The holidays are afoot! Neighborhoods around Philadelphia are getting ready with various Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies and holiday light shows. From City Hall’s giant Christmas tree to the Wanamaker Light Show, we’ve put together a list of Philly festive events to help launch all the winter fun. And, by the way, Santa Claus is making multiple stops along the way.
Grand Illumination Celebration at Peddler’s Village
When: Friday, Nov. 14, at 6:15 p.m.
Where: 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska
Santa and Mrs. Claus are working together on this tree-lighting ceremony at Peddler’s Village. The annual Grand Illumination opens at 4:30 p.m., and guests are advised to get there no later than 5:30 p.m. The event is family-friendly with music, shopping and entries for a gingerbread competition on display.
Santa’s Grand Illumination at Sesame Place
When: Saturday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m.
Where: Sesame Place, 1-2-3 Christmas Tree by Oscar’s Wacky Taxi
We can’t imagine better kid-friendly holiday fun than hanging at Sesame Place. Santa is lighting up the park and kicking off “A Very Furry Christmas Celebration.” The event will include holiday caroling and dancing. Plus, Santa’s elves will be there, too, to celebrate the illumination and endless twinkling lights.
Philadelphia Zoo LumiNature Opening
When: Thursday, Nov. 20, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: Philly Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
The Philly Zoo is always a spectacle when it comes to holiday lights, but this year is bound to be extra special, due to the opening of the new ferris wheel, which is over 100 feet tall. Its LumiNature show will have various illuminated displays — including a 40-foot-tall penguin statue with 40,000 shining lights and a 25-foot-tall pink flamingo tree made from 1,500 lawn ornament flamingoes. The grand opening is on Nov. 20 and the show runs through Jan. 3.
Manayunk Tree Lighting Ceremony
When: Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.
Where: Canal View Park, 4418 Main St.
If the Center City ceremonies seem too overwhelming, Manyunk’s smaller neighborhood vibes might be right for you. Festivities for Manayunk’s tree-lighting ceremony start at 5:30 p.m. and the actual glow-up is scheduled for 7 p.m. The night will include holiday bites, special guests and live performances.
Franklin Square Electrical Light Show
When: Begins Thursday, Nov. 20
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N 6th St.
Franklin Square is hosting its electrical spectacle light show from PECO this holiday season. The fountain display features multiple Christmas classics — think Feliz Navidad and Winter Wonderland — that will play every 30 minutes for a show themed to Ben Franklin’s electric discovery with a lit-up key and kite. Afterwards, visitors can walk around, play mini golf or grab a cocktail at the Frosty’s Fireside Winter Pop-Up bar.
A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens
Where: Friday, Nov. 21, beginning at 10 a.m.
When: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Square
Get ready for hundreds of thousands of lights and a holiday fountain show at Longwood Gardens. The vibe is basically an enchanted Christmas forest, filled with various jewel-tone and metallic lights. The show runs Nov. 21 to Jan. 11.
Chestnut Hill’s Circle of Trees Celebration
When: Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave.
The Woodmere Art Museum is putting on its annual Circle of Trees celebration. The community event is free and includes a hay maze, hot chocolate, cider, cookies, music, goodie bags for the kiddos and even Santa is taking time out of his busy schedule to make it.
Wanamaker Light Show
When: Begins Black Friday, Nov. 28
Where: Wanamaker Building, 100 E. Penn Square
One of Philly’s most historic and celebrated light shows returns, despite the recent closure of Macy’s. The Wanamaker Light Show (formerly the Macy’s Light Show) will have 100,000 LED lights with twinkling snowflake displays, lit-up ballerinas and more. Select performances will be accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ. Plus, the building will feature a 6,000-square-foot animatronic retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The show kicks off on Black Friday and runs to Christmas Eve.
New Hope Annual Tree Lighting
When: Sunday, Nov. 30, at 5 p.m.
Where: Logan Inn, 10 West Ferry St., New Hope
New Hope’s Christmas tree lighting has been shining for over 40 years now. Get ready for holiday jams, hot chocolate and cookies, and Santa is flying in for this one, too.
