An apple orchard glowing with colorful tunnels of holiday lights Yeah, I’m definitely looking twice at that. You roll through it all from your heated car seat, with holiday music piped in through your radio.
The farm behind it goes back to 1886. In summer and fall, families pick peaches, apples, and pumpkins in these same fields.
Come winter, the orchard trades fruit for thousands of twinkling lights.
What gets me is the combo. You get a dazzling drive, then fire pits, s’mores, and a visit with Santa.
Oh, and warm apple cider donuts are waiting in the market.
This New Jersey farm turns December into one long, glowing road trip. I’d absolutely make a detour for a night like that.
Your Car Becomes The Best Seat In The House
Demarest Farms calls its holiday show the Orchard of Lights, and the name fits perfectly. The farm’s apple orchard becomes a glowing route that you explore without ever leaving your vehicle.
That means no frozen fingers and no hunting for gloves in the dark. You stay warm, cozy, and parked in your own comfy seat the whole way.
The drive usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes from start to finish. That’s long enough to feel special but short enough for squirmy kids to handle.
Along the way, you’ll pass holiday light displays, automated light features, and LED designs. Fields decorated for the season stretch out around you like a giant holiday card.
The drive features illuminated tunnels and arches that surround passing vehicles with festive colors. Each one wraps your car in color, which feels a little like driving inside a snow globe.
Families with tiny kids, older relatives, or anyone who dislikes the cold can all enjoy it together. Nobody has to worry about walking too far or keeping pace with the group.
Honestly, it might be the comfiest light show in New Jersey. Snacks in the cupholder are totally allowed, after all.
Tune In, Turn Up, And Let The Lights Dance
Here’s a fun bonus most light shows can’t match. At the Orchard of Lights, the music comes straight through your car radio.
Just tune your dial to 107.9 FM before you start rolling. Holiday tunes play in sync with the lights, so the displays seem to move with the beat.
Suddenly, your minivan has its own private concert. Turn it up, sing badly, and nobody outside will ever know.
Kids especially love spotting which lights flash with which songs. It turns the whole drive into a little game of watch and listen.
A quick tip will save you some fumbling. Figure out how to change your radio station before you reach the entrance, since newer cars sometimes bury the FM setting in menus.
Also, keep your phone handy for photos but let the driver stay focused. The route moves slowly, and someone has to keep the car rolling while everyone else gasps at the lights.
Honestly, it’s the soundtrack that makes the show feel complete. Lights alone are pretty, but lights with music feel like a real holiday performance.
Book Ahead Or Risk Watching From The Road
Planning matters here, and it can’t be skipped. Tickets for the Orchard of Lights are sold only online, with reservations for specific entry times.
Pricing works per vehicle, not per person. That’s good news for big families who can fit everyone into one car.
Rates can shift depending on the day of the week. They also tend to rise as Christmas gets closer, so weeknights and earlier dates may be friendlier to your wallet.
Shows run on select dates from late November through late December. Times vary by year, but the lights generally start glowing around 5 PM.
Arrive about 10 minutes before your scheduled slot. That small cushion helps the line move smoothly for everyone.
One more detail could trip up larger groups. Transit vans and other oversized vehicles can’t go through the drive, so pick a regular-sized ride.
Check the farm’s posted schedule early, because dates change each season. Popular nights near the holiday can fill up fast.
A little planning now means a stress-free night later. Then all you need to worry about is who controls the radio.
Cider Donuts Might Steal The Spotlight
Lights are great, but snacks are greater. The farm market at Demarest Farms sells hot cocoa during the holiday event, which is exactly what a chilly December night needs.
Then there are the apple cider donuts. They’re one of the farm’s most famous treats, and they come plain, powdered, or coated in sugar.
A warm donut and a cup of cocoa feel like the official uniform of this outing. Grab extras, because the car ride home somehow makes everyone hungry again.
The market also carries pies and other baked goods. Picking one up saves you from baking for your next holiday gathering, and that’s a gift to yourself.
Beyond sweets, the shelves hold fresh produce, jams, jellies, and seasonal decorations. It’s easy to wander in for one donut and leave with half a holiday shopping list.
The store opened in 1991 and remains the heart of the farm’s operations. It’s open daily during the day, too, so the treats aren’t limited to light-show nights.
My advice? Eat one donut there and save one for later, if you can manage that kind of willpower.
Gooey S’mores And Crackling Fire Pits Await
After the drive ends, the fun keeps going. The holiday event at Demarest Farms includes fire pits where guests can warm up under the winter sky.
