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Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Christmas Lights in New Jersey!

There are some mornings I wake up to the best kind of press releases in my inbox, the kind of press releases that make me stop everything else in order to get this exciting news out to you. Today was one of those mornings. Six Flags Great Adventure has announced they will have drive thru Christmas lights in New Jersey.

Year after year, visiting Six Flags Holiday in the Park has been one of my favorite Christmas traditions. There’s just something about seeing those Christmas lights that fills me with joy and puts me in the holiday spirit. I don’t care how cold it is, when Holiday in The Park opens I am there. I don’t need rides. I don’t need the boardwalk games. I need the Christmas lights at Great Adventure.

During Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure you can walk through this Christmas ornament.
During Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure you can walk through this Christmas ornament on the weekends.

Now Holidays in the Park is not going anywhere. In fact guests will be able to experience it TWO ways. The traditional way will be available on weekends, but Mondays through Thursdays, guests can drive thru it.

You can DRIVE THRU GREAT ADVENTURE!!

How cool is that? Your kids are NEVER going to forget the night they drove through Great Adventure!! Keep reading for details. We attended opening night and are updating this with details to reflect that. Here’s a brief highlight video for you to watch.

Six Flags announced today for the first time in its history, Six Flags Great Adventure, the World’s Ultimate Thrill Park, will offer a drive-thru experience of its winter spectacular, Holiday in the Park. Featuring more than a million dazzling lights, festive holiday theming, and seasonal music favorites, this innovative, one-of-a-kind, nighttime New Jersey Christmas event will operate Monday through Thursday evenings November 30, 2020 through December 17, 2020.

Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights car in great adventure.

Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Christmas Lights!!

Six Flags Great Adventure  NEW drive-through Christmas experience is a must do experience this year!

logo for Six Flags Great Adventure Holiday in the Park drive thru

About the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Christmas Lights

While the thrill of the park’s iconic roller coasters, festive fire pits, and delicious holiday treats will operate only on weekends, this unique Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience will delight revelers of all ages on weeknights, and offer an exciting way to celebrate the spirit of the season from the comfort and safety of their own vehicles.

We have successfully transformed the traditional weekend operation of our beloved Holiday in the Park into a new, drive-thru experience during the week.

Six Flags Great Adventure President John Winkler

“We are proud to debut another way for our guests to safely celebrate the holidays with this unprecedented, magical event,” said Six Flags Great Adventure President John Winkler. “We have successfully transformed the traditional weekend operation of our beloved Holiday in the Park into a new, drive-thru experience during the week.

The popularity of our Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure showed us that families are craving ways to create special memories together that are safe and socially distant, and we are honored to welcome them into our theme park winter wonderland. Plus, theme park enthusiasts won’t want to miss this extremely rare opportunity to drive through the park,” he added.

Santa Claus with elves at Great Adventure

How do I get tickets to the Drive Thru Christmas Lights at Great Adventure?

To prevent overcrowding, the Drive Thru Holiday in the Park experience will use the Six Flags’ online reservation system.

All guests are required to make a reservation at www.sixflags.com/reserve.

Jack frost at Six Flags Great Adventure Holiday in the park

How do I make a reservation to visit the Christmas lights?

All guests are required to make a reservation at www.sixflags.com/reserve. You can begin making reservations and buying tickets for Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience at noon Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

Tickets for this first-ever event will be available on a first come, first served basis and will be sold per person for each night.

Admission is free with active Memberships and Season Passes, and reservations are required. Ticket sales will not be available at the gate. The event and its live entertainment are weather permitting.

Once you have your ticket or pass number, you will log onto the reservation site at www.sixflags.com/reserve. Choose a date from the calendar that is available for your ticket type. Dates are color coded on the website calendar to show availability. If there is a specific date you want to visit that is unavailable, you may join the wait list if you choose. Should the date become available, you will be notified by email. Enter the required information. When you have completed the registration, you will receive a confirmation. Please print this confirmation sheet if possible. A printed sheet is easier to scan through the car window than a phone screen. We want this experience to be as contact-free as possible.

Ticket sales are for individuals. No group sales are available.

Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights merry go round

When will it open? When will it be open?

