By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Winterthur
One of the best holiday events in the area is the annual “Yuletide at Winterthur.”
This year’s annual staging of the event runs through January 4 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, www.winterthur.org).
There will be a heavy literary vibe to this year’s “A Yuletide at Winterthur.” English teachers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven.
Dazzling decorations and imaginative holiday trees inspired by poems, traditional tales, and children’s books will delight visitors to “Yuletide at Winterthur.”
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.
Winterthur will offer fun for all ages, including magical garden displays and a large gingerbread replica of the historic train station on the estate.
Guests will encounter enchanting displays based on “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” “Alice in Wonderland,” C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and other literary classics.
Outside decorations will feature festive lights, antique sleighs, holiday trees suspended above the Reflecting Pool and the front pond, and vignettes inspired by the 1911 novel “The Secret Garden.”
Other nods to literary works include a feast table display and champagne tower in the historic Greenhouse area and a tree celebrating Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in the Visitor Center.
Decorated rooms on the self-guided museum tour will feature holiday trees paired with the literary works that inspired them, theatrical props, and museum and library objects, such as Victorian combs, pocket watches, and historic toys, which will bring the stories to life.
The Du Pont Dining Room will feature a display inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” In an opulent scene from the story, Ebenezer Scrooge’s boss, Old Fezziwig, hosts a grand Christmas party for his friends, family, and employees.
Delaware Shakespeare actors recorded a soundscape that will set the mood for the party scene and dining room decor.
In one room, guests will peer through a rendering of an open wardrobe to see the holiday tree inspired by “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.”
A purple tree in the Port Royal Entrance Hall will evoke “The Purple Cow” poem by Gelett Burgess. The literary selection is a nod to Winterthur’s early days as a farm, where founder Henry Francis du Pont bred prized Holstein Friesian dairy cattle.
Just inside, in the exquisite Port Royal Parlor, there will be a holiday tree that pays tribute to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 Jazz-Age classic novel, “The Great Gatsby.”
Other literary works that will be brought to life inside the museum include “Gift of the Magi,” “The Black Tulip,” “Moby Dick, the life and works of Edith Wharton, including an 1897 edition of “Decoration of Houses,” and William Wordsworth’s poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.”
The iconic Dried-Flower Tree, a focal point of Yuletide at Winterthur, will once again be on display in the soaring, glass-walled Conservatory at the museum entrance.
A Winterthur tradition since 1985, the tree is a design masterpiece that showcases over 60 kinds of dried flowers artfully arranged into an unforgettable holiday display.
Guests will marvel at a grand gingerbread replica of the Winterthur Train Station (c. 1890), adding a sweet and whimsical touch to the festivities, along with a magical dollhouse and an interactive toy train display.
For the fourth year, Bredenbeck’s Bakery & Ice Cream Parlor in Philadelphia created Winterthur’s Yuletide gingerbread display. The family-run business has been in operation for over a century.
The Winterthur Train Station gingerbread replica will be Bredenbeck’s biggest challenge yet. It took a team of six people 102 hours to mix, bake, and decorate the train station. Made with 18 pounds of butter and 62 pounds of sugar, the finished creation, including a special support board, weighs 196.5 pounds.
Winterthur’s festive toy train display in Brown Horticulture Learning Center will showcase Lionel and other standard gauge trains Tuesdays through Sundays, December 21-31.
There will be a special “New Year’s Day Hike” on January 1, where estate guides will lead guests on a peaceful, family-friendly hike through scenic meadows, woodlands, and trails.
Visitors can start the new year with intention, inspiration, and the great outdoors. Winterthur will host a rejuvenating guided hike through the stunning landscapes on the estate starting at 11:15 a.m.
Estate guides will lead participants on a peaceful, family-friendly journey through scenic meadows, woodlands, and trails.
Admission to Yuletide at Winterthur is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors and students and $9 for children. Infants (under 2) are admitted free.
“Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester” (greaterwestchester.com/events/featured-events/holiday-weekends-west-chester) will run through January 1.Transformed into a winter wonderland, the streets of historic West Chester are bathed in the glow of thousands of holiday lights every evening in November and December. Each weekend features holiday festivities, shopping and dining.
On Saturdays from 2-3 p.m., the “Making Spirits Bright Holiday Music Series” will feature local choirs and performances singing favorite holidays songs every Saturday on the steps of the historic courthouse on High Street.
Herr’s “Holiday Light Display,” which is free and open to the public, will be open nightly now through January 5.
