Would you rather shop for gifts at noon or walk under holiday lights at 6? Port Jervis has a market for each this year, and the two never overlap.
The city has two markets a week apart. The 12th annual Christkindlmarkt fills downtown on Sunday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 5th annual Christmas Market & Winter Wonderland at New Century runs Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, from 3 to 8 p.m. The first one ends at 4. The second one's tree lighting is at 6. Both are free. The real difference is that one is built around daylight downtown and the other is built around being outside after dark.
The Sunday Market Lives Inside the Railroad Blocks
The Christkindlmarkt belongs to the Port Jervis Tourism Board. The River Reporter's calendar listing for this year's market names the Tourism Board as organizer and points readers to the city's events page. The city describes its Tourism Board as the group that plans and organizes its special events.
The market takes over two buildings on Jersey Avenue, plus the curb outside them. The county tourism site, Pick OC NY, lists more than 100 vendors inside Erie Trackside Manor, inside the R.H. Smith Mercantile Building and along the curb. The mix includes specialty foods, wineries, handcrafters and local retailers. In a past preview, the River Reporter gave the addresses as 1 Jersey Avenue for Erie Trackside Manor and 22 Jersey Avenue for the Mercantile Building.
The entertainment matches the market's German name. This year's listing includes horse-and-wagon rides, holiday music, the Jingleheimer German Band and Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy. Admission and parking are free. Last year's 11th annual market ran on Sunday, November 30. The River Reporter's coverage of the 2025 market reported more than 100 vendors and listed Hilby, the Wandering Jingleheimer Band and Port Jervis TubaChristmas among the performers.
So the market is again on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, again downtown, and again free. With vendors split between two buildings on the same avenue and the curb in between, the whole market stays on Jersey Avenue.
Where a Sunday on Jersey Avenue Ends
The market closes at 4 p.m. That's early on a Sunday, and two downtown places stay open well past it.
| The Erie Hotel | Fox N Hare Brewing Co. | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 9 Jersey Avenue | 46 Front Street |
| What it is | Bar, restaurant and hotel | Brewery and pub |
| Sunday hours | 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Noon to 7 p.m. |
The Erie Hotel is on Jersey Avenue with the market and serves Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. It also rents rooms, which matters if family is still in town from Thanksgiving. Fox N Hare is a brewery and pub at 46 Front Street, open Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. Its site says to check social media for pop-ups on Thursdays.
Both open within two hours of the market's 10 a.m. start and stay open hours after its 4 p.m. close. That makes the downtown day easy to plan. Shop in the late morning, have lunch at either one, go back for the wagon rides, and finish with a beer or dinner while the street empties out.
The Second Market Doesn't Get Going Until 3
A week later, the action moves to 517 Neversink Drive. New Century Festivals runs its Christmas Market & Winter Wonderland there on December 5 and 6, from 3 to 8 p.m. both days, with free admission and parking. The Orange County Chamber of Commerce directory lists the operator as Xin Shi Ji Corporation, doing business as New Century Enterprise. It calls the site an event space and describes New Century Festivals as producing events on a 40-acre campus.
The downtown market fits into buildings that were already there. This one is built for the evening on open ground. The event page lists:
- A 40-foot Christmas tree, lit Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m.
- A 60-foot Radiance Light Tunnel to walk through
- Photos and caroling with Santa
- Handmade gifts and holiday décor from local vendors
- A heated vendor tent
- Nine holiday drinks and treats, including eggnog, apple cider and hot chocolate in gingerbread, mint chocolate chip, pumpkin spice and strawberry flavors
The tree and the light tunnel are why this market opens in the afternoon and runs into the evening. A light tunnel at 11 a.m. isn't much to see.
The New Piece Starts Both Days at 4
The new addition this year is a Nativity Play. It's presented by ARTS MVMT, pronounced "Arts Movement," and stars local children. Victoria May White, a local actress and director, is directing, and professional harpist Xiaoyi plays live accompaniment.
The play opens the schedule on both days, and the two days end differently:
- Saturday, December 5: Nativity Play at 4:00, wishes and photos with Santa at 4:15, Little Lotus Academy and a Santa sing-along at 5:15, the 40-foot tree lighting at 6:00, then Vic May at 6:15 and 7:15.
- Sunday, December 6: Nativity Play at 4:00, wishes and photos with Santa at 4:15, a Santa sing-along with Vic May at 5:15, then Vic May at 6:30.
The tree lighting is on the Saturday schedule only. If you want to see the lights come on, go Saturday. If you mainly want the play and Santa and less of a crowd at the main moment, Sunday has the same opening hour without a lighting ceremony.
Two Markets, Two Different Outings
Here's how the two compare side by side.
| Christkindlmarkt | Christmas Market & Winter Wonderland | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 29 | Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6 |
| Hours | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 3 to 8 p.m. |
| Setting | Downtown, inside Erie Trackside Manor, the R.H. Smith Mercantile Building and curbside | A 40-acre event campus at 517 Neversink Drive |
| Organizer | Port Jervis Tourism Board | New Century Festivals |
| Main draw | 100+ vendors, wagon rides, German band | 40-foot tree, 60-foot light tunnel, Santa, Nativity Play |
| Cost | Free admission and parking | Free admission and parking |
With different days, different hours and different settings, the two markets don't compete for the same afternoon. You can shop for gifts downtown in daylight on the 29th, then come back the next weekend for the lights.
After Dark Beyond Neversink Drive
If the light tunnel leaves you wanting more lights, the Orange County Arboretum at 211 NY-416 in Montgomery runs Holiday Lights in Bloom from November 27 through December 27. It's open Fridays through Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m., the last arrival is at 7, admission is free, and it's closed Christmas Day.
Back in town, the city's own holiday events add to the calendar. Last year, the Port Jervis Newsroom reported that the 53rd Rick Drew Holiday Parade took place on December 7, 2025, followed by a tree lighting and visits with Santa. The city posts its event dates on portjervisny.gov/events and asks people to check there and on its Facebook page for changes.
One practical note on the markets: the Christkindlmarkt lists a contact for questions, at 973-534-4177. For the New Century weekend, the RSVP link is on the event page, and so is the full drink list, if you want to pick a flavor before you get to the counter.
Our team at The Machree Group works on homes all across the Hudson Valley, including in western Orange County. If you're hosting family between these two weekends and want the house ready for it, from staging a room for guests to planning a winter project, let's connect and start your Hudson Valley project.