Over 35 Holiday Events to Experience in Philadelphia and the Suburbs This December

From caroling to tree lightings to festive decorations, you won’t want to miss these events.

King of Prussia Town Center’s 4th Annual Winterfest Holiday Extravaganza

Through Dec. 21, King of Prussia

The King of Prussia Town Center is hosting a family-friendly winterfest on Saturdays through Christmas. Look for visits with Santa Claus, horse and carriage rides, arts and crafts and much more.

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Linvilla Orchards’ Christmas Around the Farm

Through Dec. 23, Media

Through Dec. 23, Linvilla Orchards will celebrate the holiday season with cut-your-own Christmas trees. On Saturdays throughout December, cozy up for caroling hayrides or meet the jolly man himself on Saturdays and Sundays.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Through Dec. 24, Rose Valley

Every year, the historic Hedgerow Theatre puts on its rendition—adapted and directed by Jared Reed—of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Read more about Hedgerow Theatre here.

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Photo Courtesy of J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Christmas Village

Through Dec. 24, Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love celebrates the season with this German tradition. Christmas Village is open through Christmas Eve and features over 80 vendors surrounding iconic City Hall. Shop for gifts, grab a bite to eat, or take to the ice.

Christmas at Colonial

Through Dec. 29, Phoenixville

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Phoenixville’s Colonial Gardens brings rustic charm to the holidays, with a light display and show synchronized to favorite holiday tunes. Catch Christmas at Colonial on select days throughout the month.

Holiday Garden Railway

Through Dec. 31, Philadelphia

Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway gives a seasonal boost to this train display, which wends its way along tiny tracks dotted with snow and lights. On select weekends in December, see it lit up at night.

Festival of Lights

Through Jan. 1, 2020, Media

Each night from 5:30-9:30 p.m. throughout December, Media’s Rose Tree Park transforms into a winter wonderland for its Festival of Lights. A tradition dating back more than 40 years, dozens of trees will glow with lights. Also keep an eye out for displays of Charlie Brown and Santa.

Lighting the Season: Winter Holidays

Through Jan. 2, 2020, West Chester

The Chester County Historical Society’s special seasonal exhibit focuses on how different cultures and religions celebrate various holidays and what common threads exist between those celebrations.

A Longwood Christmas

Through Jan. 5, 2020, Kennett Square

One of the most iconic holiday displays around, A Longwood Christmas transforms the 1,000-plus acre garden and its grand conservatory into a dazzling Christmas extravaganza, complete with a model train display outdoors.

Read more about A Longwood Christmas here.

Photo Courtesy of Jacques-Jean Tiziou

Brandywine Christmas

Through Jan. 5, 2020, Chadds Ford

The Brandywine River Museum of Art’s annual Christmas celebration, Brandywine Christmas, includes an impressive train display with nearly 2,000 feet of railroad track. Kids and kids at heart will delight in the O-gauge model trains that traverse the display.

Pennypacker Mills Holiday Tours

Through Jan. 5, 2020, Schwenksville

Former Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker kept meticulous records of what life was like on his Schwenksville estate in the early 1900s. Today, visitors can explore his home and see what Christmas was like more than a century before during the Pennypacker Mills Holiday Tours. Throughout the month, also look for Twelfth Night and Candlelight tours, plus a Victorian Christmas Open House.

Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo

Through Jan. 5, 2020, Norristown

Elmwood Park Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland during the holiday season for its annual Wild Lights display. You may even get to visit with a reindeer.

Merry and Bright II: The Christmas Collection of Jeanette Turnbull

Through Jan. 5, 2020, Philadelphia

Following up on her 2017-18 display, this artist Turnbull will add a little retro kitsch to the holidays with her Merry and Bright II: The Christmas Collection of Jeanette Turnbull installation at the Woodmere Art Museum.

Elf

Through Jan. 12, 2020, Media

Join Buddy as he navigates life among elves in the North Pole for this fun, family-friendly musical rendition at the Media Theatre.

Iron Plantation Christmas

Dec. 1, Elverson

Hopewell Furnace served as a site of industry in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. See how ironworkers celebrated the holidays—with music, crafts and more—during Iron Plantation Christmas.

Media Christmas Parade

Dec. 1, Media

Santas will take over the borough of Media for the sixth annual Media Christmas Parade. Festivities kick off with a block party followed by a costume contest and fun run. The day culminates in a festive parade.

