By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The works of Sarah Snyder-Dinsel are featured in this year’s Unionville Art Gala.
Black Friday is looming on the horizon, and the season for holiday spending has begun.
A good way to kick off your live holiday shopping is by visiting an art show or a craft show where you can find one-of-a-kind gift possibilities.
Two of those events are on this weekend’s calendar.
The Annual Unionville Art Gala, which will be held on November 21 and 22 at Unionville High School (750 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, www.unionvilleartgala.com), is the largest area group art show of the season.
It features approximately 70 professional and 50 student artists with works in a wide array of styles and types, including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, wood carving and ceramics.
The Unionville Art Gala continues its tradition of sharing artistic excellence with the local community as it celebrates its 49th year.
Unionville’s art show is unique and strives to provide a venue for new and emerging artists as well as more established favorites.
The diverse art displayed at this event ranges from vibrant abstract modernism to sweeping lush landscapes. The show’s goal is to include a wide variety of artistic styles that will intrigue and captivate the public.
Watercolor, pastel, oil, metal, ceramic, jewelry, mosaic & glass art are featured at this well attended and popular event.
The featured artist is Sarah Snyder-Dinsel.
Snyder-Dinsel is a dedicated Chester County artist with over a decade of participation in the Art Gala. Sarah’s artistic journey began with her passion for illustration, which led her to earn a BFA in Illustration from the University of Delaware.
Her love of detail continues to guide her work today, whether she is painting beautiful local landscapes in a realistic style, capturing the unique spirit of beloved pets in her portraits, or creating hand-painted decorative pieces.
While Snyder-Dinsel’s paintings are often influenced by her illustrative roots, she also enjoys exploring compositions that open up imaginative, limitless spaces, giving her work a playful and distinctive quality. From her home studio in Chester County, she continues to share her love of storytelling through art that is versatile, timeless, and deeply personal.
This year’s participating artists are Carol Apicella, Andrea Barrier, Gregory Blue, Sungmin Bobyak, Rachel Broadbent, Christine Burke, Mike Campagna, Polly Davis Chalfant, Wendy Cotton, Rhonda Counts, Terri Davis, Francine Dunigan, Ivy Egger, Shawn Faust, Karl Fehrenbach, Patricia Flaherty, Patsy Keller, Kiya Nicole, Gwenn Knapp, Kimberly Lamarra, Grette Klingenberg, Brian Magargal, Carol Mangano, Margaret Matuszewski, Kelly McConnell Cox, Roger McConnell, Diane Micklin, Anne Patrizi, Jill Pearson, Nicole Plockmeyer, Bebe Poor, Kathy Ruck, Julia Shaternik, Ales Shaternik, Rebecca Scheuer, Don Shoffner, Annie Strack, Cindi Strengari, Bill Sweeney, Connie Wagner, Hattie Weselyk, Mary Ann Weselyk, Janet Williams, Katy Winters, Bobby Wolf and Nina Yocom.
The 2025 Art Gala also includes a Student Art section which highlights the impressive artistic talents nurtured by the outstanding UHS Art Department. In addition to approximately 175 student artists, students who demonstrate particularly refined and distinct talents are selected as Featured Student Artists each year.
Live music and light appetizers will be part of the opening night reception on Friday from 6-9 p.m. The show continues on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with live music and access to view the art.
Admission is free and 30 percent of all sales are tax deductible. There is also free parking.
The 2025 Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar will be held on November 22 and 23 at the Event Center at Rivers Casino (1001 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, http://www.artstarcraftbazaar.com/about-art-star-craft-bazaar-philadelphia) from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.The event will feature a line-up of 75 curated art and craft vendors from the region. The show will provide an excellent opportunity to support independent makers and, at the same time, shop local this holiday season.
The show will feature a thoughtfully curated mix of handmade goods by returning Art Star favorites and many new vendors. Jewelry, pottery, housewares, clothing, men’s and women’s accessories, art, prints, blown glass, stationery, papercuts, t-shirts, baby gifts and more will be available.
