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 lodge charges.
It looks as if Philly will get ignored in relation to the vacations, however that could be a disgrace (or an ideal hidden secret, relying on the way you take a look at it). There may be a lot to do at Christmas in Philly, for locals and vacationers alike, plus you’ve got nice historic 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 via New Yr’s Eve fireworks on the Waterfront and the well-known Mummers Parade on New Years Day.
12 Methods to Have fun Christmas in Philadelphia
Here’s a sampling of how one can get pleasure from Philadelphia across the holidays.
1. Christmas Village at LOVE Park
From earlier than Thanksgiving via Christmas Eve, LOVE Park transforms right into a German-style Christmas Village. (Examine present dates and hours. ) The outside market options meals stalls with waffles, gingerbread, spaetzle, candies, and extra, in addition to retailers with 80 distributors from all over the world.
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 sizzling coals and native craft beers.
You possibly can store for items like Christmas ornaments from Germany and different handcrafts, and watch performances from native bands and dance teams. Plus, you possibly can take an image with the long-lasting LOVE sculpture! Christmas Village affords a double-decker carousel in the midst of the Metropolis Corridor courtyard and since 2019, guests also can experience a 65′ excessive Ferris Wheel within the North Broad Part of the Village. There may be even a kiddie choo choo prepare. Chances are you’ll actually have a probability to satisfy 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 evening, however I used to be pleasantly shocked. The park is massive sufficient to permit for house between the aisles for folks to simply go. The cubicles weren’t blocked by traces of individuals ready for meals. And there was a pleasant picnic seating space to get pleasure from all of the scrumptious treats.
Whereas the distributors weren’t all conventional German handicrafts, and never all have been Christmas-related (just like the man promoting truffle oil), I nonetheless fee this as one among 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 every day
Location:
Christmas Village is positioned at LOVE Park within the coronary heart of Heart Metropolis at 1500 Arch Road, Philadelphia PA 19102
2. Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Situated not removed from the Previous Metropolis close to Penn’s Touchdown, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest has been ringing within the holidays for almost 30 years. Winterfest affords guests and locals every part they should get pleasure from some winter outside enjoyable with an ideal view of the Ben Franklin Bridge.
There’s a regulation-size ice rink, outside fireplace pits, cozy warming cabins, boardwalk rides and video games, comfortable couches, scrumptious meals and sizzling drinks, and the signature vacation tree. Winterfest is free to enter and open to the general public, however facilities resembling ice skating and cabin and firepit experiences must 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 via 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 Metropolis Corridor transforms into winter wonderland filled with enjoyable sights.
Ice Skating at Rothman Orthopaedics ice Rink
You possibly can skate open air simply beside Metropolis Corridor at Rothman Rink in Dilworth Park. The rink affords timed tickets, good for 90-minute skating periods. Ebook skating periods on-line to make sure availability.
Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin
After skating, loosen up over foods and drinks in a ski-chalet-type setting or open air round fireplace pits on the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin. That is acozy après-skate spot for snacks, cocktails, beer and sizzling drinks. There may be additionally a front-row view of the skaters.
The Ice Rink and Cabin are open from November 4, 2022 via February 26, 2023.
Wintergarden on the Greenfield Garden
The Wintergarden on the Greenfield Garden is an outside sanctuary in the midst of Heart Metropolis. Kids and adults will benefit from the rustic décor, reindeer topiaries and twinkling lights, whereas adults also can buy heat mulled wine on the Chaddsford Vineyard kiosk.
Wintergarden is open from November 1, 2022-March 26, 2023.
Made in Philadelphia Vacation Market
Buy locally-made items from 40 distributors unfold all through the park providing handmade crafts, jewellery, clothes, residence décor and treats. The Vacation Market is open November 19, 2022 to January 1, 2023.
Deck the Corridor Vacation Mild Present
The Deck the Corridor Mild Present is one among Philadelphia’s most unusual vacation sights. From November 21, 2022 to January 1, 2023, vacation lights are projected onto the west facade of the Historic Metropolis Corridor and synchronized with sound results on the prime of the hour nightly from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, every day.
Location:
1 S fifteenth St (West Facet of Metropolis Corridor), Philadelphia, PA 19102
Vacation Tree at Metropolis Corridor
The annual vacation tree arrives on the north facet of Metropolis Corridor on November 9, 2022 and the official ceremonial tree lighting will happen on December 1, 2022.
4. Franklin Sq. Vacation Competition
Near Previous Metropolis’s Independence Corridor, Franklin Sq. hosts a Vacation Competition from November 16, 2022 via February 26, 2023. The centerpiece of the pageant is the free Ben Franklin-inspired Electrical Spectacle Vacation Mild present that includes over 200,000 lights which are coordinated to vacation music from Mariah Carey.
The sunshine present takes place every day each half-hour between 5:00 pm and shutting when Franklin Sq. is open. Franklin Sq. additionally hosts particular occasions together with: Santa’s Arrival, Jingle and Mingle with Santa, Hannukah Celebration with Previous Metropolis Jewish Arts Heart, Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Museum, and a Youngsters’ New Yr’s Eve Countdown.
Households will get pleasure from this as a result of there’s additionally a carousel and town’s solely Philadelphia-themed mini golf course. Along with treats resembling some scrumptious churros and burgers at SquareBurger in Franklin Sq., there’s additionally a Ben’s Sweets & Treats Tent that includes make-your-own-s’mores, native brews, cocktails, and sizzling drinks. You possibly can get pleasure from these treats whereas sitting round one of many many fireplace 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 via Sunday, 10 am – 7 pm
Location:
Franklin Sq., 200 N. sixth Road, Philadelphia, PA 19103
5. Macy’s Vacation Mild Present & Dickens’ Village
Macy’s continues the Wanamaker custom of a vacation gentle 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 Courtroom atrium.
