Downtown Freehold will bustle with events and activities to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s and bring the holiday spirit straight to the borough.
Lights are an important part of winter festivals, and the community will gather in front of the hall of records from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, for the Christmas tree lighting. The Festival of Lights comes a little later, as the Jewish community illuminates its giant menorah outside the hall at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Brunch with Santa is a great way for kids to hand deliver their wish lists. The American Hotel will host brunch with Santa on Sunday, Nov. 30, and on Sundays – Dec. 7, 14 and 21 – from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be brunch specials plus photos with Santa.
Sweet Lew’s Café will hold its breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. Santa brunch for the whole family is at The Bistro at iPlay America on Schanck Road. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 14, as well as Saturday, Dec. 20, guests can dine while Santa visits the holiday wonderland.
Treat kids who are on the nice list with time in the arcade and indoor amusement park. A special character brunch on Sunday, Dec. 7, will feature the holiday mice, and on Sunday, Dec. 21, meet versions of Frosty the Snowman and The Grinch.
The Bistro will transform into a Miracle Pop-Up Bar complete with festive Christmas decorations and a menu of themed food and drinks. The décor is Instagram-worthy, and the most popular items are the Christmapolitan – a twist on the classic Cosmo made with vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime and absinthe mist – and the Hot Buttered Rum.
The drinks – and mocktails – are sold in glassware guests can purchase for the at-home Christmas table.
Ring in the holidays with a family friendly concert by the Westminster Handbell Choir of Rider University. Twenty ringers will bring 100 handbells and chimes to First Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, to perform both traditional and contemporary Christmas carols.
After a two-hour concert inside the 175-year-old church, kids 8 years old and up are invited to ring some of the bells and chimes themselves. Tickets range from $20 to $30 and are available at fpcfreehold.org/events.
The Eddie Testa Band is another musical staple in the borough that will appear at the third annual Christmas Party from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. The American Hotel will be filled with the group’s rock and Christmas sounds, plus the ventriloquist comedy of John Pizzi and music by DJ Joe Kahwaty.
Tickets are $75, with a portion of proceeds donated back to downtownfreehold.com. Participants have to purchase a minimum of two items from the menu during the show.
The Jolly Trolley is a popular attraction that sells out almost immediately. Guests board an old-fashioned trolley throughout the borough during a nostalgic, 45-minute ride. Young actors from the Howell High School Drama Club portray significant historical figures in Freehold’s history, with a few special guest stars.
The trolley ride storyline showcases the history of Freehold on a winter night 100 years ago. Skits are performed at various stops along the route, and passengers don’t need to leave the trolley; they’ll watch performances from the windows and an occasional character will hop on board.
This year’s trolley times are 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, and 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. Check-in this year will be in the lobby of The American Hotel at 18 E. Main St. Guests must show confirmation numbers upon arrival.
An event that can be great for kids or even a date night will be to join carolers at the gazebo from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18. Wear an ugly Christmas sweater and a Santa hat and join in the holiday serenade as the carolers stroll downtown.
For updates on most events, visit downtownfreehold.com.
Just a short drive from Main Street, the Freehold Raceway Mall will again have a Christmas house, a walk-through setup of 10 different holiday-themed rooms. From Friday, Nov. 28, to New Year’s Eve, participants can snap photos as they spend about 45 minutes going through the North Pole movie theater, the Christmas Eve room, the Elf Command Center, a
Harry Potter room, a holiday light tunnel and the Nightmare Before Christmas room.
There will also be interactive stations, trivia and arts and crafts along the way. For tickets, visit christmashousefreehold.com.
