More Fun Than Ever at Santa’s Arrival on November 28, 2025

63rd Annual Event Stacked With Family Entertainment at Nutley Park Oval

NUTLEY, NJ – Get ready for a holiday season blastoff like no other as Nutley Chamber of Commerce presents the 63rd Annual Santa’s Arrival on Friday, November 28, 2025, at Nutley High School Park Oval, 300 Franklin Avenue.

This highly anticipated and festive tradition produced by Nutley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Township of Nutley, is sponsored by member businesses and has brought Santa and Mrs. Claus to town for decades!  Spectator admission is free, and the spectacle is solely funded by the chamber.

“We are very excited to have Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in grand fashion on a Nutley Fire Truck,” said Commissioner Alphonse Petracco, Director of Public Safety.  “The ceremonial procession will include festively decorated township vehicles and big rig trucks to rattle the earth and make enough noise to let the world know that Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick is in Nutley!”

For this rain or shine event, gates open at 1:00 PM and Santa is scheduled to arrive at 2:00 PM.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for group family photos until 3:00 PM when they must depart back to The North Pole to begin Christmas preparations!

Incomparable event host Robert Frannicola of Ultimate Entertainment provides the incredible energy as Christmas music fills the air.  Larger-than-life IWF Wrestlers Kevin Knight, Dark Oracle Sage, Patrick Sanchez and Michele Dee will make their way around the Oval to allow children to pose for photos with the championship title belts.  Local celebrity singer Anna Felice will be performing live, belting out some Christmas Songs and carols!  Rousing performances by Dancers in Motion and GIA Dance Studio keep you entertained while awaiting the arrival of Santa.

Mayor John V. Kelly III will provide a special ‘Santa Express Mailbox’ outside the Park Oval Entrance Gate on Chestnut Street.  Dr. Joseph Scarpelli hosts a ‘Letters to Santa’ initiative where children at Santa’s Arrival will receive a kit with all the necessary materials needed to write their Christmas list.  The letters can be placed in the mailbox until December 14, and they will be hand-delivered with care to the Santa!

“I am looking forward to once again handing out our ‘Letters to Santa’ kits as we usher in the Holiday Season with one of Nutley’s finest traditions… Santa’s Arrival at the Park Oval,” said Dr. Scarpelli.

“Over the years, Santa and Mrs. Claus have entered the Oval via a variety of methods, including helicopter, fire truck, horse and carriage, and even in a red corvette,” Chamber Director Kevin Knight explained.  “With the unexpected unavailability of our helicopter pilot this year due to circumstances beyond our control, and the inability to secure a replacement after an exhaustive search on short notice, we worked with Commissioner Petracco to arrange a fire truck to come to the rescue to transport Santa and Mrs. Claus from the North Pole to the Nutley.”

“The coordination of this annual event would not be possible without the Township of Nutley, who serve as our incredible partner,” said Chamber President Joe Graziano.  “We are grateful for the efforts of Public Safety, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Health & Public Affairs, Department of Finance, and Nutley Board of Education to make this massive event happen.”