It’s the start of the most wonderful time of the year, and a holiday market in NJ is one of the best ways to get in a festive mood and sneak in a little shopping, too. Take the family on a trip to one or more of these truly special and seasonal spots that have been revamped to include social distancing. Cozy up by the fire pits at the Winter Village at the Red Mill Museum in Clinton, enjoy festive food and specialty vendors at the Asbury Fresh Holiday Market in Asbury Park, or if you’d rather stay home, do a virtual shop and kids activities from your laptop at HCCC Holiday Online Pop-Up Shop. Happy holiday shopping! (Editor’s Note: please be sure to call ahead and verify holiday market details as retail changes are happening daily in NJ).
Psst! We love seeing your social-distancing New Jersey adventures. Be sure to tag your photos with #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured in our round-up next week.
Here are the best holiday markets in NJ to check out this season:
Winter Village at the Red Mill Museum
November 27 to 29, 10AM-5PM
Wander around one of the most festive holiday markets in NJ, and you’ll find plenty to do: Shop around the local craft vendors’ shops, grab food and drinks from the food trucks and warm up by the fire pits. The general admission tickets are for 90-minute time slots that allow you to tour the museum grounds and the Festival of Trees as well as shop the open-air market—and all of the proceeds go to benefit the non-profit Red Mill Museum.
Red Mill Museum Village
56 Main St
Clinton, NJ
Cost: $10 for tickets for a 90-minute shopping session and entry into the museum. Free for children 6 and under, museum members, and active military members.
Asbury Fresh Holiday Market
November 28 to December 20, Saturday and Sunday 11AM-3PM
Experience a warm and toasty holiday market season when you shop at locally-curated vendors’ stalls and enjoy festive food and drinks. Saturdays are more for artist- and craft-oriented shops, while Sunday is a farmers’ market (which includes both farm and food vendors)—and both days have plenty of kid-friendly stores to check out throughout the market.
Kennedy Park
Asbury Park, NJ
Bell Works Fresh Holiday Market
December 2 to 23, Wednesday 11AM-4PM
If the weather outside looks frightful, you can still mask up and shop at this indoor market with plenty of local farmers, food purveyors, local artisans, and more. While you browse, your kiddos can check out the shops designed with them in mind—from kid-friendly craft stores to bakeries with tasty treats.
Bell Works (inside “on the block”)
Holmdel, NJ
HCCC Holiday Online Pop-Up Shop
December 5 to January 31
Their market is going virtual this year. While you can’t buy gifts through this event, you can click through the profile pages—and there will be a live vendor showcase on December 12 at noon, where businesses will show off their products. For your kiddos, there will be online activities and crafts and live storybook readings.
Virtual
Artist & Maker Happy Holiday Market
December 12, 13, 19, 20, 12PM-6PM
Last-minute gifting is inevitable, so why not shop for locally-made and handcrafted goods, gifts, and food all in one convenient spot? This outdoor market presents a unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them. This year, they’ve partnered with The Ashford—walk around the corner from the plaza to continue the festivities on this restaurant’s heated and decorated outdoor rooftop. And don’t forget to stop by Santa Station to grab some festive photos with the family.
Grove Street PATH Plaza and The Ashford
Jersey City, NJ
Holiday markets in NJ not happening this year:
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten’s Weihnachtsmarkt
Lake Mohawk Weihnachtsmarkt
Crafts at Christmas Arts & Craft Show
42nd Annual Hope Christmas Craft Market
Tuckerton Seaport’s Annual Christkindlmarkt
Pitman Winter Village
Sauce for the Goose Holiday Market
Hoboken City Hall Holiday Craft Fair
Long Branch Holiday Bazaar 2020
Holiday Handmade Market at The Herbary
Annual Christmas Cookie Walk
Duffield’s Holiday Market
Atlantic City Holiday Bazaar