The Holiday in the Park Six Flags Great Adventure Drive-Thru Christmas lights will debut November 30 and run Monday through Thursday evenings through December 17, 2020, weather permitting. Rain does not always mean the drive thru Christmas lights will be cancelled. There was rain on opening night and the event was open. (Rain did not prevent it from being enjoyable.) The drive thru Christmas lights begin nightly at 6 pm. A specific nightly closing time has not yet been announced.

How much will it cost?

Each guest will need a ticket. Admission tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and are $14.99 per person.

Poinsetta princess at Six Flags Great Adventure Holiday in the Park

How long is the drive thru Christmas lights?

On opening night we experienced a wait time of less than 10 minutes to get to the entrance. If you see a line, don’t let it scare you. It moved fast.

The entire route took us about 22 minutes to complete. It moved at a steady pace. We never felt rushed and it wasn’t too slow. You can see download the map of the Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights.

map of the Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights

Can I stop to take pictures?

Stopping is not allowed. For the safety of all guests and staff the traffic flow needs to keep moving. We found the pace to move slowly enough that you could take pictures without stopping.

How much will there be to see at Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Christmas lights?

As one of the largest holiday drive-thru events in the Northeast and the only one inside a theme park, the Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience will include 12 immersive, distinctly different areas throughout the 140-acre theme park which will be filled with an exquisite palette of colorful twinkling lights, live entertainment, and festive music.

Guests will enjoy distanced greetings from beloved holiday characters decked out for the holidays, popular iconic holiday decorations, a drive-by featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus and their helpful elves, and much more.

Cars drive thru the Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights in New Jersey.

Highlights of the new Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience include:

12 Areas of Joy at Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience

  • Jolly Jamboree: The journey begins in this new section for 2020 which features live entertainment, twinkling trees, and a red sky pathway;
  • Holiday Heroes: Patriotic colors and projected stars signify the start of Holiday Heroes, a section home to some of the most iconic, hero-themed thrill rides. Guest cross the Metropolis-Narrows Bridge adorned with shimmering garland, and pass a dazzling and bold red, white and blue-wrapped tree;
  • Holiday Memories: Traditional red, white and green décor evokes the warm memories of the holidays in this charming section featuring a glistening tree, festive wreaths, and glowing mistletoe balls swinging gently from the trees above;
  • North Pole: This section transforms into a kaleidoscope of color with Santa’s House – completely engulfed in lights – anchoring the center while two massive nutcrackers stand guard outside, and dancing lights travel around the Bumper Cars pavilion;
Santa's House in the North Pole at Great Adventure in New Jersey.
  • Polar Point: Guests pass the 15-story Big Wheel, illuminated in lavender, to enter a world of brilliant, ice-blue trees offering the illusion of falling snow;
  • A Main Street Christmas: Located in the heart of the park, this Main Street reminiscent of a colonial Christmas is home to a spectacular, five-story, LED tree and gently-falling snow;
  • Gingerbread Junction: This feast for the eyes features the Carousel pavilion’s exciting light show, peppermint swirl-wrapped trees, and giant, peppermint light projections;
  • Poinsettia Peak: The section is awash in bold red tones with a beautiful tree comprised of poinsettias. Poinsettia projection lights and Skull Mountain, illuminated in red, complete this area;
  • Holly Jolly Christmas: Guests will feel the chill as they pass Polar Point on their way toward THE JOKER, where Holly Jolly Christmas offers traditional red and green decor and a massive Santa inflatable;
Lighted menorah luminary at Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights
  • Joy to the World: Next, the warm, yellow glow of wrapped trees frame tranquil luminaries highlighting religious holidays from around the world along the still, moonlit Great Lake. Then, guests will journey over massive snowflake light projections under dramatically illuminated trees and continue through the dazzling Twinkle Tunnel;
  • Snowman City: Standing tall – extremely tall — the jolly, three-story inflatable snowman known as Stewey welcomes guests to Snowman City, punctuated by bright white lights and shimmering tinsel; and
  • Deck the Halls: The journey draws to a close in the Boardwalk section as guests pass iconic roller coasters, larger-than-life illuminated presents, and twinkling, oversized tree trimmings.
Rocking horse, presents, and other lights at Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights.png

