By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The Coatesville Christmas Parade
The Christmas holiday season has many annual traditions – holiday lights and decorations, mistletoe, manger scenes, caroling, elaborate Christmas tree, visits by Santa Claus, gift exchanges, holiday train excursions…and Christmas parades.
Two of the best parades in the area are scheduled for this weekend – the Coatesville Christmas Parade and the West Chester Christmas Parade.
The Coatesville Christmas Parade (www.coatesvillechristmasparade.com), which is Chester County’s largest hometown parade, will move down the historic Lincoln Highway on December 2 starting at 10 a.m. at Strode Avenue and Lincoln Highway. It will conclude at the performing and judging area at 11th Avenue and Lincoln Highway.
Originally a community project in the 1950s, the parade was then taken up by the Jaycees back in the 70s. In the early 1990’s, missing the spectacle and sense of community spirit the parade inspired, this group of former JAYCEES along with other members of the Coatesville community and with the support of the Stewart Huston Charitable Trust and the City of Coatesville, decided it was time to revise the parade tradition.
This year, more than 150 entries will participate in the parade including dancers, fleets of tow trucks, police cars and fire trucks and a variety of custom-crafted floats.
Bringing up the rear of the parade will be Santa Claus riding on a Coatesville Fire Department truck.
West Chester Christmas Parade
This weekend, it’s time for the West Chester Christmas Parade, which will be held in downtown West Chester on December 1 beginning at 7 p.m. The annual tree lighting precedes the parade at 6:30 p.m.
The West Chester Christmas Parade is a highlight of holiday festivities that extend from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s weekend during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester.
On December 1, those attending the parade can expect a focus on all things local — from award-winning floats with local flare by some of Chester County’s most creative designers to sparkling performances by hometown favorites including nationally recognized marching bands that are exclusively local. Santa has agreed to make his much-anticipated appearance.
An additional emcee joins 16-year parade veteran and 6abc meteorologist Adam Joseph when WMMR’s Kathy Romano of “The Preston and Steve Show” makes her debut appearance as co-host.
On December 2, Santa on the Square (Parks & Recreation | West Chester Borough, PA – Official Website (west-chester.com) will take place at Marshall Square Park (200 E. Marshall Street, West Chester).
The event will feature hot food from food trucks, kids’ make-it-take-it crafts, holiday carols, Christmas lights and holiday décor.
There will also be free photos with Santa Claus for the entire family.
The free event will run from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
On Saturdays at 3 p.m., it will be time for “Santa on The Fire Truck.” Every Saturday Santa will be escorted through the streets of downtown West Chester by the First West Chester Fire Company.
“Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester” (greaterwestchester.com/events/featured-events/holiday-weekends-west-chester) will begin on November 24 and run through January 2.
Transformed into a winter wonderland, the streets of historic West Chester are bathed in the glow of thousands of holiday lights every evening in November and December. Each weekend features holiday festivities, shopping and dining.
On Saturdays from 2-3 p.m., the “Making Spirits Bright Holiday Music Series” will feature local choirs and performances singing favorite holidays songs every Saturday on the steps of the historic courthouse on High Street. The schedule features the Uptown Singers on December 2, West Chester Music Academy on December 9 and Bishop Shanahan Liturgical Choir on December 16.
Dressed in Victorian attire, The West Chester Borough Balladeer Carolers will roam around downtown West Chester and perform throughout the holiday season.
Performance dates are December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16.
On December 2 and 16, it will be time for “Santa on The Fire Truck.” Santa will be escorted through the streets of downtown West Chester by the First West Chester Fire Company.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org) has a big event goung on now through December 3.
The Brandywine Museum of Art will host its annual Holiday Critter Sale this year at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, which is located at 1736 Creek Road in Chadds Ford.
Visitors can browse and shop from an assortment of thousands of unique, handcrafted ornaments and tabletop decorations made from all-natural materials by the Brandywine’s dedicated and talented volunteers.
Each Critter has its own unique personality and expression—no two are exactly the same. From whimsical animals—like cats, dogs, reindeer and bears—to heavenly angels and stars, Critters come in all shapes and sizes.
Using their imaginations, the Critter-maker volunteers work with natural materials such as pinecones, acorns, egg shells, flowers and seed pods to give each Critter its own unique personality and expression. Prices range from $10 to $35, with specialty items from $50 to $250. All sales are credit card only.
Public Sale Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.
Brandywine volunteers have been creating Critters for more than 45 years with proceeds benefiting Art Education and Public Programming at the Brandywine Museum of Art.
The museum is also celebrating the 51st anniversary of the Brandywine Railroad holiday train display now through January 8.
A holiday favorite since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad features trains running on 2,000 feet of track and contains more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, a drive-in movie theater and even a carnival.
A dazzling array of both toy and scale model trains can be seen chugging through the varied scenery, including those made by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-line and others. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display to allow for further engagement.
The Brandywine Railroad holiday train display is included in the cost of general admission.
The fabulous holiday light display “West Chester Griswolds” (304 Dutton Mill Rd, West Chester, www.westchestergriswolds.com) opened on Thanksgiving night and will run through January 2.
This year’s display features more than 135,000 lights and 800 smart pixels.
Also featured is a Cosmic Color Ribbon Tree (CCR) to our display. It is an exciting piece of technology with the ability to create any color of the rainbow. The exhibit will be playing throughout the night and “singing” with the bulbs.
Lights will be on now through January 2 — Monday through Thursday from 4:45-9:45 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 4:45-10:15 p.m.
On December 2, the West Chester Public Library (https://www.wcpubliclibrary.org/holidaydoortour) will hold its annual 11th Annual Holiday Home Tour, featuring eight homes in the Northwest and Southwest quadrants of the Borough decked out for the holidays. Ranging from petite to grand, the homes blend original details with modern updates and display the homeowners’ art, collectibles, and antiques.
