By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The Chester County Department of Parks and Preservation (www.chesco.org/4520/Parks-Trails) has three special events on its schedule for this weekend.
Springton Manor Farm (860 Springton Road, Glenmoore) will host “Holiday at the Barn + Wagon Ride” on December 18 from noon-3 p.m.
The Friends of Springton Manor Farm and Chester County Parks and Preservation invite visitors to an open house style holiday event at the great barn where they can enjoy festive music, children’s crafts, and some refreshments.
Gusts will also be able to take a tour on the farm wagon. The first wagon ride will leave approximately 12:30 p.m. and the last ride leaves about 2:30 p.m.
Donations will be gratefully accepted by the Friends of Springton Manor Farm to continue their mission to promote preservation, education, outreach, cultural, and community activities at the park.
Hibernia Park 1 Park Road, Coatesville) will host a “Holiday Luminaire Hike” on December 17 from 5-8 p.m.
With the help of the Friends of Hibernia, the Mansion will be beautifully lit with candles in the windows and the outside will be decorated with wreaths and greens.
The one-mile casual walk will be lit with luminaries, where visitors are free to walk the path at their own pace.
Participants can meet at the Hibernia Mansion to learn about the mansion’s history and then start their self-led outdoor holiday experience.
Hibernia is also presenting “Hibernia Mansion Tours” on every Sunday afternoon in December.
Guests can join the Chester County Park Rangers for a guided tour of the Hibernia County Park Mansion.
The Mansion was the home of many ironmasters and their families from the late 1700s through the late 1800s until it became the vacation home of Colonel Franklin Swayne.
The three-story mansion is fully restored and furnished with original artwork and furniture.
Visitors may stop in anytime between noon and 4 p.m. to join a tour and hear the stories and tales of this ironmaster’s home.
Brandywine Ballet
A top-flight production of the classic ballet “The Nutcracker” has been presented by the Brandywine Ballet (www.brandywineballet.org) for more than 40 years.
The 2021 edition will be performed on December 17, 18 and 19 at West Chester University’s Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall (700 South High Street, West Chester, 610-696-2711,www.brandywineballet.org).
The ballet is based on the timeless tale “The Nutcracker and The Mouse King” and set to a score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. With its familiar music and energetic dance numbers, “The Nutcracker” is a show that appeals to audiences of all ages.
This performance is one of Chester County’s signature holiday events, and features original, traditional choreography by the Brandywine Ballet’s artistic staff.
The Brandywine Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is a professional show that features skilled dancers, lively choreography, colorful costumes and sparkling sets. The show will have a three-day, five show run this weekend.
Performances of the ballet are scheduled for December 17 at 10 a.m. and December 18 and 19 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Finding an event that isn’t holiday-related also is not very easy. Fortunately, there are a few on this weekend’s schedule.
Phoenixville’s Annual Firebird Festival (Veteran Memorial Park, Phoenixville, www.firebirdfestival.com) was set to light up the sky on December 11.
Unfortunately, powerful winds forced postponement of the annual event that celebrates the arrival of the solstice.
Fortunately, 500 more attendees have been approved for the event. The original crowd cap was 500.
The celebration will focus on the burning of a Firebird (in this case, a wooden bird and not a high-powered sports car). Also known as the Phoenix, the Firebird is a centuries-old symbol of rebirth and regeneration. The highlight of the event is the lighting of the Firebird.
At 8 p.m., there will be a pageantry parade featuring drummers, dancers, giant puppets and the torch that lights the bird. Then, it will be time for the lighting of the Firebird.
Live music throughout the evening will be performed by 5:00 – 5:50 The Dirk Quinn Duo, The Morris Dancers, Pete Crotty, The Firebird Dancers, DJ Mike and Adam Roads and The Pvillians.
The 2021 event will also be available to watch live on Fantom TV.
On December 18 and 19, Valley Forge National Historical Park (Route 23, Valley Forge, 610-783-1099, www.nps.gov/vafo) is presenting its annual March-In.
March-In
The event, which will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, commemorates a major happening in the American Revolution — the arrival of the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1777.
It will commemorate 244th anniversary of the arrival of the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1777 with a series of special programs and activities. General George Washington brought his ill-supplied Continental Army to Valley Forge in order to establish a winter encampment.
Visitors to the park can join living history interpreters for a fun and educational event. There will be demonstrations of camp life by historical re-enactors along with park staff and volunteers. Guests can tour the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts.
Special activities include “Model Log Hut Building Competitions,” “Clothing and Gear Comparison,” “Wedge tent building and campfire at the soldier huts,” “Gabion building and camp fire at Redoubt 2,” and “Manual Exercise and Black Powder Demonstrations.”
On Sunday from 11-11:45 and again from 1-1:45 p.m. There will be a special presentation – “Ned Hector and the History of Black Soldiers in the Revolutionary War.”
Join Noah Lewis, a well-known reenactor and expert on the history of Ned Hector, will talk about Black soldiers in the Revolutionary War. The historical Ned Hector was an 18th century Black teamster local to the Valley Forge area.
Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.
