(PARAMUS, NJ) -- Westfield Garden State Plaza will kick off the 2025 holiday season with the 8th Annual Big Santa Celebration and annual lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 8. The event will be hosted by Z-100's Danielle Monaro, co-host of Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, and will feature an evening of live music, family entertainment, a breathtaking drone and light show, and holiday magic headlined by country music singer and songwriter Dylan Schneider.
For the first time ever, the Big Santa celebration will take place outdoors near Entrance 3 between AMC Theatres and Fogo de Chão, giving the 45-foot-tall iconic holiday decoration a new location for the holiday season. The original Big Santa was a fixture at Westfield Garden State Plaza from the 1950s to the 1980s and after a three-decade hiatus, was replicated to make a nostalgic return in 2018. Standing at 42’ tall, Big Santa will now welcome holiday shoppers from a new entrance to the Center.
Big Santa festivities will begin at 5:00pm with their DJ spinning holiday hits, followed by the official event kickoff at 6:00pm. Guests can enjoy an exciting lineup of national and local talent, including: Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra; Broadway Youth Ensemble; Dance Company Debut; Headliner Dylan Schneider – Country music’s rising star, known for hits like “Bad Decisions” and “Ain’t Missin’ You.” With more than 428 million career streams, Schneider has toured with Florida Georgia Line, Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan, and most recently Kane Brown, and co-wrote the Top 5 hit “Momma’s House” for Dustin Lynch.
“Big Santa has become synonymous with the holiday season in Bergen County, and we’re thrilled to celebrate another year of this incredible tradition,” said Wesley Rebisz, Senior General Manager, CSM at Westfield Garden State Plaza. “With Danielle Monaro hosting and a dynamic lineup of performers, this year’s event promises to be our most fun and spectacular yet.”
Returning for the third consecutive year, the event will also feature the Drone Light Show Spectacular—a breathtaking aerial display choreographed to music and lighting up the sky with festive, holiday-themed animations.
The Big Santa Lighting and Drone Light Show is free to attend, but RSVP is encouraged. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the entertainment, special attractions, and exclusive shopping offers throughout the center.
For more information and to RSVP, click here.
Westfield Garden State Plaza (GSP) is the ultimate destination for fashion, dining and entertainment located just minutes from Manhattan. Anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Macy's, the property features over 230 fashion stores which include Abercombie & Fitch, , JD Sports, Vuori, and Zara, complemented by the center’s luxury district, which is home to Burberry, Ferragamo, Gucci, and many more. Lifestyle and tech stores include among others, Apple, Razer, and Tesla, alongside 40+ unparalleled dining choices, anchored by The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, and Fogo de Chao. The center’s approximately 20 million visitors can also discover enjoy some of New Jersey’s best entertainment under one roof, including a 16 screen AMC Theater, Pinstripes Bowling and Bocce, and Planet Playskool.
GSP is easily accessible by public transportation or car and is conveniently located at the intersections of Route 4 and Route 17 and is close to the Garden State Parkway. The center offers year-round free parking.
