North Jersey’s downtowns, often considered the heart of the community, are full of life all year. But these areas turn into winter wonderlands during the month of December, each with their own special slice of holiday magic.
From holiday shopping to festive pop-up bars, each downtown has its own particular charm that make it a popular destination this time of year. And if you’re looking to support our local businesses and organizations while getting in the holiday spirit, taking a trip to each downtown make that easy to do.
Here are the best North Jersey downtowns to visit for holiday shopping, dazzling lights, a festive seasonal village and fun holiday-themed drinks:
Shop for the perfect gift in Montclair
People pass by Jerry’s Antiques and Estates on Glenridge Ave in Montclair on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
Downtown Montclair, also known as Montclair Center, is home to hundreds of locally owned businesses. And for holiday shopping, the area — centered around Bloomfield Avenue and nearby adjacent streets — has a collection of quirky shops that feature thoughtful finds for all of the special people in your life.
Visit Montclair Book Center for the bibliophiles; Montclair Antique Center or Jerry’s Antiques & Estates for one-of-a-kind treasures; The Eclectic Chic Boutique for handcrafted goods and restored apparel; Alchemy Scent Bar to create custom fragrances; and Pink Bungalow for home goods and accessories. You can find the full list businesses at the Montclair Center website.
There’s also Montclair Flea’s Holiday Market at Lackawanna Plaza, a pop-up that features a selection of curated vendors selling everything from festive decor to handmade goods every Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 21.
See the dazzling lights in Morristown and Denville
The tree and holiday lights at the Morristown Green.
Many of North Jersey’s downtowns get jazzed up for the holiday season. But certain ones are known to transform into enchanted winter wonderlands that make you feel like you’ve become part of a Hallmark movie.
Downtown Morristown has consistently been home to one of the region’s most dazzling holiday town squares: the Morristown Green. Each year, this 2.62-acre historic park morphs into a magical destination filled with oversized toy solider stadiums, giant festive bow, vibrant green wreaths and more twinkling lights than you can imagine.
And to go along with it, the annual Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green further enhances the downtown’s holiday spirit. A tradition for more than 100 years, the festival features photos with Santa, ice sculpture demonstrations, a vintage-style rocking horse and more throughout December.
Downtown Denville holiday decorations.
Denville is also known for turning its downtown area into a charming holiday spot with lively wreaths lining the street lights, trees adorned in twinkling lights and vibrant holiday displays in the storefronts of local businesses. It’s also home to Denville Rotary’s annual Santa Land, a family-friendly village with scenes of Santa’s workshop, the Bears house, the Gingerbread house and the Nativity scene.
Explore the Dickens Village in Maplewood
The Dickens Village in Maplewood in 2021.
If you’re looking for an authentic Dickensian experience this holiday season, downtown Maplewood is the place to be. For more than 60 years, the town has hosted its iconic Dickens Village in Ricalton Square, where organizers bring to life scenes from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” through miniature houses. Each house is outfitted with real shingles, siding and glass windows, as well as custom furniture and home goods.
Visitors can see inside the houses and explore their fireplaces, stockings and antique toys, among other things, during the first three Saturdays in December. Each day will also feature other holiday activities like an annual tree lighting, visits with Santa and a petting farm.
Sip some festive drinks in Jersey City
It has become a trend for bars across North Jersey to go all out for the holiday season with over-the-top festive decorations, whimsical drink menus and even new holiday-themed names. And in the downtown Jersey City, there are plenty of options to go around.
Miracle on Mercer at Franklin Social in Jersey City is one of the many Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bars under the Miracle brand. Its interior includes an abundance of colorful, shiny tinsel garland, funky holiday patterns and festive drinks in charming cups. Menu items include Dancing Sugar Plums (gin, limoncello, plum wine, plum milk syrup, lemon, tiki bitters and nutmeg) and a Snowball Old Fashioned (rye, gingerbread, aromatic bitters, wormwood bitters and orange essence).
Other bars serving up festive drinks and dazzling holiday decor in downtown Jersey City include Cellar 335, The Ashford and The Archer.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Best guide to NJ downtowns for any 2025 holiday activity