Building on the success of annual pop-up shows in San Diego, and its first permanent location in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wonderspaces opened a 24,000 square foot gallery space in Philly a year ago.
Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective. The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.
New artworks rotate in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.
Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.
A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.
The installation is open from noon-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors, teachers, healthcare workers, students and active military, and $15 for children (ages 3-12).
Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will have a special event this weekend that looks back in time.
On December 18, Laurel Hill Cemetery will present “Sacred Spaced and Stories Places” walking tour at 1 p.m.
The expansion of Fairmount Park in the 1860s prevented further growth of Laurel Hill, and in 1869 West Laurel Hill was established just across the river in Bala Cynwyd. This walking tour provides a wonderful overview of West Laurel Hill’s long and colorful history, including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history.
Experienced tour guides offer visitors a unique perspective and every Sacred Spaces tour is different. This weekend’s tour guide will be Sarah Hamill.
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $12/General Admission, $10/Seniors (65 & up), $10/Students with ID, $7/Members, $6/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & Under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.
This Saturday and every Saturday during the winter, the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org.) is hosting “Winter Ship Tours” of the Kalmar Nyckel.
Kalmar Nyckel deck tours are open during the winter “maintenance season” on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The $10 admission includes a self-guided tour of the Copeland Maritime Center.
Ship tours will cancel for inclement weather and safety issues due to heavy maintenance work.
The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her mainmast is taller than a 10-story building and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.
The original Kalmar Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.
In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.
The new Kalmar Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998 and now serves as Delaware’s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.
Overall, holiday activities far outnumber non-holiday events.
“Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester” (greaterwestchester.com/events/featured-events/holiday-weekends-west-chester) are running now through January 1, 2022.
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce is reimagining what the holidays mean this year by launching the first-ever “Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester.”
Transformed into a winter wonderland, the streets of historic West Chester are bathed in the glow of thousands of holiday lights every evening from November 26 to January 1. Each weekend features holiday festivities, shopping and dining, title sponsored by Chester County Hospital.
This weekend’s theme is “’Twas the Weekend Before Christmas” from December 17-19. The other themed weekend is “New Year’s Weekend” from December 31-January 1.
The list of special activities this weekend includes Professional Gingerbread House Competition, Making Spirits Bright Holiday Music Series, free hot chocolate and coffee, pictures with Santa, free cookie decorating for kids and a music performance by the Lenape Brass Band.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org) reopened to the public in November with the return of the Brandywine Railroad holiday train display and highlights from the permanent collection. The Brandywine has been temporarily closed to the public since September 1, after the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought historic flooding to Chadds Ford and across the Brandywine’s 15-acre campus.
Also returning will be the Brandywine’s whimsical Critter ornaments decorating the holiday trees in the Museum’s atrium. Each year since 1971, these distinctive ornaments have been carefully handcrafted by a dedicated group of volunteers using only natural materials such as teasel, pinecones, acorns, eggshells, flowers and seed pods.
While all of the art in the galleries at the Brandywine River Museum of Art were safe and unharmed by the storm, the Museum’s lowest level—containing a lecture room, classroom, offices and more—had significant flood damage, in addition to 10 other buildings on the Brandywine’s campus.
The Museum is now open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on Christmas day), with the Brandywine’s iconic O-gauge model train display on view through January 9, 2022.
A holiday favorite since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad offers something for everyone with its dazzling array of both toy and scale model trains made by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-line and others.
The display features trains running on 2,000 feet of track with more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, and even a carnival and a drive-in movie theater. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display, operated by hands-free foot pedals that allow for further engagement.
The fabulous holiday light display “West Chester Griswolds” (304 Dutton Mill Rd, West Chester, www.westchestergriswolds.com) opened on Thanksgiving night and will run through January 2.
This year’s display features more than 133,000 lights and 800 smart pixels.
This year, they have added a Cosmic Color Ribbon Tree (CCR) to our display. It is an exciting piece of technology with the ability to create any color of the rainbow. The exhibit will be playing throughout the night and “singing” with the bulbs, which are making their return this year.
Lights will be on now through January 2 — Monday through Thursday from 4:45-9:45 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 4:45-10:15 p.m.
The holiday season at Herr’s Snack Food Factory (20 Herr Drive, Nottingham, 610-932-9330, www.herrs.com) has arrived. The area around the factory site will be illuminated with thousands of lights and holiday displays.
Herr’s “Holiday Light Display,” which is free and open to the public, will be open nightly now through January 2.
Visitors to the site will be able to drive along a trail that is illuminated with more than 600,000 lights.
The special light exhibit will be open daily from dusk to dawn.
“Christmas Around The Farm” converts a summertime destination for home-grown produce into a sparkling winter wonderland. The popular annual event at Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) is running now through December 23.
Visitors will be able to cut their own Christmas trees, or, if not so inspired, purchase them at the shop — which also features other decorations, including holiday wreaths. Christmasland features freshly cut trees, greens and holly, poinsettias, hand-made wreaths and a large variety of children’s toys and collectables.