The perennially popular Holiday Home Tour will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tickets for the tour, which runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., are $40. Tour tickets will also include admission to the Chester County Art Association.
There is also the Door Tour.
Created as a socially distanced replacement for the Holiday Home Tour during the pandemic shutdown of 2020, the family-friendly Holiday Door Tour was so popular the library now offers it in addition to the Home Tour.
Running from December 2-17, this self-guided tour will feature dozens of West Chester doors and porches decorated by their owners in holiday finery. It can be enjoyed at any time of day and by a group of your choice.
This tour does not include entry into homes and is entirely outdoors, self-guided, and at a time of your convenience.
Oxford’s First Friday event this month will be a holiday celebration – “Country Christmas” (www.downtownoxfordpa.org).
At the event, which will run from 5-8 p.m. on December 1 in the heart of Oxford’s downtown area, visitors can take photos with Santa, participate in Santa’s Workshop and watch a live countdown for the downtown tree lighting.
There will be a “Live Nativity” and live holiday music by the Christian Life Center Choir.
Other activities include horse drawn carriage rides, hayrides, holiday shopping and dining and live holiday music — and a visit from Santa Claus with an unexpected guest on his heels.
Admission to the family-friendly event is free.
The 2023 Kennett Square Holiday Village Market will be held at The Creamery of Kennett Square (401 Birch Street, Kennett Square) on December 2, 3, 9, and 10 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.
Visitors will be able to shop from 80 artisan and vintage vendors at the market. In addition to finding gifts for the holiday, they also can make a Christmas tree purchase from fresh tree vendors at the market. And they can quench their thirst with mulled wine and hot cider as well as enjoy food from three participating food trucks.
Other special activities include an ice sculptor, photos with Santa on both days, face painting, balloon twisting, wreath-making workshops and live music.
Downingtown Good Neighbor Christmas features a 20-foot artificial lighted Giant Everest Christmas Tree with a three-foot lighted star on top. The tree, which is professionally decorated, sits next to the Log House on Lancaster Avenue and at the entrance to Kerr Park.
The annual Downingtown Christmas Parade will be held on December 9 at 3 p.m. The parade will feature marching bands, floats, walking and marching groups, and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus to end the parade.
“Yuletide at Devon” (Devon Horse Show, 23 Dorset Road, Devon, www.yuletidedevon.com) opens this weekend and runs through December 31.
The special holiday event features a European Christmas market, a gourmet farm-to-table dining experience, a series of live music concerts and a community carnival.
There is a giant 65-foot Ferris Wheel that provides the opportunity for aerial views of the twinkling lights – and there are unlimited free rides. The list of featured attractions also includes a fun house, an exciting Himalayan rides and opportunities for Santa photos.
Renowned Chef Chris Nguyen of the Philadelphia catering group Strothers will be providing farm-to-table food offerings. The craft drinks menu features fresh pour coffee, signature holiday drinks, gourmet hot chocolate, and homemade Gluhwein.
More than 35 high-end market shops will also be open five days a week, offering a wide array of unique gifts and keepsakes. Whether you’re looking for a special present for a loved one or a memento for yourself, you’re sure to find something special at these shops.
“Yuletide at Devon” occurs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, promising endless opportunities for fun, food, and frolic.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Ave., Oaks, 484-754-3976, http://www.phillyexpocenter.com) is presenting LuminoCity (www.luminocityfestival.com) now through January 15 in the parking lot of the Expo Center.
This holiday season, LuminoCity brings you a world of magical light installations that come to life in Pennsylvania.
This year’s theme, “Golden Holiday” will deliver state-of-the-art production featuring art, light, and color in remarkable displays.
Visitors will enjoy the entire 45-minute walk and narrative journey while seeing the towering and twinkling LED sculptures. This Christmas light show is a celebration of the world and cultures around us.
LuminoCity was imagined through a desire to create unforgettable experiences. Using light and imagination, it explores concepts of transforming creative thoughts, inspired by the world around us, into illuminating works of light and color.
One of the highlights is a giant 50-feet lighted Christmas tree.
Ticket prices start at $29.
“Claymont Christmas Parade and Holiday Happenings” (www.claymontchristmasparade.com) are slated for December 2 in nearby Claymont, Delaware from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Visitors can see Santa arrive on a fire truck, hear high school bands, see Mounted Police horses, and look at lots of fire trucks, floats and more. And they are invited to help decorate the infamous “Claymont Christmas Weed.”
The parade route is along Philadelphia Pike from Maple Lane to Darley Road in Claymont.
Ascension Church (3717 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont) will host “The Blessing of the Christmas Weed Ceremony” after the parade.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be served, and craft items will be for sale.
From 11 a.m-12:30 p.m., the 13th annual Gingerbread House Contest will be held at Claymont Stone School (3611 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont).
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 7, 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.
This holiday season, experience a radiance of retro, a bevy of bright, and numerous nostalgic moments with us. Marvel at playful trees draped in throwback baubles to shimmering tinsel to childhood-favorite toys. Stroll through a fab, festive holiday party scene decked out in mid-century magic. Reminisce amid a vintage Christmas street scene, make new merry memories amid dazzling, vibrant light displays—including some super-sized surprises—and revel in the retro fun at every turn.
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 18th 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 $30 for adults, $27 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $23 for active and retired military and $16 for youth (ages 5-18).
From December 4-6, Hibernia Mansion (Hibernia County Park, off route 340, Wagontown, 610-383-3812, http://dsf.chesco.org/ccparks) will host its 40th Annual Victorian Candlelight Tours. The tours will be presented from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2-4 p.m. on Sunday.
