Extra Special Family Things to Do at Christmas in Pennsylvania
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When it comes time for Christmas in Pennsylvania, many cities and towns across the state go all out in their celebrations. However, with and then many places to choose from, how do you lot know what Christmas attractions in PA you should bank check out?
To help you, I've put together a list of my top 21 recommendations for places in Pennsylvania to get yourself in a festive spirit this holiday season. While I haven't visited everywhere on this list myself, the ones I haven't visited have come highly recommended to me, including by readers of this site.
So, before you finalize all your travel plans for the holiday season, check out our list of the elevation Christmas things to do in Pennsylvania:
(All dates updated in October 2021, for the 2021 holiday season. Nonetheless, you may want to double-check your outcome is open prior to leaving habitation.)
Market Square and PPG Identify in Pittsburgh
The centre of Christmas in Pittsburgh can be plant at Market Square and PPG Place. The 2 squares, which are basically correct next to each other, make for a peachy destination for anyone looking for holiday flavor attractions to do in Pittsburgh.
In Market place Foursquare, shop at the accurate German Christmas market. Explore the many shops, taste some German snacks, and even visit Santa all in the confines of a quaint Christmas market place.
Once yous are done, walk the short distance to PPG Identify to see Pittsburgh's Christmas tree and evidence off your skills while skating around the rink that encircles it. The ice rink is open from November xix, 2021 through Feb 27, 2022, merely enjoy early on to see the giant Christmas tree centerpiece.
Vacation Lights on the Lake in Altoona
For more than than 20 years, Holiday Lights on the Lake has been bringing Christmastime cheer to Altoona's Lakemont Park.
Throughout the park's 50-acre display, you'll observe more than than a million twinkling Christmas lights in a diversity of festive scenes. Those looking for some holiday cheer can enjoy this great brandish from the comfort of their vehicle as they drive through the brandish.
Afterward enjoying the display, finish for a snack, a visit with Santa, and to check out the model railroad train brandish.
Holiday Lights on the Lake is open up from November 19, 2021, through January 9, 2022.
Christmas Hamlet in Philly
Located in Philly's Love Park, Christmas Hamlet is an amazingly authentic German-way Christmas Market place. Throughout the park, vendors selling everything from art to food offer the chance to practice some holiday shopping within a festive surround.
In that location is also live entertainment throughout the event, a behemothic nowadays that's perfect for photos, visits with Santa, and much more.
Across the street, you can as well explore the Made in Philadelphia Market place, which features items from all local vendors. There is also an ice skating rink, a Ferris wheel, and a light show.
Both of these festive Christmas markets in Philadelphia are open for the 2021 holiday season. The Christmas Village Market is open from November 25, 2021 to December 24, 2021. The Made in Philadelphia Market is open from November 20, 2021 to January 1, 2022.
Mifflinburg Christkindlmarkt
The Christmas Market place in Mifflinburg is an amazing experience that whatever lover of the season should experience. While I've never been to Germany to see their Christmas markets, this is exactly what I've always imagined they are like.
Even better, the Christmas market in Mifflinburg claims to be the oldest, accurate German Christkindl Market in the state, and I have no reason not to believe them.
Unlike many of the Christmas markets in larger cities, the ane in Mifflinburg is only open three days a year. Because of this, information technology can get a flake crowded, only it's worth braving the crowds to feel this great tradition.
Later being canceled in 2020, the Christkindlemarkt is reopening and will return Dec 9-11, 2021.
Dickens of a Christmas in Wellsboro
There are few more famous Christmas books than "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, and, in early December, the community of Wellsboro in northern Pennsylvania typically turns dorsum the clock to Christmas in the Victorian era of Dickens.
In 2021, it looks like things will be returning to normal to gloat this annual festival on December 4, only please check the schedule for currently scheduled events.
To observe out more nearly the great things going on here during Christmas in Pennsylvania, check out the issue'due south website.
Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane in Hershey
Featuring more ii million lights, Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark is a bang-up place to get in the vacation spirit and ane of my favorite places to experience Christmas in the Harrisburg surface area.
Whether you want to ride some of the park's rides or simply gaze at the beautiful lights, there's something for everyone to enjoy at the park.
I'chiliad honestly not a huge fan of amusement parks, but I really savor visiting Hersheypark at Christmas time for the wonderful displays, sounds, and smells. Christmas Candylane is open November 12, 2021-Jan 2, 2022.
Information technology'southward a Wonderful Life Festival in Indiana
Of all the Christmas movies ever fabricated, i of the most classic is "It's a Wonderful Life" starting Indiana, Pennsylvania-native Jimmy Stewart.
