Holiday happenings hit high gear

From horse carriage rides, to shows and more, the holidays take center stage

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

The holiday season has officially arrived in Kennett Square. On December 6, the Kennett Symphony of Chester County will perform “Pops Goes the Holiday” at 7:30 p.m. at Kennett High School (100 East South Street, Kennett Square, 610-444-6363, http://www.kennettsymphony.org).

The Kennett Symphony and Music Director Michael Hall will present a holiday concert filled with the joyful sounds of the season. The family-oriented event will also feature the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, a sing-a-long and a visit from Santa.

The show will offer an array of holiday classics including James Stephenson’s “Holiday Fanfare Medley #1,” Englebert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” Robert Wendel’s “Little Bolero Boy” and Bill Holcombe’s “Festive Sounds of Hanukkah.”

The program will also include Stephenson’s arrangement of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Émile Waldteufel’s “Skater’s Waltz,” Leroy Anderson’s “Suite of Carols” and selections from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite.”

Attendees are asked to join the Kennett Symphony in a food drive to benefit The Kennett Food Cupboard by bringing non-perishable food items to the concert on December 6. Tickets for the concert are priced at $40 in advance and $45 at the door for adults and $10 for students.

Another Kennett Square holiday tradition will go on all month. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered on December 7, 14 and 21 from noon to 3 p.m. The rides begin on State Street at the Genesis walkway and tickets are $5.

There will also be a holiday-themed show taking place from December 9-14 when the DuPont Theatre (10^th and Market streets, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-656-4401, www.duponttheatre.com) hosts “Cirque Dreams Holidaze.”

The show, which was created and directed by Neil Goldberg, is a stage spectacular that takes Christmas entertainment to a whole new level. “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” has an international cast of over 30 talented performers performing old and new Christmas numbers.

It features snowmen daringly balancing, icemen powerfully sculpting, penguins spinning, gingerbread men flipping mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires, puppets dancing and reindeer soaring high above a landscape of holiday wonderment.

The touring spectacle, which played the DuPont three years ago, also features an original music score along with some seasonal favorites, over 300 super colorful costumes and a stage setting with a 20-foot tall tree, gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes and 30-foot towering soldiers.

“The production is even bigger than it was the last time we brought it to the DuPont,” said Goldberg, during a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “It has new acts — more than 20 now — and a lot of new music by Jill Winters.

“It looks and feels like a Broadway musical. There are great songs and big Broadway-style production numbers along with all the fun and pageantry of a holiday show. This is our sixth season with this show and we have three productions out on the road.”

Goldberg is the founder and creative force behind Cirque Dreams, an American theatrical production company. The company has a number of spectacular shows on the road, including “Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy”, “Cirque Dreams Rocks”, “Cirque Dreams Coobrila” and “Cirque Dreams Splashtastic.”

“The concept for this show evolved from my being a collector of Christmas ornaments,” said Goldberg. “I have a collection with thousands of ornaments from all over the world. I was so inspired by these ornaments.

“I thought they’d make great character costumes. There are over 300 costumes used in each performance. The performers’ skills have been put into holiday themes. There are contortionists as candy canes and acrobats as cookies.

“The show has an amazing gift wrapping scene — and the largest gingerbread house ever used in a stage show. The Winter Wonderland is an awesome production number. This is a high energy, very fast-paced show with two acts — each about 50 minutes long. It’s a holiday stage spectacle that puts smiles on people’s faces.”

Tickets range from $20-$79. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. from December 9-11 and 8 p.m. on December 11 and 12. There are also 2 p.m. matinees on December 10, 13 and 14.

This weekend is also time for several similar theatrical presentations — not on stages but rather in churches and in a museum. Every year, this is the weekend that Saint Lucia Day festivities begin.

Philadelphia has two sites which produce wonderful Lucia Fest pageants — Gloria Dei Old Swedes’ Church (Delaware Avenue and Christian Street, Philadelphia, 215- 389-1513, www.Old-Swedes.org) and the American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-389-1776, www.americanswedish.org). Another top-flight celebration is staged in Wilmington, Delaware.