Visitors to the site will be able to drive along a trail that is illuminated with more than 620,000 lights.
The special light exhibit will be open daily from dusk to dawn.
The fabulous holiday light display “West Chester Griswolds” (304 Dutton Mill Rd, West Chester, www.westchestergriswolds.com) opened on Thanksgiving night and will run through January 2.
The 2024 display has over 140,000 lights and 800 smart pixels. Of which 99% are LED. The display is completely computer controlled.
The singing light bulbs will sing all throughout the night.
Rose Tree Park
Throughout the month of December, Rose Tree Park (1671 North Providence Road, Media, delconew.azurewebsites.net) sparkles at night with its annual “Festival of Lights” display.
Dozens of illuminated trees and lit displays draw visitors back every year to walk in the winter wonderland and linger in the festive atmosphere.
The 50th annual “Festival of Lights” is running now until January 4 from 5-10 p.m. each night.
Delaware County’s annual “Festival of Lights” began more than four decades ago as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration and became a popular local tradition for residents of all ages.
Over time, the outdoor displays have grown from 50 decorated trees (one for each municipality and one large one to represent the county) to more than 75 lighted trees and dozens of festive figures, including toy soldiers, a gingerbread family and Santa’s reindeer.
This is a free event.
Holiday Magic” is in full swing at Riverfront Wilmington (Christina Riverwalk, Wilmington, Delaware, riverfrontwilm.com).
Riverfront Wilmington has always been one of the centerpieces of the greater Wilmington area during the holiday season with festive events and activities throughout the area.
The Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware (RDC) has dramatically increased that presence with the introduction of “Riverbright Wilmington,” a full lighting of the Riverwalk and surrounding amenities.
At the end of November, the Christina Riverwalk was transformed into a walk-through holiday light display, with trees and archways wrapped in holiday lights, holiday décor throughout the area, and holiday-themed events throughout the season. The almost two-mile Riverwalk from Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park to the DuPont
Environmental Education Center will be lit, offering guests a chance to stroll along the river and enjoy the festive display.
The illumination of the Riverwalk will create a magical winter wonderland for all ages to enjoy.
Rock Ford Plantation (881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, 717-392-7223, www.rockfordplantation.org), which was the home of plantation owner Edward Hand, presents holiday tours during the days following Christmas. This year, the “Yuletide Tours” will be presented through December 29.
Yuletide was celebrated in the late 1700s during the 12-day period between Christmas (December 25, the day Christ was born) and Twelfth Night/the Feast of the Magi (January 6, the day the Magi offered their gifts to the infant Christ).
Visitors are invited to step back to a time when Christmas Day was only the beginning of the season. They can learn about 18th century Yuletide traditions and customs as harpsichord music fills the air and period dancers perform in the hallway of the decorated General Edward Hand Mansion.
There will also be cooking demonstrations by members of the Historic Rock Ford Warm Hearth Committee.
Yuletide Tours of the Hand Mansion are self-guided. Please note that the Mansion does have steps, and no public restroom facilities are available inside the Mansion. A portable restroom unit located in the main parking lot is available for guests.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for youth.
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.
This month, the Neag Planetarium at the Reading Public Museum (500 Museum Road, Reading, www.readingpublicmuseum.org) will host “James Hood’s Beautifica.”
“Beautifica 360 – A Celebration of Life” was created by visionary composer James Hood and acclaimed immersive artists.
Celebrated as a versatile musical pioneer, Grammy-nominated artist James Hood is known for his groundbreaking work, and multi-sensory projects blending music and art.
His extensive musical résumé includes drumming for The Pretenders, more than two decades as the creative force behind the visionary ambient act Moodswings, and a wide array of production and soundtrack projects.
Before “Beautifica,” Hood transformed the world of immersive artistic experiences with “Mesmerica 360,” the record-breaking experience that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
With “Beautifica 360,” breathtaking worlds of light and sound come alive in this 360° dome experience.
Audiences can lose themselves in mesmerizing constellations and ethereal landscapes.
Nestled within the Reading Public Museum, the Neag Planetarium is a captivating destination that transports visitors into the depths of space. It is located at 500 Museum Road in Reading.
Show will be presented on December 27 and 28 and January 3, 4, 10 and 11.
Tickets are $39.50.
Berks County Parks and Recreation’s Holiday Lights event at Gring’s Mill, which is celebrating its 36th anniversary this year, is running now through December 29.
Visitors can stroll the grounds at Gring’s Mill (2083 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing, www.bctv.org) and view the light display featured in the park’s historic buildings and landscapes.
