Camuso Holiday Schedule Issued For Livingston; Special Event For Special Needs Families

LIVINGSTON, NJ — For decades, toymaker Ernie Camuso of Livingston built one of New Jersey's most beloved holiday light displays near his home. Now, volunteers set up the seasonal display in Livingston each year and offer weeks of events.

As with past years, the display will return this year with a kickoff on Saturday, Dec. 2. See the full schedule and release below.

Recently, the event was announced on the Camuso Facebook page, drawing cheers from fans.

"My parents dragged us for the hike up Burnett Hill Rd every year of my childhood," a woman wrote. "It was magical! Now I drag ours to the circle to see the magic created by one man, never forgotten. Rest easy Mr. Camuso. It's beautiful...your legacy goes on."

"I will never forget the first time I saw it on Burnett Hill," said a man. "You are so right, it was magical. Now I feel like I am in a Hallmark movie."

Special Event For Adults And Kids With Disabilities

The Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities (LACD) and the Camuso Committee will again sponsor a special LACD Camuso Holiday Display Event for people with special needs and their families.

The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at the Livingston Memorial Oval Gazebo, Robert Harp Drive. It will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. In case of snow or rain, the event will be postponed to Monday, Dec. 18, same hours. To check on the event status, please call 973-535-7961 ext. 7102. "We invite you to enjoy the Camuso Holiday Display with your family," said organizers.

As part of that event, "Come meet and take a picture with our fully vaccinated Santa. All of our special guests will receive a present. Free refreshments will be served. Kindly RSVP by Dec. 6 by visiting https://tinyurl.com/Camuso2023 or email Alan Karpas at [email protected]. Call 973-992-6411 for help with RSVP's or for more information. Visit us online at www.facebook.com/lacdnj or www.livingstonnj.org/LACD."

Schedule For 2023 And Press Release, Issued Tuesday

Do I see Reindeers at the oval?? …Yes, it is that time of year again. The Camuso Holiday Display Committee is back and preparing a special 2023 holiday celebration at the High School Oval.

Since last year, the Committee has been meeting to raise funds and to plan improvements to the display. “We vowed last year that 2023 would be bigger and better than ever,” said Chief ELF Tom Cooney.

Beth Lippman, Executive Director of the BID has been spearheading the Committee’s fundraising efforts. As noted by Beth, “We have great businesses in town that support this spectacular event”! Funds go towards the repairs and upgrading of the display. It takes a lot of work, special parts and special people to keep them working!

PURCHASE A Stocking!! This year we will be selling a Holiday Stocking made by the elves. Names will be painted on them and they will be placed around the display. The Stocking come in red, Green & Blue and will be given to the donors when the display is taken down. The cost will be $20.00 per Stocking!

Come visit the all new Ginger Bread House!! And don’t forget to look for the Elf on the Shelf hidden somewhere in the display. His location changes every night!

Opening Night! The display will open with a spectacular lighting ceremony on Saturday December 2, 2023. Livingston Starliners Dance Team will open the event at 6:30pm. Lights will go on at 7:00pm. The Trackless Train is back! Get on Board for this spectacular Community Event… That includes dancing by our own, Choir Quartet in the Gazebo, Christmas Combo Bouncy House, Hot Chocolate and much more! Don’t miss it!

Livingston UNICO will once again sponsor Santa and his elf at the Gazebo on Saturday, December 9 at 6:30 p.m.

NOTE THE CHANGE: Starting Saturday, Dec. 16, Clydesdale Horses and wagon rides will be offered for the family. A petting zoo and pony rides will provide a festive time at the oval.

Livingston’s First Responders are sponsoring an event for kids and adults with disabilities on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., with a special Santa appearance.

At 7 p.m. the Livingston Fire Department and First Aid Squad is hosting a fun Craft for all the children to decorate! Santa will make a second appearance! and Hot Chocolate will be provided to help celebrate this holiday season!

The exhibit open at 4:30 on Weekdays and close at 9:00pm. It will open on Friday and Saturdays at 4:30 and close at 10:00pm. The last day it will be open is January 1, 2024!

A Giant THANK YOU to our Sponsors:
Fairview Insurance, Schumacher Chevrolet, Air Group, Progressive Companies, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, The Goddard School, Livingston UNICO, Livingston Kiwanis, Rentis Family.

“This is a community event,” said Cooney “and we want every group in town to feel welcome to participate. So come out and help celebrate this Livingston tradition with us.

Find Out More

For general information and updates about the display, click here or here.