2024 Guide to Philly's Best Christmas Light Shows & Holiday Tours | Visit Philadelphia

Nov 02, 2024

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All is bright in Philadelphia this holiday season.

Philly lights up for the holidays every year with a number of dazzling displays and attractions, from traditional to cutting-edge, professional to DIY and everything in between.

Brilliant light displays illuminate local locations of all types. Party under the lights during seasonal festivals at City Hall, LOVE Park, Franklin Square and Peddler’s Village. See bright shows illuminate Philly landmarks like the Philadelphia Zoo, Macy’s Center City and Longwood Gardens. Or stroll a neighborhood with block-long displays along Smedley Street and on South 13th Street.

Community displays in the countryside are always popular as well, including festivals in Pottstown, Media and Skippack, and drive-through displays across expansive fields at Shady Brook Farm and Yeager’s Farm. Even corporations get into the action with favorite spectacles at Herr’s Snack Factory, American Heritage Credit Union and at the Comcast Center.

Use this guide to plan how to bask in the season’s glow at these free and ticketed holiday light displays and BYOB trolley tours throughout the Philadelphia region for 2024.

November 14 – December 31, 2024 (dates vary by attraction)

The hills of Northwest Philly come alive for the fifth annual Manayunk Gets Lit display along the bustling neighborhood’s Main Street, the entire corridor illuminated by over 80,000 holiday lights adorning more than 50 storefronts. The coolest way to take it in is from Manayunk’s free Jolly Trolley which runs the length of Main Street and often features on-board carolers, performers and musicians. The celebration takes off November 14, 2024, with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Canal View Park, which includes awards for most creative, most “lit” and best overall store displays.

Where: Main Street

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Canal View Park, 4418 Main Street

Bucks County’s charming play-shop-dine destination Peddler’s Village offers a slew of family-friendly holiday events each year full of yuletide spirit. But whether visiting for an event, finishing that list or enjoying a festive day out, visitors can stay through sunset for 1 million colorful twinkling lights covering nearly every building, path and tree in the village that kick on at 4:30 p.m. The fun begins with the Grand Illumination Celebration on November 15, 2024, featuring a ceremony at 6:15 p.m. to turn on the lights for the first time this season.

Where: Peddler's Village, 2400 Street Road, New Hope

November 15, 2024 – March 9, 2025

Each year, Winter at Dilworth Park brings a touch of festive greenery to the Greenfield Lawn on the west apron of City Hall with the annual Wintergarden display. The picturesque whimsical outdoor sanctuary features rustic woodland décor, an on-site winery kiosk offering mulled wine, reindeer topiaries and illuminated arbor lit with hundreds of twinkling lights for visitors to stroll through or relax by on one of a number of benches. The Wintergarden is part of Winter at Dilworth Park programming that also includes the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin.

Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street

Historic Franklin Square welcomes the season with a bevy of family winter attractions, festive activities and holiday celebrations in addition to relaxing firepits and a warming tent with hand-crafted cocktails and seasonal treats. But a singular highlight is the free nightly Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO — inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s kite-and-key electricity experiment — which illuminates the square every half hour with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights choreographed to a soundtrack of seasonal tunes. Also happening at the square: Chilly Philly mini golf, street curling and more.

Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street

Neighbors on the 1600 block of South 13th Street (between Tasker and Morris streets in East Passyunk) have worked together every year for over three decades to create elaborate presentations that adorn their neighborhood for the Miracle on South 13th Street Holiday Light Display. Stroll the block and take in each home’s decked-out decor from traditional twinkles to elaborate themed dioramas. Check out the official Facebook and Instagram for schedules and special theme nights benefiting local charities. If driving, expect traffic slowdowns, or just take the Broad Street Line to Tasker-Morris Station.

