HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Warren County) — Crowds turned out Friday evening as the Hackettstown Business Improvement District kicked off its annual Hometown Holiday celebration, beginning a full weekend of music, activities and seasonal events continuing Saturday and Sunday.
Friday’s festivities, held from 5 to 9 p.m., featured holiday entertainment, kids boardwalk games, family activities and shopping specials at local businesses. The Holiday Bazaar food and shopping tent operated behind Stella G’s, while community Christmas caroling and the Grand Illumination took place at Centenary University’s Seay Building.
Performances included the Hackettstown Middle School Select Choir, the Hackettstown High School Chorale and 908’s, the NJ Civic Youth Ballet, the Hackettstown Community Band and the Colonial Musketeers Fife and Drum Corps. The Hackettstown Historical Society hosted an open house showcasing its display of more than 500 historic Santa figures.
The Hackettstown Free Public Library’s Winter Wonderland offered hot beverages, 3-D giveaways and an elf costume contest. Later in the evening, crowds lined Main Street for the annual Santa Parade, which led directly into the town’s tree lighting ceremony at the Main and Moore streets gazebo.
During Friday’s program, the Hackettstown BID also announced that Shawn Burke has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 Hackettstown St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Events continue today, Saturday, Dec. 6, with holiday music on Main Street from noon to 5 p.m. and Winter Wonderland at the Hackettstown Community Center from noon to 4 p.m., featuring photos with Santa and NJ Civic Youth Ballet photo opportunities with the Nutcracker, Clara and Fritz.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, Vermella Hackettstown will host the annual Gingerbread House Contest at 112 Bilby Road. Contest submissions begin at 1 p.m., with public viewing and voting starting at 2 p.m. Cookies and hot cocoa will be available.
More information and full schedules are available at www.hackettstownbid.com.
