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One of the biggest holiday nights in West Hudson is coming back. Kearny’s annual Tree Lighting Festival is set for Thursday, December 3, 2026 at Kearny Town Hall, 402 Kearny Avenue, in Kearny, Hudson County, NJ, according to the Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone’s 2026 calendar.
The festival is sponsored by the Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone (KUEZ) together with the Mayor and Town Council. The 2026 lineup has not been posted yet, so here is what our team confirmed about the date and what the night looked like last year.
Kearny Tree Lighting Festival at a Glance
- Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026
- Location: Kearny Town Hall, 402 Kearny Avenue, and the Town Hall American Revolution Bicentennial Park
- Last year’s hours: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Cost: free activities
- Organizer: Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone, kuez@kearnynj.org
- Website: About the Kearny UEZ
What Last Year’s Festival Looked Like
In 2025, Kearny Life reported that the evening opened at 5:30 p.m. with a Hometown Concert on the Town Hall steps, featuring the Kearny High School Ensemble, the Kearny 6th Grade Chorus, local dance studios and community choirs. At 6:30 p.m., Santa arrived to help Mayor Carol Jean Doyle and the Town Council light the town tree.
The celebration then moved into the Town Hall park, where Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children 12 and under for photos until 8:30 p.m. Families enjoyed free face painting, performances on the Jingle Bell Stage, a giant inflatable snow globe for photos and a visit from Glinda and Elphaba. The KUEZ also hosted its giant free Toy Raffle, which the town highlighted in its festival recap.
Plan Your Night
- Kearny Avenue was closed between Liberty Street and Quincy Avenue during last year’s festival, so plan to park on a side street and walk
- Bundle up: the concert and tree lighting are outdoors
- Bring the kids early if you want a photo with Santa before lines grow
- Watch the Town of Kearny website for the 2026 performer lineup and times
More Holiday Fun in Hudson County
Keep the holiday spirit going with our Hudson County holiday markets guide, which includes the Frank V Marina flea market in Kearny on December 13. You can also catch the JC Fridays December celebration in Jersey City, and plan your next weekend with things to do in Hudson County this weekend.
Want every tree lighting and holiday event as towns announce them? subscribe to the Shop Hudson County newsletter.
Featured photo: Jim.henderson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
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