The display is open from 5:30-8:30 p.m..
Admission and parking are free.
On December 27, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, laurelhillphl.com) will present “Sacred Spaces & Storied Places.”
This walking tour provides a wonderful overview of Laurel Hill West’s long and colorful history, including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history.
“Sacred Spaces & Storied Places” is the perfect introductory tour that provides an overview of Laurel Hill West including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history. Experienced tour guides offer visitors a unique perspective as no two tours are the same.
The expansion of Fairmount Park in the 1860s prevented further growth of Laurel Hill, and in 1869 West Laurel Hill was established just across the river in Bala Cynwyd. This walking tour provides a wonderful overview of West Laurel Hill’s long and colorful history, including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history.
This weekend’s Tour Guide will be Linda Blowney.
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $15/General Admission, $13/Seniors (65 & up) and Students with ID, $7.50/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & Under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.
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: Winter Edition” on December 27.
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 12-17).
The Brandywine Museum of Art Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org) is celebrating the 52nd 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.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is celebrating the holidays with the annual favorite — “A Longwood Gardens Christmas.”
The festive holiday display at Longwood Gardens, which is running now through January 12, features more than 500,000 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 new attraction this year is the “Taste of Christmas” at The Fountain Room in the Gardens. The Fountain Room recently opened as part of “Longwood Reimagined.” In addition to tasty food, it also offers a premier view of the Main Fountain Garden.
The restaurant has 240 seats and features new dining options, new seasonal menus, and a private dining room, plus a bar and lounge.
There will be stations featuring gourmet entrees, a wide array of sweet treats, non-alcoholic beverages and hot chocolate. Special tickets are required.
Tickets for “Taste of Christmas” at The Fountain Room, which include gardens admission, are $178.74 for adults (ages 21+), $117.34 (ages 13-20); and $74.94 (ages 5-12); members $136.74 (21+), $94.34 (ages 13-20), $51.94 (ages 5-12). Kids age 4 or younger are free.
The highlight of “Longwood Reimagined” is the West Conservatory. The 32,000-square-foot glasshouse was designed by Weiss/Manfredi while the gardens and water features were put together by Reed Hilderbrand.
The colorful annual event, which appeals to the entire family, 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 darkness arrives 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.
Visitors to “A Longwood Gardens Christmas” can also check out Longwood’s Garden Railway — a whimsical display set into motion with G-scale model trains. This is the 18th year that the railway has delighted visitors with special water features and custom trains traveling in and out of bridges and tunnels.
Tickets are $42 for adults and $25 for youth.
Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Festive Faves” on select Saturdays and Sundays through January 31.
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 our 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.
The following is the 2025 Pairing Line Up: Greeting Wine, Sparkling White; 2023 Chardonnay with Triple Cream Brie; Harbinger with Red Wine Salami; 2023 Cabernet Franc with Clothbound Cheddar and Cranberry Apricot Relish; and Holiday Spirit served warm with 73% Dark Chocolate Truffle from Éclat.
An interesting and educational special event will be presented at the Ephrata Cloister (632 West Main Street, Ephrata, 717-733-6600, www.ephratacloister.org) from December 27 until January 3 –the Cloister’s annual “Lantern Tours.”
The Ephrata Cloister or Ephrata Community was a religious community, established in 1732 by Johann Conrad Beissel at Ephrata. The grounds of the community are now administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The tours take guests back in time to visit the Cloister as it may have appeared in the 1700s. Each year’s story offers a cast of junior and senior high school students playing the roles that bring history to life. A different story is presented each year.
This year’s tours will lead visitors through four of the historic buildings on site as the story unfolds to offer differing views of Conrad Beissel. Refreshments and a chance for conversation will end the evening.
Each of the one-hour tours is limited in attendance, and begins each half-hour starting at 6 p.m.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling (717) 733-6600. Tours will depart from the visitor center every 30 minutes from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
The cost is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students (ages 6-17) and free for children (ages 3-5).
Another Lancaster County attraction is “Magic Lantern Show: A Victorian Christmas,” which is running through December 31 at the Amish Experience Theater at Plain & Fancy Farm (3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, 717-768-8400,http://amishexperience.com/magic-lantern-shows/christmas-show).
Visitors are taken back in time and become part of a Victorian family’s traditional Christmas Eve celebration. The family is very excited as Grandpa tells fabulous Christmas stories with the help of the amazing Magic Lantern.