Lucia is a Swedish festival that began in 17th century Sweden as a festival of light in the midst of the darkest days of winter. In America’s Swedish communities, the popular annual event features a Lucia procession with traditional songs and dances. Lucia, wearing a white gown and a crown of candles, leads the procession, followed by girls dressed in gowns who act as her attendants. Boys also join the festivities as starboys.

Gloria Dei Old Swedes’ Church (606 Church Street, Wilmington Delaware, 302- 652-5629, www.oldswedes.org) will have its traditional celebration of the Feast Day of Sankta Lucia on December 7 at 1 p.m. and again at 3:30 p.m.

The Delaware Swedish Colonial Society, which sponsors the annual December celebration, will also have its Hendrickson House Museum open to the public. The museum, which has been decorated for a Swedish Christmas will be open for tours and shopping from noon-5 p.m. The doors of the church will open 30 minutes prior to each performance. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

At Gloria Dei Old Swedes’ Church in Philadelphia, a number of Swedish traditions of the holiday season are woven into a colorful pageant that is presented in a church building constructed by Swedish colonists in 1699-1700. The climax is the entrance of “Santa Lucia”, who was a martyr in the fourth century.

The Lucia Fest & St. Eric’s Fair at Old Swedes’ Church will be held December 5 at 6 and 8 p.m. and December 6 and 7 at 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m.

Before, during and after each of the presentations, the St. Eric’s Fair, a Christmas bazaar that specializes in Scandinavian imports, is held in the Parish Hall that adjoins the Church. Tickets for the Lucia event are $12 for adults and $6 for children (ages 11 and under).

The American Swedish Historical Museum will present its Lucia Celebration and Julmarknad (Christmas Bazaar) on December 6 from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Lucia Processions will begin at 1 and 3 p.m. Swedish needlecrafts, pastries and other delicacies will be for sale in the Julmarknad, while imported gifts, crafts and Christmas decorations will be featured in the Museum Gift Shop.

Candlelight Christmas in Chadds Ford (various locations in the Chadds Ford area, 610-388-7376, www.chaddsfordhistory.org) is always one of the area’s highly anticipated holiday events.

This year’s tour, which is presented by the Chadds Ford Historical Society, will be held on December 6 from 1-6 p.m. at a variety of locations in the Chadds Ford area. The 2014 is special because it celebrates the 300-year history or the 1714 Barns-Brinton House.

The tour includes more than 15 homes and historic sites in Pennsbury and Kennett townships, including be the CFHS’s main buildings — the Barn Visitor Center and the Barns-Brinton House.

Some of the other stops this year will be Downstream Farm, the Christian C. Sanderson Museum, Hillendale, Pennsbury Mill, the Caleb Windle Farm, Chester County Barn, the Caleb Windle Farm, Old Kennett Quaker Meeting House, the Farmhouse at Kendal, the Pennsbury Inn and ChaddsFord Winery and Farmhouse.

Tickets for Candlelight Christmas in Chadds Ford are $20 in advance and $25 day of tour.

One of the most ambitious traditional holiday events in Chester County is “Old Fashioned Christmas in Historic West Chester” (various locations in downtown West Chester, 610- 696-4046, www.greaterwestchester.com).

The 2014 staging of the festive annual event, which is running now through December 7, features more than 40 events, including theatrical and musical performances, guided walking tours, a craft bazaar and the Annual Jingle Elf Run.

The main event is the Christmas Parade which is scheduled to get underway at 7:15 p.m. on December 5 with the lighting of the borough’s Christmas tree. Runners in the Jingle Elf Run will take off at 6:30 p.m. The parade will highlight the arrival of Santa in his sleigh.

Some of the attractions on the long list of events are “Breakfast with Santa” (West Chester Area Senior Center and Chester County Historical Society), “A Candlelight Christmas Concert” (First Presbyterian Church), “Caroling with WCACC” (DNB First),

Chester County Youth Orchestra Pops Concert (Church of the Holy Trinity), “A Christmas Carol…More or Less” by UpTown! Entertainment (Chester

County Historical Society) and Rod Puppets’ “The Christmas Story” (Reformed Presbyterian Church).

