Magic of Lights is scheduled to return to PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel from November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027. The drive-through display gives visitors a seasonal outing on the arts center grounds without leaving their vehicles.
According to wobm.com, the event features a drive-through display filled with thousands of colorful lights, animated holiday scenes, Christmas characters and festive decorations, all viewable from the comfort of a vehicle while Christmas music plays. The same report notes that visitors can enjoy the holiday magic from the warmth of their own car while listening to the seasonal soundtrack. PNC Bank Arts Center sits at 116 Garden State Parkway, Exit 116, in Holmdel, per njfamily.com.
A Tech-Driven Winter Spectacle
The display blends beloved holiday scenes and characters with the latest LED technology and digital animations, according to visitnj.org. That combination of old-school holiday charm and modern lighting tech is part of what has made the drive-through format a go-to winter outing in the area, turning the arts center grounds into a sparkling scene for the season.
Guests should expect to stay buckled in for the duration of the ride. Per magicoflights.com, one vehicle pass is redeemable for one carload entry, and visitors are asked to remain inside their vehicle at all times while moving through the display. The same source notes that dogs are permitted to participate in the experience as long as they stay inside the vehicle with their humans.
What Past Seasons Looked Like
Specific details for the 2026 run — including ticket prices, nightly hours and the full attraction lineup — have not yet been confirmed. But prior seasons offer a sense of scale: a previous Magic of Lights drive-through at the same venue showcased 2.5 miles of holiday lights, njfamily.com reported. That earlier season ran from November 22 through January 4, 2025, open on both weekdays and weekends, and included extras like a holiday village, visits with Santa and ice skating, the outlet noted.
Other past write-ups have described additional seasonal touches layered into the display. A previous presentation featured themed light displays using the latest LED technology and digital animations, including stops like the Blizzard Tunnel, 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland and The Night Before Christmas, according to macaronikid.com. A separate prior-season account from patch.com described operating times of 5 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, though those hours have not been verified for this year's run.
The Venue's History And Another Holiday-Light Format
The Holmdel venue has a long history as a performance site: according to NJ.com, it began presenting concerts in 1968 under its original name, the Garden State Arts Center. That history predates the holiday-light event scheduled for this winter. A separate New Jersey attraction offers a different format. Turtle Back Zoo's 2025 Holiday Lights in Essex County invited visitors on a walk-through among more than 50 winter and animal characters, according to Turtle Back Zoo.
Whatever the final specifics turn out to be for 2026, Magic of Lights has built a reputation locally as a popular holiday tradition, offering Monmouth County families and friends a low-effort, high-glow way to kick off the season without leaving the driveway seat.