Admission is $3 — children (under 12) admitted free.
The 2025 “Holiday Light Parade in Kennett Square” is scheduled for November 22 from 6-8 p.m.
The parade website (kennettcollaborative.org ) lists “Three things you won’t want to miss” — Longwood Garden’s leading the parade with their restored 1969 International Loadstar 1800 stake body dump truck that has been featured in their Holiday Display since 2023; The Woodland String Band — a beloved Philadelphia Mummers group known for their dazzling costumes, lively music, and high-energy performances that will bring their signature sparkle and festive spirit to Kennett Square for the very first time; and The Papier-Mâché Mushroom on the Kennett Collaborative float — a whimsical creation that many community members helped craft during Third Thursday in August.The fun kicks off at 6 p.m. with Longwood Performing Arts holiday dance in front of Portabello’s and El Ranchero.
Throughout the evening, visitors can enjoy live performances by the Kennett High School Marching Band, the Dixie Demons High School Alumni Band, the Lenape Brass Ensemble, and the Woodland String Band.
The parade will be the largest yet, featuring more than 100 illuminated floats, trucks, bands, dancers, and community groups. The grand finale will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will light the town’s Christmas tree to officially kick off the holiday season.
The Brandywine Museum of Art
The Brandywine Museum of Art Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org) is celebrating the 53rd anniversary of the Brandywine Railroad holiday train display now through January 4.
A holiday favorite since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad features trains running on 2,000 feet of track and contains more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, a drive-in movie theater and even a carnival.
A dazzling array of both toy and scale model trains can be seen chugging through the varied scenery, including those made by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-line and others. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display to allow for further engagement.
The Brandywine Railroad holiday train display is included in the cost of general admission, which is $25 adults, $23 seniors (65+) and $10 children (ages 5-18) and students with ID.
Downtown West Chester’s “Annual Hanging of the Greens 2025” will take place on November 22 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the shopping area of West Chester (www.downtownwestchester.com).
For more than 45 years, downtown storefronts have come alive with fresh greens and bright red bows to mark the start of the holiday season.
Business owners purchase their greens from Downtown West Chester. Then, on November 22, hundreds of volunteers spend the day hanging them throughout town.
With ladders, bows, and plenty of cheer, they will transform West Chester’s downtown into a festive holiday scene.
For the second year in a row, Philadelphia is one of the host cities of Astra Lumina.
Astra Lumina Philadelphia, which is the 24th experience in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series, will be held now through December 31 at the Abington Art Center (515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, astralumina.com).
Astra Lumina Philadelphia welcomes visitors to an extraordinary place — a garden right here on earth that shares a special connection with the sky above. Come nightfall, the garden sets the stage for a phenomenal event — a visit from the stars.
Astra Lumina Philadelphia is a one-mile-long enchanted night walk through a wooded sculpture park of varying terrain that guides visitors on a journey to discover the wonder of visiting stars.
Through the magic of projections, lighting, and music, astral energy transforms the garden into a celestial pathway, connecting visitors to the stars and the vast world around them.
The stars are descending from the night sky. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song.
Participants can immerse themselves in illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound, and connect with the stars before they return to the sky above.
Located on a historic 27-acre campus, just 10 miles from Center City Philadelphia, Abington Art Center is a beautiful setting for the enchanting Astra Lumina. The campus has been transformed to create a magical journey.
Weapons (including off duty officers), flash photography, outside food or alcohol, light-up accessories that distract from the experience, or anything that may disturb other patrons are prohibited.
All guests must pass through handheld metal detector wands and bag check before entering the experience.
Video link for Astra Lumina — https://youtu.be/2mPra01OgCM.
The event will run now through December 31. Ticket prices start at $29.
On November 22, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” walking tour at noon.
In life and in death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead?
