Historic Smithville Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland of fun and holiday magic during the upcoming Winter Fest celebration.
The annual festival celebrating all things winter will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1 PM to 6 PM, on the grounds of Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Road, Eastampton. It will feature many of the enchanting sights and attractions that make it among the region’s most popular holiday activities.
“Smithville is beautiful all year, but decorated with lights and garland is spectacular. Attending Winter Fest is a great way to welcome the joyful season and see the park in all its holiday splendor,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson.
Visitors to the park will marvel at the sights of the Victorian village and mansion decked out in holiday finery and the sounds of wandering carolers dressed in Victorian attire performing favorite turns, along with other free activities both indoors and outdoors throughout the park.
Some of the planned activities and attractions include:
- Meet Santa Claus in Victorian attire
- See a performance of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”
- Marvel at ice sculptures being carved
- Lace up a pair of skates and take a lap or two around the synthetic ice rink
- Join the elf hunt and help Buddy the Elf gather his friends so they can return to the North Pole in time for the holiday
- Find a special gift in the Holiday Marketplace
- Enjoy s’mores by a bonfire or wine and mulled cider in the beer garden
- Ride the trackless train through Smithville
- Live music, food trucks, cookie decorating and much more!
Tours of Smithville Mansion and the village will also be held during the event, and both the Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery and the Workers House Gallery will be open.
The Mansion Annex Gallery is exhibiting Burlington County’s annual Juried Art Show featuring paintings, photographs, drawings and more from artists from across the county and beyond. It’s one of the most anticipated exhibits each year.
On display in the Worker’s House Gallery is a special exhibit of handmade ceramics, wearable textiles, jewelry, prints and other crafts created by artists from the Peters Valley Gallery and School of Crafts.
In addition to Winter Fest, both galleries are open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sundays from noon to 4 PM.
Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel said the event is a fun time for families and friends to enjoy the holiday season and experience Smithville.
“Burlington County’s park system is one of the best around and Smithville is one of our biggest and most popular locations,” said Eckel, the liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “Visitors from all over the region enjoy its unique blend of history and natural beauty, and the holidays are an opportune time to discover all the park has to offer.”