Christmas in Philadelphia: 2025 Family Events & Activities

Visit the Railroad station for Polar Express readings with hot chocolate, live music in the church, mail your letters to Santa in the Post Office, do some crafts in the heated tent, shop the Bake Sale in the Quay Farmhouse, and of course stop by the Stone House for photos with Santa by the fire!

5:30-8:30pm

Cirque Dreams Holidaze dazzles with a brilliant and whimsical family holiday spectacular. As the longest-running cirque holiday theatrical event, this annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts.

7:30pm

Don’t miss this unique, magical holiday experience! The outdoor Christmas Market includes your favorite holiday deli items, Christmas decorations and gifts, and SWEA bakery treats! The Swedish Christmas Café will sell holiday foods and sweets for refreshment. Enjoy live music holiday music by the Last Chance duo throughout the day. During the market, shoppers can experience the Lucia children’s program twice daily.

10am-4pm

Enjoy live musical entertainment, family activities, holiday food and drink specials, and a gingerbread display. Visit the 60+ specialty shops and boutiques to find fantastic gift-giving ideas. In the evening, Peddler’s Village becomes a magical nighttime Christmas wonderland, illuminated by a million colorful lights.

With A Christmas Carol relive the timeless tale of the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge, his encounters with three fearful ghosts, and Scrooge's Christmas morning redemption--all enacted by Gerald Dickens as he brings 26+characters of the story to life! 

Bundle up the kids for some winter fun at Dutch Wonderland. Rides are open and there are holiday attractions and light displays, performances, a chance to meet Santa, story times, a train display and more!

For over 30 years, Narberth’s renowned Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet has delighted families with its enchanting production featuring professional soloists and some of the region’s best dancers. This 90-minute, family-friendly performance with intermission is the perfect introduction to the timeless holiday ballet for ages four and up.

Fri 7pm

Sat & Sun 11am & 3pm

The Montco Cultural Center welcomes back Philadelphia Dance Theatre’s beloved production of A Philadelphia Nutcracker, celebrating its 25th anniversary season.

Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville and helps remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season. 

Join in the holiday fun in Media with a block party, fun run/walk, and Santa's Parade! Santa will lead mummers, drummers, musicians, dancers, classic cars, fire engines, and more on a four-mile route through Media.

2:30pm

Enjoy the more than 100 year tradition of the Christmas Tree Lighting in Doylestown. The sounds of festive live music will waft through the crowds before the parade and tree lighting.

5-8pm

The parade is always a wonderful community event that you don’t want to miss. Arrive early to get your prime spot on Butler Ave and enjoy the bands, floats, Mummers, and more. And, don’t forget who else will be there… SANTA!

1pm

Join a festive welcome to the holiday season at the Annual Hatboro Holiday Parade hosted by the Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce.

2-4pm

Ring in the holiday season with breakfast with family, friends, and Santa himself! Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice (vegan and gluten-free options available). After breakfast, participate in the various holiday-themed activities, and visit the gallery exhibits.

8:45am & 10:30am

Enjoy Winter Wonderland hosted by the Borough of Conshohocken and held in the Conshohocken Community Center at the Fellowship House. Enjoy arts & crafts, games and an appearance by Santa!

12pm

Franklin Square transforms into a winter wonderland! Enjoy dazzling Electrical Spectacle Light Shows, Chilly Philly Mini Golf, Street Curling, and seasonal sweet treats and cocktails!

5-9pm

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Kick off the holidays at the annual Tree Lighting event at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. Enjoy live entertainment and festive fun. Soaked Winery and McCall Collective Brewing Co. will be on-site selling alcoholic beverages to attendees of age. Santa and Mrs. Claus will delight the crowd by lighting the tree and will stay afterwards for photos.

5:30pm

Downingtown will have Christmas in the air with music and fun at the Good Neighbor Christmas Parade. This true “hometown” Christmas parade features local bands, dance groups, scouts, and, of course, Santa Claus's arrival!

3pm

Attractions include pre-cut trees, cut-your-own trees, horse and wagon rides, a gift shop, wreaths and greenery, Christmas decor, Santa pictures, complimentary hot chocolate, and more.

