It's almost time!

Stafford Recreation’s fifth annual Holiday Wonderland & Christmas Market will take place this weekend Saturday December 13th from 11 AM to 5 PM at Heritage Park, 49 W. Bay Avenue.

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!

The Stafford Township Historical Society has decked the halls of the Old Stone Store and Manahawkin train station for the season. Be sure to come on in and get warmed up, see some Stafford history, purchase historical merchandise and historical Christmas ornaments. Don’t forget to pop in the train station for your chance to win the 2025 Lego Holiday Express Train!

We have once again teamed up with the Reynolds Family Foundation to bring you horse-drawn carriage rides through Manahawkin Lake Park from 1-5 pm. We've even added a second horse and carriage this year!

Carriage rides will board at the Manahawkin Lake Park pavilion. These rides are free of charge, however donations will be accepted for the Reynolds Family Foundation to help fund their mission of encouraging practical and caring solutions to local concerns. Be sure to stop by the hot cocoa bar on your way to warm your heart and thaw out any cold hands!

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

Remember...a free shuttle bus service will operate for the duration of this event from the Stafford Township Municipal Complex at 260 E. Bay Avenue in Manahawkin. Park at Town Hall, hop aboard the shuttle and get dropped off for all of the market merriment! This service will operate from 11 AM to 5 PM and the shuttle will run continuously. The parking lots at the Oxycocus School and A. Paul King Park are also available, free of charge.