Philadelphia is probably not as well-known for its vacation festivities as its neighbor to the north, however this solely makes celebrating Christmas in Philadelphia a little bit of a hidden gem. There are Christmas markets, skating rinks, and vacation lights galore — with out the throngs of individuals and exorbitant resort charges.
It looks like Philly will get ignored with regards to the vacations, however that may be a disgrace (or an ideal hidden secret, relying on the way you have a look at it). There is a lot to do at Christmas in Philly, for locals and vacationers alike, plus you could have nice historical sights, museums, and terrific eating places.
The vacation season kicks off early with the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade (the longest operating Thanksgiving Parade within the nation) and goes straight by way of New Year’s Eve fireworks on the Waterfront and the well-known Mummers Parade on New Years Day.
12 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Philadelphia
Here is a sampling of how one can get pleasure from Philadelphia across the holidays.
1. Christmas Village at LOVE Park
From earlier than Thanksgiving by way of Christmas Eve, LOVE Park transforms right into a German-style Christmas Village. (Check present dates and hours. ) The outside market options meals stalls with waffles, gingerbread, spaetzle, candies, and extra, in addition to outlets with 80 distributors from world wide.
Get into the vacation spirit whereas sipping mulled wine from native wineries in memento mugs and snack on mouth-watering raclette (melted cheese unfold onto bread), Bratwurst grilled over scorching coals and native craft beers.
You can store for items like Christmas ornaments from Germany and different handcrafts, and watch performances from native bands and dance teams. Plus, you’ll be able to take an image with the long-lasting LOVE sculpture! Christmas Village presents a double-decker carousel in the course of the City Hall courtyard and since 2019, guests may also experience a 65′ excessive Ferris Wheel within the North Broad Section of the Village. There is even a kiddie choo choo practice. You could also have a probability to fulfill the Village mascot, Phil the Reindeer.
After visiting the Christkindlmarkt in Chicago, I totally anticipated the village to be jam-packed with crowds on a Friday night time, however I used to be pleasantly shocked. The park is giant sufficient to permit for house between the aisles for individuals to simply move. The cubicles weren’t blocked by strains of individuals ready for meals. And there was a pleasant picnic seating space to get pleasure from all of the scrumptious treats.
While the distributors weren’t all conventional German handicrafts, and never all had been Christmas-related (just like the man promoting truffle oil), I nonetheless fee this as certainly one of my favourite markets due to the meals and the house to maneuver round. For me, overwhelming crowds can actually detract from my enjoyment of an expertise or vacation spot.
Dates and Hours:
Nov nineteenth – Dec twenty fourth, 2022
11am – 7pm day by day
Location:
Christmas Village is positioned at LOVE Park within the coronary heart of Center City at 1500 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19102
2. Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Located not removed from the Old City close to Penn’s Landing, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest has been ringing within the holidays for practically 30 years. Winterfest presents guests and locals every part they should get pleasure from some winter outside enjoyable with an ideal view of the Ben Franklin Bridge.
There is a regulation-size ice rink, outside hearth pits, cozy warming cabins, boardwalk rides and video games, comfortable couches, scrumptious meals and scorching drinks, and the signature vacation tree. Winterfest is free to enter and open to the general public, however facilities similar to ice skating and cabin and firepit experiences ought to be booked prematurely.
Dates and Hours:
November 25, 2022 to March 5, 2023
Monday – Thursday: 1 pm – 11 pm, Friday: 1 pm – 1 am, Saturday: 11 am – 1 am, Sunday: 11 am – 11 pm
December 24 and December 25: 1 pm – 8:30 pm, December 26 by way of December 30: 11 am – 1 am, December 31: 10 am – 2pm, January 1: 11 am – 1am, January 2: 11 am – 11 pm
Location:
101 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106
3. Winter in Dilworth Park
Dilworth Park beside City Hall transforms into winter wonderland filled with enjoyable points of interest.
Ice Skating at Rothman Orthopaedics ice Rink
You can skate outside simply beside City Hall at Rothman Rink in Dilworth Park. The rink presents timed tickets, good for 90-minute skating periods. Book skating periods on-line to make sure availability.
Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin
After skating, chill out over foods and drinks in a ski-chalet-type setting or outside round hearth pits on the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin. This is acozy après-skate spot for snacks, cocktails, beer and scorching drinks. There can be a front-row view of the skaters.
The Ice Rink and Cabin are open from November 4, 2022 by way of February 26, 2023.
Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn
The Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn is an out of doors sanctuary in the course of Center City. Children and adults will benefit from the rustic décor, reindeer topiaries and twinkling lights, whereas adults may also buy heat mulled wine on the Chaddsford Winery kiosk.
Wintergarden is open from November 1, 2022-March 26, 2023.
Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market
Purchase locally-made items from 40 distributors unfold all through the park providing handmade crafts, jewellery, clothes, residence décor and treats. The Holiday Market is open November 19, 2022 to January 1, 2023.
Deck the Hall Holiday Light Show
The Deck the Hall Light Show is certainly one of Philadelphia’s most original vacation points of interest. From November 21, 2022 to January 1, 2023, vacation lights are projected onto the west facade of the Historic City Hall and synchronized with sound results on the high of the hour nightly from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, day by day.
Location:
1 S fifteenth St (West Side of City Hall), Philadelphia, PA 19102
Holiday Tree at City Hall
The annual vacation tree arrives on the north facet of City Hall on November 9, 2022 and the official ceremonial tree lighting will happen on December 1, 2022.
4. Franklin Square Holiday Festival
Close to Old City’s Independence Hall, Franklin Square hosts a Holiday Festival from November 16, 2022 by way of February 26, 2023. The centerpiece of the competition is the free Ben Franklin-inspired Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light present that includes over 200,000 lights which can be coordinated to vacation music from Mariah Carey.
The mild present takes place day by day each half-hour between 5:00 pm and shutting when Franklin Square is open. Franklin Square additionally hosts particular occasions together with: Santa’s Arrival, Jingle and Mingle with Santa, Hannukah Celebration with Old City Jewish Arts Center, Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Museum, and a Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown.
Families will get pleasure from this as a result of there may be additionally a carousel and town’s solely Philadelphia-themed mini golf course. In addition to treats similar to some scrumptious churros and burgers at SquareBurger in Franklin Square, there may be additionally a Ben’s Sweets & Treats Tent that includes make-your-own-s’mores, native brews, cocktails, and scorching drinks. You can get pleasure from these treats whereas sitting round one of many many hearth pits and watching the sunshine present.
Dates and Hours:
November 16, 2022 – January 8, 2023, 10 am – 9 pm (climate allowing) and January 12, 2022 – February 26, 2023 from Thursday by way of Sunday, 10 am – 7 pm
Location:
Franklin Square, 200 N. sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
5. Macy’s Holiday Light Show & Dickens’ Village
Macy’s continues the Wanamaker custom of a vacation mild present, which has been operating since 1956. The famed Wanamaker Organ accompanies greater than 100,000 lights that create vacation pictures like snowflakes, ballerinas, and reindeer within the heart metropolis retailer’s Grand Court atrium.
In addition to the inside vacation mild present, the shop’s elaborate window shows rival its sister retailer in NYC. They have additionally remodeled the third flooring right into a Dickens Village for the vacation season with a 6,000 square-foot village and greater than 100 animated figures from A Christmas Carol. You stroll by way of numerous scenes from the story, together with visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
Advance tickets are required to go to Dickens Village. Starting on November 20, 2022, you can also make a reservation on-line 5 days prematurely of your go to.
Just be ready to get there early to catch one of many mild exhibits at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and so forth. And there will likely be a protracted line to go to Dickens Village for those who head to the third flooring instantly after one of many mild exhibits.
Therefore, chances are you’ll wish to go away somewhat time in between so you’ll be able to benefit from the shows with out the press of the gang. It helps to grasp the story of A Christmas Carol prematurely, however children can all the time get pleasure from a go to with Santa on the finish. And, after all, you’ll exit into an space promoting toys.
Dates and Hours:
November 25 – December 31, 2022
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: 10 a.m., midday, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Christmas Eve: 10 a.m., midday and a pair of p.m.
Location:
Macy’s, 1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
6. Miracle on South thirteenth Street
Each yr, a neighborhood on South thirteenth Street in South Philly takes it upon itself to embellish for the vacations in a way value a go to. This one-block stretch of row homes goes all out with lights, indicators, music, and different decorations each exterior and of their home windows.
It is value discovering a spot to park and strolling up and down the block to see the small print these residents have included, from writing a letter to Santa to inflatables prepared for Instagram poses. You can discover this phenomenon on South thirteenth Street between Tasker and Morris Streets.
7. Christmas in Longwood Gardens
One of my favourite issues to do close to Philadelphia at Christmas is go to Longwood Gardens for A Longwood Christmas. Longwood’s superb gardens and outside vacation mild show will get you within the festive spirit.
Each yr is completely different so even when you’ve got already been, it’s value a return journey. You will want a timed-entry ticket and it is strongly recommended that you just go to mid-week for those who can, or a minimum of early within the season. I can say that visiting in early December versus proper after Christmas made a HUGE distinction within the crowd ranges (for the higher), plus it was a lot hotter and extra gratifying to spend an extended time exterior.
Longwood Gardens covers 402 acres in Brandywine Valley and was as soon as the house of enterprise and philanthropist Pierre S. du Ponte. A Longwood Christmas contains displays within the four-acre Conservatory and 500,000 lights exterior. There are fountains that dance to seasonal music, organ music, vacation caroling, and even particular occasions like breakfast with Santa.
