On Sunday, November 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., the 42-foot Big Santa returns to Westfield Garden State Plaza for the ninth year. There will be live music, Santa arriving on a fire truck, the lighting, and fireworks timed to holiday music, according to TAPinto Paramus. Garden State Plaza's posted hours list Sunday as "Closed."
The biggest party on the Paramus holiday calendar falls on the one day the mall's stores can't open. Bergen County's blue law splits the season into two calendars. Sundays are for gathering. Monday through Saturday is for shopping. Once you see the split, the whole season from now to Christmas Eve is easier to plan.
The Sunday Calendar Starts Back Near Nordstrom
Last year, Big Santa stood in the Center, the heart of the mall, for the first time since the 1950s. This year he moves back to his original spot near Nordstrom. TAPinto puts the exact location in the parking lot by entrance 7.
The lineup leans into nostalgia. Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ryan Cabrera hosts, with live sets from All-4-One, TKA, Spice Wannabe and JYT. Before the main stage gets going, the lot fills with stilt walkers, costume characters, balloon artists, face painters, food trucks and eateries. Guests are asked to come in their most nostalgic or festive holiday look. TAPinto reported that nearly 15,000 people across Bergen County RSVP'd for last year's event, and RSVPs for 2026 are open on Westfield's event page.
Sue Newsom, Garden State Plaza's vice president of shopping center management, described the event to TAPinto in community terms, not retail terms:
"Big Santa has become a beloved holiday tradition, bringing families and the community together to kick off the holiday season."
The borough's own season has leaned the same way. Last year's Jingle Ball Bash and tree lighting ran at Petruska Park on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 1 to 5 p.m.
What the Blue Law Leaves Open on a Paramus Sunday
Sunday works for a parking-lot party because the law is narrower than its reputation. The Wyckoff municipal clerk's FAQ explains that Bergen County's rule limits Sunday sales of clothing, building materials, furniture, furnishings, and household and business appliances. It does not ban all commerce, and prepared food and recreation are among the exceptions. At the mall itself, the Sunday picture depends on the business:
- Seasons 52 lists Sunday hours of 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- AMC Theatres at Garden State Plaza lists itself as closed on Sundays, even though entertainment is generally allowed.
- Paramus Park shows Sundays closed through every holiday week on its calendar.
Paramus defends that quiet in court. In a June 1, 2026 report, NJ Spotlight, republished by NJ Urban News, described the borough's lawsuit asking a court to order Sunday retail closures at American Dream in East Rutherford. The report said Paramus backs the ban for the relief it brings from traffic on the Garden State Parkway and Routes 4 and 17, and that county voters have repeatedly approved measures keeping the laws in place. That's the context for November 22. On the one afternoon those highways are quietest, the busiest mall in town becomes a stage instead of a store.
The Weekday Calendar Is Built Out of Store Openings
The other six days carry the shopping, and this year Garden State Plaza is adding to it in stages. In an October roundup, NJBIZ listed six arrivals timed to the holiday season, all on Level 2.
| Timing | Store | Where on Level 2 | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open since Oct. 3 | Miniso | Near E.A.K. Ramen | Asian lifestyle brand with low price points |
| Early November | Liv Breads | Near Kura Revolving Sushi Bar | Millburn-born bakery and coffee bar with wild yeast sourdough and laminated pastries |
| November | Thirdlove | Near Neiman Marcus | Bras, underwear, sleepwear and activewear |
| Mid-November | Escapology | Near AMC Theatres | Private escape rooms for friends, families and teams |
| Late November | Paul Fredrick | Near H&M | American-made menswear, custom-fit dress shirts and tailored suits |
| Early December | Levi's | Near Macy's | Denim, tops and outerwear |
Thirdlove's date has moved before. NJBIZ reported earlier that the store was first set to open in August and that the date then moved to October 24, before the November listing. NJBIZ also named Blue Bottle Coffee, Edikted, Digiso, Kong Dog and Vivaia as recent additions. Newsom told NJBIZ that by the end of this fall the mall will have welcomed more than 15 new stores in 2026.
Most of the list is clothing and goods, the categories the county FAQ names among Sunday restrictions, and Garden State Plaza's general schedule stays closed on Sundays. Shopping at the new storefronts belongs on the Monday-to-Saturday calendar.
Black Friday Through Christmas Eve, Six Days a Week
The shopping calendar tightens after Thanksgiving, and every key date skips Sunday.
- Friday, Nov. 27: Paramus Park opens for Black Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 4 to 19: Paramus Park runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and stays closed each Sunday in between.
- Saturday, Dec. 12: Garden State Plaza's extended holiday hours begin, according to Westfield's holiday page. Until then, the posted schedule is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Thursday, Dec. 24: Paramus Park is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day.
Mall hours pages are live schedules and can change through December, so check the Garden State Plaza hours page and the Paramus Park hours page before heading out on a tight day.
The Gathering Space Is Getting Permanent Ground
Big Santa still sets up in a parking lot, and the mall's longer-term plan builds outdoor public space into the property itself. Garden State Plaza broke ground on April 29, 2026, on the first phase of its mixed-use town center. That phase includes 575 rental apartments, a one-acre town green and a main-street outdoor district, with residents scheduled to move in starting in 2028, according to Westfield's project page. TAPinto reported that the project covers a 13-acre area and includes a pedestrian connection to the mall's west side. According to NJBIZ, the groundbreaking took place on the future town green site, which is a parking lot today.
The mall stays open during construction. NJBIZ reported in June that the developers were coordinating to keep parking adequate and to direct shoppers if needed. For this season, that means Big Santa near entrance 7 on the 22nd, new Level 2 storefronts opening one by one, and a parking-lot construction site planned to become a one-acre town green.
A one-acre town green, a main street and 575 new apartments will change how Garden State Plaza fits into everyday life in Paramus, and nearby homeowners will want to know how that plays out on their own blocks. The Meena Patel Group tracks these changes in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Portuguese. If you'd like to see where your home stands as the town center takes shape, get your free home valuation and personalized market plan.