The surprises and joys of the season are brought to visual delight with this collaboration between the Amish Experience and the American Magic Lantern Theater featuring classic Christmas stories and poems.
The presentation includes sing-alongs and a narrator delivering iconic stories and poems like “The Night Before Christmas” and “A Christmas Carol” with stunning visual images, heartfelt music and legendary storytelling.
Tickets are $19.95 for adults and $13.95 for children (ages 4-12).
While most of the “Santa Trains” are done for the year, there still are several tourist railroad excursions worth checking out.
The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-998-193, www.wwrr.com) will run its “Holiday Night Express Trains,” featuring a peaceful evening ride in the railroad’s 1929 Doodlebug rail car.
Tickets for these trains, which are running now through December 30, are $19 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $17 for children.
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 $66.
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 — Tunkhannock, Tamaqua, Minersville and Reading.
Santa Claus will be visiting with each of the children and there will be live holiday music performed throughout the ride.
Tickets start at $20.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Snowflake Special” on December 27, 28, 29 and 30.
The Edwardian splendor of the Secret Valley Express will surely impress as the rail line journeys into the valley of a forgotten land.
Riders will be able to view a cold winter’s afternoon in the warmth of the railroad’s coaches as the train makes its way through the Secret Valley.
The 90-minute round trip departing and arriving in Boyertown also features an a la carte menu with light fare such as sodas from Reading Soda Works, adult beverages, and light snacks for purchase.
Ticket prices are $44 for adults, $42 for seniors, $22 for children and $12 for toddlers.
The annual staging of “Holidays at Hagley” is an event that is always one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday attractions in this area every year.
The popular Brandywine Valley exhibit, which is included with regular admission, is running now through January 1 at Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org).
“Holidays at Hagley” returns with the theme, “White Christmas Treasures and Traditions,” and will feature Holiday Home and Garden Tours, the sixth-annual Gingerbread House Contest, Santa Day, Holiday Nights Tours, and more.
This year’s 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 10a.m.-4:30 p.m., feature decorations in a combination of styles from both the 19th and 20th centuries.
During the Victorian years when candle-lit tabletop Christmas trees were the norm, hand-made gifts were attached to tree branches, and winter scenes were displayed underneath the tree. The upstairs Victorian Library shows how magical that looked with its mid- to late-nineteenth-century toys, games and dolls. The upstairs Parlor features a case filled with small ceramic animals well-loved by some of the du Pont family children.
Early du Pont family French holiday traditions are remembered with a display of gifts that were given to E. I. du Pont’s children on New Year’s Day as well as the Twelfth Night party illustrated by the ornate French dessert service in the Dining Room.
Well-loved displays returning include the elaborate Twelfth Night celebration in the dining room and the Victorian library’s Christmas for children with its table-top tree surrounded by toys and games. Of course, there will be warm glowing lights and poinsettias.
Admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and students and $10 for children (ages 6-14).
Nemours Estate (850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nemoursestate.org), which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., has reopened for “Noël at Nemours.” It will run through December 29.
Ever since 1910, when Mr. and Mrs. duPont began living in their newly built mansion, the holiday season has been a festive time at Nemours. The Christmas decorations at the Nemours Mansion are often inspired by the architecture of the home, the customs of the duPonts or the French influence.
The Mansion is also decorated by some of the duPonts’ original decorations, including a German crèche, which dates from the late 19th century. The figures are soft ceramic, unglazed and hand colored.
Visitors can enjoy Christmas trees, wreaths, and hundreds of feet of garland on grand display in the Visitor Center, Chauffer’s Garage, Mansion and grounds.
All three floors of the Mansion will be decorated as well as the Chauffeur’s Garage and select areas of the gardens. Decorations will coincide with the story of the Estate along with a festive Versailles-inspired motif.
Live music performances will be held in the Mansion throughout the season.
Nemours Estate features 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 $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.
The Historic Odessa Foundation (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, http://www.historicodessa.org) is presenting its holiday attraction now through December 31.
Odessa’s 2025 Christmas Holiday Tour invites visitors to experience the transformation of the National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House, celebrating its 250th anniversary, into festive scenes and interpretive vignettes.
Visitors can commemorate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth while visiting the Historic Odessa
Foundation’s National Historic Register Wilson-Warner House this holiday season to tour “A Jane Austen Christmas at 250” exhibit.
Austen’s beloved novels with the iconic titles of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, and Northanger Abbey & Persuasion are recognized world-wide.
Austen provides brief accounts of Christmas customs and traditions celebrated in Georgian England in each of her novels which provide inspiration for each room vignette.