This tour provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill’s long history, which includes many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views, and legendary stories about Laurel Hill.
The Tour Guide will be Joe Lex.
Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for students.
On November 23, the site will present “A Walk Around the Summit Section” at 1 p.m.
Laurel Hill West contains approximately 90,000 burials- so there are a lot of stories to tell.
During this tour, visitors will be treated to over 16 stories of fascinating individuals, without ever leaving the “Summit” section.
Admission is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8.50 for students.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the summer.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Tickets are $35.
A good location for a nature walk is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features a “Saturday Wildflower Walk” on November 22.
With 650 protected acres of beautiful woodland, seasonally charming meadows, and a lively program of seasonal events and activities, Tyler Arboretum is a delight for nature lovers, birders, botanists, and those who want rediscover the natural world.
Dating to 1681, making it one of the oldest public gardens in the United States, and home to eight generations of three families, Tyler Arboretum connects visitors to the region’s rich culture and history while preserving, developing, sharing, and celebrating Pennsylvania’s priceless horticultural heritage.
“Saturday Wildflower Walk,” which runs from 1-3 p.m., features wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that will take guests through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.
Although the focus is on plants, Cloud will also talk about whatever else is seen on the tour. Walkers should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring a camera and/or a wildflower guide, for this botanical-filled walk.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-17).
Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Festive Faves” on Saturdays and Sundays in November and December.
Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room. The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across its portfolio.
The selections will be paired alongside seasonal local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at our partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
Tickets are $35 per person.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Ave., Oaks, 484-754-3976, http://www.phillyexpocenter.com) is hosting two of its most popular events this weekend.
Monster-Mania Con 65 will be held now through November 23.
One of the nation’s premier horror film conventions, Monster-Mania Con features an impressive list of celebrities who will be appearing this weekend, including Vincent D’Onofrio, Juliette Lewis, Gillian Anderson, Ralph Macchio, Linda Blair, and Michael Rooker.
Visitors to the convention will be able to meet the stars, get autographs, browse vendor rooms and enjoy films and special events all weekend long.
Activities get underway at 4 p.m. on November 21 and at 10 a.m. on November 22 and 23.
Admission is $41.74 each day.
The East Coast Reptile Super Expo featuring hundreds of live snakes and reptiles will be held on November 22.
Many people think snakes and lizards are interesting creatures and maybe even fun pets to own. If you fall into this category, you should check out the show on Saturday.
A wide array of reptiles will be on display as part of the popular exhibition, which is an annual event that is closing in on its silver anniversary.
One of the show’s main attractions is a sales exhibit area featuring many vendors with live reptiles, amphibians and arachnids as well as food items, supplies, books, cages, and related accessories.
Some of the featured vendors are AZO Reptiles, Rose’s Reptiles, Darin’s Toybox, Blake’s Exotic Reptiles, Dower Reptiles & Rodents, Reptile Kingdom, DHA Pythons, Gecko Haven, Hunger Reptiles, Jungle Emporium, Delaware Turtle, Just Lizards, Outback Reptiles, RKZ Rodents. Monstar Reptiles, Turtle to Turtle, and Delaware Valley Herpetarium.
The East Coast Reptile Super Expo, which is always a well-attended event, will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. this Saturday.
Tickets are $10 — children (under five) admitted free.
Get ready — it’s time for the annual onslaught of Christmas events. This is the first weekend. Next weekend, everything slams into high gear.
The German Christmas Festival, which is also known as Christkindl Markt, will take place November 22 at the Delaware Saengerbund (49 Salem Church Road, Newark, Delaware, 302-366-9454, www.delawaresaengerbund.org).
The free event is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m.
The kitchen will open at 11 a.m. and feature a wide array of German cakes, stollen and pastries along with a variety of hot food and sandwich items. The Bauernstube (restaurant) will be open all day with food and beverages.