Yuletide charm meets contemporary creativity in the historic mansion, and woodland whimsy awaits outdoors. There is so much to see and do throughout the season– delight in beautifully decorated trees and marvel at a large-scale gingerbread “house” and a magical 18-room dollhouse. Enjoy enchanting decorations and outdoor lighting inspired by the woodlands of Winterthur.

Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit in Chestnut Hill, one of Philadelphia’s most historic and charming villages! Enjoy the sounds of a brass quartet, live carolers strolling the Avenue, and an outdoor model train display at Morris Arboretum. Shop local treasures on Wednesdays with extended store hours and holiday specials. Snap a photo with their beloved Santa and create lasting memories! Savor complimentary refreshments at many local businesses while you explore.

Dress up, get a hot cocoa, and attend the annual Philly Holiday Tree lighting. Located right in the heart of Center City, outside City Hall, this dazzling tree is a symbol of this city’s festive spirit year after year.

Tim Ponisciak said:  The city's tree is located right outside of City Hall, in the middle of the city. Each year this quintessential Philadelphia Christmas event revolves around the lighting of this tree. Make sure to check out the tree if you are dropping by the Christmas Village just a few steps away or going to see the Macy's Light Show!

6-8pm

The Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars are set to bring holiday cheer with their annual Holiday Spectacular, a fun-filled performance showcasing talented students from 18 local high schools.

Sat 7:30pm & Sun 3pm

Dilworth Park’s popular winter attractions have returned for the season! The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink is again offering skating seven days per week, the Greenfield Lawn is hosting reindeer topiaries in the Wintergarden and the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin rounds out the park’s seasonal transformation.

The annual tree-lighting ceremony at East Passyunk starts at The Singing Fountain with the official kick-off to the holiday season. Take photos with Santa, enjoy live music and other entertainment, and check out the specials from EPA businesses.

5-7pm

Join Delaware’s professional ballet company on the magical journey through the Land of Sweets in this sparkling production on the main stage.

The Philadelphia Orchestra plays the memorable score in this delightful story filled with laughter and song. 

7pm

A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends. The park is transformed into a one-of-a-kind Christmas wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, whirling rides, and festive decorations all around.

Drive a course through America’s only construction theme & water park to witness lights, holiday displays, tunnels, and their very own radio station to fill your car with holiday spirit! Don’t forget to grab some tasty treats at the Fork Lift Cafe!

5:30-9:30pm

A sell-out every year and now a Lehigh Valley holiday music tradition! Classics, carols, sing-a-longs, and plenty of surprises! 

2pm & 7:30pm

Discover a winter wonderland with festive treats, Santa sightings, twinkling lights, and endless smiles at Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure!

Eagleview Town Center’s annual Holiday Spectacular concert and tree lighting features performances by popular local artists. The event will also include gingerbread decorating, a s’mores station, a visit from Santa, the chance to win raffle prizes, and more festive activities.

2-5pm

Revel in hundreds of thousands of lights, marvel at astonishing feats of horticulture, ingenuity, and creativity, and delight in beauty at A Longwood Christmas.

Celebrate a Victorian Christmas with the Ironmaster at Joanna Furnace and see how this prominent family prepared for their holiday. Visitors will interact with living history re-enactors and experience the holiday season’s traditional sights, sounds, and smells. Children of all ages will meet Belsnickel… a 19th-century Christmas spirit!

Koziar’s is a park-and-walk vintage Christmas lights experience. Santa will be there for pictures as well!

Holidays at Hagley returns and will feature Holiday Home and Garden Tours, the annual Gingerbread House Contest, Santa Day, Holiday Nights Tours, and more. 

This is the perfect introduction to live theater for children! All shows are approximately one hour in length and are recommended for audiences aged five and up. 

Each December, thousands gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of General George Washington’s daring Christmas Day river crossing. During this family-friendly event, several hundred reenactors in Continental military dress listen to an inspiring speech by Washington and then row across the river in replica Durham boats.

Celebrate the holiday season with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and enjoy sing-alongs, merry tunes, and a special guest appearance!

11:30am

Start a new holiday tradition or cherish an old favorite at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane®. Experience the wonder of family rides & select coasters, sip a delicious hot chocolate while strolling through more than 5 million twinkling lights, and meet the Hershey Characters in their holiday best! Plus, pay a special visit to Santa and his 9 live reindeer - don’t forget your Christmas list!

