Philly’s Holiday Events
The Greater Philadelphia is aglow with holiday energy and festive fa-la-la-lah attractions. These gotta-see holiday offerings (free or low-cost) are gleaming and teeming with the inspiring sparkle of lights and tall fir trees that promise to lift your holiday spirit. In our book, lighting mean memories. And, ultimately, you can’t get enough of this electrical (or LED ) bliss. So, joy to the world! Let’s light it up, folks! Here’s a look at where you can catch the holidays (and into the new year) in full swing. But before venturing out to any of these in-person activities, please respect the ongoing pandemic safety protocols, and check individual event-attending instructions with the organizers. As a general rule: If you feel unwell, please do not attend in person.
Image Source: centercityphila.org
Dilworth dazzles
Through March 26, 2023. Holiday pop-ups are the thing at City Hall’s Dilworth Park for Winter at Dilworth Park. Enjoy the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn (open-air display of lights, animal topiaries and rustic décor), skate around the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, chill in the Rothman Orthopedics Cabin, shop the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and get impressed at the Deck the Hall Light Show. Free. West side of City Hall, South 15th St., 215-440-5500. Centercityphila.org.
Image Source: Visit Philadelphia
Intree-guing at City Hall
Through January 3, 2022.The VISIT PHILADELPHIA® holiday tree was officially illuminated to usher in the city’s holiday season in a public ceremony December 1st. The towering 55-foot, 57-year-old Concolor white fir stands fierce and proud in a seven-foot custom steel base designed with images of more than 20 Philly neighborhoods on the City Hall apron. Through December 24, stop by for a free photo and fun giveaways next to the tree courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Tito’s Toasts the Holidays. The tree will stay up until January. Free. North side of City Hall, Broad Street and John F. Kennedy Blvd.,phillyholidayexperience.com.
Photo by R. Kennedy courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Boathouse Row Lights shine with diversity
December 18, 2022 to January 1, 2023. The City of Philadelphia will light up Boathouse Row for the Boathouse Row Festival of Lights for the Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa holidays. It’s a magnificent sight to behold. Boathouse Row will be illuminated for Hanukkah, from December 18 to December 23, with a virtual lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on December 18. The Christmas lights on the Row will be on display on December 24-25, with a virtual lighting ceremony December 24 at 4:30 p.m. Boathouse Row will be lit up in honor of Kwanzaa, from December 26 through January 1, with a virtual program on December 26 at 4:30 p.m., Fairmount Fish Ladder on the Schuylkill River Trail, (east bank of Schuylkill River, near Kelly Drive), 215-685-3936, phillyholidayexperience.com or visitphilly.com.
Photo by J.Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Time-honored tradition at Macy’s
Through December 31, 2022.Across from City Hall, there’s another historic treasure. The Grand Court in the National Historic Landmark Wanamaker Building has hosted the Christmas Light Show since 1956. Wow, the Nifty Fifties! Macy’s Christmas Light Show upholds the timeless ritual with a 100,000-light show featuring snowflakes and dancing snowmen, behind a soundtrack of seasonal music thanks to the Wanamaker Organ. Free, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. You also can register to visit Macy’s Dickens Village of animated dolls and sets designed to illustrate Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The Wanamaker Building, 1300 Market St., 215-241-9000, visitphilly.com.
Photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Take it lightly at Franklin Square
Through February 26, 2023. Winter in Franklin Square offers nonstop nightly light shows set to a soundtrack of seasonal tunes, which run every 30 minutes, from 5 p.m. Free. Make it a merrier night, and enjoy the comfort foods and activities at Square Burger, Chilly Philly Mini Golf and the Parx Liberty Carousel. Franklin Square Park, 200 N. 6th St. (6th and Race streets), 215-629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org.
Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo
Go and watch the glow!
Through January 7, 2023. The Philadelphia Zoo will be lit with the animation of one million+ holiday lights for the super-popular LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo. The animals may not be out for viewing, but images of them abound in the form of light displays. See a15-foot-tall glowing blue gorilla image and an under-the-sea-inspired holiday tree. Immerse yourself in the sounds of the season — live performers, hot chocolate and adult spirits. Timed tickets are required; free for members, $16 for adults and children (under age 2, free), Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave., 215-243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org.
