As the holiday season approaches, there is plenty of things to do to get in the holiday spirit. Get your family together and visit some of the city’s favorite holiday attractions.
- Christmas In Peddler’s Village: Enjoy Christmas carolers, warm apple cider and roasted marshmallows, Santa’s parade and their beautiful Victorian decorations.
- Winter at Dilworth Park: Have fun ice skating and enjoying the twinkling lights. Also, an indoor space to warm up and fill up on snacks, cocktails, beer and hot drinks.
- Franklin Square Holiday Festival: This Holiday Light Show makes this historic square twinkle. Free shows take place every night between 4:30 and 8:00 p.m. Other festivities include Saturdays with Santa, rides on the holiday train and carousel, foods, beer and hot beverages and mini-golf.
- Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farms: Visitors can drive their own vehicles or, if weather permits, ride in wagons through tunnels and past celebratory nighttime displays. Afterwards visit Santa, enjoy hot cocoa by the fire and do some holiday shopping.
- Christmas Village: Visit the wooden booths of local and international merchants display and sell wintry apparel, handmade toys and all manner of edible and drinkable treats, while enjoying the entertainment.
- Macy’s Christmas Light Show: The department store revives the tradition of sugarplum fairies, dancing snowmen and more with a 100,000-light show. Free performances take place every two hours during store hours. Between shows, visitors can tour the second floors Dickens Village, setup of dolls retelling A Christmas Carol; each walkthrough ends in a chance to meet and get photos with Santa.
- Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest: Skate around on this rink with a beautiful view of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Also, sit by a fire pit; have fun at the Kids Lodge arcade; enjoy a cozy, chalet-style Lodge Restaurant and Bar; sweets from Franklin Fountain Confectionery Cabin; and food from Garces Group and Chickie’s & Pete’s.
- A Longwood Garden Christmas: Admire the thousands of poinsettias, Christmas trees and flowers transform the heated four-acre Conservatory at Longwood Gardens into a winter wonderland during the popular, A Longwood Christmas. Outside, 500,000 lights glitter in trees and spectacularly restored fountains and fire pit flames dance to seasonal music.
- Holidays at City Hall: On the north side of City Hall, visitors find Philadelphia’s official Christmas tree. Enjoy great food at an indoor restaurant featuring freshly baked breads, smoked meats, hot cocktails and more. Also, City Hall’s courtyard transforms into a winter wonderland complete with a carousel, shopping and a variety of sweet treats for sale.
- Comcast Holiday Spectacular: The Comcast lobby’s annual holiday show— combines The Nutcracker, a magical sleigh ride over the city and a sing-along in 15 minutes of free fun.