Some of the other featured events will be “Trial by Jury” (Chester County Courthouse), “Big Band Theory Christmas Concert & Vocal Competition Finals” Chester County Historical Society), “Handel’s Messiah” (St. Agnes Church), “NAACP 8th Annual Holiday Bazaar” (Masonic Lodge), “Historic Lincoln Biography Building Open House” (Lincoln Building), “2014 Holiday Home Tour” (southwestern portion of the Borough), “Build-a-Band Christmas Rock Concert” (Masonic Lodge) and “Turks Head Jugglers’ Christmas” (Santander Bank).

“A Brandywine Christmas,” which is running now through January 4 at the Brandywine River Museum (Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org), is a family-oriented annual holiday event. Visitors to “A Brandywine Christmas” this weekend get an extra bonus because the museum’s annual “Critter Sale” is being held on December 6 and 7.

“A Brandywine Christmas” features thousands of natural “critter” ornaments on holiday trees. The “critter” ornaments are used to decorate holiday trees, wreaths and diorama settings throughout the museum. The intricately designed ornaments are made from all-natural materials by museum volunteers and have found homes on trees at the White House and the Smithsonian Institution.

One weekend each year features the annual Critter ornament sale. Visitors to the museum will be able to select and make purchases from a huge array of handcrafted “critter” ornaments that are on sale in the museum’s lecture room. Admission to the “Critter Sale” is free.

“A Brandywine Christmas” also features an array of interesting holiday displays, including an extensive O-gauge model railroad and thousands of natural “critter” ornaments on holiday trees.

If holiday events that focus on bygone eras appeal to you then “Malvern’s Victorian Christmas” (a variety of locations around downtown Malvern, 610- 296-9096, www.malvernsvictorianchristmas.org) is something you should definitely attend.

Malvern’s annual “Victorian Christmas” will begin with the Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. in Burke Park and continue through 9 p.m. at a variety of locations around downtown Malvern. There will be a variety of shows and performances on Friday evening along with a number of “Open Houses” by area merchants in the downtown area of the borough.

There will be special musical performances throughout town, strolling street performers, children’s shows, horse and carriage rides and hayrides. As an added attraction Friday night, Santa Claus will be available to hear children’s gift wishes under the pavilion at Burke Park.

Saturday’s schedule includes “Photo with Santa & Mrs. Claus” (Malvern Federal Savings Bank), Tri-State Carolers (King Street), “Make a Gingerbread House” (Malvern Federal Savings Bank), “Kids Holiday Crafts” (Malvern Public Library) and “Rockin’ Around the Hometown Hits” featuring music by Zach Brown, Brian O’Neil and Greg Bengston (Malvern Dental Medicine’s Holiday Tent).

Additionally, there will be free horse and carriage rides and hayrides from noon-3 p.m. The carriage rides board in front of Sheffield Furniture on King Street while the hayride takes place in the Malvern Federal Saving Bank parking lot.

From December 5-7, Hibernia Mansion (Hibernia County Park, off route 340, Wagontown, 610-383-3812, http://dsf.chesco.org/ccparks) will host its annual Candlelight Tours. The tours will be presented from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2-4 p.m. on Sunday.

The event at Hibernia Mansion features costumed tour guides portraying former mansion owners and their families. The 19th-century mansion will be decked out for the holidays. Live music will be performed in the Ballroom and Santa will entertaining friends each day. Also, the Friends of Hibernia will greet visitors with refreshments.

Admission is $5 per person with children under 12 admitted free.

The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail’s “Holiday Open House” (www.bvwinetrail.com) is several years old and well on its way to becoming a Chester County tradition. The event will be held this year on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28

Five local wineries from the BVWT will be hosting special holiday celebrations — festivities that offer family fun as well as an opportunity to sample and purchase wine for holiday use and as Christmas gifts.

