Mercer Oaks Catering will hold its second annual Holiday Sip & Shop at The Boathouse in Mercer County Park on Friday, December 4, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free, and organizers plan to have more than 30 vendors.
The event follows a 2025 debut that 94.5 PST described as a huge success. The first edition, announced as the Holiday Shop N' Sip, was the Boathouse's first holiday vendor market, according to the station.
The planned offerings include gifts and treats from vendors, holiday cocktails, bites and live music. 94.5 PST's report also highlights the event as a way for shoppers to support local businesses.
How the First Year Set the Template
Last year's debut event, held December 12 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., also promised more than 30 vendors, according to a separate wpst.com report on the original Shop N' Sip announcement. That first market included a cash bar and a light menu available for purchase, along with holiday music and vendors offering what organizers called all kinds of unique goods.
The 2026 edition is scheduled to close at 8:30 p.m., 90 minutes earlier than the first year's 10 p.m. finish.
What to Know Before You Go
The Boathouse by Mercer Oaks Catering has also promoted the event on its Facebook page. Current event information does not specify whether registration is required, whether age restrictions apply or whether food and drink will cost extra.
A County Park With a Longer History
The Boathouse is part of a larger recreation destination: Mercer County says the park spans more than 2,500 acres across West Windsor, Hamilton and Lawrence townships and offers year-round active and passive recreation. The county says the land was acquired between the late 1960s and early 1970s, and ground was broken for the park’s lake in June 1971.
The market gives holiday shoppers an opportunity to support local businesses while browsing for gifts.