The Narberth Dickens Festival is a free family event held each December on the streets of downtown Narberth. It draws thousands to this little borough every year, and it has become one of the most anticipated holiday festivals in the Philadelphia area. In this Dickens-themed event, the town of Narberth is transformed into 1840's London, as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and all the characters from A Christmas Carol roam the streets for an afternoon. 

12-4pm

Ring in the season with Tchaikovsky's timeless score and be transported to the magical Land of Sweets as you join Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy on the journey of a dream.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Every Philadelphian has to experience the Mummers Parade at least once. This eclectic mix of performers will surely bring a smile to your face and your kids' faces too! The Mummers parade runs through Center City Philadelphia. The Mummers compete to be awarded as best in their division, separated into the Fancy, Comics, Wench Brigade, String Band and Fancy Brigade. The best known division is the string bands. Get to Broad Street early to secure a good viewing spot!

See more than a million twinkling lights across 16 illuminated zones at the biggest and brightest holiday light show!

During this walk-through experience, guests will be surrounded by dazzling light displays, illuminated animals and live entertainment.

5-9pm

The Winter Light Spectacular at the Lehigh Valley Zoo shines brightly with over 1.2 million lights, prominent holiday themed displays, costumed characters and state-of-the-art technology to enthrall guests of all ages.

Jingle all the wave to see Scuba Santa dive with sharks, sea turtles, and rays, sharing Christmas cheer with all who come to visit. Discover holiday surprises on both land and sea, including the World's Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree and magical snow-like flurries in the Snowtunda.

Tour the Pennypacker mansion, see Victorian decorations, and discover how the Pennypackers celebrated Christmas and what life was like in the early 1900’s.

Delight in this free, 15-minute show presented on “The Comcast Experience” video wall. Featuring holiday singalongs, performances by the Philadelphia Ballet, and an enchanted sleigh ride around the world, it has become a Philadelphia holiday tradition for millions of visitors.

10am-8pm

Visit Macy's Center City to walk through Dickens Christmas Village, visit Santa Claus, enjoy the Christmas Light Show, and stroll the holiday windows! The Village tells the tale of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol as you walk through the different scenes from the book! Reservations are required for Dickens' Village and visits with Santa.

Dutch Apple Children’s Theatre is fun for everybody! With a buffet that includes children’s favorites like French toast sticks, mac & cheese, chicken fingers, and more – plus desserts – you’re sure to enjoy this kid-friendly meal. After each show, the cast stays on stage to answer questions from the audience. Immediately following the Q&A, you’ll get to meet the cast and take pictures in the lobby.

Linvilla Orchards becomes a Winter Wonderland for the holidays complete with Santa and his elves, handmade wreaths, greens and holly, and a sea of poinsettias. Shop an enormous selection of timeless holiday decorations, children’s toys, and collectibles you won't find anywhere else!

Your family will love the magical holiday experience of Forever Forest. You can try your hand at Toy Testing with Santa's Elves, check out MarshMello Lane, wander through a Christmas Tree Walking Trail, get your photo taken with Santa, and more. There are also holiday treats and menu items including sweet hot cocoa.

6-9pm

Plymouth Township invites everyone to its annual tree lighting ceremony. It will start promptly at 6pm at the Service and Devotion Monument. Following the ceremony, they will have a visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause, music performances, crafts, hot chocolate, and cookies (while supplies last).

6pm

The Blue Cross River Rink celebrates the holidays each year with Winterfest. Get cozy in a heated cabin or by a fire pit, or enjoy boardwalk rides and games for the young and young-at-heart. Delicious food, hot beverages, the signature holiday tree, and ice skating on the NHL-sized rink await you. 

The chill of winter is in the air as hosts Demetria Joyce Bailey and Philip Chaffin, along with fabulous singers and musicians, take the stage to perform your favorite carols and heartwarming holiday songs. 

Kick off the holiday season with the Grand Illumination Celebration at Peddler's Village! Santa and a special guest will will flip the switch to illuminate the entire Village! Enjoy musical and dance performances by local groups as well as sing-alongs with Santa.

4:30-10pm

Seeing the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, as performed by the Philadelphia Ballet, is sure to have sugarplums dancing in the heads of your little ones!

This celebrated production includes an outstanding roster of professional artists plus over 100 children from Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet. 

A holiday classic performed by a cast of 100 dancers along with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra.

2pm