Kreuz Creek Vineyards (553 South Guernsey Road, West Grove, 610-869-4412 or www.kreuzcreekvineyards.com) is featuring free wine tastings and an invitation to savor chocolate fondue made with Bevan’s dark chocolate and the winery’s Ruby “K” Port each weekend in December. Harpist Maureena Spadaro, will be performing from 2-5 p.m. every Saturday.

Paradocx Vineyard (1833 Flint Hill Road, Landenberg, 610-255-5684 or www.paradocx.com) is presenting a Christmas celebration with winery tours, traditional wine tastings and music by its cozy indoor fireplaces.

Black Walnut Winery (3000 Lincoln Highway, Sadsburyville, 610-857-5566, www.blackwalnutwinery.com) will feature holiday music, spiced apple wine and holiday sweets and sales of holiday crafts.

Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, 610-459-0808, www.pennswoodswinery.com) will have wine tastings, free spiced mulled wine to taste, special holiday wine sales and local artisan gifts. The winery will also have aged Balsamic vinegar and infused olive oil for tastings and for sale.

Borderland Vineyard (332 Indiantown Road, Landenberg, 215-436-9154, www.borderlandvineyard.com) will have holiday specials and gift baskets at its winter location — The Paradocx Vineyard Wine Bar at The Market at Liberty Place (148 West State Street, Kennett Square).

If your list of holiday gift recipients includes someone who collect sports cards or memorabilia, then you should definitely check out this weekend’s Philadelphia Sportscard & Memorabilia Show, which is running December 5-7 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort (First Avenue, King of Prussia, 610-524-0822, http://www.phillyshow.com).

The show will feature dealers from all over the country who will be selling a wide array of sports-related items such as game-used equipment, autographed balls, posters, magazine, game programs and autographed pictures. Visitors can also find a wide selection of collectors’ supplies including protective sheets, binders, ball protectors and display cases.

A major focus of the show will be trading cards — especially baseball cards. Show attendees will be able to find everything from ultra-rare vintage Willie Mays and Honus Wagner cards to the latest releases. All sports will be represented, including football, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, wrestling, Olympics and UFC.

The show will also have a large number of live guests who will partake in autograph sessions including Reggie Leach, Darren Daulton, Brian Dawkins, Orest Kindrachuk, Bobby Wine, Seth Joyner, Dave Schultz and Bill Bergey.

Admission to the show is $8 per day or $21 for a weekend pass.

If you want to see an entertaining performance of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” you should check out the Barley Sheaf Players’ (810 North Whitford Road, Lionville, 610-363-7075, www.barleysheaf.org) production of the popular show which is running now through December 14.

Based on the film by Frank Capra, it tells the tale of George Bailey, the everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been repeatedly quashed by the notion of family obligation and civic duty.

The production, which is directed by Rhonda Bastarache, has performances scheduled for December 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. and December 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. The December 7 show is already sold out. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students (18 and under) and seniors (60 and over).

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.nctstage.org) is presenting the holiday classic show “A Christmas Carol” now through December 23. Tickets, which include a tasty buffet dinner, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).

“A Christmas Carol,” a novella by Dickens that was first published in 1843, tells the tale of an old miser name Scrooge who gets transformed from a curmudgeon to a likable old soul after visits from his deceased partner Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-0 648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running now through December 30. The show features spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing, elaborate scenery, elegant costumes and the music of the AMT Orchestra. Tickets are $42.

The Rainbow Dinner Theatre (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, www.RainbowDinnerTheatre.com) is presenting its holiday production “Burglar’s Holiday” now through December 28. Ticket prices range from $48-$54.

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a few hours with Santa Claus, you should consider riding the rails with him — join the big guy in the red suit on one of the area’s special train excursions.

One of the best train rides with Santa Claus is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233 or www.westchesterrr.net).

The special “Santa’s Express” trains (which feature heated cars decorated for the holidays) will run on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. There will be additional departures at 5 p.m. on December 13, 14, 20 and 21.