Better yet, you can make s’mores. Toasted marshmallow, melty chocolate, and graham crackers taste even better when your breath is fogging in the cold air.
It’s the kind of simple moment kids remember for years. Nobody forgets the marshmallow that caught on fire, after all.
Dress warmly for this part of the night. A hat, gloves, and a thick coat make the fire pits feel cozy rather than chilly.
Bring a few wet wipes, too. S’mores are delicious but famously sticky, and car seats don’t love chocolate fingerprints.
Pair the fire pits with a hot cocoa from the market, and you’ve built a perfect winter pit stop. It slows the evening down in the best way.
So many holiday outings feel rushed from start to finish. Sitting by a fire with your family is a nice reminder to just enjoy the season for a minute.
Santa Makes Time For Hillsdale Before His Big Night
Big news for anyone with a wish list. Santa Claus shows up at the farm’s Christmas event for photos, usually right up until Christmas Eve.
That’s pretty impressive scheduling for a guy with a sleigh to pack. Somehow he still finds time for families in New Jersey.
A picture with Santa makes a sweet keepsake for the fridge or a holiday card. Kids can share their requests in person, which beats mailing a letter and hoping it arrives.
Some sources also mention Santa’s singing reindeer as part of the fun. Details can change year to year, so check the farm’s current event info before promising anything.
Plan your photo visit around your drive-through time. Doing both in one evening keeps the night simple and the excitement high.
Dress the kids in their holiday best, or go full pajamas if that’s your family’s style. Santa has surely seen it all by now.
For little ones, meeting the big man himself can be the highlight of the whole season. For parents, that smile in the photo is worth the trip alone.
The Animals Get Into The Holiday Spirit Too
Goats in twinkling lights? Absolutely.
A Winter Lights Petting Zoo has been offered alongside the Orchard of Lights in some seasons, putting the barnyard in a holiday mood.
The farm’s Farmyard petting zoo is home to goats, sheep, alpacas, donkeys, ponies, pigs, and cows. That’s quite the cast for a holiday party.
There are also some fun features worth spotting. Look for the goat swing, a playhouse, the zoo bridge, a duck pond, and a waterwheel.
Yes, a goat swing is exactly as charming as it sounds. It’s hard not to grin at that idea.
The Barnyard area is stroller and wheelchair accessible, which helps families with little ones or mobility needs. Everyone can get close to the animals together.
The petting zoo welcomes visitors during the day year-round, too. If the winter version isn’t running during your visit, a daytime trip still offers plenty of furry friends.
Check the current schedule before you go, since offerings vary from season to season. Either way, the animals add a cozy farm feel that city light shows just can’t copy.
More Than A Century Of Farming Built This Glow
Long before LED lights, there were just apples and hard work. The Demarest family founded the farm back in 1886.
Over the decades, it grew into a true community spot. Pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, and peaches arrived in the 1970s, inviting families to harvest fruit themselves.
In 1991, the current farm store opened its doors. It still serves as the center of daily life on the property.
Then came a big change in 2014. Peter Demarest passed ownership to longtime employees Jason DeGise and Jim Spollen.
That’s a pretty heartwarming handoff. The people who knew the farm best became the ones in charge of its future.
Even better, the farmland is preserved for agricultural use. That means these acres should stay green and growing instead of turning into another housing development.
In a crowded part of New Jersey, that matters more than ever. Open land is rare, and this farm keeps a little countryside alive.
So when you drive through the glowing orchard, remember its roots. Those same trees produce real fruit every fall, which makes the holiday sparkle feel even more meaningful.
Come Back In Every Season For A New Adventure
December is magical, but it’s only one chapter. You’ll find Demarest Farms at 244 Wierimus Road in Hillsdale, New Jersey, and the place stays busy all year.
Summer brings peach picking in the orchard. Families fill bags with ripe fruit and head home with plenty for cobblers and snacks.
Fall is the farm’s superstar season. Apple picking and pumpkin picking draw crowds, and hayrides carry visitors around the orchard.
October has its own glowing tradition, too. A drive-through Halloween Light Show runs before the Christmas lights take over.
So you could easily turn this farm into a year-round habit. Peaches in summer, apples and pumpkins in fall, and spooky lights before the festive ones.
The farm market is open daily, generally from morning until late afternoon. Stop in for produce, baked goods, and seasonal decor whenever you’re nearby.
Hillsdale sits in Bergen County, so the farm is a handy trip for many North Jersey families. Tight local roads can get busy, so leave a little extra time.
Once you’ve seen the orchard glow, you’ll probably want to see it bloom and fruit, too.
