2018 Guide to All the Christmas Tree Lightings and Cool Holiday Events in Philly!
2018 Guide to All the Christmas Tree Lightings and Cool Holiday Events in Philly!
Tree Lightings
Circle of Trees Holiday Tree Lighting -Chestnut Hill
Nov. 17th | 5:30-7 pm | Woodmere Art Museu,
Family and friends come together to meet Santa and celebrate the beginning of Chestnut Hill’s holiday season. Enjoy live music, hot chocolate, cookies, and the opening of Woodmere’s holiday exhibition, The Night Before Christmas. Families are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to a charity for underprivileged children. Sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Business and Chestnut Hill Community Associations.
Tree Lighting at the Art Museum
Dec. 21st | 5-9 pm | Philadelphia Museum of Art
Museum admission is Pay What You Wish after 5:00 p.m. Join us for festive treats and music by York Street Hustle leading up to the 6:00 p.m. countdown. Warm (and adult) beverages and a live choir continue the celebration inside.
City Hall Christmas Tree Lighting
Nov. 24th | 5:30-7 pm | City Hall
The tree is an Abies Concoler tree from New York and was harvested and transported by Sautter Crane of Northeast Philadelphia.
Experience the winter wonderland of City Hall with twinkling lights, shopping, dining and more! Check out Craft Hall Pop-Up Restaurant, here until December 23. Sip on hot cocktails, wines and local beers or indulge in the seasonally inspired food menu. Whether you choose to warm up in the beautifully decorated heated tent or get cozy by the fire you’ll enjoy great views of the Philly Holiday Tree!
Manayunk Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 24th | 4-5:30 pm | 4321 Main St.
Shop small and shop local at over 50 small businesses to find something for everyone on your list as the neighborhood kicks off the holidays season with Small Business Saturday on November 24!
Rittenhouse Square Tree Lighting
Nov. 27th | 4-5 pm | Rittenhouse Square
Held annually in late November or early December, the Rittenhouse Square Holiday Park Lighting is organized by The Friends of Rittenhouse Square. The Holiday Park Lighting is a Philadelphia favorite and kicks-off the Rittenhouse holiday shopping season with family-friendly activities and music leading up to the lighting of the 30-foot holiday tree and white globe lights. The holiday park lights continue to be illuminated every night through the end of December. Please contact info@friendsofrittenhouse.org or 267-586-5675 for more information.
E. Passyunk Tree Lighting
Nov. 29th | 5-7 pm | 1904 E. Passyunk Ave.
East Passyunk Avenue BID and Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation invite you to kick off the holidays at the Annual East Passyunk Christmas Tree Lighting.
Santa Claus will help spread holiday cheer and be on hand to take photos with the children. A number of Avenue bakeries, restaurants and retailers will provide FREE sips and samples, including sweet and savory surprises for both children and adults.
After the lighting ceremony, Philadelphia Mummer string band members and carolers will lead people down the Avenue. For your holiday shopping needs, look for select shops along the Avenue to be open late to kick off the holiday shopping season.
East Passyunk’s Christmas Tree Lighting Party is free and open to everyone. Deck the Avenue and come kick-off a whole month of merrymaking in South Philadelphia!
South Street Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
Dec. 2nd | 4-6 pm | Headhouse Square Shambles
Following his traditional arrival via Engine 11 Firetruck , Santa will make the holidays official with the lighting of the Headhouse Christmas tree at 4:30pm.
Santa, Rudolph and Frosty will all be on hand for photos with the kids. South Street vendors will be under the Shambles offering snacks and hot cocoa and cider and there will entertainment as well.
Events
Electrical Spectacle Holiday Festival
Nov. 15th -Dec. 31st | Franklin Square Park
It’s sparkle time at Franklin Square for the 2018 Franklin Square Holiday Festival presented by Chase, including a winter beer garden with fire pits for warmth and charm and Ben’s Sweets & Treats where guests can create and taste a variety of treats such as s’mores and gourmet hot chocolate stations inside the heated tent with views of the Square. From November 15 – December 31, dazzle in the lights of the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show presented by PECO.
6ABC/Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade
Nov. 22nd | Ben Franklin Parkway
BLUE CROSS RIVERRINK WINTERFEST OPENING DAY
Nov. 23rd-24th | Blue Cross RiverRink
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
Nove. 23-Dec. 30th
Experience the magic of the holiday season deep beneath the surface during Christmas Underwater from Friday, November 23 thru Sunday, December 30. See the World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree, Snow Shower Dance Parties and more. Children can share their wishes with Scuba Santa by dropping their personalized letters in a special mailbox in Ocean Realm.
Winter Warmup Craft Beer & Festive Cocktail Celebration
Nov. 30th-Dec. 1st | 23rd St. Armory
Grab your friends & co-workers and choose from three different sessions over two days filled with an amazing look at the upcoming winter craft beer selections plus a chance to find your new favorite warm, festive cocktail selections. This pre-winter-themed festival comes complete with unlimited samples from 30+ breweries (serving up a wide variety of the very best winter brews, IPAs, stouts, porters, lagers, barrel-aged brews, and more), delicious local food trucks in ‘food truck alley’, 15+ specialty drinks (including spiked hot chocolate, warm ciders, hot toddys, and more), live entertainment, games and contests, festive holiday lights & decor, and tons of other fun activities to get the winter season started – including maybe a visit from Santa!
Jack Daniel’s Hot Toddy 5k presented by Xfinity Live
Dec. 1st | Xfinity Live
We are bringing the fun on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 10:30am for the fourth annual Jack Daniel’s Hot Toddy 5k. The 5k (3.1mile) race course starts and finishes at XFINITY Live! and features a loop around Citizens Bank Park and the Wells Fargo Center.
Parade of Lights at the Independence Seaport Museum
Dec. 8th | Independence Seaport Museum
Tis the season to get festive with family! Parade of Lights returns – a favorite annual holiday event at Independence Seaport Museum.
A parade of local working boats will be illuminated in holiday lights for all to see on the Delaware River at 5:30 p.m. The best spot to take in this unique sight is from the Museum’s second floor terrace. Warm seasonal beverages and food will be available in our Holiday Hut.
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Dec, 19th-29th | The Kimmel Center
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical features the hit songs “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” (written by Albert Hague and Dr. Seuss) from the original animated series. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday loving Whos. Magnificent sets (John Lee Beatty) and costumes (Robert Morgan) inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville, while the Music and Book of Mel Marvin and Timothy Mason breathe new life into this timeless story of the true meaning of Christmas. The 2018 production is directed by Matt August and choreographed by Bob Richard based on the original choreography by John DeLuca and originally created by 3-time Tony Award®-winning director, Jack O’Brien.
