Hoboken and Jersey City sit just across the Hudson, offering small-city holiday traditions plus some of the best views of lit-up Manhattan. Both are minutes away by PATH train or ferry.
Dates marked “expected” follow the traditional schedule; towns confirm details in November.
Quick Facts
| Hoboken tree lighting | Mid-December at 11th & Washington Sts (2025: Thu, Dec 11, 5 p.m.) |
|---|---|
| Hoboken menorah lighting | City Hall during Hanukkah (Dec 4–12, 2026) |
| Getting there | PATH to Hoboken, Newport, Grove St or Exchange Place; NY Waterway ferries |
Hoboken
- Tree lighting — Santa, youth performers and free cocoa from local businesses.
- Holiday Night Out — a December Saturday of store deals, music and workshops along Washington Street.
- Holiday artisan markets — 75+ vendors on December Sundays at the 770 Jackson St plaza (2025).
- Mile Square Theatre — a radio-play A Christmas Carol in mid-December in recent seasons.
Jersey City
- Heights Holiday Market — 150+ vendors in Riverview Park on an early-December Saturday (see NJ markets).
- City tree and menorah lightings — at City Hall in early December.
- Exchange Place and Liberty State Park — the best close-up views of the Manhattan skyline at night.
About Hoboken and Jersey City
Hoboken, birthplace of Frank Sinatra, is a compact, walkable city of brownstones along the Hudson, with a lively Washington Street of shops and restaurants. Jersey City, New Jersey’s second-largest city, has neighborhoods ranging from the high-rise waterfront to the historic Heights and Paulus Hook. Both have some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline.
Best Skyline Views
- Hoboken waterfront: Pier A Park and Sinatra Drive look across to Midtown.
- Exchange Place, Jersey City: views straight across to Lower Manhattan.
- Liberty State Park: the Statue of Liberty and the skyline together.
Getting There
PATH trains run from 33rd Street and the World Trade Center to Hoboken and Jersey City in 10–20 minutes. NY Waterway ferries also cross the Hudson.
More in New Jersey
See our Christmas in New Jersey guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hoboken tree lighting?
It is usually held in mid-December at 11th and Washington Streets; in 2025 it was Thursday, December 11.