Santa and his elves will be stopping by every Saturday and Sunday to visit his friends in Christmasland from 1-3 p.m. And, there will be caroling Hayrides Saturday evenings in December that include the ancient tradition of Wassailing, singing Christmas Carols around a campfire and roasting marshmallows.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) has shifted into holiday mode with the arrival of “A Longwood Gardens Christmas.”
The festive holiday display at Longwood Gardens, which is running now through January 9, features spectacular lights, lavish decorations, holiday music and colorful displays featuring thousands of brilliant poinsettias, brightly decorated trees and fragrant flowers — all inside the heated Conservatory.
There will be towering trees adorned in amber to fiery red tones, flickering flame lanterns, and an inviting mountain retreat, complemented by icy-hued plantings, a “frozen” succulent fountain, and a refreshing alpine waterway that is the ultimate winter wonderland.
The colorful annual event, which appeals to the entire family, also has a lot of outdoor attractions such as fountain shows and nighttime light displays. Longwood’s Christmas celebration also includes a wide array of seasonal music — holiday concerts, organ sing-alongs and carillon performances.
When darkness arrives at Longwood, a night-blooming garden of more than a half-million lights strung on close to 100 trees with approximately 40 miles of wire comes to life. A carillon with 62 cast bells plays holiday music every half hour during daylight hours. Longwood’s Open Air Theatre fountains dance to holiday music each half hour — temperature permitting.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
Visitors to “A Longwood Gardens Christmas” can also check out Longwood’s Garden Railway — a whimsical display set into motion with G-scale model trains. This is the 17th year that the railway has delighted visitors with special water features and custom trains traveling in and out of bridges and tunnels.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $18 for active and retired military and $16 for youth (ages 5-18).
Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular has taken up residence at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.tinseltownholiday.com) now through January 2, 2022.
This brand-new event at the Fairground at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks invites guests to walk through a winter wonderland of light sculptures and displays, including illuminated recreations of local landmarks like the Liberty Bell. It features more than one million bulbs.
Activities include ice skating on a synthetic rink, photos with Santa (reservations required) and Gritty (Thursdays), shopping at the Mistletoe Marketplace, and seasonal treats and drinks in the heated Tinsel Lodge and McTinsel’s Pub.
Tickets start at $13.99 for kids under 13 and $19.99 for adults.
The Historic Odessa Foundation’s 2021 Christmas Holiday Tour and Exhibit “Little Women” is an event with an appeal that spans generations. The tours will be presented now through the end of the year in Odessa’s historic district (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org).
For the past three-and-a-half decades, Historic Odessa has celebrated children’s literature by recreating scenes from the classics in one of its 18th-century museum houses. Visitors have been treated to the literary works of Louisa May Alcott, P.L. Travers, Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor, Washington Irving, Lewis Carroll, and Charles Dickens, to name just a few.
After a one-year hiatus, Odessa is reviving its tradition of recreating scenes from classic literature through interpretive vignettes displayed in one of the foundation’s historic museum houses. Last year’s Holiday Exhibit was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
From November 16-December 31, the National Historic Register Wilson-Warner House (c. 1769) will be the setting of adapted scenes from the beloved autobiographical coming-of-age novel “Little Women or, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy” written by the American novelist Louisa May Alcott and first published before Christmas in 1868.
Visitors will be enchanted with old-fashioned room vignettes to include those of the March sisters’ Christmas parlor, festive dining room and well-appointed bed chamber. In addition, Historic Odessa is honored to present a display case full of “Little Women” memorabilia on loan from the Louisa May Alcott Orchard House Museum in Concord, Massachusetts.
All of Historic Odessa’s museum properties will be adorned with thousands of lights again this year, and on full festive display for the 2021 Holiday Season. Special school and public tours and events will celebrate “Little Women” and its accompanying exhibit in the Wilson-Warner House, including the Storybook Trees exhibit in the National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House, holiday Festive Foods cooking demonstrations, as well as regularly scheduled Candlelight Tours.
This season, Odessa will present outdoor Candlelight Tours of the foundation’s museum properties every Tuesday and Thursday evening in December beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and include a libation at Cantwell’s Tavern. Reservations are required for the tours.
The Historic Houses of Odessa are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4:30 p.m. Admission to the Historic Odessa Foundation Holiday Tours is $10 for adults, $8 for groups, seniors, and students and free for children (under 6).
One of the highlight holiday events in the area is the annual “Yuletide at Winterthur.” This year’s 40th annual staging of the event, which runs now through January 2 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware,800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org).
Visitors can revel in the beauty and warmth of the holidays and explore treasures of Christmases past with displays of holiday traditions from the 1800s to the early 20th century, including displays of: the earliest types of colorful lights decorating house exteriors; the du Pont family holiday celebrations; and the evolution of Christmas trees over the decades from the 1880s to 1960s.
One of visitors’ favorites every year is the 18-room dollhouse mansion created by designer and philanthropist Nancy McDaniel over a period of 30 ears. It features amazing intricate details in each room and is even decorated for the holidays.
As always, the rooms will be enhanced with the floral displays so essential to du Pont’s decorating, and with special Christmas trees inspired by the beauty of the Winterthur’s gardens — including the popular Dried Flower Tree in the Conservatory.
