What To Do: Dog show, Turkey-Day parade and yes, loads of Christmas stuff

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so you know that Christmas-related events will be filling the event calendar over the next few weeks. Fortunately for the traditionalists who would prefer Christmas events to get underway after Thanksgiving, there are several special events around the area this weekend that are not holiday-related events.

If you suffer from cynophobia then don’t even think about visiting the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Ave., Oaks, 484-754-3976,http://www.phillyexpocenter.com) this weekend.

Cynophobia is the fear of dogs. On November 20 and 21, the National Dog Show will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center – from 8:30 a.m. -5 p.m. both days.

The show’s sponsor – the Kennel Club of Philadelphia – will host two all-breed dog shows with completely different competitions each day. The annual event is one of only a handful of “benched” events in the United States.

Many who are not familiar with competitive dog shows may find themselves wondering what the difference is between a benched dog show and a non-benched dog show.

A benched show is where the participating dogs are required to be on assigned benches when they are not being shown in competition. This allows for all interested spectators, breeders, handlers and attendees to meet all the participating dogs, interact, ask questions, and share information about the various breeds present at the show. A non-benched dog show does not require all dogs to remain “benched” throughout the competition.

The National Dog Show, which has been held annually since 1933, is one of the four remaining (and the oldest) benched dog shows in the United States.

Visitors to the show will be able to check out more than 2,000 of the top American Kennel Club sanctioned dogs from across the country.

More than 150 different breeds and varieties compete for best of Breed, First in Group and the coveted title of Best in Show. Each day brings different competitions and attractions.

Saturday is The National Dog Show Presented by Purina, taped for telecast nationwide on Thanksgiving Day by NBC. It is the most widely viewed dog show in America. Sunday’s show offers more canine competitions, enhanced athletic dog exhibitions plus family-friendly activities and hands-on fun.

There will be a full schedule of events each day, including breed judging and demonstration events. The exhibitors at the show will be competing for prizes in categories featuring more than 160 different canine breeds in seven main groups — terrier, toy, working, sporting, hound, non-sporting and herding.

The area will also feature dog-themed face painting, caricatures and more.

Admission either day is $16 for adults (ages 12 and older).

The Antiques at Kimberton Show will be held at the Kimberton Fire Company (61 Fire House Lane (off Kimberton Road), Kimberton,http://antiquesatkimberton.com) on November 20 and 21. The popular annual event will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday with a $7 admission fee and free parking.

The well-attended annual event will feature more than 65 dealers whose booths will occupy over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space. Visitors will be able to shop for items from a wide variety of antiques categories, including furniture, paintings, jewelry, books and historical items. Additionally, dealers will be on hand to discuss their items and chat about antiques-related topics.

The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.dynamicticketsolutions.com)  is running its “Fall Foliage Excursions” on November 20 and 21.

These rides feature views of some of the best foliage in the area. Spectacular autumn colors and the rich fragrances of fall in the Secret Valley delight the senses while locally produced autumn snacks and ciders available on board warm the soul.

The two-hour round trips depart and arrive at the station in downtown Boyertown.

Ticket options include Deluxe-Coach, Dining, Garden Cafe, First-Class Parlor or First-Class Lounge

Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) welcomes back one of its favorite family traditions this weekend – “Wild Lights.”

With new lights and decorative attractions, and with more animals on exhibit, this year’s Wild Lights is brighter than ever. Each night of “Wild Lights” features live entertainment, unique animal encounters, performances, holiday music, and a chance to see Santa himself.

“Wild Lights” operates from 5-9 p.m. on select days from November 19 through December 30. Wild Lights tickets are valid beginning at 5 pm. The zoo and “Wild Lights” will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Wild Lights is held rain or shine.

Admission to the Zoo is $12.95.

The Zoo also is hosting several “Dog Days.”

The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on November 19, 21 and 24 from 1-5 p.m. each day.

All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”

The “Dog Days” event is slated to run

Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.

Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will have a special event this weekend that looks back in time.

On November 20, Laurel Hill Cemetery will present “Sacred Spaced and Stories Places” walking tour at 1 p.m.