The event at Hibernia Mansion features costumed tour guides portraying former mansion owners and their families. The 19th-century mansion will be decked out for the holidays. Live music will be performed in the Ballroom and Santa will entertaining friends each day. Also, the Friends of Hibernia will greet visitors with refreshments.
Admission is $5 per person with children under 10 admitted free.
Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Festive Faves” on select Saturdays and Sundays in December.
Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room. The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across our portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside seasonal local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at our partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
The following is the 2023 Pairing Line Up – Greeting Wine: 2022 Sparkling White; 2022 Chardonnay with Maine Crisp Buckwheat Crackers (contains nuts), Brie, and Local Smoked Fall Honey; 2021 Pinot Noir with Smoked Gouda and New Jersey Dried Cherries; Spiced Apple with Pumpkin Spice Bon Bon from Éclat Chocolate; and Warm Holiday Spirit with Chocolate Cranberry Scone from OsoSweet Bakery & Café.
The holiday season at Herr’s Snack Food Factory (20 Herr Drive, Nottingham, 610-932-9330, www.herrs.com) has arrived. The area around the factory site will be illuminated with thousands of lights and holiday displays.
Herr’s “Holiday Light Display,” which is free and open to the public, will be open nightly now through January 2.
Visitors to the site will be able to drive along a trail that is illuminated with more than 600,000 lights.
The special light exhibit will be open daily from dusk to dawn.
The 2023 Winter in Franklin Square holiday festival (200 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, http://www.historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/holidays-in-franklin-square/) opens its season this weekend and it will run until February 25.
It will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
The Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show will be open from 4-8 p.m. daily and 4-9 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.
The Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular (www.tinseltownholiday.com), which is set up in FDR Park (Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia) will be open now through December 31.
This spectacular outdoor event invites guests to walk through a winter wonderland of light sculptures and displays with more than one million bulbs, including illuminated recreations of local landmarks like the Liberty Bell.
Featuring more than 1.2 million lights, an 8000 square foot Ice Rink, a 162-foot-long Ice Slide, photos with Santa, Mistletoe Marketplace and more, Tinseltown has something for everyone in the family.
Guests are invited to grab a pair of skates and glide through a breathtaking display of holiday lights on Tinseltown’s brand-new ice trail. Guests are encouraged to make skate reservations at the time of ticket purchase with walk-up in-person sales based on availability.
Popular features this year are Two-lane ice slide, new event layout, skating rink with real ice, expanded vendor village and new seasonal treats and beverages for both adults and kids.
Tickets are $19.99 for adults and $15.99 for children (ages 4-17).
The American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-389-1776, www.americanswedish.org) will present its Lucia Celebration and Julmarknad (Christmas Bazaar) on December 2 and 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Light, warmth and Christmas songs have been hallmarks of the Lucia celebration at ASHM since 1939. Each year families pour through the magnificent bronze doors of the museum to be greeted by the aroma of freshly baked pastries, meatball dishes and strong Swedish coffee.
Guests can stroll through the Christmas Market, or Julmarknad, where Swedish delicacies, crafts, decorations, and imported gifts may be purchased, before the musical entertainment begins. The Swedish Christmas Café will be selling favorite sweet and savory holiday foods and the SWEA bakery tables will be open all day.
At 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., the lights will dim, and the doors will close for the duration of a performance of Swedish Christmas songs and dances. Children from toddlers to teens dressed in costume entertain the crowds, culminating with the procession of Lucia, wearing her crown of candles, surrounded by her white gowned attendants and star boys.
Admission is $5.
“Christmas Village in Philadelphia” (Love Park, 1400 JFJ Boulevard, Philadelphia, 215-391-3017, www.philachristmas.com) is a free outdoor holiday market event that captures the vibe of the traditional European Christmas markets.
Christmas Village in Philadelphia is modeled after traditional German Christmas Markets. The history of Christmas markets in Germany dates to the late Middle Ages. One of the oldest and most famous ones is held each year in Nuremberg in the state of Bavaria.
It has been passed down from generation-to-generation ever since the area’s farmers started selling their crops in a farmers’ market during the Advent time in the mid-16th century. The goods presented in wooden booths include a rich variety of holiday gifts including Christmas ornaments, arts and crafts, toys, sweets, as well as German food and drinks. People stroll around, meet friends, and enjoy live performances of Christmas music.
At the Village in Philadelphia, vendors selling traditional European food, sweets and drinks are set up in 80 wooden booths and timber houses that form a medieval village. They will also offer a unique shopping experience with international holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry and high-quality arts and crafts.
The Village will feature the sights and sounds of the holidays with thousands of twinkling lights, giant glowing stars, festive decorations, a musical stage and children’s activities. All the event’s annual fan favorites will be back, including Photos with Santa, the German Grill and the event’s main stage.
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular (1701 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, comcastcentercampus.com/holidays) is back for the 2023 season.
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular is a free, interactive experience that brings the spirit of the holiday season to life. The show runs in the lobby of the Comcast Center on The Comcast Experience, one of the world’s largest LED continuous video walls.
Through Comcast’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion, guests can access closed captioning and audio-description devices to delight in this Philadelphia holiday tradition.
A sensory-friendly version of The Comcast Holiday Spectacular will again be offered for the 2023 season. Guests who are blind or visually impaired may use their own personal mobile devices to access Audio Description (AD) of the show. AD devices will also be available upon request.
This Philly favorite tradition brings the magic of the holidays to life, featuring classic holiday songs and performances by the Pennsylvania Ballet.
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular is running now through New Year’s Day every hour, on the hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last show will run New Year’s Day at 4 p.m.
The Comcast Center Campus has another holiday activity at the Comcast Technology Center (1800 Arch Street), located a half block from the Comcast Center.
From Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Animation, Universal Parks & Resorts and Comcast Labs, The Universal Sphere is a free, cinematic experience exploring the power of ideas. Get inspired by stories of creative minds who shaped our world for the better.
The Universal Sphere — accessible for guests of all ages — is wheelchair- and service animal-friendly. Descriptive audio and closed-captioning devices are available in English and Spanish, and full audio translations are available in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Winter is coming and the Blue Cross RiverRink (Delaware Avenue at Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-RINK, www.riverrink.com) has come back to life.
Unlike most of the suburban ice rinks, RiverRink features public skating. Ice skating is the only use of the ice. This winter, RiverRink takes the ice-skating experience on the Delaware River waterfront to another level by once again transforming the annual rink into a bona fide winter wonderland.
For 30 seasons, Winterfest has been Philadelphia’s favorite Winter tradition on the Delaware River Waterfront, inviting visitors for a chance to indulge in flights of fancy under thousands of sparkling lights in a winter wonderland with spectacular views of the Delaware River. Cozy up in comforting warming cabins, firepit stations, boardwalk rides and games for the young and young-at-heart, delicious food and hot beverages, the signature holiday tree, and, of course, ice skating on our NHL-sized rink. Winterfest is a top destination for anyone looking to rekindle family traditions.
The Winterfest site is free to enter and open to the public. Amenities such as ice skating and cabin and firepit experiences can be reserved in advance. Winterfest is open 7 days a week including holidays through February 19.
A popular annual Philly holiday tradition can be found at the Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park),
Beginning this November, some of Philadelphia’s favorite winter traditions return to Dilworth Park. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a dramatic seasonal transformation as fountains are 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.
Dilworth Park’s winter season began on November 3 with the opening of the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn presented by TD Bank. On November 4, the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin made its annual return.
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.
The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market runs through January 1 with more than 40 local vendors.
One of Philly’s premier annual events, Macy’s Christmas Light Show (1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, www.macys.com) is running now through December 31
Set in The Grand Court, the show features a 100,000-light show of twinkling snowflakes, dancing snowmen and more, narrated by Julie Andrews and accompanied by the famed Wanamaker Organ.
Images of snowmen, reindeer, snowflakes and more dance across the atrium inside of the historic Wanamaker building (now Macy’s Center City) during the ever-popular Macy’s Christmas Light Show. The show, which has been on view since 1956, runs every two hours during store hours.
Visitors can also tour the second floor’s vintage Dickens Village, where more than 100 intricate animated dolls and sets retell A Christmas Carol. Each free walkthrough ends in a chance to meet and take photos with Santa.
Now through January 6, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia) will host LumiNature, a gigantic holiday season light experience that turns 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 16 illuminated experience zones that will feature lively themed displays, newly enhanced installations and thousands of twinkling lights on a breathtaking journey celebrating the wonder of wildlife and the beauty of our planet.
Highlights this year include two brand-new illuminated zones, Shimmer River and LumiNature Lane, along with the return of fan favorites like Penguin Prismatic featuring a 40 ft. tall penguin glimmering with 40,000 lights, our iconic 25 ft. tall tree made entirely of 1,500 lit flamingo lawn ornaments and so much more.
At Shimmer River, take a journey through the jungle and enter a 100 ft. long tunnel filled with 4,000 lights, creating dynamic scenes from growing vines, to blooming flowers, multicolored kaleidoscopes and more.
LumiNature will feature more than a million lights and 10+ miles of power cord, 20 ft. tall coral reef and under the sea-inspired holiday tree featuring a giant sea turtle, sparkling waterfall and vine wall featuring 20,000 lights, 150,000 sparkling pink and aquamarine lights, 200,000 lights shining above the Septa PZ Express Train, over 1,500 illuminated flamingos and 200 illuminated penguins, 22 ft. tall butterfly tree covered in 4,000 butterflies, 20 ft. tall snake shimmering with 5,000 lights, 15 ft. tall blue gorilla wearing a glowing lei and 20 giant, floating jellyfish.
Additionally, seasonal fare, strolling performers, hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages promise to additionally spark the holiday spirit.
Tickets start at $25 for adults and $20 for children.
One of the most elaborate model train layouts in the Delaware Valley can be found at the Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, 215-247-5777, http://www.morrisarboretum.org). The popular Garden Railway Display that has become a summer fixture at The Gardens at Morris Arboretum returns again for a special holiday display.
The display, which is open to the public now through December 30 in the winter garden of the Morris Arboretum, has a quarter-mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and bustling model trains.
The buildings and the display are all made of natural materials — bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones — to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with miniature rivers. Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle.
Admission to the Morris Arboretum is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for students and military.
A popular Christmas activity every year is taking a train ride with Santa Claus. Fortunately, there are quite a few very good options in our area.
One of the best train rides with Santa Claus is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, www.wcrailroad.com).
The special “Santa’s Express” trains (which feature heated cars decorated for the holidays) will run on December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 and 18 at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
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 $35. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $25 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $10.
The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-998-193, www.wwrr.com) will run its “Santa Claus Express” on Saturdays and Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be riding along with passengers on the steam-powered 90-minute round trip to Ashland Station. They will be greeting everyone on board and offering chocolate treats to the youngsters. Santa will also be posing for pictures with his fans.
Steam locomotion will return to the Wilmington & Western for its annual Santa Claus Express. The rail line’s 0-6-0 switcher No. 58 has returned to service after a multi-year restoration and will power Santa’s train through the Red Clay Valley this season.
Tickets for these trains, which run now through December 23, are $19 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $17 for children.
The tourist rail line will also be running special “Holiday Night Express Trains,” featuring a peaceful evening ride in the railroad’s 1929 Doodlebug rail car. Tickets for these trains, which are running now through December 30, are $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and $13 for children.