The 90-minute journey on the trail line’s heated decorated train travels through the Chester Creek Valley. Santa Claus will be greeting everyone at Market Street Station and then going along for the ride to Glen Mills. Adult fare for the West Chester Railroad trips is $22. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $16 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $6.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-998-193, www.wwrr.com) will run its “Santa Claus Express” on Saturdays and Sundays now through Christmas. Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for senior citizens and $16 for children (ages 2-12).

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be riding along with passengers on the steam-powered 90-minute round trip to Ashland Station. He will be greeting everyone on board and offering chocolate treats to the youngsters. Santa will also be posing for pictures with his fans.

The tourist rail line will also be running special “Holiday Night Express Trains”, featuring a peaceful evening ride in the railroad’s 1929 Doodlebug rail car. Tickets for these trains, which run from December 12-30, are $12 for adults, $11 for senior citizens and $10 for children.

The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Paradise Express” now through December 20. Santa will be the featured guest on each ride from Strasburg to Paradise and back. Tickets for rides on the Strasburg Railroad are $17 for adults, $11 for children (ages 3-11) and $3 for toddlers (under age 3).

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is operating its “North Pole Express” now through December 23. Tickets are $45.95 for adults, $43.95 for children (ages 2-11) and $12.95 for toddlers.

Christmas trains also come in a smaller variety — model railroad displays.

One of the best model railroads in the area is at the Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, 215-247-5777, www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.html). The display, which is open to the public now through January 4 in the winter garden of the Morris Arboretum, has a quarter-mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and bustling model trains.

The buildings and the display are all made of natural materials. Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle. Admission to the Morris Arboretum is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors (65 and older) and $8 for students and military.

The Mount Hope Mansion (Route 72, Cornwall, 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com) features an annual holiday celebration honoring one of the most respected authors in the English language – Charles Dickens. The event, which is set in the mid-1800s, is called “Dickens of a Christmas.”

Various rooms in the mansion have been temporarily converted into mini-theaters which will host performances of some of the most popular holiday tales, including Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Tickets for adults are $16.95 on weekdays and $18.95 on weekends. Children’s tickets are $9.95 for all shows.

The popular annual event “Holidays at Hagley,” which is included with regular admission, is running now through January 6 at Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org).

The 2014 edition of “Holidays at Hagley” features tours of Eleutherian Mills, which is the first du Pont family home built in America. The tours, which will be presented each day from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., feature decorations in a combination of styles from both the 19th and 20th centuries.

The 1803 du Pont family ancestral home, Eleutherian Mills, will feature holiday decorations and interpretation on the French traditions of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Day and the celebration of Twelfth Night.

Dried flowers, greenery, fruits, and other natural materials create a beautiful holiday ambiance accentuated by soft lights and Christmas music. This year’s exhibit is inspired by the winter pastimes and pursuits of the property’s former residents.

Admission is $14 for adults and $5 for children (ages 6-14).

“A Longwood Gardens Christmas,” the festive holiday display at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org), is running now through January 11. It features spectacular lights, lavish decorations, holiday music and colorful displays featuring thousands of brilliant poinsettias, brightly decorated trees and fragrant flowers — all inside the heated Conservatory.

A special attraction at the 2014 “A Longwood Christmas” is the botanical tourist site’s bird-inspired display. The colorful annual event also has a lot of outdoor attractions such as fountain shows and nighttime light displays. Longwood’s Christmas celebration also includes a wide array of seasonal music — holiday concerts, organ sing-alongs and carillon performances.

When the sun goes down at Longwood, a night-blooming garden of more than a half-million lights strung on close to 100 trees with approximately 40 miles of wire comes to life. A carillon with 62 cast bells plays holiday music every half hour during daylight hours. Longwood’s Open Air Theatre fountains dance to holiday music each half hour — temperature permitting.

As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience. There are different prices for “Peak” and “Off Peak” times.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $20 (non-peak), $27 (peak) for adults), $17/$24 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and $10/$13; students (ages 5-18).

Another top-rated holiday event is the annual “Yuletide at Winterthur.”