The expansion of Fairmount Park in the 1860s prevented further growth of Laurel Hill, and in 1869 West Laurel Hill was established just across the river in Bala Cynwyd. This walking tour provides a wonderful overview of West Laurel Hill’s long and colorful history, including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history.

Experienced tour guides offer visitors a unique perspective and every Sacred Spaces tour is different. This weekend’s tour guide will be Patricia Rose.

Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $12/General Admission, $10/Seniors (65 & up), $10/Students with ID, $7/Members, $6/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & Under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.

If you’re looking to do some walking indoors, consider Wonderspaces.

Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.

Building on the success of annual pop-up shows in San Diego, and its first permanent location in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wonderspaces opened a 24,000 square foot gallery space in Philly a year ago.

Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective. The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.

New artworks rotate in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.

Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.

A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.

The installation is open from noon-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors, teachers, healthcare workers, students and active military, and $15 for children (ages 3-12).

On November 20, Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) is hosting an event that has both historical and musical aspects.

The special one-day event is called “Drums Along the Delaware.”

Activity gets underway at 10 a.m. when the drums call the militia to muster.

Visitors to the Fort will be able to meet members of the late 17th-century militia and observe early matchlock musket drills.

Guests also can interact with sailors and civilians of the past – back to a time when Fort Mifflin became the early seaport of Philadelphia.

There will be guided tours, living history displays and demonstrations.

Thanksgiving is a holiday with many traditions – family gatherings, turkey dinners, football games on television, pumpkin pie, giving thanks and, of course, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.

First held in 1920, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade has a vibrant legacy as the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in America. The parade was created by Gimbel Brothers Department Store for the children and residents of Philadelphia. After Gimbel’s closed in 1986, WPVI-TV/6abc stepped in to continue the holiday tradition that signifies the official arrival of Santa Claus in the “City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection….”

With the support of corporate sponsors, 6abc has been producing the parade ever since and it now draws an extensive lineup of celebrities, floats, balloons, performance groups and marching bands.

The 1.4-mile parade route starts at the intersection of 20th Street and JFK Boulevard, turns left onto 16th Street and then left onto Ben Franklin Parkway. The entire parade route is free and open to the public, except for a limited number of grandstand seats in the telecast area that are for sponsors and VIPs only.

The telecast area is located near the end of the route, directly in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The parade is aired live on channel 6abc and is syndicated to various markets east of the Mississippi. The parade can also be viewed as a live webcast on 6abc.com.

One of the participants of the parade, which starts at 9 a.m., will be the West Chester University Marching Band.

When Thanksgiving arrives, it means that the annual Christmas season has officially begun.

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) has shifted into holiday mode with the arrival of “A Longwood Gardens Christmas.”

The festive holiday display at Longwood Gardens, which is running now through January 9, features spectacular lights, lavish decorations, holiday music and colorful displays featuring thousands of brilliant poinsettias, brightly decorated trees and fragrant flowers — all inside the heated Conservatory.

There will be towering trees adorned in amber to fiery red tones, flickering flame lanterns, and an inviting mountain retreat, complemented by icy-hued plantings, a “frozen” succulent fountain, and a refreshing alpine waterway that is the ultimate winter wonderland.

The colorful annual event, which appeals to the entire family, also has a lot of outdoor attractions such as fountain shows and nighttime light displays. Longwood’s Christmas celebration also includes a wide array of seasonal music — holiday concerts, organ sing-alongs and carillon performances.

When darkness arrives at Longwood, a night-blooming garden of more than a half-million lights strung on close to 100 trees with approximately 40 miles of wire comes to life. A carillon with 62 cast bells plays holiday music every half hour during daylight hours. Longwood’s Open Air Theatre fountains dance to holiday music each half hour — temperature permitting.

As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.

Visitors to “A Longwood Gardens Christmas” can also check out Longwood’s Garden Railway — a whimsical display set into motion with G-scale model trains. This is the 17th year that the railway has delighted visitors with special water features and custom trains traveling in and out of bridges and tunnels.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $18 for active and retired military and $16 for youth (ages 5-18).

One of the best holiday events in the area is the annual “Yuletide at Winterthur.” This year’s 40th annual staging of the event, which runs from November 20 through January 2 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware,800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org).

