CHRISTMAS VILLAGES
OF THE NORTHEAST

New Hope This picturesque town along the Delaware River, embraces the festive spirit, adorning its streets with twinkling lights and evergreen garlands.

The heart of New Hope’s Christmas celebration lies in its quaint village displays. Local shops and businesses create miniature holiday scenes in their windows, featuring intricate model houses, tiny figurines, and miniature snow-covered landscapes. These enchanting dioramas transport onlookers to a nostalgic world of Christmases past.

Visitors can stroll along Main Street, admiring the carefully crafted displays while sipping hot cocoa and enjoying the crisp winter air. The town’s historic architecture provides a perfect backdrop for these festive villages, creating a seamless blend of past and present.  

Info: buckscounty.com 

Bethlehem Aptly nicknamed “Christmas City, USA,” Bethlehem comes alive during the holiday season with enchanting Christmas villages. This historic city, founded by Moravian settlers in 1741, embraces its heritage and transforms into a winter wonderland that attracts visitors nationwide.

The heart of Bethlehem’s yuletide charm lies in its Christkindlmarkt, an authentic German-style outdoor market. Here, wooden huts adorned with twinkling lights offer handcrafted gifts, ornaments, and traditional holiday treats. The market’s centerpiece is often a stunning Christmas village display featuring miniature houses, shops, and figurines set in a snowy landscape.  

Throughout the city, elaborately decorated storefronts and homes showcase their own miniature Christmas villages, each telling a unique holiday story. With its colonial architecture, the historic downtown area provides a picturesque backdrop for these festive displays. Visitors can also explore the Moravian Museum’s holiday exhibits, which often include intricate nativity scenes and period-decorated rooms, offering a glimpse into Christmases past.  

Info: visithistoricbethlehem.com 

Lake Placid This picturesque Olympic village embraces the festive spirit, blending alpine charm with holiday magic. The heart of Lake Placid’s yuletide celebration is its downtown area, where shops and businesses create miniature Christmas villages in their windows. These intricate displays feature snow-covered landscapes, tiny ice skaters on frozen ponds, and cozy mountain cabins, all reflecting the town’s outdoor heritage.

Main Street becomes a twinkling corridor of lights, with storefronts competing to create the most elaborate holiday scenes. Visitors can stroll along the sidewalks, admiring the displays while enjoying the crisp mountain air and stunning views of the surrounding peaks.

The nearby Olympic venues often join the festivities, incorporating winter sports themes into their holiday decorations. Lake Placid’s Christmas villages offer a unique blend of small-town charm and world-class winter attractions, making it a magical destination for holiday enthusiasts.

Info: lakeplacid.com 

Rhinebeck A charming village in New York’s Hudson Valley, offers a nostalgic glimpse into small-town holiday traditions, making it a delightful destination for those seeking to capture the essence of an old-fashioned Christmas. This historic town, known for its antique shops and picturesque streets, transforms into a winter wonderland during the yuletide season.

The highlight of Rhinebeck’s holiday celebration is the annual Sinterklaas Festival, a Dutch-inspired event that brings the community together. During this time, local businesses and homes create elaborate Christmas village displays in their windows, featuring miniature snow-covered scenes, tiny figurines, and intricately decorated model houses.

Visitors can stroll along Market Street and Montgomery Street, admiring these festive dioramas while enjoying the warmth of twinkling lights and evergreen garlands adorning Victorian-era buildings. The Beekman Arms, America’s oldest operating inn, often showcases a stunning Christmas village display, blending colonial charm with holiday magic.

Info: iloveny.com 

Cape May A magical winter comes alive during the holidays. This historic seaside resort town becomes a picturesque scene from a Dickens novel. The heart of Cape May’s yuletide spirit lies in its Washington Street Mall, where visitors can stroll through a quaint open-air village filled with unique shops and eateries. The Emlen Physick Estate, a Victorian house museum, hosts an enchanting Christmas village display featuring miniature buildings and holiday scenes.

Cape May offers candlelight house tours throughout December, allowing guests to explore beautifully decorated historic homes. The town’s trolley rides provide a cozy way to view the elaborate holiday decorations and experience the warmth of Cape May’s community spirit.

For those seeking a quintessential Christmas experience, Cape May provides a perfect blend of nostalgia and seasonal cheer.

Info: capemay.com 

Atlantic City Known for its bustling casinos and boardwalk, AC transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season with charming Christmas Villages. These festive attractions offer visitors a magical escape from the glitz of the gambling halls.

The most notable is the Winter Wonderland at Kennedy Plaza, featuring twinkling lights, holiday music, and local vendors selling crafts and seasonal treats. Ice skating rinks and holiday-themed rides add to the family-friendly atmosphere.

Inside the casinos, elaborate Christmas displays and pop-up markets create cozy enclaves amid the gaming floors. The Tropicana’s Holiday Marketplace stands out with its Old-World charm, while Harrah’s Resort hosts a gingerbread village crafted by local culinary students. Check the website to see updated Christmas Villages announcements.

Along the iconic boardwalk, visitors can enjoy holiday-themed light shows and decorations. These Christmas villages not only spread festive cheer but also provide a welcome alternative to Atlantic City’s typical attractions, drawing both tourists and locals alike.  

Info: visitatlanticcity.com 

Mystic Seaport & Olde Mistick Village The maritime heritage of Mystic takes on a festive dimension during the holiday season. First stop is the Mystic Seaport Museum which metamorphizes into a 19th-century Christmas wonderland.

The renowned Lantern Light Tours, a tradition spanning over 40 years, transport visitors to Christmas Eve of 1876. Costumed interpreters bring historical characters to life, sharing tales of seafaring Christmas traditions and maritime yuletide customs. The museum’s historic vessels, decorated with period holiday trims, provide a unique backdrop for seasonal celebrations. Visitors can watch traditional craft demonstrations, including wreath-making with period materials and nautical-themed Christmas ornament creation.

Don’t miss Olde Mistick Village for its enchanting holiday atmosphere. Less than a mile north of Mystic Seaport, you’ll find The Holiday Shop (open year-round) which resembles an 18th-century village with garlands of fresh pine, red velvet bows, and twinkling lights adorn the facades of more than 40 unique shops.

Info: mysticseaport.org; oldemisticvillage.com

Greenwich Known for its historic architecture transforms into a sophisticated Christmas village during the annual Holiday Stroll. The event combines Connecticut’s oldest streets—Greenwich Avenue—with European-style holiday market traditions. Horse-drawn carriages transport visitors past elegantly decorated storefronts, while street performers and carol singers create a festive atmosphere. The Winter Market features artisanal products, vintage holiday decorations, and gourmet foods. The Greenwich Historical Society adds to the experience by offering tours of historic properties decorated in a period-appropriate holiday style.

As dusk approaches, the avenue takes on a magical quality as thousands of white lights illuminate the century-old trees. Children can enjoy visits with a traditionally dressed Santa Claus at the historic Greenwich Town Hall, while adults appreciate the sophisticated shopping experience and curated selection of holiday gifts. The Historical Society’s tours provide fascinating insights into how Greenwich’s prominent families celebrated the holidays during the Gilded Age, with each historic home highlighting authentic decorations and sharing stories of past holiday traditions.

Info: ctvisit.com