Historic Smithville, a shopping and touring district in southern New Jersey near the shore, is a wonderful place to spend the day and return to a simpler age. The restaurants and shops in the area are always worth a visit - but there's no better time to pay a visit than in November and December. Almost overnight, all of historic Smithville undergoes a stunning metamorphosis from a rustic fall town to a magical Christmas village in New Jersey, covered in thousands of lights. This pastoral landscape is only enhanced by all the fun things to do in the town - including a few rides that look and feel completely different in the winter. So pack up the family, and drive to historic Smithville for the closest thing you'll get to the North Pole in the Garden State!

No matter the time of year, visiting historic Smithville is like stepping into a fairy-tale village - but it's about to undergo another transformation.

As the snow falls and the days shorten, the Christmas season settles into Smithville and brings magic with it.

The entire town is covered in lights, but all the wonderful small-batch shops are up to their usual offerings - with some holiday twists.

If you want to stock up on holiday gifts, this is the place to do it - but make sure to stock up on some extra for your drive back!

The train ride around the village is always a favorite for kids, but it's extra enchanting during this time of year.

The old-school carousel has been draped in lights, making every nighttime ride a dazzling extravaganza.

In many ways, the lights define this Christmas village, so make sure to stick around at night to see them in their full glory.

The magic doesn't stop when you leave, because the view of the skyline cast in colors is one of New Jersey's best photo ops.

Want to see this magical place in all its glory before you make your trip? The YouTube channel Jersey's Best took this video of the 2022 Smithville Christmas Village in NJ - and we have no doubt that 2023 will be even more spectacular.

Have you visited Historic Smithville's holiday season event? Let us know what you saw and did at this famous Christmas village in New Jersey in the comments section! If you want to know what they have planned for this year, you can visit the Historic Smithville website for all the latest updates. Currently, the Smithville Christmas Village for 2023 is scheduled to run from November 24 to December 23, operating Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

For more Christmas fun in the state, check out the best Christmas towns in New Jersey. If you're planning to take more than one day to explore Historic Smithville, the Village Inn and Suites Smithville is only minutes away.