Visitors can revel in the beauty and warmth of the holidays and explore treasures of Christmases past with displays of holiday traditions from the 1800s to the early 20th century, including displays of: the earliest types of colorful lights decorating house exteriors; the du Pont family holiday celebrations; and the evolution of Christmas trees over the decades from the 1880s to 1960s.
One of visitors’ favorites every year is the 18-room dollhouse mansion created by designer and philanthropist Nancy McDaniel over a period of 30 ears. It features amazing intricate details in each room and is even decorated for the holidays.

As always, the rooms will be enhanced with the floral displays so essential to du Pont’s decorating, and with special Christmas trees inspired by the beauty of the Winterthur’s gardens — including the popular Dried Flower Tree in the Conservatory.

Special holiday programs throughout the season include “Wonderful Wednesdays” in December, evening events featuring live jazz performances, caroling, and workshops. In addition to the Wednesday evening festivities, visitors can enjoy a live one-man performance of “A Christmas Carol” by Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, wine and cocktail tastings, and family events with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Timed Yuletide Tour reservations are required. Admission to Yuletide at Winterthur is $15 for adults, seniors (age 62 and older) and students and $6 for children (ages 2-11).

There will be a special “Candlelight Concert” at Winterthur on November 20 from 5-6 p.m. featuring the jazz stylings of Sharon Sable and E. Shawn Qaissaunee.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Another special event this weekend will be “Wine through Winterthur: Autumn Walking Wine Tasting” on November 21 from 1-5 p.m.

Visitors can celebrate the beginning of the holiday season as they wander along a lantern-lit path in the crisp fall air. Participants will be able to warm up fireside with a glass of spiked apple cider and a sweet treat as they listen to live music by The Midnighters. Guests also can create their own mistletoe display to enjoy all season.

This is an outdoor walking event in the garden (weather permitting — rain date, November 28) and reservations are required. Tickets are $40.

Nemours Mansion & Gardens (Route 141 South, Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-651-6912, www.nemoursmansion.org) is welcoming visitors for the Christmas holidays with “Holidays at the Estate.” The attraction is open now through December 30.

Originally constructed more than a century ago, Nemours Mansion is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.

Ever since 1910, when Mr. and Mrs. duPont began living in their newly built mansion, the holiday season has been a festive time at Nemours. The Christmas decorations at the Nemours Mansion are often inspired by the architecture of the home, the customs of the duPonts or the French influence.

The Mansion is also decorated by some of the duPonts’ original decorations, including a German crèche, which dates from the late 19th century. The figures are soft ceramic, unglazed and hand colored. In addition to their own ornaments, Nemours also proudly displays ornaments made by patients at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

Visitors can enjoy Christmas trees, wreaths, and hundreds of feet of garland on grand display in the Visitor Center, Chauffer’s Garage, Mansion and grounds.

The Historic Odessa Foundation’s 2021 Christmas Holiday Tour and Exhibit “Little Women” is an event with an appeal that spans generations. The tours will be presented now through the end of the year in Odessa’s historic district (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org).

For the past three-and-a-half decades, Historic Odessa has celebrated children’s literature by recreating scenes from the classics in one of its 18th-century museum houses. Visitors have been treated to the literary works of Louisa May Alcott, P.L. Travers, Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor, Washington Irving, Lewis Carroll, and Charles Dickens, to name just a few.

After a one-year hiatus, Odessa is reviving its tradition of recreating scenes from classic literature through interpretive vignettes displayed in one of the foundation’s historic museum houses. Last year’s Holiday Exhibit was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

From November 16-December 31, the National Historic Register Wilson-Warner House (c. 1769) will be the setting of adapted scenes from the beloved autobiographical coming-of-age novel “Little Women or, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy” written by the American novelist Louisa May Alcott and first published before Christmas in 1868.

Visitors will be enchanted with old-fashioned room vignettes to include those of the March sisters’ Christmas parlor, festive dining room and well-appointed bed chamber. In addition, Historic Odessa is honored to present a display case full of “Little Women” memorabilia on loan from the Louisa May Alcott Orchard House Museum in Concord, Massachusetts.

