‘Tis the season to be jolly and dive into the festive spirit! As the air turns crisper and the streets adorned with twinkling lights, our local communities come alive with the magic of Christmas and holiday cheer. In this blog post, we’ll be your festive guide, exploring the enchanting events and heartwarming celebrations happening right in our own backyard. From dazzling light displays to cozy winter markets, join us on a sleigh ride through the joyous tapestry of local holiday events that make this time of year truly special.
Christmas Light Shows
Longwood Gardens – A Longwood Christmas
This holiday season, experience a radiance of retro, a bevy of bright, and numerous nostalgic moments with us. Marvel at playful trees draped in throwback baubles to shimmering tinsel to childhood-favorite toys. Stroll through a fab, festive holiday party scene decked out in mid-century magic. Reminisce amid a vintage Christmas street scene, make new merry memories amid dazzling, vibrant light displays—including some super-sized surprises—and revel in the retro fun at every turn.
Yeagers Farm Holiday Light Show
Enjoy a unique display of tens of thousands of lights and animated displays from the comfort of your own vehicle. Load up the car with family and friends and traverse the 60 acre/1.1 mile route through the Christmas Tree farm; lit up and synchronized with Holiday songs to celebrate the season!
Koziar’s Christmas Village
Driving through the darkened countryside and coming over that last hill on the unlit country road is like driving into a fairyland. Suddenly you find yourself in a dazzling valley set aglow with more than one million Christmas lights adorning buildings, gift barns, and landscape. Koziar’s Christmas Village has grown to a mammoth and extraordinary seasonal attraction drawing visitors from around the world as well as local families who have made Koziar’s part of their Christmas tradition for four generations. Located in Bernville, PA – worth the drive!
DVCCC Hosts Annual Holiday Lights House Tour in Chester County
Christmas Markets & Festivals
Philadelphia Christmas Village
Christmas Village in Philadelphia is an outside Holiday festival in Center City Philadelphia, which is modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany. The unique atmosphere with thousands of holiday lights and the delicious smell of waffles, gingerbread, bratwurst, and mulled wine will bring you and your family into the perfect Christmas spirit. Christmas Village is located at LOVE Park in the heart of Center City.
Christkindlmarkt at West Chester
The Chester County Art Association and Downtown West Chester are excited to host its 4th annual Christkindlmarkt! This 2-day, German-inspired outdoor holiday market will feature over 90 vendors selling handcrafted and locally-designed products, such as art, ceramics, jewelry, homewares, and much more. The event is free to the public!
Christmas At Joanna Furnace
Come celebrate a Victorian Christmas on an 18th & 19th Century ironmaking community! Guests will experience what Christmas was like in this rural community and enjoy caroling with the villagers, learn period parlor dances and meet the iron furnace workers in the Blacksmith Shop, Casting House, Wheelwright Shop and Office/Store. The Iron Master wife be entertaining guests in their Joanna Mansion parlor with family around a traditional 15-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated with 19th ornaments. The Pennsylvania German “Belsnickel” has been known to appear and delight visiting children with sweet treats.
Brandywine Christmas Village
Brothers on the Brandywine- Beer Garden transforms into a magical Christmas Village full of vendors, lights, cozy fires and Yule Tide Cheer!
Kennett Square Holiday Village Market
Shop dozens of curated artisan and vintage vendors while enjoying live music, festive cocktails, food trucks, and more in the magical setting of The Creamery.
Yuletide at Liberty Hill
Join us for the Yuletide Festival, right outside of Philadelphia, PA! The festival runs from November 24 – December 31, 2023. Enjoy rides, live music, farm-to-table food, craft drinks and over 35 high-end market shops. Visit our website and socials for more info!
Christmas on King – Malvern
Food trucks, beer garden, live music, kids activities, Mrs. Claus & Santa’s elves, visit & photos with Santa, sweet treats, warm drinks, HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR ~ live song & dance performances, kids activities, and tree lighting at dark! November 25th, 2023.
Iron Plantation Christmas – Hopewell Furnace
Visit us on Saturday, December 2 to watch blacksmith demonstrations, see fiber arts demonstrations, make your own holiday ornament at the historic bake oven, write a Christmas letter using a quill pen, make your own Christmas decoration with natural greenery, watch open hearth cooking demonstrations, complete your Iron Plantation Christmas Junior Ranger book and earn a limited-edition sticker!
West Chester Christmas Parade
Join us in kicking off the festivities with the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony! Enjoy music, a message from our title sponsor, and the lighting of the 25′ Tree. Parade goers can expect Chester County’s favorite performers as well as a variety of notable newcomers to our incredible family parade experience. This year: more marching bands by popular demand, as well as award-winning floats, sparkling performances, and of course – Santa’s much-anticipated appearance!
Coatesville Christmas Parade
This hometown parade has become a cherished memory for the families of the Coatesville area and the entire Chester County region. This event now reaches into the hearts and memories of Coatesvillians everywhere, as it now streams live (and able to be viewed after the run date) on CoatesvilleChristmasParade.com. Slated to perform this year are Mummers bands, the Sixers Stixers, local elementary, middle, and high school groups, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Brownies. There will also be dance academies, cheerleading groups, hip-hop dancers, and baton twirlers. Not to be missed is the always-a-show-pleaser, larger-than-life cartoon characters. An automotive competition featuring Antique, Classic and Modified autos will be competing for prizes.
West Chester Christmas Train Rides
Santa Express: All aboard Santa’s Express! Join Santa for a 75 minute journey on our heated decorated train through the Chester Creek Valley. Santa will be greeting everyone at Market Street Station and then going along for the ride to Glen Mills and return. Santa will be visiting all passengers while on the train. Make sure you bring your holiday lists with you so Santa can check them twice!
Downingtown Good Neighbor Christmas Tree Lighting
Held the last Saturday of November. Join us for our Christmas tree lighting, refreshments, face painting, music, crafts and games.
Holiday at the Barn – Springton Manor Farm
The Friends of Springton Manor Farm and Chester County Parks + Preservation invite you to an open house style holiday event at the great barn. Enjoy pictures with Santa, festive music, wagon rides, and some refreshments and food trucks. Learn a little about the history of Springton Manor Farm.
Check out our list of Christmas Tree Farms!
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