Christmas Village at Skylands Stadium on light show nights, with the stadium posting his schedule closer to the season. Our where to see Santa in Sussex County NJ guide rounds up more places to meet him across the county.
10. Ice Skating at Skylands Ice World, Hardyston
Skylands Ice World, the two-rink arena at 2765 State Highway 23 in the Stockholm section of Hardyston, runs public skating sessions through the winter. The rink says pre-registering and paying online can save up to 33 percent, and it no longer provides helmets, so bring your own for little skaters. Our ice skating in Sussex County guide has hours and tips.
11. Ski Season at Mountain Creek, Vernon
Mountain Creek in Vernon opens its winter season for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing as conditions allow, so check the resort’s site for opening day and lift tickets. Our Mountain Creek ski resort guide covers the mountain, and our snow tubing at Mountain Creek guide is for families who would rather slide than ski.
12. Mining History and History Sundays (Weekends in December)
The Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg runs its main guided tour of the mine and two museums at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays this season, and its gift shop and mineral collecting are open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum says to keep checking for special holiday hours. Read our Sterling Hill Mining Museum guide, then pair it with our Franklin Mineral Museum guide in neighboring Franklin.
In Sparta, the Van Kirk Homestead Museum at 336 Main Street is open April through December on the second and fourth Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. with a 2 p.m. talk, which puts its December open days on Sunday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 27.
Plan Your December
- Best weekend: Dec. 4 to 6 stacks the German Christmas Market, the Fairview Lake tree lighting, three light show nights and three Newton Theatre shows.
- Kids out of school: The Dec. 26 to 30 light show nights and Skylands Ice World sessions fill the week after Christmas. Our things to do with kids in Sussex County guide has more ideas.
- Fresh air: A winter walk in the Delaware Water Gap in Sussex County pairs well with a stop at Peters Valley in Layton.
- Staying over: Our hotels in Sussex County NJ guide and Crystal Springs Resort guide make a holiday weekend easy.
A tip from our team: book anything with a ticket early. Skylands light show time slots disappear on December weekends, Newton Theatre holiday shows can sell out, and German Christmas Market presale tickets go on sale online in November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Sussex County, NJ in December?
Top picks for December 2026 include the German Christmas Market in Augusta from Dec. 4 to 6, the Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show, holiday concerts at the Newton Theatre, the Peters Valley Handmade Holiday Event, choose-and-cut tree farms, ice skating at Skylands Ice World and skiing at Mountain Creek.
When is the German Christmas Market in 2026?
The German Christmas Market of NJ is Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Is the Skylands Stadium light show open in December?
Yes. December nights are Dec. 4 to 6, Dec. 10 to 13, Dec. 15 to 23 and Dec. 26 to 30, 2026. It is closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.
What holiday shows are at the Newton Theatre in December 2026?
The lineup includes Christmas with the Celts on Dec. 4, Sara Evans on Dec. 5, Squirrel Nut Zippers on Dec. 10, Steven Page Trio on Dec. 12, a Ted Vigil John Denver Christmas matinee on Dec. 13, The Rascals on Dec. 17 and a Carpenters Christmas matinee on Dec. 20.
What are free things to do in Sussex County in December?
The Skylands Stadium Christmas Village is free to walk in, the Peters Valley gallery and the SCAHC Holiday Market are free to browse, and the Fairview Lake YMCA tree lighting on Dec. 4 lists no admission fee.
Primary Sources
Dates, times and prices come from the German Christmas Market of NJ, the Skylands Stadium Light Show page, the SKYPAC events list, Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, Peters Valley School of Craft, the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council, The Shoppes at Lafayette, Skylands Ice World, Mountain Creek, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and the Van Kirk Homestead Museum.
Featured photo: German Christmas Market of NJ via gcmnj.org.
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