Where: Miracle on South 13th Street, 1600 block of South 13th Street

Make Herr’s yours with a beloved annual spectacle out in Chester County. Local favorite snack food creators Herr’s have offered their Christmas Lights Display — a free drive-thru holiday light experience on the beloved snack factory’s grounds (aka the company’s world headquarters) — for over 30 years. The lighted wonderland at the chip giant’s Nottingham campus features more than 600,000 impressive lights and characters illuminated each night at dusk, which stay on until dawn. Bring the family, but plan accordingly: This is a BYO snacks situation (no free samples, sadly).

Where: Herr’s Snack Factory, 271 Old Baltimore Pike, Nottingham

November 27, 2024 – January 12, 2025 (dates subject to change)

For over half a century, the Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular has been one of Philly’s favorite informal community holiday displays. Residents of the 2700 block dazzle visitors with a blocklong display of blow-up decorations, sparkling trees and colorful string lights in front of houses and throughout the block’s park-like central promenade. Take a stroll down this South Philly candy cane lane filled with glittering snowmen, twinkling windowpanes and towering inflatable Santas, all a short walk from the Broad Street Line’s Oregon Station. An official street lighting event starts the celebration on November 30, 2024.

Where: 2700 block of South Smedley Street

One of Philly’s favorite holiday traditions is the Christmas Village in Philadelphia Bavarian-style holiday marketplace, with 120 vendors lining LOVE Park, with more seasonal activities and attractions across the street at City Hall. At LOVE Park Visitor Center (the “flying saucer”), the event’s Festival of Trees offers an indoor lineup of nearly 20 stunning Christmas conifers on display, decorated by local designers and artists. For a small donation to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, you can vote for best in show, with guests donating over $10 receiving a free hot chocolate. Kick off the holiday festivities early at the preview weekend November 23 to 24, 2024.

Where: Love Park, 1500 Arch Street

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City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

There’s no holiday tradition in the world like the Comcast Experience’s annual Comcast Holiday Spectacular in the Comcast Center’s seven story lobby, now in its 16th year. The free 15-minute show — a 28 million 2.6-mm pixel presentation displayed on a 25 foot high, 85 foot wide, over-8K HD LED video wall — depicts a photo-realistic virtual sleigh ride over the city interspersed with a performance of The Nutcracker from The Philadelphia Ballet. The event runs daily Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day, every hour on the hour, with sensory-friendly showings at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Comcast Center, 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

November 29 – December 20, 2024 (Fridays only)

A celebration of the ubiquitous Christmas luminaire — the decorative candle-in-paper-bag holiday lanterns that line walkways, driveways and curbs across the region — set the Skippack skies aglow during Illuminaire Nights in the historic Skippack Village shopping district in Montgomery County. To welcome the holiday season, the luminaries frame the sidewalks outside stores and restaurants on Friday nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and participating shops stay open until 8 p.m. and offer special treats and refreshments, activities, in-store sales and other surprises for shoppers.

Where: Skippack Village, 4034 Skippack Pike, Skippack

The quintessential Philadelphia holiday tradition lights up Macy’s Center City — in the Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker Building, location of America’s first department store — with the iconic Macy’s Christmas Light Show. The seven-decade-running event features thousands of twinkling snowflake-, candy cane- and snowman-shaped lights accompanied by music from the 110-plus-year-old Wanamaker Organ. Finish your day with an animatronic retelling of A Christmas Carol and photos with Santa in Dickens Village, browsing the store’s famous animated holiday windows and checking everyone off your holiday shopping list. Shows take place daily at 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Where: Macy’s Center City, 1300 Market Street

Experience a Penn’s Landing winter wonderland as the free Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest sets up on the Delaware River waterfront for its 31st season. Glide around the free NHL-sized ice skating rink, enjoy games and amusement rides on the boardwalk or indulge in seasonal treats and hot drinks around firepits, in warming cabins or at the rinkside lounge. Fantastic light displays viewable here include the thousands of sparkling string lights wrapping the festival’s signature holiday tree.