Special holiday programs throughout the season include “Wonderful Wednesdays” in December, evening events featuring live jazz performances, caroling, and workshops. In addition to the Wednesday evening festivities, visitors can enjoy a live one-man performance of “A Christmas Carol” by Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, wine and cocktail tastings, and family events with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.
Timed Yuletide Tour reservations are required. Admission to Yuletide at Winterthur is $15 for adults, seniors (age 62 and older) and students and $6 for children (ages 2-11).
Delaware is also the home of the annual staging of “Holidays at Hagley: A Celebration of Family” — an event that is always one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday attractions in this area every year.
The popular Brandywine Valley exhibit, which is included with regular admission, is running now through January 2 at Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org).
This year’s edition of “Holidays at Hagley” features tours of Eleutherian Mills, which is the first du Pont family home built in America. The tours, which will be presented each day from 10a.m.-4:30 p.m., feature decorations in a combination of styles from both the 19th and 20th centuries.
During the Victorian years when candle-lit tabletop Christmas trees were the norm, hand-made gifts were attached to tree branches, and winter scenes were displayed underneath the tree. The upstairs Victorian Library shows how magical that looked with its mid- to late-nineteenth-century toys, games and dolls. The upstairs Parlor features a case filled with small ceramic animals well-loved by some of the du Pont family children.
Early du Pont family French holiday traditions are remembered with a display of gifts that were given to E. I. du Pont’s children on New Year’s Day as well as the Twelfth Night party illustrated by the ornate French dessert service in the Dining Room.
Well-loved displays returning include the elaborate Twelfth Night celebration in the dining room and the Victorian library’s Christmas for children with its table-top tree surrounded by toys and games. Of course, there will be warm glowing lights and poinsettias.
Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students and $4 for children (ages 6-14).
Nemours Mansion & Gardens (Route 141 South, Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-651-6912, www.nemoursmansion.org) is welcoming visitors for the Christmas holidays with “Holidays at the Estate.” The attraction is open now through December 30.
Originally constructed more than a century ago, Nemours Mansion is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
Ever since 1910, when Mr. and Mrs. duPont began living in their newly built mansion, the holiday season has been a festive time at Nemours. The Christmas decorations at the Nemours Mansion are often inspired by the architecture of the home, the customs of the duPonts or the French influence.
The Mansion is also decorated by some of the duPonts’ original decorations, including a German crèche, which dates from the late 19th century. The figures are soft ceramic, unglazed and hand-colored. In addition to their own ornaments, Nemours also proudly displays ornaments made by patients at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.
Visitors can enjoy Christmas trees, wreaths, and hundreds of feet of garland on grand display in the Visitor Center, Chauffer’s Garage, Mansion and grounds.
On December 17 and 18, Rockwood Park (4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nccde.org/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is hosting its annual “Winter Nights at Rockwood.”
The popular family event, which runs from 5-8 p.m. each night includes tours of the holiday display in the museum and a joyous light display in the gardens surrounding the Mansion and Carriage House.
Holiday Open House features exceptional entertainment, fun festive crafts, costumed characters, refreshments, food trucks and free photos with Santa.
The event also includes the Holiday Shoppe selling gifts for the whole family.
This is a free event.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia (500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Https://philadelphia.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/) is presenting “Holiday Bricktacular!” now through January 1.
Participants can create their own LEGO ornament and display it in on the LEGO tree and check out all the holiday scenes in the Winter Wonderland in Miniland Philadelphia.
As an added attraction, LEGO Santa will be visiting from the LEGO North Pole.
Ticket prices start at $22.99.
Riding the rails with Santa Claus is a different way to enjoy the holiday season and is always a fun holiday activity.
One of the best train rides with Santa Claus is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233 or www.westchesterrr.net).
The special “Santa’s Express” trains (which feature heated cars decorated for the holidays) will run on December 18 and 19 at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. There will be additional departures at 5 p.m. on December 18 and 19.
The 75-minute journey on the trail line’s heated decorated train travels through the Chester Creek Valley. Santa Claus will be greeting everyone at Market Street Station and then going along for the ride to Glen Mills.
Adult fare for the West Chester Railroad trips is $30. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $25 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $10.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Paradise Express” now through December 24. Santa will be the featured guest on each ride from Strasburg to Paradise and back.
The rotund guy in the red suit will be greeting passengers, shaking hands, posing for photos and giving a treat to each child. After the train ride, children are treated to storybook readings of holiday classics. Visitors of all ages can also enjoy a ride aboard the Tinsel Trolley, a self-propelled motor car.
Tickets are $23 for adults and $17 for children (ages 2-11) and $4 for infants.
The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge St, New Hope, 215- 862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) offers two new activities that will run now through December 30.
One is “Santa’s Steam Train Ride.”
This year the New Hope Railroad invites guests to share in a magical journey celebrating a bygone era.
As guests to the railroad, riders will board beautifully restored passenger cars which date back to the first half of the 20th century. All are heated and will be traditionally decorated for the season, creating a warm and cheerful feeling during the trip. Aboard the train, hot chocolate and freshly prepared cookies will be served to all in attendance by the rial line’s hosts. Talented musicians will serenade everyone with live music, with all passengers encouraged to sing along to this festive selection of familiar holiday tunes.