A few tips based on our Holiday in the Park Drive Thru experience

  • Buy your tickets early. Tickets are not available for the same day and most days are already sold out.
  • DO NOT let the number of cars scare you. While the line was long to get in it actually moved quickly. We waited less than 10 minutes from our arrival to when we went through the front entrance.
  • Try to save any restroom visits till after you complete the drive thru. If you pull off to use the restrooms, you will need to merge your car back into the main lane for the drive thru.
  • Watch out for characters. They come up quickly it seems. We saw Mrs. Claus right away, just past the first blow up nutcracker.
  • There will be plenty of lights to take pictures of and I found the lighting of it makes it easier to take pictures of them. It was a bit harder to take pictures of the characters because there is not much lighting on them.
  • Santa was at the end of the route, in a snow globe, in front of the Superman Ultimate Flight right. There is a great lighting there so it should be easier to get a picture of him.

Is it safe?

The safety of guests and team members is always Six Flags’ top priority. The new Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience will offer a contactless experience that follows CDC, state, and county health and safety guidelines. To prevent overcrowding and provide proper social distancing, a limited number of cars will be allowed each night.

A list of safety requirements is available on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure and include

  • Drive SLOW – 3 mph speed limit
  • If any of the windows on a vehicle is open, the occupants of the vehicles must wear a face covering when approached by Six Flags Personnel, Security or Emergency Services.
  • Participating vehicles cannot exceed their maximum occupancy and must follow motor vehicle laws.
  • All vehicles and passengers in vehicles are required to follow New Jersey state driving laws, including wearing a seat belt at all times while driving through the park.
  • Maintain space between your car and others.
  • Remain in your vehicle and on designated path at all times.
  • No smoking or littering.
  • No parking or stopping.
  • Restrooms are provided prior to entering the drive-thru route and at the conclusion of the route. In-Park restrooms are not available.
  • All vehicles are subject to a search by Six Flags Personnel, Security or Emergency Services.
  • Due to the limited size of certain areas and terrain only cars, SUV’s, vans and pick-up trucks are permitted. No buses, RV’s, commercial vehicles, dually pick-up trucks, trailers, motorcycles etc.
  • Please adhere to the direction of Six Flags Personnel, Security or Emergency Services.
  • Alcohol, drugs and illegal substances are not permitted. Individuals in possession or under the influence will be denied entry or ejected.

As part of Six Flags’ comprehensive safety procedures, all employees are required to wear masks and are temperature-checked and health-screened each day. Gloves are worn as appropriate, per guidelines.

Six Flags encourages guests to plan accordingly for restroom breaks, gasoline, and food. Portable restrooms will be available at the entrance and exit. For the full Holiday in the Park experience, including world-class thrill rides, festive treats, holiday shopping, fire pits, live entertainment and more, guests are encouraged to plan their visit weekends and select days through January 3, 2020. 

What happens if my car breaks down?

If your car can still move, please drive to the side of the road (but stay on the roadway) and place your flashers on. If you cannot move your car, just place your flashers on. One of our team members will come to assist you.

Light projects onto the pathway at Six Flags Great Adventure Holiday in the Park in New Jersey.

Will there be restrooms available?

The drive thru Holiday in the Park starts and ends at the main parking lot in front of Great Adventure. The are about 4 portable restrooms and a handwashing station available in the lot, along the route.

Will there be any souvenirs to buy?

The Six Flags Great Adventure drive thru Christmas lights operates like the Drive Thru Safari. However there was not a food truck or a souvenir stand after you exit the lights and before you leave Great Adventure.

horizontal logo for Six Flags Great Adventure Holiday in the Park drive thru experience.

For more Christmas Activities near New Jersey visit these blog posts and listings

Make a trip across a bridge to explore more local Christmas Family Fun.

We support family fun in New Jersey but sometimes you want to get away to see what our nearby cities can offer. Both Philadelphia and New York City offer some amazing holiday displays, events, and Christmas attractions. We have your information on how to make a day of Christmas in the City! Click on any of the links below for more details.

For help with your holiday and Christmas Shopping take a look at these posts

We’re currently updating these guides for 2023.

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