Where: Penn's Landing, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard

At its corporate headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia, the lights shine brightly each holiday season during American Heritage Credit Union’s Grand Illumination with two 40-foot-tall Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths and more than 400,000 twinkling lights. Lights flick on nightly at dusk when visitors are invited to stroll the campus and take in the display and decorations at their leisure. The celebration begins with the kick-off event on November 30, 2024, featuring seasonal music, costumed Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross and more, with the on button hit for the first time at 7 p.m.

Where: American Heritage Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road

One of the countryside’s most extensive community light displays, the Rose Tree Festival of Lights has lit up Rose Tree County Park in Media for over four decades. The vast walk-through spectacle is spread throughout the 120-acre Delaware County park with dozens of illuminated trees and light displays. The whole thing kicks off with a tree-lighting ceremony on December 5, 2024, featuring choral music, food trucks and a visit from Santa. And during five select nights (December 5, 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2024), the event also features Delco Fare & Flair with more music, more food trucks and seasonal entertainment.

Where: Rose Tree County Park, 1671 N. Providence Road, Media

There are only two Sesame Street theme parks in the world, and one of them is right in Langhorne, Bucks County. With its sister park far away in sadly unseasonal San Diego, your local Sesame Place is the only true wintry locale for enjoying the annual A Very Furry Christmas, which transforms the park into a one-of-a-kind holiday wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, themed rides, festive decorations and a special Christmas Parade. Visit with Santa in the Furry Workshop and see the spectacular 30-foot lighted 1-2-3 Christmas Tree.

Where: Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

Lights, mammals, action! The immersive LumiNature display transforms the Philadelphia Zoo into a nighttime multimedia spectacular with 16 zones illuminated with 1 million twinkling lights. While the animals sleep, humans can ride the SEPTA PZ Express Kiddie Train under a canopy of lights, go on a scavenger hunt or walk through a 100-foot-long lighted jungle tunnel. Grab a perfect selfie in front of the 22-foot-tall butterfly tree, 40-foot glowing penguin and the new sparkling waterfall of lights. Top it off with seasonal fare, live performers, hot chocolate and adult beverages.

Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Avenue

November 22 – December 30, 2024 (select dates)

Norristown’s Elmwood Park Zoo — celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024 — shines brightly each holiday season, with millions of LED lights illuminating the Montco attraction’s 16 acres during Wild Lights. The walk-through experience features dazzling light displays and illuminated animal enclosures during event hours along with animal and character meet-and-greets, live entertainment, vintage-inspired animal-themed carousel rides, the barrel train, access to Trail of the Jaguar and Habitat HQ, seasonal treats and photos with Santa.

Where: Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown

Half a million twinkling lights and spectacular fountain shows combine to create a winter wonderland during A Longwood Christmas, named the nation’s Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Visitors can stroll the grounds of Longwood Gardens — now more spectacular across the new spaces of Longwood Reimagined — to marvel at miles of lights glowing in hundreds of trees, seasonal decorated plants, a festive outdoor railway, cozy fire pits, the Olde Towne Carolers, holiday dining at the new Taste of Christmas in The Fountain Room and the famous fountains dancing to holiday music.

Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square

November 23 – December 30, 2024 (select dates)

One of the country’s largest outdoor model train displays gets its annual winter makeover, becoming the Holiday Garden Railway. Located inside the 100-acre Morris Arboretum & Gardens, G-scale mini locomotives wind through loops, tunnels, bridges and replicas of beloved Philly landmarks beneath a canopy of thousands of twinkling lights. The daytime light experience is free with general admission, but come sunset, the display transforms into The Nighttime Express (beginning Saturday, November 30, 2024) with sparkling lights along the railway and laser lights in the trees (separate timed tickets required).

Where: Morris Arboretum & Gardens, 100 E. Northwestern Avenue

Bucks County’s sprawling Shady Brook Farm warms up for the season with its after-dark Holiday Light Show, a whimsical ride through giant animated winter scenes, character displays and illuminated tunnels rendered in 3 million tiny bulbs across 50 acres of farmland. Enjoy the two-mile farm trail from the comfort of your own vehicle or on an open-air tractor-pulled wagon. Afterward, visit Santa’s Village for pics with Santa, handcrafted gifts at the holiday farm market and tasty treats like cocoa and s’mores (or spirited drinks from Stone’s Throw Pub) enjoyed around the firepit.

