Manahawkin Transforms Into Winter Wonderland With Market This Weekend

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — This weekend, Heritage Park will transform into a winter wonderland with the return of a popular Stafford Recreation event.

The fifth annual Holiday Wonderland & Christmas Market is set for Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Dress warm and bring the whole family for a full day of shopping, food trucks, beer garden, fire pits, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more to get you in the holiday spirit!" Stafford Recreation said.

The Stafford Township Historical Society has decked the halls of the Old Stone Store and Manahawkin train station, where you can learn local history and purchase historical merchandise and historical Christmas ornaments. The train station offers the chance to enter to win a 2025 Lego Holiday Express Train.

Thanks to the Reynolds Family Foundation, the event will offer horse-drawn carriage rides through Manahawkin Lake Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. These are free of charge, but a donation to the Reynolds Family Foundation will be accepted.

"We encourage everyone attending to please plan ahead," Stafford Recreation said. "There will be single side of the street parking rules in effect for the downtown areas."

A free shuttle bus service will operate for the duration of this event from the Stafford Township Municipal Complex at 260 E. Bay Ave.in Manahawkin. This service will operate from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the shuttle will run continuously. The parking lots at the Oxycocus School and A. Paul King Park are also available, free of charge.