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 $33 for adults and $26 for children.
Other “Christmas Experiences” offered by the rail line are “Santa Claus Limited,” “Night Before Christmas,” “Christmas Tree Train” and “Breakfast or Dinner with Mrs. Claus.”
The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s North Pole Express Train — The Magical Journey Begins Here” now through December 30.
Riders can join Santa and Mrs. Claus as they depart New Hope Station for a train ride through the historic Bucks County countryside on the way to the North Pole.
The journey begins when the Conductor calls “All Aboard!”
Passengers will experience the sounds and tastes of the holiday season as they sing along with roaming musicians playing Christmas carols, sip warm cocoa and enjoy a freshly baked cookie.
Each child will receive his or her own sleigh bell gift from Santa himself. Children and adults alike are encouraged to indulge in the season’s spirit by wearing pajamas and settling in for a relaxing ride with family and friends aboard the festive railway cars adorned with holiday decorations.
Ticket prices start at $66.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Santa Express Train” excursions now through December 23.
On a 45-minute train ride to Glen Rock, 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.
After the ride, passengers can visit the NCR Engine House for a mini-Winter Wonderland, for magic-filled family photo ops and complimentary hot chocolate and a cookie.
Tickets are $39.99 for adults and $26.99 for children.
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (Reading Outer Station, Reading, www.rbmnrr-passenger.com) is running its 2022 “Santa Claus Special” Excursions from a variety of locations — Tunkhannock, Tamaqua, Minersville and Reading.
Santa Claus will be visiting with each of the children and there will be live holiday music performed throughout the ride.
Tickets start at $20.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Polar Bear Express” now through December 23.
Kids can join Santa on a magical adventure into “Christmas Past” on an exciting train journey. They will be able to sip complimentary hot cocoa or enjoy Christmas cookies and, on some trains, sing favorite carols as the Secret Valley passes by the window. Santa will bring a gift for every child, and every child has an opportunity to give their Christmas letter to him.
The rail line also is running “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” excursions now through December 23.
These special evening trains bring the storybook magic of the season to life. Kids are invited to wear pajamas and sip complimentary hot cocoa as the train crew reads “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Ticket prices start at $40.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia (500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Https://philadelphia.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/) is presenting “Holiday Bricktacular!” now through January 1.
Participants can create their own LEGO ornament and display it in on the LEGO tree and check out all the holiday scenes in the Winter Wonderland in Miniland Philadelphia.
As an added attraction, LEGO Santa will be visiting from the LEGO North Pole.
Ticket prices start at $23.99.
Three historic sites in Montgomery County have their own holiday celebrations.
Pennypacker Mills (3 Haldeman Road, Perkiomenville, 610- 287-9349, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) is hosting “Victorian Holiday Tours” now through January 7 while “Twelfth Night Tours” at Pottsgrove Manor” (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610-326-4014, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) will be held now through January 7.
For the next five weeks, Pennypacker Mills will offer free tours of the 18-century mansion used by General George Washington as temporary headquarters during the Revolutionary War. The home will be decorated for an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas and will feature the warm glow of oil lamps, festive decorations, and a candy-making demonstration.
The event at Pottsgrove Manor features an event based on history.
Visitors can witness the transformation of Pottsgrove Manor for the yuletide season and the traditions of an 18th-century Twelfth Night party. Twelfth Night marked the end of the Christmastide season, celebrated on Epiphany.
Guided tours of the manor explore all aspects of the festivities, from the intense preparations to the differences between the way elite families like the Potts and their household staff experienced the season.
On December 2 from 3-8 p.m., there will be special Candlelight Tours at the Peter Wentz Farmstead (2030 Shearer Road, Lansdale, 610-584-5104).
The soft glow of candles will guide visitors throughout the farmstead for tours showcasing colonial music, seasonal entertaining, and a visit from Belsnickel, a Pennsylvania German St. Nicholas in furs.
The last tour begins at 7:30 p.m. It is an all-ages event with a suggested donation of $2 per person.
“Christmas Around The Farm” converts a summertime destination for home-grown produce into a sparkling winter wonderland. The popular annual event at Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) is running now through December 23.
Visitors will be able to cut their own Christmas trees, or, if not so inspired, purchase them at the shop — which also features other decorations, including holiday wreaths. Christmasland features freshly cut trees, greens and holly, poinsettias, hand-made wreaths and a large variety of children’s toys and collectables.
Santa and his elves will be stopping by every Saturday and Sunday to visit his friends in Christmasland from 1-3 p.m. And there will be Caroling Hayrides on Saturday evenings in December that include the ancient tradition of Wassailing, singing Christmas Carols around a campfire and roasting marshmallows.
During the daylight-deprived month of December, Rose Tree Park (1671 North Providence Road, Media, delconew.azurewebsites.net) sparkles at night with its annual Festival of Lights display. Dozens of illuminated trees and lit displays draw visitors back every year to walk in the winter wonderland and linger in the festive atmosphere.
The annual Festival of Lights in Rose Tree Park opens on December 1 and runs through January 1 from 5-10 p.m. each night.
Delaware County’s annual Festival of Lights began more than four decades ago as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration and became a popular local tradition for residents of all ages.
Over time, the outdoor displays have grown from 50 decorated trees (one for each municipality and one large one to represent the county) to more than 75 lighted trees and dozens of festive figures, including toy soldiers, a gingerbread family and Santa’s reindeer.
The Historic Pottstown Annual Holiday Tours offered by Pottstown GoFourth! is scheduled for December 3 from 1-5 p.m.
Tickets are available for the 11 a.m. trolley tour.
The trolley will load on Evans Street next to First Presbyterian Church.