Where: Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley

November 29 – December 30, 2024 (select dates)

The 200-year-old Yeager’s Farm in Phoenixville — family-owned since the days of Willam Penn and currently run by sixth-generation Yeagers — lights up the countryside every winter with its Holiday Light Show. Explore 60 acres of farmland illuminated with tens of thousands of lights and animated displays (most new this season) from the comfort of your car along the brand-new one-plus mile route through the Christmas tree farm, synchronized to favorite holiday songs. New for 2024: Timed reservations are no longer required. Simply purchase a ticket and arrive at your convenience.

Where: Yeager's Farm, 1015 Pike Springs Road, Phoenixville

Over a half million lights are on display during the walk-through Carnival of Lights across the fields of the Norco Fire Company in Pottstown, Montgomery County, all digitally synchronized to a selection of holiday music. Admission to the event includes the holiday light walk, unlimited amusement rides and visits with Santa, with food, games, items at the craft market and photos with St. Nick offered pay-as-you-go. On Monday, December 16, 2024, the attraction presents a Sensory Friendly Night, with steady-lit lights, lower volume music and an available quiet room.

Where: Norco Fire Company, 144 W. Schuylkill Road, Pottstown

Hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing Philadelphia has been operating expert-guided bus tours for over a quarter century. Come holiday time, the company offers a reserve ticket Holiday Lights Tour aboard its Victorian trolleys. Each two-hour ride — decked out with colorful lights, holiday decor and singalong music — begins and ends in front of the Bourse Building on Independence Mall and hits sites including LOVE Park, the Comcast Experience, Franklin Square and Smedley Street (where the trolley stops for about 15 minutes). The best part: The trolley is BYOB (beer or wine only) for those 21 and over.

Where: Tour begins outside the Bourse Building, 111 S. Independence Ml East

First started in 2016, Founding Footsteps Tours began as a one-time fundraiser for family and friends. Today it’s expanded into a year-round tour company, still offering its self-described “Philly’s original” BYOB Holiday Light Tour, which features on-board local live musicians serenading attendees with singalong holiday tunes. The two-hour tour begins in front of Craft Hall in Northern Liberties before rolling to a number of sites, with hop-off stops at Smedley Street and Franklin Square. The tour is BYOB (beer or wine only) for those 21 and over.

Where: Tour begins at Craft Hall, 901 N. Delaware Avenue

Long-running 76 Carriage Company, home to Philadelphia Trolley Works and The Big Bus Company, offers their festive, reserve ticketed Holiday Lights Tour each holiday season. Step aboard the classic Victorian trolley for a 90-minute tour of the region’s best holiday illuminations, including the Miracle on South 13th Street, City Hall and Dilworth Park, the Comcast Experience, Franklin Square and Smedley Street (where the trolley stops for about 15 minutes). Tours pick up in front of the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The tour is BYOB (beer or wine only) for those 21 and over.

Where: Tours begin outside Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1200 Filbert Street

National company Events with Benefitz offers guided holiday tours in 10 cities, including Philly’s BYOB Holiday Lights Trolley Tour rolling party. The heated and festively decorated vintage trolley makes stops at LOVE Park, Franklin Square, Smedley Street, Macy’s and more (subject to change) over the two-hour tour, with trivia and prizes while on board. But the fun begins beforehand as attendees meet up an hour ahead at the tour-start location — Urban Village Brewing in Northern Liberties — to check-in, meet your tour guide, and receive a complimentary snack and souvenir gift. Like all the other tours on this list, this one is BYOB for those 21 and over only.

Where: Tour begins at Urban Village Brewing Company, 1001 N. 2nd Street

The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.