This post is sponsored by The Paradox Experience.
There is a fascinating museum in the iconic American Dream Mall that allows visitors to step outside the box + defy reality. The Paradox Experience, located at 1 American Dream Way Suite A140 in East Rutherford, is a one-of-a-kind attraction for all ages. This fun, immersive experience inspires guests no matter how many times they visit. Keep reading to learn more about the unique, science-based exhibits at the Paradox Experience + how to buy tickets.
Mind-Blowing Exhibits That Defy Reality
The Paradox Experience is a multi-sensory museum with various exhibits that stretch your imagination + defy expectations. Guests are invited to experience hands-on exhibits where genuine paradoxes come to life.
“Our science-based exhibits hit the perfect balance between exhilarating fun, mental challenges, and educational enrichment,” KaraAnne Galante, senior director of marketing, strategy, and operations with MAP360 Collective, told The Hoboken Girl.
The destination features more than 90 paradox-inspired exhibits that play tricks on the mind and senses. Guests are welcome to take photos and videos while exploring the museum since many of the exhibits are intentionally photogenic.
The Paradox Experience has locations all over the world. Each venue features some location-specific details, so keep an eye out as you explore.
“We always have a local flair and you’ll be pondering our experience forever,” KaraAnne said.
Creative Fun for All Ages
The Paradox Experience is a great destination for all ages. No matter how old you are, there is something new to learn + discover at the Paradox Experience.
Families can explore together and make memories that will last a lifetime. Both kids and adults will be amazed by the colors + paradoxes behind every corner.
All of these impressive experiences were brought to life by the passionate Paradox Experience team. Every team member works hard to fuse fun + entertainment with education and learning. The in-house research and development team produces all of the mind-bending experiences that everyone will enjoy.
“The best part of running the experience is seeing the spark of curiosity and excitement in our visitors as they engage with our exhibits. It’s also fulfilling to work with our passionate staff and experts who bring our paradoxes to life,” KaraAnne said.
All About the Paradox Experience
The Paradox Experience is located in the American Dream Mall. New Jersey + New York residents can purchase discounted tickets for this location.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance for specific dates and entry times. You can also purchase up to twenty tickets per group + can schedule an event for groups of more than 20 people.
Visitors are invited to spend up to 90 minutes exploring the museum. It’s open Monday to Friday from 12-7PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-7PM.
This is a self-guided experience, but support staff around the venue can provide guidance or answer any necessary questions along the way. There is an on-site cafe and boutique to visit after exploring.
“We’re all about creating engaging, fun, and educational experiences that touch the hearts and minds of our visitors; we offer new perspectives that invite you to defy reality and think again,” KaraAnne said.
The Paradox Experience is located at 1 American Dream Way Suite A140 in East Rutherford. You can call 551-773-6081 or email [email protected] with questions.
Holiday Pop-Up Markets + Bars in New Jersey for the 2024 Season
Contrary to popular belief, it's never too early to celebrate the holiday season. That's why The Hoboken Girl has curated a list of festive pop-up events happening all around New Jersey, including various holiday markets and Miracle pop-ups, where restaurants + bars turn their space into a Christmas wonderland for a few months out of the year. Keep reading to learn more about holiday pop-ups in Hoboken, Jersey City, and greater New Jersey for 2024.
Hudson County
Heights Holiday Market | 498 Palisade Avenue, Jersey City
December 7th | 10AM-4PM
The Riverview Farmers Market will host a holiday market on Sunday, December 7th. Attendees can expect to see 120+ vendors, a visit from Santa, festive music, and holiday-themed food and drinks from local favorites, including Fox + Crow and Busy Bee Organics. Learn more about this event here.
HDSID Happy Holiday Market | 145 Newark Avenue + 116 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
December 14th-15th, December 21st-22nd | 12PM-6PM
HDSID's annual Happy Holiday Market will take place on two December weekends this year and will feature various local vendors selling items, such as art, handmade goods, sweet treats, festive drinks, and more. The indoor market will be on December 14th + December 15th. During that weekend, locals can head to The Ashford Rooftop, located at 145 Newark Avenue. Attendees can expect to see about sixteen different vendors. There will also be a Rooftop brunch included. The second weekend of the Happy Holiday Market will be outdoors and located at Grove PATH Plaza. Jersey City locals can look forward to over 40 different vendors and a bounce house for children. See more information here.
