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Christmas tree lightings in Sussex County, New Jersey kick off on Saturday, November 14, 2026 with the Festival of Lights at Newton Medical Center, followed by Sussex Borough on Friday, November 27 and Lafayette’s Christmas Village on Saturday, November 28. Our team went town by town and listed only the 2026 lightings confirmed on an official town, organizer or venue page, so you can plan which ones to catch with the kids.
Plenty of Sussex County towns have not posted their 2026 dates yet. We note those near the end and will add them as official pages go up. For the full season of markets, light shows and Santa visits, our Christmas events in Sussex County hub has everything in one place.
Sussex County Tree Lightings 2026 at a Glance
- What: Community Christmas tree lightings and holiday kickoff nights
- Where: Newton, Sussex Borough, Lafayette and Stanhope, plus the Skylands Stadium light show in Augusta
- When: Saturday, November 14 through Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Cost: The town and organizer lightings below are free to attend; the Skylands Stadium light show is a ticketed drive-through
- More holiday plans: Christmas events in Sussex County
Newton: Festival of Lights at Newton Medical Center (Saturday, November 14)
The first big lighting of the season is the 35th annual C. Edward McCracken Festival of Lights at Atlantic Health Newton Medical Center, 175 High Street in Newton. The Newton Medical Center Foundation lists the event for Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with a community reception first and the tree lighting and fireworks to follow.
- Organizer: Newton Medical Center Foundation
- Details: Festival of Lights event page
It is short, early and easy with small kids, and it wraps up in time for dinner in town. Our full Festival of Lights 2026 guide has the full schedule.
Sussex Borough: Christmas Tree Lighting at Deckertown Commons (Friday, November 27)
The night after Thanksgiving, Sussex Borough lights its tree at Deckertown Commons. The borough’s recreation committee lists the Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, November 27, 2026 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on its community events page.
The same committee runs a Holiday House Decorating Contest. Registration is open from Saturday, November 28 through Thursday, December 17, voting runs Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20, and winners are announced Tuesday, December 22. If you are making a night of it, our list of the best restaurants in Sussex, NJ has places to eat before or after.
Lafayette: Christmas Village at The Shoppes at Lafayette (Saturday, November 28)
On Small Business Saturday, The Shoppes at Lafayette at 75 Route 15 hosts its Christmas Village on Saturday, November 28, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The organizer’s 2026 event page lists a Tree Lighting Ceremony along with local vendors, festive food and warm drinks, a cocktail garden, live music and photos with Santa.
- Organizer contact: 973-255-9044 or LVACraftFair@gmail.com
- Good to know: The 2026 page does not list a time for the lighting yet. Last year’s lighting was at 4 p.m., so plan to be on the green in the late afternoon and confirm the time closer to the day.
Our Lafayette Christmas Village 2026 guide covers the shops and vendors, and it pairs well with a stop at one of the Christmas markets in Sussex County the same weekend.
Stanhope: Holiday Festival at Borough Hall (Saturday, December 5)
The Stanhope Recreation Committee hosts its Holiday Festival at Borough Hall, 77 Main Street, on Saturday, December 5, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., according to the borough’s event listing. The 2026 listing does not spell out a tree lighting, so think of it as Stanhope’s evening holiday kickoff and check the borough site for the full program. The week after, the borough starts judging its house and condo holiday decorating contest on Monday, December 7. See our things to do in Stanhope guide for more on the town.
Augusta: Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show (Opens Saturday, November 21)
It is not a single tree lighting, but no list of Sussex County lights is complete without it. The Skylands Stadium Light Show and Christmas Village at 94 Championship Place in Augusta runs on select dates from Saturday, November 21 through Wednesday, December 30, 2026, with a mile long drive-through of more than two million lights, a Christmas Village and photos with Santa. Tickets are sold online by date. Our Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show guide lists every open night.
Vernon: Tree Lighting Date to Be Confirmed
Vernon Township Recreation lists a December Tree Lighting from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with a Quiet Time with Santa from 5 to 6 p.m. beforehand, on its news and events page. The date shown there does not match the 2026 calendar, so we are holding off on a date until the township confirms it. Keep an eye on that page, and see our things to do in Vernon guide to round out the trip.
Towns That Have Not Posted 2026 Dates Yet
These towns describe an annual tree lighting on their official sites but had not posted a 2026 date when we checked:
- Newton: The Town of Newton’s events page describes an annual tree lighting with carols and hot cocoa. Newton’s Holiday Parade is Saturday, November 28, and our Newton Holiday Parade 2026 guide has the details.
- Hardyston: The Hardyston Recreation Department’s holiday events page says its tree lighting is the final event of the year, with a visit from Santa Claus and take-home goodies for the children. Call 973-823-7020 for the date.
If your town has posted its 2026 lighting on an official page, send it our way and we will add it.
Make a Day of It
- Cut your own tree first. Our guide to Christmas tree farms in Sussex County covers choose and cut farms around the county.
- Shop the markets. The German Christmas Market at the Sussex County Fairgrounds and the other Christmas markets in Sussex County fill the weekends around these lightings.
- Grab dinner in town. Our things to do in Newton guide has ideas for dinner in town after the Festival of Lights.
Tip From Our Team
Tree lightings in Sussex County are quick, outdoor and very cold once the sun drops behind the ridges. Arrive 20 minutes early so the kids can see the tree from the front, bring a thermos of cocoa and a flashlight for the walk back to the car, and leave the stroller at home if the crowd is likely to be tight on a small town green.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the first tree lighting in Sussex County in 2026?
The Festival of Lights at Newton Medical Center on Saturday, November 14, 2026 is the earliest confirmed lighting, with the reception at 4:30 p.m. and the lighting and fireworks to follow.
Is there a tree lighting on Black Friday in Sussex County?
Yes. Sussex Borough lights its tree at Deckertown Commons on Friday, November 27, 2026 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
What time is the Lafayette Christmas Village tree lighting?
The Christmas Village runs Saturday, November 28, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the 2026 event page lists a tree lighting ceremony without a time yet. The 2025 lighting was at 4 p.m.
When is the Vernon tree lighting in 2026?
Vernon Township Recreation lists a December tree lighting from 6:30 to 8 p.m., but the posted date does not match the 2026 calendar. Check the township’s news and events page for the confirmed date.
Are Sussex County tree lightings free?
The town and organizer lightings on this list are free to attend. The Skylands Stadium light show in Augusta is a separate ticketed drive-through.
Do any of these lightings have Santa?
Lafayette’s Christmas Village lists photos with Santa, the Skylands Stadium Christmas Village offers photos with Santa, and Vernon lists a Quiet Time with Santa before its lighting. Our upcoming guide to seeing Santa in Sussex County will have the full list.
Primary Sources
Dates and times were confirmed on the Newton Medical Center Foundation Festival of Lights page, the Sussex Borough recreation page, The Shoppes at Lafayette Christmas Village page, the Stanhope Holiday Festival listing, the Skylands Stadium Light Show page, the Vernon Township Recreation news and events page, the Town of Newton events page and the Hardyston Recreation holiday events page.
Featured photo: Carol M. Highsmith via the Library of Congress (no known restrictions on publication).
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