There will also be an opportunity for children to send their letter of Christmas wishes to Santa Claus himself by way of a special red postbox. At the end of the journey, Santa Claus will make an appearance to invite everyone to visit him at his Christmas workshop back at the train station, where his elves are busy making all the toy trains for the good little boys and girls across the world.
The other excursion ride is the “North Pole Express Train.
The “North Pole Express Train” offers similar amenities to the Santa’s Steam Train Ride, but this Santa train is pulled by one of the railroad’s vintage diesel locomotives.
Fees vary based on the package selected.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Santa’s Express” excursions on December 18 and 19.
The train is decked out for the festive season, bringing holiday cheer to riders of all ages with this entertaining and fun ride to Glen Rock.
Riders can listen to “The Night Before Christmas and other Christmas tunes on their trip to visit Satnta Claus.
When Santa Claus makes his appearance, he will be bringing a special gift for each child.
Passengers are invited to make a post-trip visit to the gift shop for free cookie and hot chocolate.
Tickets are $39 adults, $23 for children and $15 for toddlers.
the Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Polar Bear Express” now through December 24.
Kids can join Santa on a magical adventure into “Christmas Past” on an exciting train journey. They will be able to sip complimentary hot cocoa or enjoy Christmas cookies and, on some trains, sing favorite carols as the Secret Valley passes by the window. Santa will bring a gift for every child, and every child has an opportunity to give their Christmas letter to him.
The rail line also is running “Twas the Night Before Christmas” excursions now through December 18.
These special evening trains bring the storybook magic of the season to life. Kids are invited to wear pajamas and sip complimentary hot cocoa as the train crew reads “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Rumor has it Santa himself will appear with a gift for every child.
Christmas trains also come in a smaller variety. Model railroad displays and the Christmas holiday season have been linked together since a time before even your parents were even kids.
The Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad (136 Brown Street, Middletown, 717-944-4435, www.mhrailroad.com) will be running its “Polar Bear Express” and “Ride the Train with Santa” excursions throughout December 19.
It is an 11-mile round-trip train ride along the Swatara Creek. Passengers board 1920’s vintage Delaware, Lackawanna & Western coaches at the 1891 Station in Middletown, which was originally built as a freight station and in more recent years converted for use as a passenger station. The Station contains a ticket window, gift shop and modern ADA restrooms.
Santa Claus will have a special present for all kid riders.
The Allentown and Auburn Railroad (35 Railroad Street, Kutztown, 570-778-7531, https://allentown-and-auburn-railroad.square.site/) is running special “Santa Claus Train Rides” on December 18 and 19.
Guests will be able to visit with Santa during the scenic train ride and have some pictures done.
The train will make a brief stop at the railroad’s picnic grove where riders will have the option to purchase “holiday evergreens with a sprinkle of Christmas magic.” When they get back to the Kutztown Train Station, visitors can also do some holiday shopping in the Allentown & Auburn Gift Shop, which features handmade and antique items.
Trains depart at 10 a.m., noon and 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, $10 for children and $.01 for toddlers.
Founded more than 50 years ago, Choo Choo Barn — Traintown U.S.A. (Route 741 East, 226 Gap Rd, Strasburg, 717-687-7911, www.choochoobarn.com) presents a 1,700-square-foot train layout featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains. The majority of trains that are running in the display are “O Gauge” trains but there are also some HO Gauge trains as well as one N Gauge train.
Several of the original pieces and animations are still on the display today, including the ski slope, ski lodge and ice skaters, Dutch Haven, the Willows, the two-lane moving highway (in front of Dutch Haven), the farm with the tobacco barn, the Strasburg Fire House, the church beside Dutch Haven and a few other houses.
The layout features a special Christmas display now through January 17. The homes and businesses along the tracks have been decked out with holiday trim. And there are 55 hidden Santas — one for each year the site has been open — located around the display for visitors to find.
Tickets are $8.50 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3 and under) at Choo Choo Barn — Traintown U.S.A.
The Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, 215-247-5777, http://www.morrisarboretum.org) opens its popular Garden Railway Display this weekend and will keep it running through January 2.
The display and buildings are all made of natural materials – bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones – to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with small streams. Each building, while an exact replica of the original, is unique in its design. Philadelphia-area landmarks such as a masterpiece replica of Independence Hall are made using pinecone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.
The buildings are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle along the tracks and around the surrounding landscape. The Garden Railway Display has become one of the Arboretum’s most beloved attractions since it opened in 1998, and the Holiday Garden Railway is quickly becoming a favorite holiday tradition for many families.
There will also be Holiday Garden Railway Nights on December 17, 18, 19 and 26 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. each night.
Admission to the Morris Arboretum is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for students and military.
Now through January 9, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia) will host LumiNature, a gigantic holiday season light experience that transforms the entire Zoo into a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises.
The giant-sized holiday extravaganza will transform the entire Zoo into a nighttime winter wonderland. Guests will experience a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises. LumiNature will expand to feature 14 illuminated experience zones that will feature lively themed displays, newly enhanced installations and thousands of twinkling lights.