All Historic Odessa’s museum properties will be adorned with thousands of lights again this year, and on full festive display for the 2021 Holiday Season. Special school and public tours and events will celebrate “Little Women” and its accompanying exhibit in the Wilson-Warner House, including the Storybook Trees exhibit in the National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House, holiday Festive Foods cooking demonstrations, as well as regularly scheduled Candlelight Tours.

This season, Odessa will present outdoor Candlelight Tours of the foundation’s museum properties every Tuesday and Thursday evening in December beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and include a libation at Cantwell’s Tavern. Reservations are required for the tours.

The Historic Houses of Odessa are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4:30 p.m. Admission to the Historic Odessa Foundation Holiday Tours is $10 for adults, $8 for groups, seniors, and students and free for children (under 6).

On Saturday, you can get a look at German holiday traditions at a special event in Delaware.

The German Christmas Festival, which is also known as Christkindl Markt, will take place November 20 at the Delaware Saengerbund (49 Salem Church Road, Newark, Delaware, 302-366-9454, www.delawaresaengerbund.org). The free event is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m.

The kitchen will open at 11 a.m. and feature a wide array of German cakes, stollen and pastries along with a variety of hot food and sandwich items. The Bauernstube (restaurant) will be open all day with food and beverages. A wide array of vendor booths will be set up at the festival featuring imported candy, handmade articles, German Christmas items and ornaments, bakery items, a White Elephant sale and a children’s gift shop.

Live entertainment will be presented all day with dance performances by the Children’s Enzian Volkstanzgruppe at 1:30 p.m. and seasonal music by Enzian Musikanten throughout the day. Santa is scheduled to arrive between 2:30 and 3 p.m. and there will be a holiday raffle at 3:30 p.m.

The New Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) celebrates the opening of its holiday show this weekend.

“A Christmas Carol by Candlelight” is the theater’s heartwarming celebration of the yuletide season – a bi-annual event that is back by popular demand. The show features classic holiday tunes, as well as some new surprises – all performed by fans’ favorite “Candlelighters.”

The holiday show will run from November 20 through December 22.

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (doors 6 p.m./show, 8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (doors, 1 p.m./show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $63 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12). All seats are reserved.

Now through January 9, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia) will host LumiNature, a gigantic holiday season light experience that transforms the entire Zoo into a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises.

The giant-sized holiday extravaganza will transform the entire Zoo into a nighttime winter wonderland. Guests will experience a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises. LumiNature will expand to feature 14 illuminated experience zones that will feature lively themed displays, newly-enhanced installations and thousands of twinkling lights.

Highlights for 2021 include: more than one million lights and 10 miles of power cord; more than 500 colorful illuminated flamingos and a 25 feet tall flamingo holiday tree;  200+ illuminated penguins;  100 ft-long aquarium tunnel with enormous jellyfish; 22-feet-tall new Butterfly Tree;  21-feet tall brilliant colored snake; glee club made from talking trees that come to life’ brand new octopus tree that is sure to make you laugh’ cascading blue and white meteor light showers; giant cat eyes glowing in the dark of night; and a new Wilderness Express Train.

Additionally, seasonal fare, strolling performers,  hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages promise to additionally spark the holiday spirit.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children.

The 2021 “Winter in Franklin Square Festival” (200 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, http://www.historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/holidays-in-franklin-square/) opens on November 18 runs through February 27.

The Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show will be open from 5-9 p.m. daily and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Visitors are invited to experience the magic of the holidays and celebrate traditions new and old at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival.

Inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s electrifying genius, the free Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show presented by PECO is the key to holiday fun in Franklin Square.

Attendees can marvel at more than 50,000 lights as they shimmer, dance, and illuminate the Square to a soundtrack of holiday classics, some of which are performed by The Philly POPS in two alternating shows every 30 minutes. Every evening, one lucky audience member will be selected to “ignite’ the 4:30 p.m. show.

Center City Parks District’s Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park) has just opened for the season.

Visitors of all ages can enjoy a dramatic seasonal transformation as fountains have been replaced by the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Ice Rink and reindeer topiaries take up winter residence on the Greenfield Lawn.

In addition, a full lineup of free entertainment is planned, including the Deck the Hall Light Show, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Cabin.

The Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is an unparalleled entertainment experience on Philadelphia’s center stage in a wonderfully urban and unique setting. Open seven days a week, the rink offers wintery fun for all ages, with a full slate of programs.

Dilworth Park’s winter season began on November 1 with the opening of the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn presented by TD Bank.

The “Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market” will open on November 20 with more than 40 local vendors.

On November 22, Dilworth Park’s “Deck the Hall Light Show” will return to illuminate the west façade of Philadelphia’s historic City Hall.

The 2021 Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar will be held on November 20 and 21 at the Event Center at Rivers Casino (1001 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, http://www.artstarcraftbazaar.com/about-art-star-craft-bazaar-philadelphia) from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.

The event will feature a line-up of 75 curated art and craft vendors from the region. The show will provide an excellent opportunity to support independent makers and, at the same time, shop local this holiday season.

The show will feature a thoughtfully curated mix of handmade goods by returning Art Star favorites and many new vendors. Jewelry, pottery, housewares, clothing, men’s and women’s accessories, art, prints, blown glass, stationary, papercuts, t-shirts, baby gifts and more will be available.

The event will include affordable and family friendly “Make + Takes” by Project Joy Studio, Janell Wysock Textiles, and Black Hound Clay Studio.

Admission is $3 with children (under 12) admitted free.

On November 20, the Chestnut Hill Circle of Trees will take place at the Woodmere Art Museum (9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Woodmere Art Museum, www.woodmereartmuseum.org).

During the event, which runs from 5-6:30 p.m., family and friends come together to meet Santa and celebrate the beginning of Chestnut Hill’s holiday season.

This year, Circle of Trees takes on a new format.

Instead of a sleigh and reindeer, Santa will be riding through the neighborhood in his favorite firetruck. He’ll visit several neighborhood locations, beginning with Woodmere Art Museum at 5 p.m., followed by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, and the Wyndmoor train station.

Elves will distribute holiday treat bags to children while Santa rides by.

Families are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to a charity for underprivileged children.

The event, which is sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Business and Community Association, is free and open to the public.

One of the best train rides with Santa Claus is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233 orwww.westchesterrr.net).

The special “Santa’s Express” trains (which feature heated cars decorated for the holidays) will run on November 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 and December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. There will be additional departures at 5 p.m. on December 4, 11, 12, 18 and 19.

The 75-minute journey on the trail line’s heated decorated train travels through the Chester Creek Valley. Santa Claus will be greeting everyone at Market Street Station and then going along for the ride to Glen Mills.

Adult fare for the West Chester Railroad trips is $30. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $25 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $10.

The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Paradise Express” now through December 24. Santa will be the featured guest on each ride from Strasburg to Paradise and back.

The rotund guy in the red suit will be greeting passengers, shaking hands, posing for photos and giving a treat to each child. After the train ride, children are treated to storybook readings of holiday classics. Visitors of all ages can also enjoy a ride aboard the Tinsel Trolley, a self-propelled motor car.

Tickets are $23 for adults and $17 for children (ages 2-11) and $4 for infants.

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge St, New Hope, 215- 862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) offers two new activities that will run from November 13 through December 30.

One is “Santa’s Steam Train Ride.”

This year the New Hope Railroad invites guests to share in a magical journey celebrating a bygone era.

As guests to the railroad, riders will board beautifully restored passenger cars which date back to the first half of the 20th century. All are heated and will be traditionally decorated for the season, creating a warm and cheerful feeling during the trip. Aboard the train, hot chocolate and freshly prepared cookies will be served to all in attendance by the rial line’s hosts. Talented musicians will serenade everyone with live music, with all passengers encouraged to sing along to this festive selection of familiar holiday tunes.

There will also be an opportunity for children to send their letter of Christmas wishes to Santa Claus himself by way of a special red postbox. At the end of the journey, Santa Claus will make an appearance to invite everyone to visit him at his Christmas workshop back at the train station, where his elves are busy making all the toy trains for the good little boys and girls across the world.

The other excursion ride is the “North Pole Express Train.

The “North Pole Express Train” offers similar amenities to the Santa’s Steam Train Ride, but this Santa train is pulled by one of the railroad’s vintage diesel locomotives.