Photo courtesy of Elmwood Zoo
Zoo show is wild about you
Through December 30, 2022 (select dates). Elmwood Park Zoo shines with Wild lights at the Elmwood Park Zoo – meaning millions of LED lights twinkling on 16 sprawling acres. Walk through an array of lights and live entertainment. Tickets: $14.95 for adult members/ $10.95 for kids; non-adult members, $19.95; kids, ages 3 to 12, $15.95; (those under age 2, free). Elmwood Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, Pa., 800-652-4143, elmwooodparkzoo.org.
Image Source: Morris Arboretum
Lights are no garden variety
Weekends through December 30, 2022 (select dates). The Holiday Garden Railway offers a lot of loco motion! Check out a mini winter wonderland to the historic Morris Arboretum, with a quarter-mile track of model trains in motion chugging past cool tiny replicas of Philadelphia landmarks. On certain weekend evenings, enjoy the railway with the backdrop of thousands of colored cone and other bright lights, as part of the after-hours Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express programming. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $17 for members; $22 for non-member adults, $12 for kids; those under age 3 are free. Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 101 E. Northwestern Ave., 215-247-5777 (Ext. 109), morrisarboretum.org/.
Photo courtesy of Delaware River Waterfront
Jingle Bell Rockin’ on the River!
Through March 6, 2023. Experience a riverfront winter wonderland at the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. Spin around an enormous ice skating rink; snap a photo next to the pretty holiday tree and warm up with a hot beverage next to a fire pit or inside a cozy cabin. Entry into Winterfest is free. Reserve ice skating, cabins and fire pits in advance. General admission free; games, rides, food are not; ice skating, $5 ($12 for skate rentals). Hours vary, Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-925-7465, riverrink@drwc.org.
Song and prayer for the holidays
December 16, 2022. If you are up for a totally soulfully spiritual holiday experience, here it is: Join the Westminister Christian Worship Center, led by senior pastor Dr. Thelma Witherspoon, for ChristmasConcert featuring rising star Lavonne Nichols. Free, 7:30 p.m., Westminister Christian Worship Center, 9 S. Chelsea Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ. You also can catch the concert streaming live on Facebook, 609-289-8260, or e-mail: Westminister1976@gmail.com
Through December 24, 2022. The Christmas Village presented by Bank of America, the authentic outdoor German Christmas market, has so much going on at LOVE Park and City Hall. Where to start? Oh, there’s the double-decker carousel. That’s where you pick your favorite animal on the carousel ensuring that there will be gleeful children’s laughter again this year. Inside the courtyard at City Hall, this old-school carousel has horses, carriages and reindeers to ride on. Free, Thursdays to Sundays, starting at 11 a.m. City Hall Courtyard, Broad and John F. Kennedy Blvd. Then, on the apron of City Hall, there’s a 65-foot-high Ferris Wheel, where you can see the city from new heights. Free, Fridays to Saturdays, from 11 am to 8 p.m., and from Sundays to Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. North side of City Hall, near Broad and Market Streets.
Next, there’s the Kids Train, an old-fashioned fun activity near the Ferris Wheel, to keep the family on track. Fridays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from Sundays to Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On stage at LOVE Park across the street, take in the original country sounds of the Nashville-proven The Angela Everwood Band on December 17, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., free. LOVE Park, 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Blvd. philachristmas.com.
Little Smiles, big fun!
December 15, 2022. It has been a stellar year for Little Smiles, a Bryn Mawr-based nonprofit, which has successfully provided gifts and fun activities to local Pennsylvania children impacted by serious illness, tragedy and trauma. It’s fundraising finale for 2022 will usher in the Dickens-esque spirit of the holidays. Deck the Halls Holiday Special is the epitome of a grassroots charitable event. It features Philadelphia-area musicians, all volunteering their time and talents, including the Philadelphia School of Rock, The 76ers Drum line, West Powelton Drummers, the soulful sounds of Shannon Catanella, the Malpractice Show band and the classic rock of The David Koster Band. Enjoy the comfort food in a lively brewpub setting. $60 per person, 6:30 p.m., Craft Hall, 901 N Delaware Ave., e-mail: felix@littlesmiles.org, or 610-510-4585, https://www.littlesmilespa.org/deckthehalls.