Highlights for 2021 include: more than one million lights and 10 miles of power cord; more than 500 colorful illuminated flamingos and a 25 feet tall flamingo holiday tree; 200-plus illuminated penguins; 100 ft-long aquarium tunnel with enormous jellyfish; 22-feet-tall new Butterfly Tree; 21-feet tall brilliant colored snake; glee club made from talking trees that come to life’ brand new octopus tree that is sure to make you laugh’ cascading blue and white meteor light showers; giant cat eyes glowing in the dark of night; and a new Wilderness Express Train.
Additionally, seasonal fare, strolling performers, hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages promise to additionally spark the holiday spirit.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children.
Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) welcomes back one of its favorite family traditions this weekend – “Wild Lights.”
With new lights and decorative attractions, and with more animals on exhibit, this year’s Wild Lights is brighter than ever. Each night of “Wild Lights” features live entertainment, unique animal encounters, performances, holiday music, and a chance to see Santa himself.
“Wild Lights” operates from 5-9 p.m. on select days now through December 30. Wild Lights tickets are valid beginning at 5 pm. The zoo and “Wild Lights” will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Wild Lights is held rain or shine.
Admission to the Zoo is $12.95.
The Zoo also is hosting several “Dog Days.”
The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on December 17, 19 and 22 from 1-5 p.m. each day.
All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”
Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo (5150 Game Preserve Rd, Schnecksville, https://www.lvzoo.org/) is hosting its “Winter Light Spectacular” now through January 2.
This season’s “Winter Light Spectacular,” which runs from 5:30-10 p.m. nightly, will feature more than 30 scheduled event nights.
Guests are invited to bundle up and enjoy the beauty of nature as they stroll through tree-lined paths illuminated by more than 1.2 million twinkling lights and themed animated displays.
They also can warm up next to the cozy outdoor fire pits while enjoying hot cocoa and s’mores.
Children will be delighted when they encounter Santa, Radley the Sea Turtle, The Grinch, Woody, Buzz, Elsa, Princess Belle, Olaf and friends.
Ticket prices start at $8.
The 2021 “Winter in Franklin Square Festival” (200 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, http://www.historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/holidays-in-franklin-square/) is running through February 27.
The Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show will be open from 5-9 p.m. daily and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Visitors are invited to experience the magic of the holidays and celebrate traditions new and old at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival.
Inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s electrifying genius, the free Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show presented by PECO is the key to holiday fun in Franklin Square.
Attendees can marvel at more than 50,000 lights as they shimmer, dance, and illuminate the Square to a soundtrack of holiday classics, some of which are performed by The Philly POPS in two alternating shows every 30 minutes. Every evening, one lucky audience member will be selected to “ignite’ the 4:30 p.m. show.
The City of Philadelphia will celebrate the season by lighting Boathouse Row in honor of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Boathouse Row will be illuminated for Hanukkah from November 28 through December 6
The Christmas lights on Boathouse Row will be on display from December 20 through December 25, with a virtual program led by the City’s Office of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs at 4 p.m. on December 20.
Boathouse Row will be illuminated in honor of Kwanzaa from December 26 through January 1, with a virtual program led by the Philadelphia Kwanzaa Cooperative at 4 p.m. on December 26.
Center City Parks District’s Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park) has just opened for the season.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy a dramatic seasonal transformation as fountains have been replaced by the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Ice Rink and reindeer topiaries take up winter residence on the Greenfield Lawn.
In addition, a full lineup of free entertainment is planned, including the Deck the Hall Light Show, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Cabin.
The Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is an unparalleled entertainment experience on Philadelphia’s center stage in a wonderfully urban and unique setting. Open seven days a week, the rink offers wintery fun for all ages, with a full slate of programs.
Dilworth Park’s winter season began on November 1 with the opening of the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn presented by TD Bank.
The “Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market” opened in November with more than 40 local vendors.
Dilworth Park’s “Deck the Hall Light Show” has returned and is illuminating the west façade of Philadelphia’s historic City Hall.
“Christmas Village in Philadelphia” (Love Park, 1400 JFJ Boulevard, Philadelphia, 215-391-3017, www.philachristmas.com) is a free outdoor holiday market event that captures the vibe of the traditional European Christmas markets.
Christmas Village in Philadelphia is modeled after traditional German Christmas Markets. The history of Christmas markets in Germany dates to the late Middle Ages. One of the oldest and most famous ones is held each year in Nuremberg in the state of Bavaria.
It has been passed down from generation-to-generation ever since the area’s farmers started selling their crops in a farmers’ market during the Advent time in the mid-16th century. The goods presented in wooden booths include a rich variety of holiday gifts including Christmas ornaments, arts and crafts, toys, sweets, as well as German food and drinks. People stroll around, meet friends, and enjoy live performances of Christmas music.
At the Village in Philadelphia, vendors selling traditional European food, sweets and drinks are set up in 80 wooden booths and timber houses that form a medieval village. They will also offer a unique shopping experience with international holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry and high-quality arts and crafts.