This year’s 36th annual staging of the event, which runs now through January 4 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware,800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org), highlights the winter celebrations of H. F. du Pont and his family at Winterthur in the first half of the 20th century. It also ties in with Winterthur’s “Costumes of Downton Abbey” exhibition.

Special family activities include “Downton Afternoon Tea Buffet” (December 7 and 28 and January 4), “Family Workshops” (December 7 and 14), “Brunch with Santa” (December 13, 14, 20 and 21) and the “Yuletide Touch-It Room” (Monday–Friday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; weekends, 12:30-4:30 p.m.).

Timed Yuletide Tour reservations are required. Admission to Yuletide at Winterthur is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and students and $5 for children.

Nemours Mansion & Gardens (Route 141 South, Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-651-6912, www.nemoursmansion.org) is celebrating the Christmas season now through December 31with special three-hour holiday-themed tours.

During the holiday period, the guided tours will include several stories of the house and part of the gardens. Many of the rooms featured in the tour will be decorated as they would have been when DuPont resided there in the early 1900s while some will retain their traditional period decorations. Tickets for the tour at Nemours are $15.

Pennypacker Mills (3 Haldeman Road, Perkiomenville, 610- 287-9349, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) is hosting “Victorian Holiday Tours” now through January 4 while “Twelfth Night Tours at Pottsgrove Manor” (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610-326-4014, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) are running now through January 11.

Amusement parks have also become a favorite holiday attraction for families.

Now through December 31, “A Very Furry Christmas” will be presented by

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Place, Langhorne, 215-752-7070, www.sesameplace.com). The event is a one-of-a-kind family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite furry friends — Grover, Oscar and the rest of the gang from Sesame Street. Admission is $24.

“Christmas Candylane,” which is the annual holiday event at Hersheypark (100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheypark.com), is running now through December 31. Tickets are $12 per person.

Visitors to Hershey can also experience the winter wonderland called “Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular.” The attraction, which has an admission fee of $24.15 on Fridays and Saturdays and $19.15 the rest of the week, is a two-mile drive through wooded trails featuring approximately 600 illuminated, animated displays.

Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park (2249 Route 30 East, Lancaster, 866-386-2389, www.dutchwonderland.com) is hosting its “Dutch Winter Wonderland” now through December 30 on Saturdays, Sundays and select weekdays (December 26, 29 and 30). Tickets are $12.99.

When the Christmas season arrives in Europe, it is common to see Christmas villages erected in downtown locations of big cities. These villages are temporary sites that feature live music, a variety of holiday attractions and a large number of specialized vendors.

Philadelphia is keeping pace with the European cities with a Christmas village of its own — a special site that is open now through December 28.

“Christmas Village in Philadelphia” (Broad and Market streets, Philadelphia, 215-391-3017, www.philachristmas.com) is set up each holiday season in Love Park on the west side of City Hall. The free outdoor holiday market event, which is  is modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany, is running now through December 28.

Vendors selling traditional European food, sweets and drinks are set up in 60 wooden booths and timber houses that form a medieval village. They will also offer a unique shopping experience with international holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry and high-quality arts and crafts.

Bethlehem, which is known as the “Christmas City,” presents Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem (PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 East First Street, Bethlehem, 610-332-1300, http://www.christmascity.org) every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through December 21.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans. The market also features live performances of Christmas music and vendors with an amazing variety of tasty food items.

Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com), which is now in its 67^th annual season, will be open every night through January 1 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.

The village is a visual wonderland with a large amount of holiday displays and special attractions such as a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays. Admission to Christmas Village is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors (65 and older) and $7 for children (ages 4-10).

The Historic Odessa Foundation’s 2014 Christmas Holiday Tour will be presented now through January 4 in Odessa’s historic district (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org).

This year, the Historic Houses of Odessa’s Corbit-Sharp House (c. 1774) will be the focal point for the literature-inspired Christmas Holiday Tours. The exhibit is inspired by the classic fairy tale “Snow White.”