Seaside Park has put its whole holiday kickoff on one day this year. On Sunday, December 6, the borough holds its sixth annual Holiday Craft Fair in the morning and afternoon, lights its tree at 5 p.m., and then hands the evening to Seaside Park PBA Local 182 for its holiday party and toy drive at 6 p.m.

The three events are a few blocks apart on the barrier island, so it is possible to do all of them in a single afternoon and evening. The borough posted the schedule on November 9 with a flyer for each event.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: the sixth annual Holiday Craft Fair

The craft fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seaside Park Elementary School, 313 SW Central Avenue. It is the borough's own event, now in its sixth year, and it is set up for holiday shopping from local makers. Bring some cash in case a vendor does not take cards.

5 p.m.: the annual tree lighting

At 5 p.m. the borough lights its tree at the Seaside Park Police Department, at 6th and Central Avenues. By then it is dark on the island in early December, which is the point: the lights go on at dusk.

6 p.m.: PBA holiday party and toy drive

An hour later, Seaside Park PBA Local 182 hosts its Holiday Party and Toy Drive at the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad building, 61 J Street. The PBA's flyer pairs it with the tree lighting, so the officers and the crowd move from one to the other. The flyer does not list what kinds of toys are being collected, so call the borough clerk's office before you shop if you want to check.

How the day fits together

  • Morning or afternoon: shop the craft fair at the elementary school on SW Central Avenue. It closes at 4 p.m.
  • 5 p.m.: walk or drive to 6th and Central for the tree lighting at the police department.
  • 6 p.m.: head to 61 J Street for the PBA party and drop off a toy.

Getting to Seaside Park

Seaside Park sits near the southern end of the Barnegat Peninsula in Ocean County, just south of Seaside Heights. From the Garden State Parkway, take Route 37 east across the Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney bridges, then head south on Central Avenue. Central Avenue is the spine of all three stops.

The details

  • Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026.
  • Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Seaside Park Elementary School, 313 SW Central Avenue.
  • Tree Lighting: 5 p.m., Seaside Park Police Department, 6th and Central Avenues.
  • PBA Holiday Party and Toy Drive: 6 p.m., Tri-Boro First Aid Squad building, 61 J Street.
  • Questions: Borough of Seaside Park, 1701 North Ocean Avenue, 732-793-3700, clerk@seasideparknj.org.

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