The Village will feature the sights and sounds of the holidays with thousands of twinkling lights, giant glowing stars, festive decorations, a musical stage and children’s activities. All the event’s annual fan favorites will be back, including Photos with Santa, Käthe Wohlfahrt, Herrnhuter Stars, the German Grill and the event’s main stage.
At the center of the market, an ornate and grand old-time carousel will be operating to give children of all ages a new holiday tradition while visiting the authentic German Christmas Market. The carousel features 20 wood-carved horses that will twirl around for an unforgettable view of the new market inside City Hall’s courtyard.
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular (1701 John Fast Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia) is back for the 2021 season.
Typically shown on the Comcast Experience video wall in the lobby of The Comcast Center, the annual super high-res LED holiday show has moved outdoors and will be presented daily at the top of every hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. now through January 1, 2022.
The 15-minute family-friendly show will play on an outdoor video wall starting Thanksgiving Day! This Philly favorite tradition brings the magic of the holidays to life, featuring classic holiday songs and performances by the Pennsylvania Ballet.
For the first time, the Comcast Holiday Spectacular will have a sensory-friendly version. Guests may use their own personal mobile devices to access Audio Description (AD) of the show. AD devices will also be available upon request.
The Comcast Center Campus has another holiday activity at the Comcast Technology Center (1800 Arch Street), located a half block from the Comcast Center.
From Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Animation, Universal Parks & Resorts and Comcast Labs, The Universal Sphere is a free, cinematic experience exploring the power of ideas. Get inspired by stories of creative minds who shaped our world for the better.
The Universal Sphere — accessible for guests of all ages — is wheelchair- and service animal-friendly. Descriptive audio and closed-captioning devices are available in English and Spanish, and full audio translations are available in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Macy’s (1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, www.macysinc.com) welcomed the return of the free Christmas Light Show and Dickens’ Village to the former Wanamaker’s location at 13th and Market streets (across from City Hall).
Both the musical light show, which started in 1956, and the “Christmas Carol”-themed animated display, which had its start in the 1980s — have been Philadelphia holiday traditions for decades.
COVID-19 forced the cancellation of both events in 2020 and this year’s exhibit will be different than in previous years.
For 2021, the light show will run just once a day at 10:30 a.m. from Dec. 1-24 and moves to 11:30 a.m. from Dec. 26-31.
The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ annual Christmas in the Grand Tradition Concert, starring Peter Richard Conte, is held Sunday December 12, 2021, at 6:45 pm and is admission-free in the Grand Court.
The Blue Cross RiverRink (Delaware Avenue at Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-RINK, www.riverrink.com) has come back to life.
Unlike most of the suburban ice rinks, RiverRink features public skating. Ice skating is the only use of the ice. This winter, RiverRink takes the ice-skating experience on the Delaware River waterfront to another level by once again transforming the annual rink into a bona fide winter wonderland.
For 28 seasons, Winterfest has been Philadelphia’s favorite Winter tradition on the Delaware River Waterfront, inviting visitors for a chance to indulge in flights of fancy under thousands of sparkling lights in a winter wonderland with spectacular views of the Delaware River, complete with comforting warming cabins, physically-distanced fire pit stations, games for the young and young-at-heart, delicious food and refreshing drinks, the signature holiday tree and — of course — ice skating on an NHL-sized rink. Winterfest is a top destination for anyone looking for safe, family fun.
Open seven days a week, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is an immersive winter-themed experience with a popular bar and restaurant called The Lodge, winter beer garden-style landscaping, a brand-new light show, and a retail shopping experience from Art Star Gallery & Boutique.
The outdoor rink’s hours are 1-11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 1 p.m.-1 a.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sundays.
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, www.adventureaquarium.com)offers a different look at the holiday season.
At Christmas Underwater, which is running now through December 24, visitors can discover an incredible world of seasonal under-the-sea fun.
Scuba Santa is back in Ocean Realm, sharing Christmas cheer with kids (and animals) of all ages. The event features more holiday decor than ever before, including underwater light displays, and festive new shows.
The World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree returns — stretching 18 feet tall and decorated with colorful, custom-sculpted corals.
More than 15,000 incredible animals are getting in on the festive fun with eight underwater light displays spread throughout the exhibits.
Admission fees start at $29.99 for adults.
The Glencairn Museum (1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, 267-502-2600, www.glencairnmuseum.org) is a Bucks County Museum featuring religious art and area history museum.
The museum, which was formerly the home of the fabled Pitcairn family, is presenting its “Christmas at Glencairn” holiday celebration now through January 9.
Glencairn was built almost a century ago for the family of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn, members of a congregation of a Christian denomination known as the New Church. Bryn Athyn was founded in the late 19th century as a New Church religious community.
“Christmas at Glencairn” features special exhibitions, a “Christmas in the Castle” tour, a Christmas concert and other holiday activities. The “World Nativities” exhibition is on display in Glencairn’s North Porch, Great Hall, Upper Hall and Bird Room.
This holiday season Glencairn Museum has partnered with Christmas Village in Philadelphia, an outdoor market event in Center City’s LOVE Park. Christmas Village, which runs December 24.