Waivers will be signed when entering trolley and wristbands and programs will be handed out.
Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 day of tour.
All proceeds benefit Pottstown’s hometown 4th of July festivities.
Berks County Parks and Recreation’s Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, is running now through December 30.
Visitors can stroll the grounds at Gring’s Mill (2083 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing, www.bctv.org) and view the light display featured in the park’s historic buildings and landscapes.
The display is open from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays until December 17 and then nightly from December 18-30.
New this year is a special opening ceremony called ‘First Night at Holiday Lights’ on December 1. One of the new displays will be turned on promptly at 5:30 p.m. with special music and Santa’s arrival to ring in the holiday season.
The other attractions include live music at the outdoor pavilion, a model train display, local food trucks and a Holiday Craft Market and Kids’ Craft Workshop (December 9 at the Heritage Center).
Santa will be welcoming visitors in his barn on Christmas Tree Lane.
New this year is a special opening ceremony called ‘First Night at Holiday Lights’ on Friday, Dec. 1. One of our new displays will be turned on promptly at 5:30 p.m. with special music and Santa’s arrival to ring in the holiday season! On this night, please allow extra time to park and walk to the site.
Other special programming includes the sensory-friendly night on Dec. 13 and Winter Solstice Celebration on the 21st, featuring our very own King Winter and luminary lighting.
Admission and parking are free.
“Iron Plantation Christmas” will take place at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, www.nps.gov) this weekend and offer a different look at how Christmas was celebrated in the past.
This free event is scheduled for December 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and will feature Christmas as celebrated during the 19th century at Hopewell Furnace.
Visitors will find that Christmas was a workday in the early 19th century. The bake ovens will be heating up special treats and the Blacksmiths will be clanging away. Guests will be able to discover the customs, foods, and traditions of the holiday season from an early American perspective.
The Berks and Chester County Master Gardeners will guide visitors in making holiday ornaments out of greens and other natural sprigs as a memento of their visit.
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience and engage with various Christmas traditions from the early/mid 19th Century. These activities include making gingerbread ornaments, creating holiday decorations out of greens and other natural sprigs, the traditions of writing holiday letters and cards, plus discovering the customs, foods, and traditions of the holiday season from an early American perspective. Visitors will also get to meet Der Belsnickel, a mischievous character similar to Santa Claus, who rewards good children with treats.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves the late 18th and early 19th century setting of an iron-making community, including the charcoal-fueled furnace, and its natural and cultural resources. This community illustrates the essential role of industrialization in the growth of the early United States.
Saturday’s program will be presented rain or shine.
The 43rd annual staging of “Christmas at Joanna” will be held from December 1-3 at Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works (1250 Furnace Road, Morgantown, haycreek.org/christmas-at-joanna/)
Visitors will be taken back to Christmas 1873, which was a prosperous time for the Smith ironmaster’s family and the residents of the Joanna Furnace community. They celebrated the holiday and gave thanks that the furnace was busy providing income to so many families.
Ironmaster L. Heber Smith and his family will open the doors of their beautiful mansion parlor for guests to enjoy their elaborate Victorian decorations. Warmed by the enchantment of candlelight, young and old alike will enjoy learning about the ironmaster’s Christmas and seeing the 15-foot cedar tree which is decked out for the holiday season. Guests will also be treated to a cookie as they depart the Ironmaster’s home.
An Ironmaster’s celebration would not be complete without having Victorian dancing. Guests are invited to watch the Hay Creek Trio perform Civil War era music while the Hay Creek Dancers entertain visitors with period dances. Guests are also invited to step onto the dance floor and take part in the spirited Victorian dancing.
The walkways will be lit with over 1,000 glowing luminaries. Inside, each building is illuminated by lamps or candles to recreate an 1870s atmosphere.
Guests can walk the luminary lined pathways of the 26-acre historic Joanna Furnace site and visit the Office/Store building, Casting House and Blacksmith Shop. At the newly constructed Wheelwright Shop, costumed interpreters will tell you what the life of the iron worker was like during Christmas 150 years ago.
Other attractions include the Kid’s Santa Craft Workshop, the Christmas Light Maze, light holiday treats, self-guided walking tours of the candlelit 200-year-old furnace complex, Christmas music, the Belsnickel, holiday bonfire, wagon rides for $2 per person weather permitting, and the Christmas Craft Market.
Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.
On December 1 and 2, Rockwood Park (4651 Washington Street Extension, North Wilmington) is hosting its annual “Holiday Open House at Rockwood Park & Museum.”
The popular family event, which runs from 5-9 p.m. each night includes tours of the holiday display in the museum and a joyous light display in the gardens surrounding the Mansion and Carriage House.
Holiday Open House features exceptional entertainment, fun festive crafts, costumed characters, refreshments, food trucks and free photos with Santa.
The event also includes the Holiday Shoppe selling gifts for the whole family. There will also be performances by dance, music, and choral groups.
This is a free event, but donations of non-perishable foods are collected for local food closets.
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 through January 7 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 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.
This year’s Yuletide Tour features custom fashion by local designers Shawn Pinckney and Asata Maisé Beeks, whose creations reflect the history of Winterthur and the design sensibilities of Henry Francis du Pont and Ann Lowe. The house will be decorated in all its finery with our signature traditions, including the show-stopping Dried-Flower Tree, plus artistic Christmas trees inspired by Ann Lowe gowns.
New this year is a large-scale gingerbread version of Enchanted Woods, made by Bredenbeck’s Bakery of Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. Visitors will also enjoy an outdoor light display, including a 15-foot decorated Christmas tree. The miniature doll house and other holiday favorites will also return.
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 Winterthur’s gardens — including the popular Dried Flower Tree in the Conservatory.