A wide array of vendor booths will be set up at the festival featuring imported candy, handmade articles, German Christmas items and ornaments, bakery items, a White Elephant sale and a children’s gift shop.
Live entertainment will be presented all day with dance performances by the Children’s Enzian Volkstanzgruppe at 1 p.m. and seasonal music by Enzian Musikanten throughout the day. Santa is scheduled to arrive between 2:30 and 3 p.m.
Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org) was closed until November 17 for holiday decorating.
Guests were able to resume visiting when Nemours reopened for its “Noël at Nemours Estate,” which will run from November 18 through December 30.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room Mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
Alfred named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
Admission to Nemours is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and $12 for children.
One of the best holiday events in the area is the annual “Yuletide at Winterthur.” This year’s 47th annual staging of the event, which runs through January 4 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, www.winterthur.org).
Visitors can revel in the beauty and warmth of the holidays and explore treasures of Christmases past with displays of holiday traditions from the 1800s to the early 20th century, including displays of: the earliest types of colorful lights decorating house exteriors; the du Pont family holiday celebrations; and the evolution of Christmas trees over the decades from the 1880s to 1960s.
This year’s Yuletide Tour features artful displays and beautifully adorned trees throughout the historic home, celebrating timeless tales such as “A Christmas Carol,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and more.
Whimsical treasures like a grand gingerbread replica of the train station, a magical dollhouse, and a toy train display add to the fun.
Additionally, there will be evening hours on select Fridays and Saturdays for candlelit tours, live music, cozy firepits, workshops, specialty cocktails, and seasonal fare in the café.
As always, the rooms will be enhanced with the floral displays so essential to du Pont’s decorating, and with special Christmas trees inspired by the beauty of Winterthur’s gardens — including the popular Dried Flower Tree in the Conservatory.
The Winterthur estate, now known as Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, was named by Swiss-born Jacques-Antoine Bidermann, husband of Evelina Gabrielle du Pont, to honor his ancestral home.
Noëlle Grüebler (violin) and Olivia Geiser (piano), dedicated their project, Winterthur and Music, to various composers linked to Winterthur, Switzerland, providing insight into the vibrant musical scene of this town on the outskirts of Zurich. Join us for a Yuletide evening as we bring the two Winterthurs together through music.
Admission to Winterthur is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors and students and $9 for children.
On November 22, the Chestnut Hill Circle of Trees will take place at the Woodmere Art Museum (9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Woodmere Art Museum, www.woodmereartmuseum.org).
During the event, which runs from 5:30-7 p.m., family and friends come together to meet Santa and celebrate the beginning of Chestnut Hill’s holiday season.
Santa will be riding through the neighborhood in his favorite firetruck. He’ll visit several neighborhood locations, beginning with Woodmere Art Museum at 5:30 p.m., followed by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, and the Wyndmoor train station.
Elves will distribute holiday treat bags to children while Santa rides by.
Families are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to a charity for underprivileged children.
The event, which is sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Business and Community Association, is free and open to the public.
Now through January 1, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, www.philadelphiazoo.org) will host LumiNature, a gigantic holiday season light experience that turns the entire Zoo into a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises.
The giant-sized holiday extravaganza will transform the entire Zoo into a nighttime winter wonderland. Guests will experience a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises.
New this year will be the Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel, a new observation wheel ferris wheel with breathtaking scenes of the lights and overlooking the city where the former Zoo balloon was.
LumiNature will expand to feature illuminated experience zones that will feature lively themed displays, newly enhanced installations and thousands of twinkling lights on a breathtaking journey celebrating the wonder of wildlife and the beauty of our planet.
LumiNature will feature more than a million lights and 10+ miles of power cord.
New for this year are Santa’s Lodge, a cozy indoor space with the chance to say hello to the big man himself, and Jambi’s Solstice Saloon, the perfect spot to chill along the beaming river.