Philadelphia Festival of Trees Opening Ceremony
When: Monday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m.
Where: LOVE Park
LOVE Park is getting even lovelier with its annual Festival of Trees returning on Dec. 1. The show features two dozen holiday trees decorated by local artists. Each tree is unique and comes with its own artwork, keepsakes and surprises. What’s more, there will be over 200 stars, each in honor of a patient at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Rittenhouse Square’s Annual Tree Lighting
When: Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square’s annual tree lighting is back! The night begins at 5 p.m. and includes drinks, gift giveaways, music and Santa. The square’s trees are always lovely, but will be given extra shine once the lighting ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m.
Rose Tree Festival of Lights in Media
When: Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m.
Where: Rose Tree County Park, 1671 N. Providence Rd., Media
Delco’s county seat celebrates its 50th annual tree-lighting ceremony this year at Rose Tree Park. The event will include dozens of trees festooned with lights, all around the 120-acre park. Pups are welcome at this event, and attendees can join in for food trucks, live entertainment, gift vendors, holiday music and more.
East Passyunk Tree Lighting and Open Streets
When: Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m
Where: Mifflin Triangle
Multiple Passyunk businesses and shops are participating in the neighborhood’s tree-lighting ceremony this year. Photos with Santa are free, and there will be live entertainment as well as a holiday crawl. The 1900 block is having Block Open Streets Specials with goodies and fun like nutella hot chocolate, spiked hot chocolate, Mexican hot chocolate, espresso martinis, a live DJ and Christmas bachata dancing.
Betsy Ross House Historic Holidays Tree Lighting
When: Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m.
Where: The Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St.
Old City is throwing its eighth annual tree lighting at the Betsy Ross House with a lineup of live music and dance performances from the Settlement Music School, Philadelphia Dance Academy and Upper Darby Encore Singers. Santa, ever popular, will be there, too.
City Hall Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring Ashanti
When: Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.
Where: North side of City Hall, 400 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philly’s official Christmas tree has just arrived in the city. The city’s epic white fir stands over 50 feet tall, and is about 75 years old. It will take around 1,000 man-hours to decorate, and will include hundreds of ornaments and more than 6,000 LED lights. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., and attendees are advised to be in place by 6:45 p.m. The event will feature fun games, food and live music, including a special performance from Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti.
Evil Genius Beer Company Tree Lighting
When: Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Evil Genius Beer Company, 1727 N Front St.
Looking for some delicious craft brews to go with your tree-lighting fun? Evil Genius is lighting up its Christmas tree on Dec. 4. The night kicks off at 6 p.m. The bar plans to play “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey at around 7:30 p.m. and then switch on the tree to shine bright.
HACE 9th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Fairhill Square Park
When: Friday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m.
Where: Fairhill Square Park, 412 W Huntingdon St.
Philly’s Hispanic Association of Contractors & Enterprises is holding its annual tree-lighting ceremony in Fairhill Square Park. Expect cute community vibes, hot cocoa, cookies and music.
West Chester Hometown Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
When: Friday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Courthouse facing, 2 N. High St.
West Chester’s annual tree-lighting ceremony will include a 25-foot tree and a Christmas parade following the switch-on with a hometown Christmas parade. The event is family-friendly and will include marching bands, floats, performances and, once again, an appearance from Santa himself.
Delaware River Waterfront Holiday Tree Lighting
When: Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
The Delaware River Waterfront’s tree lighting, powered by PECO, is part of Independence Blue Cross RiverRink’s Winterfest at Penn’s Landing. Expect pay-as-you-go festival games, cozy drinks, fire pits, as well as a cabin and heated igloo to keep warm. The evening will include holiday performances, and you can lace up your ice skates while there.
Roxborough Happy Holidays from ROX
When: Saturday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Roxborough Pocket Park
Roxborough’s holiday party includes an artisan market, a scavenger hunt and wishing trees. The event begins at noon, with a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. In addition, visitors can participate in an ugly holiday sweater contest at 1:30 p.m. Santa will also most certainly be there. He’s giving the reindeers a break and arriving via fire truck.
The post Let there be light: Our list of tree-lighting ceremonies around Philly appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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