South Jersey Town Turns on Christmas Lights in October

'tis the season! Well, almost...

Let me check the calendar... yep, we're still half of a month away from Halloween.

So naturally, one town in South Jersey not only has its Christmas (or "winter" or "holiday") decorations already up, but they're also on every night.

Which begs the question: has decorating for Christmas even crossed your mind yet? Have you started your holiday shopping?

Christmas Comes Early in South Jersey

Our travels take us to Monroe Township in Gloucester County, where there's a feeling of yuletide glee in the air (in October) as Main Street is already finely decorated in all of its winter glory.

Now, this typically happens every year. Allow me to explain.

Monroe Township, NJ, has its Christmas decorations up and on already in October - Photo: Chris Coleman — Illuminated snowflake Christmas lights hanging along Main Street in Williamstown, New Jersey, in October - Photo: Chris Coleman

A South Jersey Town That's Always Ahead of Schedule

In addition to being really early with their Christmas/winter decorations (quite possibly the first in the state to have them up and on), Monroe Township also traditionally holds its annual Halloween Parade well before October 31st. This year, for example, it's this Saturday, the 17th.

To make that parade a bit more festive (I guess?), in addition to Main Street being lined with haybales and scarecrows, the township puts up its snowflakes and turns them all on... in the middle of October.

Christmas Lights All Season Long

And those snowflakes will be on every night through the end of December.

As of this writing, Christmas is 73 days away. If at some point you want to get an early jump on feeling all wintery (especially today and tomorrow when it'll be well past 70 degrees), a stroll down Main Street in Williamstown might get you in the mood. And you can even do it wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

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Gallery Credit: Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for WPUR Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com.