Modeled after the traditional Christmas markets in Germany, the market includes decorated tents and wooden market stalls, thousands of twinkling lights, festive Christmas decorations, live music at the main stage, and European food and drinks.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, http://peddlersvillage.com) always gets into the holiday vibe and that means there will be a lot of activity at the site over the next few weeks.
Visitors to the Village can join special guest Mrs. Claus for festive fun and mini-lightings in a different Village neighborhood each night leading up to the Village-wide Grand Illumination Celebration. Village shops will be open until 9 p.m. with a distinctive assortment of merchandise, special promotions and refreshments.
The 20th Annual Grand Illumination will showcase thousands of tiny white lights outlining the Village’s buildings, colorful lights with less-than-common colors (teal, peach, and fuscia) adorning the trees and shrubs and a landscaped backdrop featuring a group of reindeer glowing in white light. Santa will arrive to turn on the lights and officially mark the beginning of the event. After the lights go on, visitors will be treated to free cider and toasted marshmallows.
Peddler’s Village “Gingerbread House Competition and Display,” which is slated to run through January 8, the “Gingerbread House Competition” features over $2,000 in cash prizes in such categories as Traditional and Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building.
A popular Bucks County attraction is the “Holiday Light Show” at Shady Brook Farm (931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, www.shadybrookfarm.com)
The farm features a three–million-light Holiday Light Show with “Dashin’ Through the … Lights,” a family-friendly two-mile drive-through on Thursday and Friday nights.
The main display allows visitors to drive or (if weather permits) ride in wagons past post-sundown displays including illuminated tunnels.
The “Holiday Light Show” is open now through January 10.
Timed tickets, which start at $40, are required.
“Christmas Spirit Light Show” is running now through January 1 (except December 25) at Clipper Magazine Stadium (650 North Prince Street, Lancaster, christmasspiritlightshows.com).
“Christmas Spirit Light Show” is an exciting, one-of-a-kind Christmas light display that families can enjoy from the comfort of their vehicles.
As participants make the journey through the mile-long track, they get immersed and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of color-changing lights that are animated and dancing in harmony with favorite Christmas classics.
The drive-through event is billed as a “breathtaking holiday experience that you and your loved ones will never forget.”
The cost is $20 per car with eight people or less and $30 per car with nine or more people.
“Christmas Candylane,” which is the annual holiday event at Hersheypark (100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheypark.com), is running now through January 2.
Visitors to Hershey can also experience the winter wonderland called “Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular.” The attraction is a two-mile drive through wooded trails featuring approximately 600 illuminated, animated displays.
Admission to “Christmas Candylane” is $44.95.
“A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends live and in-person at the amusement park in Langhorne.
The annual event, which runs through January 2, offers a wide array of family holiday activities.
Visitors to the park can sing along at three special Christmas shows and a spectacular music and light show at our giant 1-2-3 Christmas Tree, take a train ride tour through the Twiddlebugs’ Gingerbread Cookie Factory on the Sesame Place Furry Express, take part in the Neighborhood Street Party Christmas Parade, and have the opportunity to meet Lightning, the adorable reindeer from the movie “Elmo Saves Christmas.”
As an added attraction this year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is spending the holiday season at Sesame Place. The lovable reindeer along with his friends Clarice and Bumble, will be available for photos with guests.
Tickets for “A Very Furry Christmas” start at $34.99.
Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park (2249 Route 30 East, Lancaster, 866-386-2389, www.dutchwonderland.com) is hosting its “Dutch Winter Wonderland” now through January 2 on Saturdays, Sundays and select weekdays.
Visitors are invited to celebrate the magic of the season at Dutch Winter Wonderland with rides, entertainment, and the Royal Light Show, a spectacular display of thousands of twinkling lights dancing to music.
Ticket prices start at $29.99 at the gate. Children ages two and under are admitted free.
Just down the road from Dutch Wonderland is the American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com), which has its holiday show running now through December 30.
The AMT’s 2021 show “Winter Wonderland” is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country. The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive and the music of the AMT Orchestra.
Also featured will be elaborate scenery, elegant costumes and a theater decked out with holiday decorations.
The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Show length is two hours and 15 minutes with a short intermission. Tickets are $46.
Bethlehem, which is known as the “Christmas City,” presents Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem (PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 East First Street, Bethlehem, 610-332-1300,http://www.christmascity.org) every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through December 21.
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans. The market also features live performances of Christmas music and vendors with an amazing variety of tasty food items.
Other special attractions include ice carving, glassblowing demonstrations, “Breakfast with St. Nicholas,” outdoor artisan huts, fire pits and igloos in the Outdoor Village, and Käthe Wohlfarht with handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles from Germany.
Anyone wanting to really get into a Christmas mood can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which begins its 74th season on November 6.
Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 1 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.
The tours of “Christmas Village” feature visits to a variety of displays and exhibits, including “Santa’s Post Office,” “Christmas in the Jungle,” “Manger Scene,” “Christmas Beneath the Sea,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Olde Fashioned Bakery Shop,” “Toy Maker and his Toy Shop,” “Christmas in Other Lands” and “The Olde Church”.
Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 4-10).
