Koziar’s Christmas Village What To Know Before You Go

Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit more than walking through a winter wonderland.  I just love holiday decor, Christmas music and all the sparkly lights so seeing a Christmas village is always high on my holiday bucket list.  So how could I not see what Display World Magazine has dubbed, the “best outdoor Christmas Display IN THE WORLD.”  I know… what an amazing title, huh?  Here’s the initial view of Koziar’s Christmas Village that you get upon driving up.

Our jaws dropped!  It was so extensive, so elaborate, so mind-blowing that even our car full of jaded New Yorkers were impressed!

What a happy place it was!

So the story goes that what originally started as a decorated house and dairy farm soon became a sensation when Mr. Koziar’s Christmas display grew year-by-year into a massive holiday spectacle.  Now you can see everything from a giant train display to a lit-up lake!  There were so many delightful sights along the trail including this supersized Santa!

Every turn showcased such a charming display of nostalgic Christmas tales, characters and scenes.

Cute costumed characters greeted us, and as we winded down each trail we enjoyed a game of “I Spy” with fun – to -find items like the Snoopy cast, a land of santas, Grinch storybook pages, more!  Check out this adorable, vintage tea party scene found when we peeked into a playhouse!  Who else loved Raggedy Ann and Andy as a child?

Some criticized online that the displays were dated.  But I kind of enjoyed the old-world charm of seeing classic characters line the paths and feeling like I was going back in time to a magical and charming Christmas world.  It helped that we went in November when the Christmas crowds had not yet come out in full force of course.

About a 2.5 hour drive from downtown, Manhattan, this destination was totally worth it!  But know before you go.

Here are our top tips for your next trip to Koziar’s Christmas Village:

BRING

• cash! The cash line is 3 x faster than the regular line.  And trust me, you want to minimize your time waiting around in the cold outdoors
• warm weather accessories.  Do NOT forget that scarf, mittens, hat and/or earmuffs.  Consider bringing an extra blanket especially if you have kids with strollers.  There are few indoor stops along the way, many of which have lines to get in so bundle up to really be able to enjoy the night out.
• tissues.  We saw many people sniffling without access to tissues.  Bring your own.

KNOW

• There’s one main bathroom near the entrance and porta potties scattered throughout.  Go before you go..
• It will take you around 1-1.5hours to get through the place depending on how long you take at each shop along the way, how many photos you stop to take etc.
• Avoid Saturdays because I hear the traffic into the place alone could take you up to 45 minutes per mile.
• Get there before it opens to avoid wasting time in lines.
• Thanksgiving thru January 1st:
  Mon. – Fri. 6 – 9 pm | Sat. 5 – 9:30 pm | Sun. 5 – 9 pm
  Open EVERY night to Jan. 1st
• You can take a picture with Santa here..just have to find him in one of the miniature houses.
• BUY the cookie!  OMG these chocolate chip cookies (which are warmed up for you) are SO good and only a dollar I think?
• 3 & Under – FREE |  4 to 10 – $10.00
  11 to 64 – $12.00 | Seniors (65+) – $11.00 and guess what… Parking is FREE.  I know… you NY-ers just fainted on me…
• To navigate the parking lot and remember where you left your car, drop a pin on your phone or text someone in your party directions
• If you are using a camera, know which settings to use during the night.
• Work out a plan if a member of your party becomes separated.
• 782 Christmas Village Rd, Bernville, PA 19506-8810 (It’s near Lancaster PA where we toured through and sightsaw the next day)

Have you been to a Christmas village before? If so, where and would you recommend it?

You might also like:

Why You NEED To Take Your Kids Shopping at Target Popup, “Target Wonderland” Holiday Soiree with MomTrends and Tons of Blogger Style 10 Tips To Making New Year’s Eve WITH Kids Stylish and Special 6 Stops You Must See To Believe – Epic SoCal Road Trip How to Plan Perfect Paris Pictures – 5 Top Tips

Gift Guide For the Major Minifashionista On Your Nice List

Have a major minifashionista on your nice list??  What do you get for the girly girl who loves fashion and has an eye for style?  If you’re wondering that this holiday season, you’ve come to the right spot!  ‘Cuz boy do I have great ideas for you!  Here is my gift guide for those good girls on your list!

NM Kids Boutique

This online boutique and IG shop is one of my secret go-tos for kids’ designer dupes and couture – like fashions.  And now it can be your favorite shop for all the latest trends too!  You’ll be delighted to know that they have everything from sunglasses, to swimsuits and sandals.  Here are a couple outfits that I styled using items straight from their store.  Which one do you like most?