Uptown Christmas

Dec. 1, Philadelphia

Making its Christmas debut at the Met, the Philly POPS will perform Uptown Christmas featuring Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star, Tituss Burgess, plus Mandy Gonzalez and the African Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas Gospel Choir.

Green Wreaths Workshop

Dec. 5, Swarthmore

Brush up on your wreath-making skills at Scott Arboretum’s Green Wreaths Workshop, which incorporates fresh greenery for an extra festive touch.

Latke/Vodka Party

Dec. 6, Philadelphia

Celebrate Chanukah with the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art’s Latke/Vodka Party.

Phoenixville Holiday Parade

Dec. 6, Phoenixville

Shop from two winter markets, enjoy a holiday parade and a tree lighting for the annual Phoenixville Holiday Parade.

Photo Courtesy of QVC

QVC West Chester Christmas Parade

Dec. 6, West Chester

Celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, the iconic QVC West Chester Christmas Parade returns to the borough, complete with marching bands, floats, an elf run and walk, plus an appearance by the jolly man himself. 6ABC’s Adam Joseph again serves as the MC.

Christmas in Wayne

Dec. 6-7, Wayne

From a tree lighting to carriage rides to a visit from Santa, Christmas in Wayne has it all.

Nutcracker 1776

Dec. 6-7, Philadelphia

The Annenberg Center’s Zellerbach Theatre will host the Rock School for Dance Education’s rendition of a holiday classic with a colonial Philadelphia twist for Nutcracker 1776.

Holiday Sale of Fine Craft & Pottery

Dec. 6-14, Wallingford

Get one-of-a-kind gifts at the Community Arts Center and Potters Guild’s Holiday Sale of Fine Craft & Pottery.

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

Dec. 6-31, Philadelphia

Tschaikovsky’s beloved musical score comes to life at the Academy of Music for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Doheny

Candlelight Christmas

Dec. 7, Chadds Ford

Sip and nosh Colonial era drinks and food while exploring historic homes aglow in holiday lights during the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Candlelight Christmas.

Towamencin Township Holiday Lights Festival

Dec. 7, Lansdale

Fischer’s Park transforms into a cheerful light display for the Towamencin Township Holiday Lights Festival. Carriage rides, a visit with Santa Claus, hot chocolate and cookies, roasted marshmallows and a tree lighting round out the events.

Kennett Square’s Holiday Village Market

Dec. 7-15, Kennett Square

Shop for unique gifts in a European-inspired atmosphere during Kennett Square’s Holiday Village Market, taking place Dec. 7-8 and 14-15. Held at the Creamery, the market has artisan and vintage vendors, plus live music, food trucks and workshops.

Narberth Dickens Festival

Dec. 8, Narberth

Travel back in time to 1840s London during the Narberth Dickens Festival. Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge and other characters from A Christmas Carol will take over the borough. Also look for scavenger hunts, carriage rides, live musical performances and an ice sculpting display.

Holiday Sing-a-Long

Dec. 11, Ambler

The Ambler Theater is teaming up with the Ambler Symphony for a festive night dubbed Holiday Sing-a-Long. Live renditions of holiday favorites like “The Nutcracker” precedes a screening of 1954 classic starring Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, White Christmas.

Xmas Philes

Dec. 12-13, Philadelphia

Philadanco gets a decidedly Christmas twist when it performs Xmas Philes at the Annenberg Center

Holiday Open House

Dec. 13, Coatesville

Carolers, train displays and candlelit grounds are among the festivities on offer during the National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum’s Holiday Open House.

Joy of Christmas 2019

Dec. 13, Philadelphia

Renowned country singer Martina McBride brings her Joy of Christmas 2019 tour to the Met.

Clover Market

Dec. 14-15, Bryn Mawr

The roving Clover Market gets a decidedly holiday twist when it stops at the Baldwin School, making it perfect for last minute shopping.

Christmas Eve and Other Stories

Dec. 15, Philadelphia

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings its revamped Christmas Eve and Other Stories show to the Wells Fargo center.

A John Waters Christmas: Filthier & Merrier

Dec. 17, Philadelphia

Hilarious filmmaker, musician and author John Waters brings his R-rated take on the holidays for A John Waters Christmas: Filthier & Merrier at Union Transfer.