Fees vary based on the package selected.

The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com)  is running its “Tannenbaum Christmas Tree Train” excursions from November 20-December 5.

On a 45-minute train ride to Seitzville, passengers can listen to Christmas music while enjoying the scenery of southern York County and Heritage Rail Trail County Park. And Santa Claus to appear with a special gift for each child!

Riders will disembark at Bricker’s Tree Farm where they will be able to cut their own tree or select a pre-cut tree. It is a .25-mile walk from the train to the tree farm.

This excursion operates rain or shine. Participants are reminded to dress appropriately for the weather and outdoor conditions and wear sturdy shoes. Bricker’s will provide handsaws.

Tickets are $44 adults, $25 for children and $10 for toddlers.

Now that Christmas activities have begun, Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, http://peddlersvillage.com) is starting its celebration and that means there will be a lot of activity at the site over the next few weeks.

Visitors to the Village can join special guest Mrs. Claus for festive fun and mini-lightings in a different Village neighborhood each night leading up to the Village-wide Grand Illumination Celebration. Village shops will be open until 9 p.m. with a distinctive assortment of merchandise, special promotions and refreshments.

The 20th Annual Grand Illumination will showcase thousands of tiny white lights outlining the Village’s buildings, colorful lights with less-than-common colors (teal, peach, and fuscia) adorning the trees and shrubs and a landscaped backdrop featuring a group of reindeer glowing in white light. Santa will arrive to turn on the lights and officially mark the beginning of the event. After the lights go on, visitors will be treated to free cider and toasted marshmallows.

November 19 marks the start of Peddler’s Village “Gingerbread House Competition and Display.” Slated to run through January 8, the “Gingerbread House Competition” features over $2,000 in cash prizes in such categories as Traditional and Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building.

“Christmas Candylane,” which is the annual holiday event at Hersheypark (100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheypark.com), is running now through January 2.

Visitors to Hershey can also experience the winter wonderland called “Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular.” The attraction is a two-mile drive through wooded trails featuring approximately 600 illuminated, animated displays.

Admission to “Christmas Candylane” is $44.95.

“A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends live and in-person at the amusement park in Langhorne.

The annual event, which runs through January 2, offers a wide array of family holiday activities.

Visitors to the park can sing along at three special Christmas shows and a spectacular music and light show at our giant 1-2-3 Christmas Tree, take a train ride tour through the Twiddlebugs’ Gingerbread Cookie Factory on the Sesame Place Furry Express, take part in the Neighborhood Street Party Christmas Parade, and have the opportunity to meet Lightning, the adorable reindeer from the movie “Elmo Saves Christmas.”

As an added attraction this year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is spending the holiday season at Sesame Place. The lovable reindeer along with his friends Clarice and Bumble, will be available for photos with guests.

Tickets for “A Very Furry Christmas” start at $34.99.

Bethlehem, which is known as the “Christmas City,” presents Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem (PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 East First Street, Bethlehem, 610-332-1300, http://www.christmascity.org) every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through December 21.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans. The market also features live performances of Christmas music and vendors with an amazing variety of tasty food items.

Other special attractions include ice carving, glassblowing demonstrations, “Breakfast with St. Nicholas,” outdoor artisan huts, fire pits and igloos in the Outdoor Village, and Käthe Wohlfarht with handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles from Germany.

Anyone wanting to really get into a Christmas mood can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110,www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which begins its 74th season on November 6.

Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 1 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.

The tours of “Christmas Village” feature visits to a variety of displays and exhibits, including “Santa’s Post Office,” “Christmas in the Jungle,” “Manger Scene,” “Christmas Beneath the Sea,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Olde Fashioned Bakery Shop,” “Toy Maker and his Toy Shop,” “Christmas in Other Lands” and “The Olde Church”.

Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 4-10).

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running from November 9 through December 30.

The AMT’s 2021 show “Winter Wonderland” is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country. The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing and the music of the AMT Orchestra.

Also featured will be elaborate scenery, elegant costumes and a theater decked out with holiday decorations.

The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Show length is two hours and 15 minutes with a short intermission. Tickets are $46.