Returning this year is a toy train display, featuring Standard Gauge toy trains. The display is presented by the Standard Gauge Module Association, whose members will construct the display at Winterthur. The display is open from 10:00 am–4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and Wednesday evenings in December, 5:00–8:00 pm.
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.
There will be a special “Candlelight Concert” at Winterthur on December 9 from 6-7 p.m. Surrounded by hundreds of candles, OperaDelaware will perform seasonal classics such as “Oh Holy Night” and “White Christmas,” as well as popular standards such as “Strangers in the Night” and “Some Enchanted Evening.”
It will be an evening of ambience by candlelight, featuring angelic music by People-to-People International musicians Olivia Geiser and Noëlle Grüebler of Winterthur, Switzerland.
The Winterthur estate, now known as Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, was named by Swiss-born Jacques-Antoine Bidermann, husband of Evelina Gabrielle du Pont, to honor his ancestral home.
Grüebler and Geiser dedicated their project, Winterthur and Music, to various composers linked to Winterthur, Switzerland, providing insight into the vibrant musical scene of this town on the outskirts of Zurich. Join us for a Yuletide evening as we bring the two Winterthurs together through music.
Tickets are $15.
Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $8 for children.
The annual staging of “Holidays at Hagley” is an event that is always one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday attractions in this area every year.
The popular Brandywine Valley exhibit, which is included with regular admission, is running now through January 1 at Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org).
“Holidays at Hagley” returns with the theme, “Treasures and Traditions,” and will feature Holiday Home and Garden Tours, the sixth-annual Gingerbread House Contest, Santa Day, Holiday Nights Tours, and more.
This year’s edition of “Holidays at Hagley” features tours of Eleutherian Mills, which is the first du Pont family home built in America. The tours, which will be presented each day from 10a.m.-4:30 p.m., feature decorations in a combination of styles from both the 19th and 20th centuries.
During the Victorian years when candle-lit tabletop Christmas trees were the norm, hand-made gifts were attached to tree branches, and winter scenes were displayed underneath the tree. The upstairs Victorian Library shows how magical that looked with its mid- to late-nineteenth-century toys, games and dolls. The upstairs Parlor features a case filled with small ceramic animals well-loved by some of the du Pont family children.
Early du Pont family French holiday traditions are remembered with a display of gifts that were given to E. I. du Pont’s children on New Year’s Day as well as the Twelfth Night party illustrated by the ornate French dessert service in the Dining Room.
Well-loved displays returning include the elaborate Twelfth Night celebration in the dining room and the Victorian library’s Christmas for children with its table-top tree surrounded by toys and games. Of course, there will be warm glowing lights and poinsettias.
Admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and students and $10 for children (ages 6-14).
Nemours Estate (850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nemoursestate.org), which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., has finished its holiday preparation and is presenting “Noël at Nemours” now through December 30.
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.
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.
All three floors of the Mansion will be decorated as well as the Chauffeur’s Garage and select areas of the gardens. Decorations will coincide with the story of the Estate along with a festive Versailles-inspired motif.
Live music performances will be held in the Mansion throughout the season.
Nemours Estate features an exquisite, 77-room Mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
Alfred named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
Admission to Nemours is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.
The Historic Odessa Foundation’s 2023 Christmas Holiday Tour is a bicentennial event.
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the enduring Christmas poem “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” the Historic Odessa Foundation is making it the centerpiece of its 2023 Holiday Exhibit and Tours, which is running now through December 31 in the foundation’s 249-year-old National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Historic Odessa’s unique holiday tradition of celebrating classic literature through festive scenes and interpretive vignettes throughout one of the foundations historic homes.
“Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” or commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” was written by Clement Clark Moore, and first published anonymously in December 1823. Historic Odessa’s holiday tradition began with the iconic poem in 1988. This year’s exhibit will feature vintage Christmas decorations on loan from members of The Golden Glow of Christmas Past organization.
All of Historic Odessa’s museum properties will be adorned with thousands of lights, and on full festive display for the 2023 holiday season.
Special school and public tours and events will celebrate “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and its accompanying exhibit in the Corbit-Sharp House, including the Storybook Trees exhibit created by community members, Storybook Time for children, a Colonial Dance with the Dover English Country Dancers, as well as regularly scheduled Candlelight Tours and Festive Food demonstrations.
On December 1, Historic Odessa will host a presentation and book signing by Pamela McCool author of “Twas The Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem” (2023) which traces the evolution of the holiday, presents how the historic figure of Saint Nicholas evolves into the central character in the story, and how characteristics of today’s Santa Claus originated with Clement Clark Moore.
McCool uses dozens of vintage illustrations from the thousands of editions published over the last 200 years in her lively and informative presentation. As a bonus to the evening’s presentation, McCool will be introduced by the enthusiastic Benjamin Bradley, known as “Mr. Christmas,” from the Netflix original series “Holiday Home Makeover.”
Historic Odessa is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM), and is open to the public March through December, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday by reservation. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free. Member discounts are available.
“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 1.
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 prices for “Christmas Candylane” start at $39.99.
“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 7, 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 $39.99.
Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park (2249 Route 30 East, Lancaster, 866-386-2389, www.dutchwonderland.com) is hosting its “Dutch Winter Wonderland” now through January 1 on Saturdays, Sundays and select weekdays.
Visitors are invited to celebrate the magic of the season at Dutch Winter Wonderland with rides, entertainment, and the Royal Light Show, a spectacular display of thousands of twinkling lights dancing to music.
Ticket prices start at $29.99 at the gate. Children ages two and under are admitted free.
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, www.adventureaquarium.com) opens this weekend.
At Christmas Underwater, which is running now through December 24, visitors can discover an incredible world of seasonal under-the-sea fun.