Along with the inside vacation gentle present, the shop’s elaborate window shows rival its sister retailer in NYC. They’ve additionally reworked 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 via varied scenes from the story, together with visits from the ghosts of Christmas Previous, Current, and Future.
Advance tickets are required to go to Dickens Village. Beginning on November 20, 2022, you may make a reservation on-line 5 days prematurely of your go to.
Simply be ready to get there early to catch one of many gentle exhibits at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and so forth. And there will probably be a protracted line to go to Dickens Village if you happen to head to the third flooring instantly after one of many gentle exhibits.
Due to this fact, it’s possible you’ll wish to go away slightly time in between so you possibly can benefit from the shows with out the press of the gang. It helps to know 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, in fact, 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 couple of p.m.
Location:
Macy’s, 1300 Market Road, Philadelphia, PA
6. Miracle on South thirteenth Road
Annually, a neighborhood on South thirteenth Road in South Philly takes it upon itself to embellish for the vacations in a way price a go to. This one-block stretch of row homes goes all out with lights, indicators, music, and different decorations each outdoors and of their home windows.
It’s price discovering a spot to park and strolling up and down the block to see the small print these residents have integrated, from writing a letter to Santa to inflatables prepared for Instagram poses. You will discover this phenomenon on South thirteenth Road between Tasker and Morris Streets.
7. Christmas in Longwood Gardens
One in every 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 gentle show will get you within the festive spirit.
Annually is completely different so even you probably have already been, it’s price a return journey. You’ll need a timed-entry ticket and it is suggested that you simply go to mid-week if you happen to can, or no less than 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 fulfilling to spend an extended time outdoors.
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 consists of reveals within the four-acre Conservatory and 500,000 lights outdoors. 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 ebook a mid-to-late afternoon ticket. That means you possibly can arrive and tour the within conservatories whereas it’s nonetheless gentle (these normally take no less than an hour.) This manner you possibly can nonetheless see the grounds at nighttime and revel in all of the outside vacation lights earlier than the evening will get too chilly.
What I realized on my current 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. Actually not what I might have anticipated from a restaurant inside a botanical backyard. If the high-quality eating possibility is just not in your price range, you too can eat on the fast service cafe.
Needless to say close by Kennett Sq. is the capital for mushroom rising so you should definitely attempt the mushroom soup and the rest mushroom on the menu. Even the bread is served in particular person flower pots and appear like massive mushrooms.
Location:
1001 Longwood Highway, Kennett Sq., PA
8. Comcast Vacation Spectacular
The Comcast Heart’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 via New Yr’s Day and exhibits run every day on the prime 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 Heart Foyer
9. HOliday Mild Present at Shady Brook Farm
There are a lot of different vacation celebrations within the larger Philadelphia space, together with the Vacation Mild Present at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, Pennsylvania in Bucks County. They use greater than three million lights to create a vacation spectacle that you could drive via, or experience via in wagons.
There are illuminated tunnels and celebratory nighttime shows. You can too go to Santa and revel in sizzling chocolate by the bonfire. Tune your radio to 90.7 FM to take heed to vacation faves as you drive via.
Tickets might be bought on-line prematurely of your go to. Included with admission is a walk-through the Sweet Cane Lane gentle present.
Dates and Hours:
The Vacation Mild Present runs from November 19, 2022 via January 8, 2023.
Solar to Thurs – 5 to 10pm and Fri & Sat – 5 to 11pm
Location:
931 Stony Hill Rd. Yardley, PA 19067
10. Journey Aquarium in Camden
Simply throughout the river in Camden, NJ, Journey Aquarium affords a method to get out of the chilly and entertain the children for some time. Along with seeing hippos and touching stingrays, if you happen to go to at Christmas it’s possible 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 one million twinkling lights throughout 14 illuminated zones. New shows embrace a 15-foot tall glowing blue gorilla and an under-the-sea-inspired vacation tree.
Friends may also journey via a 100-foot-long aquarium tunnel (full with monumental jellyfish) and previous a 21-foot-tall brilliantly vibrant snake. Heat up with seasonal fare, sizzling chocolate and grownup drinks whereas having fun with reside performers.
Reserve your tickets on-line prematurely.
Dates and Hours:
November 17, 2022 – January 7, 2023
Working days are Wednesday via Sunday (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), with reservations accessible from 5:00 p.m. via 8:00 p.m. LumiNature will shut at 10:00 p.m. every evening.
Location:
3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
12. Vacation Backyard Railway on the Morris Arboretum
Practice lovers will benefit from the annual Vacation Backyard Railway on the historic Morris Arboretum. A mannequin trains chug alongside a quarter-mile monitor via a mini-winter wonderland alongside loops, via tunnels and over bridges, previous good 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 Vacation Backyard Railway: Nighttime Categorical programming. Lighted timber and different coloured lights make the backyard much more magical. Advance tickets are required and might be bought on-line.
Dates and Hours:
The Vacation Backyard Railway runs from November 25 via 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
After all, if you’re sticking round for New Yr’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 youngsters carrying feathers and sequins whereas dancing to music and parading alongside Broad Road from Metropolis Corridor to Washington Avenue.
The evening earlier than options fireworks over the Delaware River and earlier than the parade, MummersFest offers guests a behind-the-scenes take a look at set-building, rehearsals, and alternatives to decorate up.
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