Photo courtesy Asbury Park Bazaar
Holiday shopping can get old real fast. The malls are overcrowded and department store shelves are wrecked or cleaned out by the time you get there. Online shopping is easy, but you miss all the charm of wintry decor and window displays.
If you want to add some holiday magic to your shopping experience, hit the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar on December 2, 3, 9, 10, 17 or 23 from noon to 5 pm. Celebrate your favorite time of year at the Grand Arcade and Convention Hall by shopping vintage vendors, taking pics with St. Nick, seeing the Christmas tree, taking in holiday performances and more.
PHOTO COURTESY ASBURY PARK BAZAAR
There are countless unique crafts and creations to browse through, all of them made by a carefully curated selection of local and regional artists. Find everything from jewelry to clothes to home goods.
Once your gift list is all bought and bagged, grab a bite to eat while the kids make crafts at the holiday workshop. In the meantime, chill out at the hot toddy and chocolate bar. Most importantly, don't forget to bring a toy or a lightly used coat to donate.
PHOTO COURTESY ASBURY PARK BAZAAR
The free bazaar is located at Asbury Park Convention Hall at 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park.
If you're looking for some kid-free holiday fun, Asbury Festhalle Biergarten is the place to be this season. The craft beer haven with 41 taps and 71 bottles has opened a rooftop European-style holiday market called a Weihnachtsmarkt for the season.
Photo courtesy of Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten Facebook page
On Saturdays and Sundays from December 2-23 from noon to 7 pm, grown-ups can peruse artisanal gifts and handmade toys from more than 25 vendors, bop to live music, chow down on specialty foods, buy special European ornaments and warm up with a cup of gluhwein (German mulled wine with fruit juice).
Feel like a kid again by snagging an Insta-worthy pic with Santa from 2-5 pm. 'Tis the season for giving, too, so be sure to bring a gift for the Asbury Park Toy Drive to get a cool 10 percent off at the Festhalle.
Asbury Festhalle Biergarten is located at 527 Lake Ave., Asbury Park.