Read More: Where to Bring Visitors for the Holidays in the Hudson County Area
Holiday Pup-Up Market | 1034 Willow Avenue, Hoboken
December 17th | 9AM-2PM
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Doggie Road Trippin, Bead Bar Shop, Groomington Eats, and The Ale House will host the first-ever Holiday Pup-Up Market on Tuesday, December 17th. This holiday pop-up will occur at The Ale House on Willow Avenue. Attendees and their furry friends can look forward to a variety of local vendors selling dog products and treats. The list of participating businesses has yet to be announced, so check Doggie Road Trippin on Instagram for future announcements.
Holly Jolly Cocktail Crawl | 176 Newark Avenue, 390 Fourth Street, + 149 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
December 1st-December 31st
Hosted by Beyond the Plate, this pop-up food tour will make three stops at the restaurants The Archer, Madame, and South House. Each location will feature cocktails, food, and dessert tastings. For more details, including the schedule of events, see here.
Main Street Pops Holiday Markets | 1401 Adams Street, Hoboken
December 8th-December 22nd | Saturdays + Sundays, 11AM-4PM
This year's holiday market, hosted by Main Street Pops, will be held at 1401 Adams Street under the 14th Street Viaduct. Attendees can look forward to local artisan vendors selling various items, including fashion, accessories, jewelry, bath + body products, home decor, artisanal foods, art, and more. Each Sunday will also feature a special event. On the first day, December 8th, expect to see a holiday community concert. The following weekend, December 15th, attendees will have the chance to take holiday-themed photos. The last Sunday, December 22nd, will feature a holiday DJ dance party and carousel rides. Learn more about the holiday market here.
Miracle on Mercer | 292 Barrow Street, Jersey City
November 12th-January 5th
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Miracle on Mercer, an annual holiday pop-up, will take place at the Jersey City-based restaurant Franklin Social. This restaurant + tavern goes all out for the holiday season with festive decorations and a limited seasonal drink menu. This special event begins in November and runs until January. To make a reservation, see here.
Santa Paws Yappy Hour | 1034 Willow Avenue, Hoboken
December 6th | 6PM-8:30PM
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The same crew hosting the Holiday Pup-Up Market event will also host a dog-friendly happy hour on December 6th to benefit Wise Animal Rescue. This holiday pop-up isn't your average happy hour event. Along with festive drink specials, attendees can look forward to giveaways and a doggie treat truck. Note that a $10 cash donation will be expected at the door. See Doggie Road Trippin's Instagram post for all the details.
Sippin’ at Maddy Rose | 76 Audrey Zapp Drive Floor 1, Jersey City
Starting November 20th
Maddy Rose, as well as its sister restaurant Village Hall in South Orange, will turn its space into a holiday paradise, as these two businesses will be the only Sippin Santa locations in New Jersey. Customers can look forward seeing Christmas decor, such as palm trees covered in lights + ornaments, and a wide selection of tiki-style holiday cocktails.
Sleighs + Leis | 335 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
Starts December 1st
This Christmas pop-up is returning for the 2024 holiday season. From a special holiday cocktail menu to limited food specials to decked-out Christmas decorations, customers can partake in Cellar 335's holiday experience. To make reservations, see here.
Essex County
Dickens Village | Ricalton Square, Maplewood
December 7th-December 21st | 1PM-4PM
Dickens Village, an annual holiday event, returns to Maplewood for three Saturdays in December. Every year, this pop-up brings to life various scenes from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. In miniature houses in Ricalton Square, attendees can see fireplaces, stockings, and antique toys. In addition, each date will include different special features, including a tree lighting ceremony, a visit from Santa, a petting farm, and more. See the full schedule of events here.
Essex County Holiday House Tour | 110 Orange Road, Montclair
December 7th-December 8th | 12PM-3PM
The Holiday House Tour is returning for the 2024 holiday season. Montclair locals can take a self-guided tour of the Garden Club's most beautiful period decorative homes, including a 227-year-old historic property, for two days only. Learn more about this pop-up here.
Glen Ridge Holiday Market | 200 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge
December 8th | 11AM-4PM
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The annual Glen Ridge Holiday Market, hosted by Glen Ridge High School, returns for 2024. This market will take place in the school's gymnasium and feature items from local vendors, including Kat + Bear, DGM Ceramics, Oh My Balm, Hipster + Co, Bee Haven, and more. See the complete list of participating vendors here.
