German Christmas Market of New Jersey — Local services in Frankford Township

Such a disappointment. This was our first experience at the Sussex fairgrounds. After years of wanting to go to the summer fair or winter event, we finally got the family together to go. Charging admission is a turn off, money spent before even getting to overpriced vendors kills the mood, but the cost would have been reasonable had it been filled with great experiences like advertised online. It was so not worth it. Cash is king at this place because from admission to vendors, everyone will charge $1.50 to $3 to use your credit or debit card. We were searched by security like this was some World Cup event. Appreciate the security but they were a joke. One security guard used a metal detector in one hand and a sandwich in the other while giving directions as food was falling out of his mouth. Meanwhile the gate for the wagon rides was wide open and people were entering thru there without paying for entrance. Leaving the market to go to your car and back is a huge problem, they don't give tickets or stamps so if you don't have your admission receipt you better hope someone in your party has it. When inside, it was a congested mess. Small door frames were being used for entrances and exits with people waiting just to get in or out. Meanwhile the buildings have multiple doors that could be used for going in one way and out another. Having baby carriages or wheelchairs will be such a problem because people are so aggravated at waiting that they lose all manners, several times I had to stop people so a wheelchair or a family with a baby could go thru the doors. Another fail by security, but don't worry they'll be quick to stop you at the door and have a full conversation explaining why you can't enter with a beer that has no lid and hold up the line instead of pulling people aside. The vendor options were disappointing, with about 50 to 75% having nothing to do with Christmas or the German culture. This was more of a glorified flea market. The entertainment we had the chance to view was some hand bell choir that was established 30 years ago, the conductor talking the group up making it sound like some professional group. People started walking out after the 2nd song, they were so out of sync you could barely recognize the song being played. Food trucks ran out of hot beverage options by 4p, event closes at 9p.... great planning. Wagon rides ended at 5pm when website says 7pm. The 3 children in our group stood on line for 15 minutes with prepaid tickets before the manager comes over and says the group of people in front of them would be the last to go. Seriously you couldn't add 3 kids? Unfortunately we will not be returning to this market, and unfortunately everyone agreed there's no interest in going to the county fair if this event was so poorly organized. Only positives were the one tent of German food options, but they were overpriced, the huge train display was a fun 15 minutes of viewing, and picture opportunities at the Christmas tree, ice sculpture and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Not worth the gas or admission though, honestly not even worth it had...

A large market that I've wanted to go to for years. But it felt like the admission price was a lot of money to pay for the privilege of spending money once inside.

A lot of artisans selling various trinkets (everything from glass artwork to wood crafts to clothing, pottery, and jewelry) and foods (pickles, olives, cheeses, Belgian chocolates, hot sauces, boozy pudding, etc.) plus a special building dedicated to selling various German Christmas goods like stollen, linzer tarts, pyramids, smoker figurines, etc. And numerous food trucks and various places to buy beer and glühwein (which several people were raving about in the area where we were eating). The highlight of it for me was the intricate model railway in the building adjacent to where the German goods were sold. We almost missed it! Ultimately, I gave this three stars because I didn't feel that the $10 admission price (+$1.50 fee for paying with a credit card) + bathroom attendant semi-mandatory tip I had to pay so a guy could give me a tree's worth of paper towels (wasteful!) to wash my hands was justified so that I could spend $4 for a medium-sized pretzel. I understand that the market needs to raise money, but the amount of enjoyment I derived from the market didn't match the...

our 2nd year attending the german christmas festival!!! the windchill was 20* degrees today, we layered up and still had a great time!! it was our first time doing the horse carriage ride, absolutely would recommend doing it!!! the person driving the carriage made the ride extremely enjoyable, telling us all about the horses breeds. we learned a lot! I paid only $20 for my daughter to go on the carousel, pony ride, and the 4 of us to go on the horse carriage ride. definitely worth the $20 to do those 3 things. they have food trucks and then 2 halls with german food. it was a plus we got to see Santa!!

absolutely loved the Pocono Mountain Garden Railway Society in the greenhouse. we uploaded some videos on youtube, please check it out!! they did a great job with the display, its G-scale. my daughter absolutely loved it. (@poppopstrainroom)

get there early if you want to park close to the gate, it opens at 10 am. we bought our tickets online ahead of time so we didn’t have to wait in line to buy. they have a security bag check before you enter. kids 12 years old and younger are free!!

SHOUTOUT TO STROOPIES- they are my...