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!

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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. 

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Christmas In New Jersey

What Are The Best Christmas Attractions In New Jersey?

  • The Polar Express in Whippany is the Garden State's premier Christmas train, a charming journey into the world of the Polar Express. Families will board the old-fashioned train and step into a world of colors and Christmas magic. Crew members will put on a show, guests will snack on hot cocoa and shortbread, and Santa Claus will make an appearance to give kids of all ages a holiday excursion to remember.
  • Let It Glow - A Holiday Lantern Spectacular is a holiday light show held in the most unexpected of locations: The Bergen County Zoo. Dozens of paper lanterns formed into the shape of animals and plants from the great wild turn the entire zoo into a stunning display of light and color once the sun goes down. It's included with admission to the zoo, but a small train ride is a great way to see the whole light show for only a few extra dollars.
  • The Skylands Stadium Christmas Lights Show and Village is the perfect place to go if you want lights and lots of them. This is the largest Christmas light show in the entire Garden State, boasting a staggering two million lights and dozens of displays paying tribute to the season. This is a drive-through show, meaning it's perfect for all weather. When you're done, duck into the charming Christmas village that's part of the event for snacks and more fun.

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