Holly Jolly Bar | 234 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
November 15th-January 12th
Photo Credit: Calandra's Bakery + Restaurants
Holly Jolly Bar is a holiday pop-up coming to Calandra’s II Vecchio Cafe in Caldwell. This restaurant will turn its space into a Christmas wonderland. Guests can expect to see holiday decor like twinkling lights, tinsel, and more. This pop-up will feature festive cocktails like “Santa’s Sangria” and “Mistletoe Mule." Learn more about this pop-up here.
Miracle on Bloomfield | 706 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
November 5th-January 5th
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From November 5th to January 5th, The Parkside Social, a Verona-based restaurant known for cocktails and finger food, will turn its space into a holiday spectacle. From November to December, customers can experience a Christmas cocktail experience. To make a reservation, see here.
Miracle on Centre | 229 Centre Street, Nutley
November 7th-January 5th
Cowan's Public, established in 1938, is a restaurant specializing in beers, cocktails, and pub food. This spot will pull out all the bells and whistles for the holiday season. Like other restaurants, Miracle on Centre will serve festive Christmas cocktails. (Look out for holiday-themed cups, which were included in previous years!) Reservations can be made here.
Montclair Holiday Flea Market | 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
November 30th-January 19th | 11AM-6PM
Every Saturday + Sunday from the end of November to mid-December, Montclair locals can shop for all kinds of holiday items at the Montclair Holiday Flea Market. This pop-up will feature vendors selling vintage items, handmade goods, and tasty food and drinks. See more information here.
Sippin’ at Village Hall | 01 South Orange Avenue, South Orange
Starts November 20th
Village Hall, along with its sister restaurant Maddy Rose in Jersey City, will be the only two Sippin Santa locations in New Jersey. Visitors can expect the restaurant to be filled with festive decor, serve tiki-style holiday cocktails, and sell holiday merchandise.
South Orange Downtown Holiday Market | Village Plaza, South Orange
December 15th + December 22nd | 10AM-4PM
The Township of South Orange will host its annual Holiday Market next to Spiotta Park. For three days in December, Essex locals can expect to find local vendors selling jewelry, apparel, accessories, art, food, and more. See more information here. To register as a vendor, see here.
The Grinch’s Grotto | 216 U.S. Highway 46 East, Fairfield
November 15th-January 12th
The Grinch’s Grotto is coming to Fairfield's Cucina Calandra starting November 15th. Guests can expect to see Whoville-inspired decorations and festive, Grinch-inspired cocktails. The Grinch himself will also visit on November 12th, December 4th, December 11th, and December 18th at 5:30PM. See more about this pop-up here.
Bergen County
Bergen County Winter Wonderland | 216 East Forest Avenue, Paramus
TBD
The Bergen County Winter Wonderland at Van Saun County Park is an annual holiday event. In previous years, admission tickets were necessary to attend. These tickets included access to the ice skating rink, bumper cars, a carousel ride, and more. Check back here for future updates on the dates and details.
Miracle on Valley | 191 Valley Boulevard, Wood-Ridge
November 14th-January 5th
Gus' Last Word, the sister restaurant to Jersey City's Franklin Social and Verona's The Parkside Social, specializes in classic American bar fare and drinks. The restaurant will put up festive decorations from November to January and serve holiday-themed cocktails. To make reservations, see here.
Somerset County
Cozy Cottage Christmas Market | 3055 Valley Road, Basking Ridge
November 21st | 4PM-6PM
The Cozy Cottage Christmas Market is an annual pop-up that will feature vendors selling food, drinks, festive decor, holiday gifts, and more. To attend this event, RSVP by November 15th here.
Sussex County
Countdown to Christmas | 40 Maxim Drive, Hopatcong
December 21st | 10AM-4PM
On December 21st, the St. Jude Church of Hopatcong will host the Countdown to Christmas, a holiday shopping extravaganza. This free event will feature over 50 different local restaurants and vendors. See here for more information.