Favorite returning illuminated displays include the high-energy Penguin Prismatic show with a 40 ft. tall penguin shining with 40,000 lights and the famous 25 ft. tall pink flamingo tree, made entirely out of 1,500 lawn ornament flamingos.
Additionally, seasonal fare, strolling performers, hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages promise to additionally spark the holiday spirit.
Tickets start at $22 for adults and $18 for children.
The 2025 Winter in Franklin Square holiday festival (200 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, http://www.historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/holidays-in-franklin-square/) opens its season on November 20 runs until February 28.
It will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
The Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show will be open from 5-9 p.m. daily and will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Visitors are invited to experience the magic of the holidays and celebrate traditions new and old at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival.
Inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s electrifying genius, the free Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show presented by PECO is the key to holiday fun in Franklin Square.
Attendees can marvel at more than 50,000 lights as they shimmer, dance, and illuminate the Square to a soundtrack of holiday classics, some of which are performed by The Philly POPS in two alternating shows every 30 minutes.
A popular annual Philly holiday tradition can be found at the Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park),
Beginning this November, some of Philadelphia’s favorite winter traditions return to Dilworth Park. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a dramatic seasonal transformation as fountains are replaced by the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
Ice Rink and reindeer topiaries take up winter residence on the Greenfield Lawn.
In addition, a full lineup of free entertainment is planned, including the Deck the Hall Light Show, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Cabin.
Dilworth Park’s winter season is running now through March 14.
The Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is an unparalleled entertainment experience on Philadelphia’s center stage in a wonderfully urban and unique setting. Open seven days a week, the rink offers wintery fun for all ages, with a full slate of programs.
The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market runs through January 1 with more than 40 local vendors.
Candlelight Dinner Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is celebrating Opening Night for its annual holiday show .
“Christmas by Candlelight” will open on November 15 and run through December 21.
There’s no place like home for the holidays so the Candlelight is thrilled to welcome audiences “home” to the barn for its heartwarming celebration of the yuletide season back by popular demand.
The show features favorite seasonal and sacred tunes, as well as some new surprises, brought to life by some of the theater’s most popular cast and staff.
Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $77.50 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4-12). “Show Only” tickets, which have limited availability, cost $35.
The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running now through December 30.
The AMT’s 2025 show “Deck the Halls” is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country.
The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing and the music of the AMT Orchestra.
The show features incredible singers, astonishing dancers, wondrous costumes, breathtaking sets, and all the endearment of a perfect fireside family moment. Patrons can bask in the beauty of the season and cherish the stories of spirit and love.
The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Tickets are $59 for adults, $57 for seniors and $30 for children.
“Christmas Candylane,” which is the annual holiday event at Hersheypark (100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheypark.com), is running now through January 4.
Visitors to Hershey can also experience the winter wonderland called “Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular.” The attraction is a two-mile drive through wooded trails featuring approximately 600 illuminated, animated displays.
Admission prices for “Christmas Candylane” start at $46.99.
“A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends live and in-person at the amusement park in Langhorne.
The annual event, which runs through January 4, offers a wide array of family holiday activities.
Visitors to the park can sing along at three special Christmas shows and a spectacular music and light show at our giant 1-2-3 Christmas Tree, take a train ride tour through the Twiddlebugs’ Gingerbread Cookie Factory on the Sesame Place Furry Express,take part in the Neighborhood Street Party Christmas Parade, and have the opportunity to meet Lightning, the adorable reindeer from the movie “Elmo Saves Christmas.”
As an added attraction this year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is spending the holiday season at Sesame Place. The lovable reindeer along with his friends Clarice and Bumble, will be available for photos with guests.
Tickets for “A Very Furry Christmas” start at $29.99.
Now that Christmas activities have begun, Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, http://peddlersvillage.com) is starting its celebration and that means there will be a lot of activity at the site over the next few weeks.
