As we approach the holiday season, there is nothing more magical than exploring places with sparkling lights. While you will find many Christmas lights around locally, visiting Koziar’s Christmas Village will offer an unforgettable experience for the entire family.
We visited this place twice, and so far, it has been the best Christmas village we have been to. Therefore, I wanted to share our experience and the ultimate weekend itinerary below.
Best Christmas Village Near NY: Koziar’s Christmas Village
Can you picture over a million Christmas lights dazzling in a small town? That is what Koziar’s Christmas Village looks like during the holiday season. The buildings, gift barns, trees, and landscape are all covered with colorful lights. Simply a fairytale!
The Village is located in Berks Country, Pennsylvania. It is nearly a 3-hour drive away from NYC. I am forever grateful that my husband found this place in 2015 and took me there on Christmas night. We knew it would not be a one-time visit when we entered the Village. In December 2019, we returned to the wonderland, bringing our six-month-old son with us.
When to Visit? (Updated in 2022)
It is worth noting that Koziar’s Christmas Village is open only during the holiday season and only for a few evening hours each day. We recommend visiting on a weekday if you can take a day off. However, if you plan on a weekend trip, we advise you to get there early as lines pile up very quickly. Make sure to check their website for any new updates or safety regulations.
Koziars Christmas Village opens on November 5, 2022, thru January 1st, 2023.
Where to Stay?
To make the experience more enjoyable and accommodate yourself and the little ones if you are traveling with kids, we recommend staying at the local hotel. We stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton in Reading, PA. This hotel was more welcoming than any other hotel we had been to. Everyone was super lovely and radiated warmth and positivity. The welcoming attitude at the hotel made our overall experience even more enjoyable. Not to mention that hotel is famous for its warm chocolate chip cookies! They are simply delicious and will be handed to you during check-in time. Also, throughout your stay there. So Yummy!
Beyond the welcoming staff, the hotel offers plenty to keep you busy for a few hours: Pool, on-site restaurant, fitness center, and in-room service.
Soon after we checked in, we visited the pool. Matthew was overwhelmed with joy and enjoyed his afternoon swim before visiting the best Christmas village!
The Night at the Best Christmas Village Near NY
Koziar’s Christmas Village is located in Pennsylvania’s countryside. To get there, one needs to drive through the darkened roads. The stunning view of the Christmas lights you get from your car is indescribable. As you find your way through curvy roads, the final turn immediately opens a view to millions of sparkling lights, all shining at once! On top is a lake that reflects all the lights, and it kind of doubles the number of lights.
If you plan to visit, make sure you have extra layers. Since we are speaking about the dates in December, the weather can get pretty uncomfortable. However, warm layers can keep you warm and cozy.
We strolled around the tiny and bright streets surrounded by beautiful Christmas lights, visited Santa’s shops, and drank hot chocolate. Pictures and videos cannot justify the magical vibes of this place—lights everywhere, kids everywhere, toys everywhere. If you believe in Santa’s World, this is the place to visit.
Meet Santa
There is no better way to end the evening at Koziar’s than visiting Santa in his tiny home. Expect long lines during weekends, but it moves pretty fast.
If you are looking for the best Christmas village near NY, I recommend visiting Koziar’s and enjoying some holiday magic. I hope you will find this post helpful and share your experience in the comment section. Meanwhile, you can also check out some of our other family-friendly weekend trips.
Such a beautiful place! Definitely visiting next Christmas.