If you follow us on Instagram, you know we own and have styled the red sunnies and pink dress below.  Can you believe the dress tag actually says, Gucci?  And it’s only $29.99.  What a steal! Such great quality too!

Kidpik is the perfect gift that keeps on giving!  With monthly subscriptions based on the child’s style preferences, your opinionated minifashionista will receive a head-to-toe, mix-&-match, fully coordinated outfit based on the style survey she answers! Pick the 4, 6, or 12 week frequency option and only keep items you love (returns / exchanges are free and easy).  See here for more details!

Bixbee – Why have a boring backpack when you can have a Bixbee backpack?  For the girl who enjoys standing out and being the envy of all, these backpacks are to die for!  I don’t know about your minifashionista but mine is obsessed with PINK so I’ve rounded up the most dazzling options for your pink-loving diva!

See what I mean?  Darling details, right?  Glitter!  Unicorns!  3D detailing with wings, ears and horns that pop up out?? YES!!  And for those that already have a school backpack still in good shape, get them an upgraded duffle bag for all their dance, sport and slumber party needs!  Or get one to store all of the many doll clothes that I’m sure your fashionista has collected.  Check out these adorable options!

The best part is that not only are these stand out designer bags, they are durable, reliable and ergonomic too.  Their patented, horizontal backpacks for instance are designed to carry weight (as recommended by experts) at the waist level.  Check out the site for sizing options ranging for those fit for a toddler all the way up to high school.  Additionally, you can feel good about purchasing from this brand because for every backpack sold, they donate a backpack filled with school supplies to a child in need!!

Shop Kids Shoes If you’re like most moms, you hardly have time to leisurely shop through actual stores and who wants to do that with baby in tow anyways?  It’s much easier and way more efficient to quickly do your search online.  That’s why I turn to Shop Kids Shoes for shoe needs.  They feature lots of name brands and I always fall in love with more than I intended to shop for!  Here are some of my current favorites.  Which one do you love??

And for the girl who goes gaga for glitter, see the below options!! 

Follow us on Instagram and you’ll see more kids shoes from this site styled from brands like Katy Perry, Michael Kors, Sam Edelman, and Badgley Mischka!

Build A Bear (rainbow)

I don’t know about your child, but mine is crazy for rainbow everything.  And she LOVES this dress up rainbow bear! The set comes with plush stuffing, a heart locket, a birth certificate, a fashion outfit, and lots of accessories to customize and build their own bear at home!  What a fun activity for girls 3 and over to add stuffing, write their wish and close it in the special heart locket that fits inside the fashionable, furry friend!  Girls have so much fun dressing this bear-y cute gift and even get to fill out an official birth certificate for it!  Remember Cabbage Patch dolls and the birth certificate craze?  yea.. this is the more cuddly and cute version! Click below to buy!

Hairdorables

Your minifashionista will fit right in with Noah and this “big hair don’t care” girl squad.  So 2018, this lineup is about a funny vlogger with a passion for hair-styling.  Yes, she is a YouTube star.  LOL  The story goes, while shooting her video, Noah fumbled over the words “hair” and “adorable,” accidentally coining the term hairdorable. #instafame!  This is THE surprise toy for girls!  Each package must be pulled and peeled to reveal a whopping 12 stylin’ surprises.

For your crafty or artsy fashionista, check out these fabulous finds!

Klutz has the best assortment of activities for that girly girl on your gift list ranging from sewing crafts for all ages, to artsy books like the fingerprint fabulous one shown here where you can add sparkles to your thumbprint artwork, to lookbooks where you can live our your fashion designer dreams!  I seriously love them all!  And the mini-me inside me wants them for me, er, I mean Juliet! Parents always need a rainy day activity so stocking up on these always makes sense.  Plus they make for great silent travel items that don’t bother other passengers.  See the full assortment and purchase here!

What great finds, right?  And they’re all $100 and under!  There should be a lot to choose from and they’ve been kid-tested by a real major minifashionista.  You can’t go wrong with any of these fab finds!

Full Disclosure:

We received product to review during the research phase of this post.  As always, all opinions expressed are our own.

You might also like:

Juliet’s Style Diary: 1 Skirt 5 Ways Minifashionista OOTD w/ new HM Kids’ Accessories Kid Things Styled and Reviewed Lucky and Me Review Who’s That Girl Launch With Sailor Brinkley