Visitors to the Village can join special guest Mrs. Claus for festive fun and mini-lightings in a different Village neighborhood each night leading up to the Village-wide Grand Illumination Celebration. Village shops will be open until 9 p.m. with a distinctive assortment of merchandise, special promotions and refreshments.
The 25th Annual Grand Illumination celebration will showcase thousands of tiny white lights outlining the Village’s buildings, colorful lights with less-than-common colors (teal, peach, and fuscia) adorning the trees and shrubs and a landscaped backdrop featuring a group of reindeer glowing in white light.
Santa will arrive to turn on the lights and officially mark the beginning of the event. After the lights go on, visitors will be treated to free cider and toasted marshmallows.
November 14 also marks the start of Peddler’s Village “Gingerbread House Competition and Display.” Slated to run through January 5, the “Gingerbread House Competition” features over $2,000 in cash prizes in such categories as Traditional and Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building.
The holiday lights will be on display every evening through January 18. Shops will be open until 10 p.m. There will be free admission and free parking.
If you take a trip to the Lehigh Valley, you can check out three very impressive holiday lights displays.
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 Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through December 22.
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.
Other special attractions include ice carving, glassblowing demonstrations, “Breakfast with St. Nicholas,” outdoor artisan huts, fire pits and igloos in the Outdoor Village, and Käthe Wohlfarht with handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles from Germany.
Admission fee is $14.50.
The “Illumination at Coca-Cola Park” opens on November 14 at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Baseball Stadium – Coca-Cola Park (1050 IronPigs Way, Allentown, illuminationlv.com ).
“Illumination at Coca-Cola Park” will take place nightly from 6-9 p.m. and feature more than one million holiday lights. Every 15-20 minutes, a dazzling synchronized music, and light show will take place featuring a breathtaking display where the stadium lights come alive in harmony with the holiday music.
Building on a wildly successful debut, “Illumination” has added various new entertainment options in addition to the spectacular lights show to help create the greatest holiday experience in the Lehigh Valley.
Guests will now be able to take part in a traditional carousel ride or even take a hayride with Mrs. Claus during their visit. For those with a competitive side, or even those looking for a truly unique experience, curling lanes have been added and are available for rent.
Joining Mrs. Claus as nightly new characters will be the Grinch and Cousin Eddie. Guests will have even more opportunities to snap the perfect flick for their holiday cards with additional sELFie stations.
Building on a successful debut, the food menu at Illumination will also feature new additions with even more holiday treats. Plus, a new large heated dining tent will be available for guests to relax and enjoy their food.
Admission prices start at $11.
Winter Light Spectacular will be held at the Lehigh Valley Zoo (5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville, www.lvzoo.org) from November 14-January 3.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo celebrates the most magical time of the year during the annual Winter Light Spectacular, beginning Friday, November 14, through Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Guests can bundle up and enjoy the beauty of nature as they stroll through tree-lined paths lit up by more than 1.2 million twinkling lights and themed animated displays.
They will be able to warm up next to the cozy outdoor fire pits, while enjoying hot cocoa and Stuffed Puffs® Classic Milk Chocolate Filled Marshmallow s’mores.
And there are plenty of photo opportunities to capture the children’s delight when they encounter Santa, Anna, Elsa, Belle, and Cinderella.
General admission is $11.
A popular Christmas activity every year is taking a train ride with Santa Claus. Fortunately, there are quite a few very good options in our area.
One of the best train rides with Santa Claus is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, www.wcrailroad.com).
The special “Santa’s Express” trains (which feature heated cars decorated for the holidays) will run on November 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 and December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
The 75-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 $40. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $30 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $15.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Paradise Express” now through December 24.
Santa will be the featured guest on each ride from Strasburg to Paradise and back.
The rotund guy in the red suit will be greeting passengers, shaking hands, posing for photos and giving a treat to each child. After the train ride, children are treated to storybook readings of holiday classics. Visitors of all ages can also enjoy a ride aboard the Tinsel Trolley, a self-propelled motor car.
Tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for children.
Other “Christmas Experiences” offered by the rail line are “Santa Claus Limited,” “Night Before Christmas,” “Christmas Tree Train” and “Christmas Caboose.”
The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s North Pole Express Train — The Magical Journey Begins Here” now through December 30.
Riders can join Santa and Mrs. Claus as they depart New Hope Station for a train ride through the historic Bucks County countryside on the way to the North Pole.
The journey begins when the Conductor calls “All Aboard!”
Passengers will experience the sounds and tastes of the holiday season as they sing along with roaming musicians playing Christmas carols, sip warm cocoa and enjoy a freshly baked cookie.
Each child will receive his or her own sleigh bell gift from Santa himself. Children and adults alike are encouraged to indulge in the season’s spirit by wearing pajamas and settling in for a relaxing ride with family and friends aboard the festive railway cars adorned with holiday decorations.
Ticket prices start at $70.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Christmas Elves Express” on November 28, 29 and 30.
When Santa’s quirky team of elves—Finnigan Frost, Trixie Toymaker, Gabby Gumdrop, and Iceberg Ike—accidentally open a magical Forgetfulness Potion, they lose all memory of who they are… and worse, they forget who Santa Claus is!
Now it’s up to you, our merry passengers, to help bring back their Christmas spirit before it’s too late. Join Santa and the elves on a festive, interactive train ride filled with laugh-out-loud moments, silly pranks, jolly sing-alongs, and heartwarming surprises.
Can your coach reach peak Christmas spirit and help the elves remember who Santa really is? Only one way to find out!
Perfect for families, kids, and anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas.
Fun characters, music, dancing, and snow—this is one train ride you won’t forget.
Tickets are $42.99 for adults and $22.99 for children.
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (Reading Outer Station, Reading, www.rbmnrr-passenger.com) is running its 2025 “Santa Claus Special” excursions from a variety of locations – Nesquehoning, Tunkhannock, Tamaqua, Minersville, Pittston and Reading.
Santa Claus will be visiting with each of the children and there will be live holiday music performed throughout the ride.
Trains depart at 10:30 a.m. and 1 and 3:30 p.m.
All Trains Are 80 Minutes Round Trip
Tickets start at $22.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Santa’s Polar Bear Express” from November 28-December 24.
Kids can join Santa on a magical adventure into “Christmas Past” on an exciting train journey. They will be able to sip complimentary hot cocoa or enjoy Christmas cookies and, on some trains, sing favorite carols as the Secret Valley passes by the window. Santa will bring a gift for every child, and every child has an opportunity to give their Christmas letter to him.
The rail line also is running “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” excursions now through December 19.
These special evening trains bring the storybook magic of the season to life. Kids are invited to wear pajamas and sip complimentary hot cocoa as the train crew reads “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Ticket prices start at $52.
Anyone wanting to get into a Christmas mood early can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which began its 77th season on last week.
Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 3 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.
The tours of “Christmas Village” feature visits to a variety of displays and exhibits, including “Santa’s Post Office,” “Christmas in the Jungle,” “Manger Scene,” “Christmas Beneath the Sea,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Olde Fashioned Bakery Shop,” “Toy Maker and his Toy Shop,” “Christmas in Other Lands” and “The Olde Church”.
Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $13 for adults, $12 for seniors (65 and older) and $11 for children (ages 4-10).
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.
“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages.
Participants can experience the rush of TreeTrails Adventures as they swing through the trees of the new adventure park. They will be able to discover the excitement of climbing and zip lining above the forest floor with family, friends, co-workers, or teammates.
The park, which is based at Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, offers two ways to experience climbing – TreeTrails Adventure Park and KidTrails Park. Young explorers can enjoy miniaturized courses in the adjacent KidTrails Park.
General Park Admission prices are: Main Park Adult Tickets (Ages 12+), $59; Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $12.
Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.
Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.
Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.
Ticket prices start at $47.
