The holiday season is officially here and we’ve got you prepared for all of the holiday happenings in Montclair + Essex County. This 25-day guide will give The Montclair Girl readers day-by-day opportunities to get into the holiday spirit in the Montclair and Essex County area, starting on December 1st and going through Christmas Day. Read on — with a cup of hot cocoa — for your 25-day Essex County holiday bucket list for 2024.
December 1
Vote for your favorite local businesses in Montclair + Essex County. You can do so here.
December 2
Pick out the perfect Christmas tree at one of these locations across New Jersey and New York — including cut-your-own-farms. See our guide to real trees here.
Read More: The Montclair Girl’s Holiday Shopping Deals Guide 2024
December 3
Attend the Upper Montclair Business District Tree Lighting from 5PM to 7PM, on the Lawn of St. James’ Church at 581 Valley Road in Montclair.
December 4
Head to the WinterFest Snowflake Spectacular from 5PM to 8PM at Edgemont Park in Montclair to enjoy a tree lighting, holiday music, kids activities, a Santa visit, and more.
December 5
Shop locally for holiday gifts. Not sure where to start? We’ve got your guide for shopping small in Essex County.
December 6
Stop by one of these hot chocolate spots for a soul-warming beverage.
December 7
Stop by the Dickens Village tree lighting in Maplewood. Santa will be available for visits and photos, and the houses will be open for viewing at Ricalton Square in Maplewood Village.
December 8
Tour historical homes and sites that are decked out in holiday decor at the 2024 Essex County Holiday House Tour.
December 9
Pick up a delicious holiday treat from one of the many bakeries in the Essex County area.
December 10
Go see the giant snowmen displays on Harrison Avenue, Warren Place, and Orange Road in Montclair.
December 11
Sip Christmas cocktails and eat Italian food in the Grinch’s Grotto at Cucina Calandra in Fairfield. Make a reservation here.
December 12
Join Montclair’s The Eclectic Chic Boutique in-person or virtually for a holiday gift tags workshop at 6PM. Register here.
December 13
Attend Montclair’s South End Tree Lighting from 5PM to 7PM at 306 Orange Road in Montclair.
December 14
Make memories with loved ones and have your picture taken with Santa.
December 15
Attend the Handmade Holiday market at The Woodland in Maplewood from 10AM-4PM to shop local artisans and makers.
December 16
Go on a holiday lights tour of Northern New Jersey in your car to view all the holiday decorations around the area. Here’s our guide to holiday light displays.
December 17
Peep all the windows of Essex County holiday-themed decorations — as we know, our cities come to play when it comes to next-level decor.
December 18
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Take a winter stroll through the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo this holiday season under the sparkling lights of over 50 winter and animal characters.
December 19
Go ice skating at one of the rinks in Northern New Jersey and NYC. See our guide here.
December 20
Get a group together, map out a route, spread the holiday cheer, and go caroling in the Montclair area.
December 21
Attend the Montclair Flea Holiday Market from 11AM-6PM at Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair, complete with local merchants, food + drinks, music, art, and shopping.
December 22
Attend Montclair History Center’s Winter Wonderland Open House to see the Crane House + Historic YWCA all ready for the holidays.
December 23
Donate to those who might need it this holiday season at any of these donation locations.
See More: Where to Bring Visitors for the Holidays in The Hudson County Area
December 24
Warm-up and support your local business by ordering fresh chocolate chip cookies from any of these Montclair spots.
December 25
Reflect on a holiday season well-spent. And share your pics with us @themontclairgirl on Instagram!
Qahwah House: A Yemeni-Style Coffee Spot Opening in Montclair in 2025
2025 is just weeks away and coming with it is an abundance of new businesses to the Montclair area, including a Yemeni coffee shop, Qahwah House. Coffee lovers can be excited to know that this new spot, which will be located on the first floor of 493 Bloomfield Avenue, will serve all kinds of Middle Eastern-style brews, teas, and pastries. Read on for what we know about Qahwah House coming to Montclair, New Jersey in 2025.
The Details
Qahwah House, a Yemeni-style coffee spot with locations around the country, has put up signage at 493 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. The Montclair location will be the franchise's second location in New Jersey, with the Clifton location being its first. While an exact opening date is unknown as of this writing, locals can expect the shop to open sometime in the new year. The Montclair Girl team has reached out to the business and this piece will be updated with any further information.
Read More: New French-Asian Bakery Taking Over Former Lululemon Space in Montclair
About Qahwah House
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This Middle Eastern coffee shop was founded in 2017 by Ibrahim Alhasbani, whose family has been in the coffee farming business for eight generations. His goal in opening this business was to "provide the highest quality coffee and to bridge communities by sharing [his] own Yemeni culture," according to Qahwah House's website.
The menu of this new spot will consist of everyone's favorite trio: coffee, tea, and pastries. Montclarians can look forward to signature creations like Sana'ani Coffee, a medium roast coffee made with cardamom, a Middle Eastern spice, and Adeni Chai, a Yemeni black tea mixed with cardamom, nutmeg, and milk. For those who like their coffee brewed at home, Qahwah House will also provide retail coffee bags for purchase. To pair with a caffeinated drink, patrons will also find authentic baked goods on the menu, like the Khaliat Alnahl, a butter and cheese-filled roll topped with drizzled honey.
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Although the menu is rooted in Yemeni cuisine, it will include beverages and desserts from other cultures around the world, such as the Affogato, which is an Italian dessert made with gelato, milk, and hot espresso, as well as other fun treats like a pistachio-flavored cake, chocolate raspberry cake, and refreshers in the flavors lemonade, strawberry, mango, and dragonfruit.
See More: New Businesses Opening in Hoboken + Jersey City in 2025
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