Frosty’s Cantina + Winter Workshop | 2 Chamonix Drive, Vernon
TBD
The Crystal Springs Minerals Hotel will host Frosty's Cantina + Winter Workshop for the 2024 holiday season. In previous years, Frosty's Cantina included signature holiday cocktails, spiked hot chocolates, vanilla lattes, a hot dog station, and more. The Winter Workshop, open to all ages, provides marshmallow roasting, fire pits, and axe throwing. Dates and hours have yet to be announced, so check here soon.
The Schnapps Shack | 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg
TBD
Every year, Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg hosts The Schnapps Shack. This holiday pop-up features an ice skating rink, a visit from Santa, and various seasonal drinks and foods, including signature festive cocktails, various Schnapps options, apple cider doughnuts, and more. Opening dates have yet to be posted but check back soon here.
Hunterdon County
Festival of Trees | 5 Main Street, Clinton
November 9th-December 22nd | 11AM-5PM
On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout November and December, Red Mill Museum Village will host an event where local community groups can decorate trees to be showcased across the museum grounds. Prizes will be given for the categories: Creative Genius, Best Representation of Theme, Spirit of Nature, Child's Fantasy, Most Traditional, and People's Choice. For those interested in decorating a tree, see the application here.
Winter Village at the Red Mill | 5 Main Street, Clinton
November 29th-November 30th + December 1st, 6th, 8th | 11AM-5PM
The Winter Village at the Red Mill is a holiday pop-up event for only two weekends. Attendees can expect a winter craft market, 50+ local artisans, food trucks, and more, all in a heated tent. Guests are also invited to tour the 12 historic buildings on the property, which will be decorated for the holiday season. See more details here.
Mercer County
Off The Wall Holiday Market | 952 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction
November 17th-December 21st | 12:30PM-5:30PM
West Windsor Arts Council will host its Off The Wall Holiday Market during the weekends of November and December. At this event, locals can browse all kinds of artwork and artisanal goods the West Windsor Arts Council has to sell. See here for more information.
Monmouth County
Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Festival at Grand Arcade of Convention Hall | 1300 Ocean Avenue North, Asbury Park
November 29th=December 22nd | Fridays 3PM-8PM, Saturdays + Sundays 12PM-5PM
Inspired by the traditional "Weihnachtsmarkts" holiday markets held in Germany, Asbury Park's Bazaar Festival will have two locations this year. At the Grand Arcade of the Convention Hall, attendees can expect to see local vendors, festive decor, craft workshops, and more. See here for details about this free event.
Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Festival at The Asbury Hotel | 210 Fifth Avenue, Asbury Park
December 1st-December 15th | 12PM-5PM
The second location of Asbury Park's Bazaar Festival will be at The Asbury Hotel. It will feature events in the indoor lounge, the Hall, and the outdoor heated terrace. A full schedule of events and more details are expected soon, so check back here.
Holland Ridge Farms Winter Wonderland | 108 Rues Road, Cream Ridge
November 30th-December 22nd | 5PM-10PM
The Winter Wonderland at Holland Ridge Farms is a must-try experience for those who love Christmas light displays. This immersive show features unique set-ups, including a tulip field with over 30,000 light-up tulips and a lit windmill. This pop-up will also feature a variety of local food trucks and vendors, a visit from Santa, and more. See here for the details.
See More: The Best Ice Skating Rinks in New Jersey + New York City
Winter FRESH | 66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove
November 10th-March 23rd | 10AM-1PM
This pop-up event costs $50 daily and will occur indoors at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. Winter FRESH will feature various local eateries, and up to 20 vendors will be in attendance. Note that this event is a food-only market. See here for more information and to apply to be a vendor.
Ocean County
A Sinner's Christmas Experience | 20 Inlet Drive, Point Pleasant Beach
November 13th-January 5th
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From November 13th to January 5th, Sinner’s Steakhouse in Point Pleasant Beach will host its Jolly Ol’ Sinful Experience. The restaurant will transform into a Christmas extravaganza and feature signature cocktails like the Reif Rum Coquito, Cousin Eddie’s Egg Nog, and Scrooge’s Usual, to name a few. In addition, a plethora of holiday-themed desserts will be provided. See here for more information, including how to make a reservation.
Cape May County
Congress Hall's Winter Wonderland | 200 Congress Place, Cape May
November 29th-December 31st
Congress Hall transforms its hotel into a Christmas lover's paradise every year. In addition to festive decorations, attendees can expect to see a variety of local vendors and merchants and a carousel for children. See more information here.