Today, Stewart's hometown is home to The Jimmy Stewart Museum. Located in the heart of downtown Indiana, the museum really ramps upwardly at Christmas time as visitors come to larn about not simply Stewart's famous Christmas movie, but his unabridged life and career.
Since the museum is located in downtown Indiana, checking out the remainder of the area is quite piece of cake. Many of the shops downtown are decorated for the holidays, making Indiana a great Christmas destination.
Each weekend during the holiday flavour, there are events happening throughout the downtown area.
Christmas in Downtown Bethlehem
Bethlehem is ane of the most heralded Christmas destinations in Pennsylvania and is known as "Christmas City USA." Notwithstanding, when I first visited a few years agone, I was left quite underwhelmed with their well-known Christkindlmarkt.
Fortunately, afterward visiting the marketplace, though, I headed into downtown Bethlehem, and I discovered a quaint small boondocks that screamed "Christmas City Us."
The shops in the downtown area feature a wide diversity of items, making it a great place to do your Christmas shopping. Even meliorate, there is a pocket-size, traditional Christkindlmarkt called "Christmas Urban center Village" in the downtown area. The village is open from Thursdays-Sundays from November xi through December 26, 2021.
At that place are also other events happening downtown throughout the season.
So, while you lot might want to skip the expensive and inauthentic Christkindlmarkt, check out our peak picks for things to do in Bethlehem during the holiday season.
Kraynak's Christmas Display in Hermitage
Every year since 1949, one of the nigh popular Christmas attractions in PA has been at Kraynak'south in Hermitage.
Kraynak'south is a home and garden store that goes all out for the holiday season. Each year, they set aside a portion of their shop for a thou walk-through display that attracts people from all over the region.
Their Christmas display is located in a 300-pes walkway and features a variety of holiday scenes including a life-size birth set, whimsical cartoonish displays, and Santa's workshop.
Kraynak's Christmas Display is open up daily from early September through December.
Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia
Located within of the Macy's Department Store across the street from Philadelphia'due south City Hall, the Wanamaker Organ is the largest, functional piping organ in the world. During the year, it puts on daily concerts which are only beautiful.
Even so, during the Christmas flavor, they plow it up a notch with Christmas carols and a wonderful lite show, all in the atrium of the department store. Make sure you visit for the noon prove Monday-Saturday, as the Wanamaker Organ puts on a live performance after the completion of the light show.
When y'all visit, it'southward also worth heading upstairs to the 3rd floor Dickens Hamlet, where y'all can walk through some of the most memorable seasons from "A Christmas Carol." I was really impressed with the effort put into recreating the details of this classic story.
Events in the store run from November 29 through the end of the year. (Annotation: At this time, it appears there volition be alive shows in 2021, simply please double check earlier you head out.)
Christmas Magic in York
Held every year in York County'due south Rocky Ridge Park, Christmas Magic is a holiday feel that shouldn't be missed every bit information technology'due south ane of the best displays of Christmas lights in PA.
At that place is a half-mile walking trail around the park that takes visitors by virtually 600,000 Christmas lights showcasing a diverseness of scenes and themes. There are also visits with Santa, a model train, and a synchronized low-cal prove.
Christmas Magic is open Nov 26 through December 30, 2021.
Christmas at the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh
Note: Continuing into 2021, the Cathedral of Learning is closed to all visitors; however, a virtual open up house has been planned for December 5-12.
The Cathedral of Learning is located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. While this is a great year-round attraction, many of the edifice's Nationality Rooms are decorated for the holiday flavour.
These rooms, which are prepare throughout the twelvemonth to highlight dissimilar cultures that have sent immigrants to Pittsburgh, are decorated with traditional holiday decorations for each of the countries. This is a great way to explore holiday traditions around the world without having to leave Pennsylvania.
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square
Longwood Gardens is one of the nigh cute gardens in the entire state, and during the holiday season, it gets all dolled up for Christmas. Exterior, 500,000 lights brighten up the gardens, while fountains trip the light fantastic to the sounds of Christmas music. Inside, rooms are set up with a variety of Christmas copse and other vacation displays.
While the crowds might be a bit crazy, a stroll through Longwood Gardens is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.
"A Longwood Christmas", every bit the show is called, runs from Nov xix, 2021, through January 9, 2022.
Koziar'southward Christmas Hamlet Near Reading
Started in 1948 for the enjoyment of the Koziar family, Koziar'due south Christmas Hamlet has grown into i of Pennsylvania's all-time Christmas destinations.
