Point Pleasant Beach Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival 2026
Published | Posted by Dennis Mark Interdonato
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The Point Pleasant Beach Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, in downtown Point Pleasant Beach at Arnold and Bay Avenues, and the Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce runs it.
It's the night after Thanksgiving, and it's the Chamber's holiday night downtown. There's a DJ, horse and carriage rides, refreshments and activities, and Santa comes to town. Here's when to go, what's planned, what else is happening that weekend, and what the streets and homes around downtown are like.
What is the Point Pleasant Beach Tree Lighting?
The Tree Lighting and Santa Arrival is the Chamber's holiday kickoff for the borough. The Chamber's event page lists a DJ, horse and carriage rides, refreshments and activities. It also says you can take your picture with Santa at Ocean County Music.
The Chamber is the organizer, and the borough lists the night on its own calendar as an event sponsored by the Chamber. The Chamber's office is at 517A Arnold Avenue, on the same downtown stretch.
When and where is the tree lighting in 2026?
The date is Friday, November 27, 2026. The event is downtown at Arnold and Bay Avenues, according to the borough's calendar listing.
The two official listings show different start times, so plan around both:
- The Chamber's event page lists 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- The borough's calendar lists 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The borough's calendar also holds Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as a rain date, only if it's needed. Check the Chamber's Tree Lighting page that week for the final word on timing and weather.
What should you know before you go?
If you're coming by train, NJ TRANSIT's North Jersey Coast Line stops at Point Pleasant Beach station on Arnold Avenue, the same street as the event. Trains run north toward Newark and New York Penn Station.
The Chamber lists Santa photos at Ocean County Music, so plan that stop into your night. The event runs outdoors into the evening, so bring a warm layer.
What else is happening that weekend?
Over on the boardwalk, Jenkinson's is holding free Photos with Santa on the Amusement Park Train on Friday, November 27, and Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day. The train stays parked for the photos and won't run. Jenkinson's says a limited selection of rides will also be open, weather permitting.
The photos take place inside Jenkinson's Amusement Park. In bad weather, Jenkinson's moves them inside Jenkinson's South Arcade, and the train won't be part of it. Jenkinson's asks visitors to pre-register on its Photos with Santa page.
That means on Friday, November 27, you could see Santa on the boardwalk in the afternoon and then head downtown for the tree lighting.
What are the streets and homes like around downtown Point Pleasant Beach?
Point Pleasant Beach is an oceanfront borough at the northern end of the Barnegat Peninsula in Ocean County, with the Manasquan Inlet and River on its north side. It's a separate town from Point Pleasant, its neighbor to the west.
Arnold Avenue has deep roots. Captain John Arnold built the road to the ocean that now carries his name, and the railroad reached town on July 3, 1880. Today the downtown blocks of Arnold and Bay Avenues hold a bakery, coffee shops, a chocolate shop, gift boutiques and an art gallery.
Away from downtown, the mile-long boardwalk runs from the Manasquan Inlet to New Jersey Avenue. Docks and waterfront homes line Lake Louise and the inlet. The borough required homes rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy to be raised on pilings, so you'll see raised homes on the streets near the water. Route 35 runs through town for drives north and south along the shore.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Point Pleasant Beach Christmas Tree Lighting in 2026?
It's on Friday, November 27, 2026. The Chamber lists 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the borough's calendar lists 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The rain date is Saturday, November 28, 2026.
Where is the tree lighting held?
The borough's calendar places it downtown in Point Pleasant Beach, at Arnold and Bay Avenues.
Where can you get a photo with Santa in Point Pleasant Beach that weekend?
The Chamber lists Santa photos at Ocean County Music during the tree lighting. Jenkinson's also offers free photos on its parked Amusement Park Train on November 27 and 28, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Why this night matters for Point Pleasant Beach
Most people know Point Pleasant Beach for summer on the boardwalk. The tree lighting shows the other side of the borough, a downtown that comes together for the holidays in late November. I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, and I write these town blogs so you know what goes on in the towns where I sell homes, in every season.
Want to know more about the borough? Start with my Point Pleasant Beach town page, then read about another holiday event at the shore, Brick Winter Fest at Windward Beach Park.
