The Township of Nutley is all set to kick off another festive holiday season with a full lineup of events designed to help residents enjoy “the most wonderful time of the year!”

The celebration begins this Friday, November 28, when Santa and Mrs. Claus make their 63rd Annual Arrival at the Nutley Oval. For this rain or shine event, gates open at 1pm and Santa is scheduled to arrive at 2pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for group family photos until 3pm. This beloved tradition is once again produced by the Nutley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Township of Nutley, and sponsored by member businesses. Spectator admission is free.

On Sunday, December 7, from 5pm to 7pm, the annual Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at the Municipal Plaza, directly in front of Town Hall at 1 Kennedy Drive. Residents are invited to enjoy Nutley’s oldest holiday tradition, featuring photos with Santa in an outdoor heated tent, roasted chestnuts, doughnuts, mini-train rides, horse and buggy rides, and more, while the Chamber Singers and Brass Ensemble perform seasonal favorites along Chestnut Street and Franklin Avenue.

Mayor Kelly recently announced plans to once again collect letters written to Santa by children in the Township and forward them directly to Santa Claus in the North Pole. The special “Santa Express Mailbox” will be placed at the Nutley Park Oval entrance on Chestnut Street where children can deliver their letters starting on Friday, November 28. The last day of collection will be Sunday, December 14, allowing Santa enough time to respond to each letter. Parents are asked to please remember to have children include their age and return address on each letter to Santa. The address is very important, since Santa doesn’t always have the luxury of time to look up addresses during the busy holiday season. Commissioner Dr. Joseph Scarpelli will host a “Letters to Santa” initiative at the Santa’s Annual Arrival at the Nutley Oval where children at the event can receive a kit with all the necessary materials needed to write their Christmas list. The letters can be placed in the “Santa Express Mailbox.”

Holiday shopping kicks off on Tuesday, December 2, when Mayor Kelly and the Nutley Department of Public Affairs and Health in partnership with the Nutley Chamber of Commerce present the 2025 Small Business “Shop ‘til you Drop” event from 5pm-8pm at the Nutley Elks Lodge #1290, 242 Chestnut Street. Nutley-based small business owners will have the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their products and services to shoppers while they sip and snack on complimentary desserts and beverages.

The Department of Public Affairs and Health and the Nutley Board of Education also invite residents to support local families through Nutley’s Annual Treasure Chest Adopt-a-Family Program. This initiative aims to support families in the Township by providing Christmas gifts for their children and holiday food assistance. Each year, Nutley helps between 250 and 300 children aged 3 to 18 who are currently enrolled in Township schools. Donations of $25 gift cards to major retailers such as Target, ShopRite, Kohl’s, or Amazon are requested to help families purchase gifts and ensure every child is remembered by Santa. Donating is simple: purchase $25 gift cards and drop them off in a sealed envelope at the Department of Public Affairs and Health, located at 149 Chestnut Street, Nutley, NJ 07110. Please include your name, address, phone number, and email on the outside of the envelope, addressed to Sharon Bozza. Donations can be dropped off at the Nutley Department of Public Affairs and Health from Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm, until Friday, December 5, 2025. This timeline is crucial to allow families adequate time to shop for their children.

Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci & the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Greater Nutley Cancer Foundation will host a STUFF-A-BUS celebration on December 11 from 6pm-8pm in Room 300 at 44 Park Ave. This event collects new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children and teens who are battling illness this holiday season. Toy donations can be delivered on December 9, 10 and 11 from 5pm to 8pm. Your generosity will bring smiles, comfort, and joy to these brave kids and teens! 

A number of family-friendly activities round out the season. On Thursday, December 4, Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, Commissioner Tucci and the Department of Parks and Recreation will present the winter theater production of the beloved holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, featuring the incredible talent of Nutley students on stage at Nutley High School. All performances begin at 7pm. The Parks and Recreation Department brings more festive fun with “Christmas Cookie Decorating” with Grandma and Grandpa on Monday, December 15, 2025. This event will be held at the Parks and Recreation Department located at 44 Park Ave from 6pm to 7:30pm. The evening will include cookie decorating, light refreshments, and a visit from Santa Claus. The fee for this special event is $5.00 per child; grandparents are admitted free! Nutley Residents Only. Limit 2 adults per child.

Commissioner Alphonse Petracco and the Department of Public Safety will also host their annual Santa Meet and Greet on Thursday, December 11, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Department of Public Safety. On Saturday, December 13, Commissioner Petracco and the Nutley FMBA Local #44 bring back another Nutley tradition as they present their annual Santa Ride! Santa, riding in a firetruck along with Nutley firefighters, will be making over 25 stops across town from 9am to 1:30pm.