The lights and displays at Koziar's are quite intricate and feature everything from an outdoor model railroad train to scenes from diverse Christmas stories. Millions of lights are strung upward throughout the village, creating a scene that is simply magical.
This is a great Christmas in PA destination for kids because there is ever something new and exciting around the side by side turn to keep them occupied.
Koziar's Christmas Village will open on November half-dozen, 2021 and runs through January 1, 2022.
Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg
The Choo Choo Barn in Lancaster County is one of the largest model train displays in Pennsylvania and one of the few that is open yr-round.
Each vacation season, the display takes on a holiday feel equally decorations are added to plough the village surrounding the railroad train into a wintertime wonderland. Walking around this slap-up display is a surefire way to put the entire family in the Christmas spirit.
Winter Flower Show at Phipps Solarium in Pittsburgh
Phipps Conservatory is a beautiful destination throughout the year, but their holiday season display really kicks things upwards a notch.
Known as the Winter Flower Evidence, this event combines the beautiful plants you can look to see at Phipps yr-round with incredible holiday decorations. These decorations are both traditional and whimsical.
Phipps' Winter Flower Show is open up from Nov xix, 2021, through mid-January 2022.
Winter Lite Spectacular in Allentown
Each evening during the holiday season, the Lehigh Valley Zoo turns itself into a winter wonderland known as the Wintertime Low-cal Spectacular. While the animals are sleeping, visitors tin walk through the grounds and enjoy over a million twinkling lights gear up up in a diversity of festive displays.
These displays are intricately done and are sure to entertain everyone in the family. There are even princess shows and visits with Santa throughout the upshot.
The Wintertime Light Spectacular is open from November 12, 2021 through January ane, 2022.
Christmas at the PA Capitol in Harrisburg
The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg is already one of the land's most stunning state capitol buildings. However, it really comes to life in time for Christmas in PA.
Exterior on the Capitol'southward steps, at that place is a beautiful tree, and the lights shining on the building at night are frequently ruby-red and dark-green.
Within, the primary rotunda of the building is incredibly busy for the season with holiday decorations adorning many of the areas of the edifice. In the middle of the rotunda, there is a giant Christmas tree.
If you're lucky, you might fifty-fifty hear a festive performance from ane of the many groups that are invited to perform at the Capitol each holiday flavor. (Note: It is unclear whether performances volition occur in 2021 although the Capitol is open for guided touring in limited sized groups.)
Olde Fourth dimension Christmas in Jim Thorpe
The Carbon Canton borough of Jim Thorpe is worth visiting any time of the year. Yet, at Christmas time the town turns itself into an old-time Christmas hamlet.
For the 2021 season, the town is hosting the village for the first, second, and third weekends in Dec. Information technology is one of the most cute and festive in all of Pennsylvania. There are also many nifty local shops you can browse for gifts while visiting.
At that place are few places in the state that can compete with the quaint Christmas atmosphere of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.
Daffin's Chocolate Kingdom in Sharon
Located in Sharon, PA, Daffin's Chocolate Kingdom is a chocolate lover'south dream come true. Non only does this large store produce their own succulent chocolates, but they also are home to giant sculptures made from this delicious treat.
During the vacation flavor, the Chocolate Kingdom at Daffin'due south takes on a vacation theme with decorations throughout this unique display. There are also many holiday chocolate treats that can be purchased at the shop.
Daffin's is open year-round.
Hershey Sweet Lights
Hershey Sweet Lights is 1 of the best and one of the largest drive-through Christmas light displays in Pennsylvania.
Kickoff opened in 2003, Hershey Sweet Lights is located along a two-mile stretch of roadway behind the Hotel Hershey. Visitors drive through the display and take a run a risk to run into more than ii million twinkling lights ready in a variety of holiday season displays.
Since there are more 600 different displays along the road, in that location'due south definitely a bit of something for everyone that loves Christmas in Pennsylvania to enjoy.
For the 2021 holiday flavour, Hershey Sweet Lights is open nightly from November nineteen, 2021 through January 2, 2022.
Do you take a favorite matter to exercise during Christmas in Pennsylvania? Let the states know in the comments department below!
Looking for fifty-fifty more holiday cheer? Check out our favorite Christmas towns in PA and the best things to practice in December in Pennsylvania, and
(Commodity updated in October 2021 to reflect 2021 holiday flavor operating dates)
Source: https://uncoveringpa.com/christmas-things-to-do-in-pennsylvania
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