It feels like you’ve walked into a Christmas wonderland when you step into the holiday village at Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm for the first time. It’s a truly magical place, from the life-size gingerbread house and the miniature town decked out like a Hallmark movie to a hayride with lights all around. Spend the day taking a peek into Santa’s house, mailing letters to Santa at the post office, being wowed by a life-sized igloo, taking a ride on his sleigh, and picking out a fresh-cut tree from the farm. Read on for more about taking a trip to the farm, which feels like a real-life Hallmark movie (minus the snow). (featured photo taken at Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm)

Spend The Evening In This Winter Wonderland

Take in the thousands of lights

There are over 30,000 Christmas lights on the property, and once November starts, the entire farm gets a glow-up with trees, decorations, and an illuminated walking path. It’s stunning, and as the lights move in the trees, they look like falling snowflakes, adding to the atmosphere of a picture-perfect holiday village. 

Stop by the Ice Castle

As you walk through the festive village, make sure you head to the brand-new ice castle, where you will step into an enchanting world of penguins in their natural-inspired habitat. Your little ones will love being transported to this winter castle and being immersed in these delightful creatures.

Enjoy Santa’s 4D sleigh ride

Want to feel the magic of Christmas? Stop by this 4D sleigh ride that everyone will enjoy. And this isn’t just any sleigh ride—join Santa on an immersive journey where you fly through the night sky, help him deliver presents around the world, and take in his flight firsthand. You will experience the whoosh of the wind, the twinkling stars, and the jingling of the bells, feeling like you are truly part of Santa’s magic sleigh ride. 

Be creative at the Bear Workshop

Get your creative hats on and step into the brand-new bear workshop, where you can create your very own custom teddy bear. The best part? Adults and kids alike can join in on the fun to remember their time at the village or give to a loved one this holiday. The workshop is located in one of the farm’s shops.

Get on board at the Train Room

Take a moment to step inside the Train Room, with a charming mini-village setup and decorations for the holidays and a train that whizzes by on the tracks. The details are exquisite, from the adorable shopfronts to the little people and snow. The scenes are set on a winter day, with intricate details like a horse-drawn carriage and people skating in each snowy vignette. 

Write to Santa at the North Pole Postal Company

Follow the path to the North Pole Postal Company, where kids can write their letters to Santa (and the adults could, too!). Inside the Postal Company is an old-school postal sorting wall with spots for mail, set up to look exactly like a Post Office. The best part? There are pencils and paper for kids to write their lists, put them in the mailbox, press the button, and watch the letters fly to the North Pole on the large television on the wall (it’s a total wow moment). Kids can visit with the Big Guy, too, and sit next to him on his couch for a memorable photo. 

Play around with light-up games

Once you leave the post office, head to the bridge over the glowing river to see Santa’s Coal Mine, a walk-through experience where Santa’s elves are hard at work. As you enter, you’ll hear the sounds of the workers mining the coal that fuels Santa’s sleigh and see etchings on the wall drawn by some of the most notable elves in Santa’s crew. Next up is the Christmas Shooting Range, where you can watch your “bullets” turn the targets into beautiful colors. Each kid receives a gel blaster and goggles before standing at the ready and taking turns shooting gel bullets at the targets—the color changes when they hit the mark, making it such a fun design. Kids will love emptying the gel blaster and watching the targets light up in vivid hues. 

Stop for a sweet surprise 

Walk past the hot cocoa area to the Candy Cane Factory, a walk-through display featuring Santa’s elves busy at work making the holiday favorite sweet. Down the way is the Maple Shack, which goes through the steps of making the delicious treat —from finding suitable trees to tap on the farm to boiling the sap to make syrup. After leaving the Village, you can pick up a pre-cut tree, or you can cut down your own from the field with the hand saw they provide at the stand. And make sure to stop in the shops (there are three) for a fantastic display of holiday decor, ornaments, toys, and food. 

What to know before you go

The Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm Village is open on select dates until December 30 from 5 PM to 10 PM. It is recommended to dress in layers because everything is outside and there are no heaters in The Village. Tickets are $24 for 13+, $13 for children aged 3 to 12, and free for those 2 and under. Tickets should be purchased online in advance for a specific time slot. In the event of bad weather, the Village can close, so make sure to check ahead on social media. You can visit the shops until December 30, which are open daily. And don’t miss an opportunity to see the tree farm to find the perfect Christmas tree— the cut-your-own fields are open 9 AM-4 PM, and pre-cut fields will remain open until 8 PM from Monday to Sunday through December 24. You do not need a reservation to visit the tree farm or the shops.

Learn more about the Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm Village on their website, Facebook, or Instagram.

Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm
114 Daum Road
Manalapan Township, NJ 07726