Inside Allaire State Park in Wall Township, the Historic Village at Allaire spends most of the year as an 1830s iron works town, with blacksmiths, tinsmiths and a working bakery. For the next five weeks, it adds candlelight. The nonprofit that runs the village has posted its holiday schedule, and it runs from a 19th century Thanksgiving on November 22 through evening strolls on December 19.

Day of Thanks, Sunday, November 22

The village opens at 11 a.m. for a Thanksgiving in the style of the early 1800s, when the town was James P. Allaire's Howell Iron Works Company. The historic homes, craft shops and stores are open, with demonstrations by the blacksmith, tinsmith, carpenter and leatherworker, period cooking at the Allaire Mansion, and activities for children. The bakery and general store are open for early holiday shopping. Buildings close at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $5.95 through the village's Eventbrite page.

Christmas Market, Saturday, December 5

The village's last shopping event of the year starts at 9 a.m. More than 25 craft vendors set up inside the Village Row House Museum, and more than 50 flea market vendors fill the Show Field outside. The bakery is open and a food truck is on site. General admission is $5 for anyone 11 and older bought in advance, and it includes the trade demonstrations and the period homes. Members get in free.

The Holiday Evening Stroll, December 11, 12, 18 and 19

On four nights, the village opens after dark from 6 to 8:30 p.m., lit by candles and lights. The stroll is self-guided past the lit exteriors of the Row House, the Foreman's Cottage, the Carriage House, the Manager's House and the Enameling Building, with carolers and music along the way and a tree lighting outside the Allaire Mansion at 7 p.m. The village's Light Up Ladies walk the grounds illuminated, the bakery sells holiday treats, and the general store is open. Tickets are $12, and children three and under are free.

Christmas Lantern Tours

For adults and teens, the village runs 90-minute guided tours by candlelit lantern, stopping at the chapel, the Foreman's Cottage, the blacksmith shop and the carpenter shop, with history and short theatrical scenes about Christmas in the 1800s. The VIP tour adds Christmas music in the historic chapel and a gift bag with the 2026 Allaire ornament. VIP tours are $45, start promptly at 4:30 p.m. from the Allaire Community Hall at the head of the parking lot, and require check-in by 4:15. They are recommended for ages 13 and up, sold in advance only, and capacity is limited. The village says these are its final tours of the 2026 season.

How to go

The Historic Village at Allaire is at 4263 Atlantic Avenue in Wall Township, inside Allaire State Park, a short drive from Parkway exit 98. All tickets are sold through the village's Eventbrite listings, linked from allairevillage.org, and most holiday events are nonrefundable, so check the weather before buying for an evening date. Dress for walking outdoors between buildings.

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