I believe it’s best to guide a mid-to-late afternoon ticket. That manner you’ll be able to arrive and tour the within conservatories whereas it’s nonetheless mild (these normally take a minimum of an hour.) This manner you’ll be able to nonetheless see the grounds at the hours of darkness and revel in all of the outside vacation lights earlier than the night time will get too chilly.
What I discovered on my latest go to is that it’s a good suggestion to make a reservation at 1906, the high-quality eating restaurant on the property. I used to be blown away by the standard of the meals, presentation, and repair. Certainly not what I might have anticipated from a restaurant inside a botanical backyard. If the high-quality eating possibility just isn’t in your finances, you can even eat on the fast service cafe.
Keep in thoughts that close by Kennett Square is the capital for mushroom rising so remember to strive the mushroom soup and the rest mushroom on the menu. Even the bread is served in particular person flower pots and appear to be massive mushrooms.
Location:
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
8. Comcast Holiday Spectacular
The Comcast Center’s annual tremendous high-res LED vacation present us again within the foyer of town’s second-tallest constructing on one of many world’s largest LED steady video partitions. This 15-minute family-friendly present that includes traditional vacation songs and performances by the Pennsylvania Ballet.
Dates and Hours:
The present runs from Thanksgiving by way of New Year’s Day and exhibits run day by day on the high of each hour from 10 am to eight pm (besides for five pm). *Sensory-friendly exhibits each Thursday and Friday at 2:30 p.m. and upon request.
Location:
1701 JFK Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19103, Comcast Center Lobby
9. HOliday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm
There are many different vacation celebrations within the higher Philadelphia space, together with the Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, Pennsylvania in Bucks County. They use greater than three million lights to create a vacation spectacle that you may drive by way of, or experience by way of in wagons.
There are illuminated tunnels and celebratory nighttime shows. You may also go to Santa and revel in scorching chocolate by the bonfire. Tune your radio to 90.7 FM to hearken to vacation faves as you drive by way of.
Tickets will be bought on-line prematurely of your go to. Included with admission is a walk-through the Candy Cane Lane mild present.
Dates and Hours:
The Holiday Light Show runs from November 19, 2022 by way of January 8, 2023.
Sun to Thurs – 5 to 10pm and Fri & Sat – 5 to 11pm
Location:
931 Stony Hill Rd. Yardley, PA 19067
10. Adventure Aquarium in Camden
Just throughout the river in Camden, NJ, Adventure Aquarium presents a approach to get out of the chilly and entertain the youngsters for some time. In addition to seeing hippos and touching stingrays, for those who go to at Christmas chances are you’ll get to see Rudolph and the Abominable Snowman as we did on our go to yr.
Location:
1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ 08103
11. LumiNature on the Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo comes alight for the vacations with greater than 1,000,000 twinkling lights throughout 14 illuminated zones. New shows embrace a 15-foot tall glowing blue gorilla and an under-the-sea-inspired vacation tree.
Guests will even journey by way of a 100-foot-long aquarium tunnel (full with monumental jellyfish) and previous a 21-foot-tall brilliantly brilliant snake. Warm up with seasonal fare, scorching chocolate and grownup drinks whereas having fun with dwell performers.
Reserve your tickets on-line prematurely.
Dates and Hours:
November 17, 2022 – January 7, 2023
Operating days are Wednesday by way of Sunday (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), with reservations accessible from 5:00 p.m. by way of 8:00 p.m. LumiNature will shut at 10:00 p.m. every night time.
Location:
3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
12. Holiday Garden Railway on the Morris Arboretum
Train fans will benefit from the annual Holiday Garden Railway on the historic Morris Arboretum. A mannequin trains chug alongside a quarter-mile monitor by way of a mini-winter wonderland alongside loops, by way of tunnels and over bridges, previous excellent little replicas of beloved Philadelphia landmarks.
On choose Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings all through the season, guests benefit from the railway amid 1000’s of twinkling lights as a part of the after-hours Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express programming. Lighted bushes and different coloured lights make the backyard much more magical. Advance tickets are required and will be bought on-line.
Dates and Hours:
The Holiday Garden Railway runs from November 25 by way of December 30, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The Arboretum is closed December 24 & 25 or for inclement climate.
Location:
100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
BONUS: Mummers Parade
Of course, if you’re sticking round for New Year’s Day, the Mummers Parade is a Philadelphia custom that isn’t to be missed. It dates again to 1901 and might solely be present in Philadelphia. The parade entails 1000’s of adults and children carrying feathers and sequins whereas dancing to music and parading alongside Broad Street from City Hall to Washington Avenue.
The night time earlier than options fireworks over the Delaware River and earlier than the parade, MummersFest provides guests a behind-the-scenes have a look at set-building, rehearsals, and alternatives to decorate up.
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