Scuba Santa is back in Ocean Realm, sharing Christmas cheer with kids (and animals) of all ages. The event features more holiday decor than ever before, including underwater light displays, and festive new shows.
The World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree returns — stretching 18 feet tall and decorated with colorful, custom-sculpted corals.
More than 15,000 incredible animals are getting in on the festive fun with eight underwater light displays spread throughout the exhibits.
Admission fees start at $27.99 for adults.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) will
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 23rd 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.
Peddler’s Village “Gingerbread House Competition and Display” is slated to run through January 5. The “Gingerbread House Competition” features more than $2,000 in cash prizes in such categories as Traditional and Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building.
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 17.
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.
A guaranteed way to get into a Christmas mood is by visiting Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which began its 76th season on November 5.
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).
In addition to Koziar’s Christmas Village, several other Christmas events are already underway.
A popular Bucks County attraction is the “Holiday Light Show” at Shady Brook Farm (931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, www.shadybrookfarm.com)
The farm features a three–million-light Holiday Light Show with “Dashin’ Through the … Lights,” a family-friendly two-mile drive-through on Thursday and Friday nights.
The main display allows visitors to drive or (if weather permits) ride in wagons past post-sundown displays including illuminated tunnels.
The “Holiday Light Show” is open now through January 27.
Timed tickets, which start at $40, are required.
“Christmas Spirit Light Show” is running now through December 31 (except December 25) at Clipper Magazine Stadium (650 North Prince Street, Lancaster, christmasspiritlightshows.com).
“Christmas Spirit Light Show” is an exciting, one-of-a-kind Christmas light display that families can enjoy from the comfort of their vehicles.
As participants make the journey through the mile-long track, they get immersed and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of color-changing lights that are animated and dancing in harmony with favorite Christmas classics.
The drive-through event is billed as a “breathtaking holiday experience that you and your loved ones will never forget.”
Ticket prices start at $25 per car.
The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running now through December 30.
The AMT’s 2023 show, “The First Noel,” 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.
Patrons can witness the magic and splendor of the holiday celebration as AMT presents “The First Noel” featuring incredible singers, astonishing dancers, wondrous costumes, breathtaking sets, and all the endearment of a perfect fireside family moment.
Audience members will be able to bask in the beauty of the season and cherish the stories of spirit and love. Beautiful snowscapes, child-like joy, cherished stories, the spirit of love, and all your favorite things about the holiday season are cast onstage in this glorious celebration of timeless holiday classics.
The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Ticket prices start at $25.
Surprisingly, there are a few special events this weekend that are not Christmas-related.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Ave., Oaks, 484-754-3976, http://www.phillyexpocenter.com) is hosting the Philly Show Sports Card and Memorabilia Show this weekend.
The show is the nation’s longest-running sports memorabilia show, established in 1975. It features more than 200 dealer booths in all areas of sports collectibles including cards, uniforms, photos, memorabilia.
More than 20 professional athletes, including Phillies, Eagles and Flyers players, as well as celebrities will appearing at the show for autograph signings and personal photo opportunities and meet-and-greets.
Show hours are 3-8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.
General admission tickets are $10 on Friday, $15 on Saturday and Sunday and $30 for a weekend pass. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paid adult.
The Winter Blast Dog Shows (valleyforgekc.org/spectators) are also slated for the Expo Center from December 6-10.
Day 1 of the show series (December 6) – hosted by Berks County Kennel Club – is a great fun-filled family experience. There will be up to 800 dogs of over 150 breeds and plenty of chances to mix and mingle with the competitors. There will be a puppy competition, all-breed conformation show, and junior showmanship competition for kids 9-18 years old. Admission is free.
Days 2 and 3 of the show series – hosted by South Jersey Kennel Club –will have more than 1,200 dogs in over 150 breeds and plenty of chances to mix and mingle with the competitors. Each day, there will be beginner puppy competitions, all-breed conformation shows, junior showmanship and pee wee competitions for kids 5-18 years old, and obedience trials. Admission is free.
Days 4 and 5 of the show series – hosted by Valley Forge Kennel Club –will feature approximately 1,500 dogs of over 150 breeds and plenty of chances to mix and mingle with the competitors. Each day will feature beginner puppy competitions, all-breed conformation shows, junior showmanship and pee wee competitions for kids 5-18 years old, and obedience trials. Admission is $10/$5 adult/child.
A good location for a nature walk is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features a “Saturday Wildflower Walk” on December 2.
With 650 protected acres of beautiful woodland, seasonally charming meadows, and a lively program of seasonal events and activities, Tyler Arboretum is a delight for nature lovers, birders, botanists, and those who want rediscover the natural world.
Dating to 1681, making it one of the oldest public gardens in the United States, and home to eight generations of three families, Tyler Arboretum connects visitors to the region’s rich culture and history while preserving, developing, sharing, and celebrating Pennsylvania’s priceless horticultural heritage.
“Saturday Wildflower Walk,” which runs from 1-3 p.m., features wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that will take guests through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.
Although the focus is on plants, Cloud will also talk about whatever else is seen on the tour. Walkers should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring a camera and/or a wildflower guide, for this botanical-filled walk.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults and $10 for children (ages 12-17).
“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages.
Participants can experience the rush of TreeTrails Adventures as they swing through the trees of the new adventure park. They will be able to discover the excitement of climbing and zip lining above the forest floor with family, friends, co-workers, or teammates.
The park, which is based at Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, offers two ways to experience climbing – TreeTrails Adventure Park and KidTrails Park. Young explorers can enjoy miniaturized courses in the adjacent KidTrails Park.
General Park Admission prices are: Main Park Adult Tickets (Ages 12+), $59; Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $12.
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 two years 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 and out 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.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the fall.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Tickets are $35.
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.
