For the seventh year in a row, the Aulffo family in the Minotola section of Buena Borough is transforming an empty lot they purchased into a winter wonderland all in an effort to bring some holiday joy to their community, while also helping those in need.
The location for the annual festival is a property formerly owned by St. Michael’s Church.
“As kids, we grew up basically playing on the statues and running around in that area,” said Tyler Aulffo.
She said that when the church decided to sell the property several years ago, and there was talk of development on the lot, her parents Michele and Wade decided to buy the lot themselves in an effort to preserve it.
“This is our entire family history right here,” Aulffo said. “We don’t want high rises next to us.”
She said the family didn’t have any specific plans for the lot beyond keeping it from being developed.
“We started putting up a few decorations,” she said of the first Christmas lights they set up. “We kind of thought it was funny.”
But the family noticed the decorated lot was gaining attention from people in the area and they thought maybe there was something more they could do with it for their community.
Aulffo said they formed Claus for the Cause as a non-profit in 2019. They held their first official Christmas festival that year, with the goal of raising funds for anyone who needed some extra help in their town.
“We’ve always been really passionate about living in Minotola, this small little quaint town,” she said.
The Aulffos actually use the lot to host two festivals each year – the Let it Glow event at Christmas, and a Fall Festival around Halloween. The two events back to back makes for a busy couple of weeks for the family and their friends.
In addition to the festivals themselves, the Aulffos leave the lot open for visitors to check out their decorations before and after the events.
“Usually, when the lights are on, as long as people aren’t touching things, we don’t mind people casually walking through, even if we’re out there working,” she said.
Aulffo said that even after the festival, the lot will stay lit up and decorated for people to walk through and enjoy into January.
Aulffo said they will also list their location when it’s open on the Lights and Sights of New Jersey Holiday Lights Map, which can be found on Facebook and at www.njholidays.com.
But it should also be noted they may close the display in case of bad weather, so it may be advisable to check them out on Facebook before traveling for a visit.
This year’s festival will take place on Dec. 12 and 13 at the lot at 201 Jonas Ave. in Minotola. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged, as they are a major component of their fundraising efforts, along with corporate sponsorships, food sales and specific attraction tickets.
“One of the great things is that all of what you see, does not come out of any of the donations or the money that’s raised during the event,” she said. “We have zero administration fees, and basically everything you see was purchased by the Aulffo family.”
A returning favorite attraction, Aulffo said, is their train ride that takes visitors around the festival grounds.
Aulffo said ticket sales for the train ride are traditionally one of their biggest fundraisers, and this year they’ve added a newly-built train station to enhance the experience.
They’ve also added a new toboggan ride this year and there will be live music on Friday night and Christmas movies shown on an inflatable screen on Saturday. Visitors can also expect to find vendors, crafts and activities as well as multiple food options during the event.
But even though the money they raise comes from their festivals during the fall and at Christmastime, it doesn’t mean their charitable efforts stop when the holidays are over.
Aulffo said they’re always looking to help their community throughout the year and have plans for new initiatives in the upcoming year.
“In 2026, we’re actually rolling out scholarships in a few of the local high schools,” she said.
For more information about Claus for the Cause and details on their Let it Glow Festival, visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ClausForTheCause.