No, I haven't lost my mind (or my calendar) and Yes!, I'm well aware that there are still about 150 more shopping days until Christmas, but THIS WEEKEND marks the annual celebration of Christmas in July! What started as a celebration complete with carolers, a Christmas tree and fake snow at a camp in North Carolina in 1933, Christmas in July has become a fun way to celebrate the "most wonderful time of the year" before December hits!
As a parent, I'm pretty sure that you have seen this "holiday" played out in the form of a bar crawl. Having participate once or twice myself, I know how much fun it can be to celebrate Christmas at a time when there is no stress around wrapping gifts, preparing the perfect meal or bracing yourself for the frost that may or may not ruin your travel plans! With kids, Christmas in July can be equally as fun (side note: who says your can't have a bit of eggnog in your water bottle) and can even be a creative way to shake up your typical weekend plans.
Here are 5 ways that you can (LOCALLY) bring the Magic of Christmas into your home this weekend!
1. Stop by 3rd Avenue Chocolate Shoppe in Spring Lake to get all of the "fixings" for your ginger bread houses! (HINT: Ginger bread houses can be made out of the extra graham crackers that you have laying around from your summer s'more making)
2. Bring your snow tubes to your favorite Jersey Shore beach and "sleigh" your way across the waves!
3. Pick up a small plant or tree at Lanzas Nursery in Wall and decorate it with some of your favorite Christmas tree ornaments! (BONUS: String popcorn together on a piece of fishing wire to use as a tasty spin on garland)
4. Have your kids start their letters to Santa so that they are ready to drop them in the mailbox in Manasquan when Christmas time rolls around!
5. Create your own Candy Cane dash along the Spring Lake Boardwalk where you and your family can enjoy a 2 mile leisurely run (or competitive race) together!
From my family to yours, we wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS (in July) and a HAPPY (rest of the) year!