The holiday season became a festive time of the year to divert one’s attention from the cold and dark months of winter with parlor games, evening balls, family parties, with decorations of mistletoe and holly and ivy.
In Austen’s time, the holiday season stretched from December 21 through January 6 which included festive celebrations of the Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and Twelfth Night.
The “2025 Storybook Trees Exhibit,” which is running through December 31, celebrates classic children’s literature and a love of reading by showcasing holiday trees decorated by community and school groups.
All of Historic Odessa’s museum properties are on full festive display throughout the 2025 holiday season, including the Wilson-Warner House, Delaware’s first house museum, that is the setting for this year’s community Storybook Trees exhibit.
Special school and public tours and events will celebrate J.M. Barrie’s “Peter and Wendy.” In addition, a Colonial Dance with the Dover English Country Dancers will be held, as well as regularly scheduled Candlelight Tours and Festive Food demonstrations.
Historic Odessa is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM), and is open to the public March through December, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday by reservation. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free.
One of the most elaborate model train layouts in the Delaware Valley can be found at the Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, 215-247-5777, http://www.morrisarboretum.org). The popular Garden Railway Display that has become a summer fixture at The Gardens at Morris Arboretum returns again for a special holiday display.
The display, which is open to the public now through December 30 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 — bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones — to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with miniature rivers. Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle.
Admission to the Morris Arboretum is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for students and military.
Two historic sites in Montgomery County have their own holiday celebrations.
Pennypacker Mills (3 Haldeman Road, Perkiomenville, 610- 287-9349, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) is hosting “Victorian Holiday Tours” now through January 5 while “Twelfth Night Tours” at Pottsgrove Manor” (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610-326-4014, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) will be held now through January 5.
For the next five weeks, Pennypacker Mills will offer free tours of the 18-century mansion used by General George Washington as temporary headquarters during the Revolutionary War. The home will be decorated for an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas and will feature the warm glow of oil lamps, festive decorations, and a candy-making demonstration.
The event at Pottsgrove Manor features an event based on history.
Visitors can witness the transformation of Pottsgrove Manor for the yuletide season and the traditions of an 18th-century Twelfth Night party. Twelfth Night marked the end of the Christmastide season, celebrated on Epiphany.
Guided tours of the manor explore all aspects of the festivities, from the intense preparations to the differences between the way elite families like the Potts and their household staff experienced the season.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia (500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Https://philadelphia.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/) is presenting “Holiday Bricktacular!” now through January 1.
Participants can create their own LEGO ornament and display it in on the LEGO tree and check out all the holiday scenes in the Winter Wonderland in Miniland Philadelphia.
As an added attraction, LEGO Santa will be visiting from the LEGO North Pole.
Ticket prices start at $26.99.
One of Philly’s premier annual events, Macy’s Christmas Light Show (1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, www.macys.com) is running now through December 31
Set in The Grand Court, the show features a 100,000-light show of twinkling snowflakes, dancing snowmen and more, narrated by Julie Andrews and accompanied by the famed Wanamaker Organ.
Images of snowmen, reindeer, snowflakes and more dance across the atrium inside of the historic Wanamaker building (now Macy’s Center City) during the ever-popular Macy’s Christmas Light Show. The show, which has been on view since 1956, runs every two hours during store hours.
Visitors can also tour the second floor’s vintage Dickens Village, where more than 100 intricate animated dolls and sets retell A Christmas Carol. Each free walkthrough ends in a chance to meet and take photos with Santa.
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 this weekend and it will run until February 25.
It will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
The Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show will be open from 4-8 p.m. daily and 4-9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays 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. Every evening, one lucky audience member will be selected to “ignite’ the 4:30 p.m. show.
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 began on November 3 with the opening of the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn presented by TD Bank. On November 4, the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin made its annual return.
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.
Now through January 4, 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.
LumiNature will expand to feature 16 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.
Highlights this year include two brand-new illuminated zones, Shimmer River and LumiNature Lane, along with the return of fan favorites like Penguin Prismatic featuring a 40 ft. tall penguin glimmering with 40,000 lights, our iconic 25 ft. tall tree made entirely of 1,500 lit flamingo lawn ornaments and so much more.
At Shimmer River, take a journey through the jungle and enter a 100 ft. long tunnel filled with 4,000 lights, creating dynamic scenes from growing vines, to blooming flowers, multicolored kaleidoscopes and more.
LumiNature will feature more than a million lights and 10+ miles of power cord, 20 ft. tall coral reef and under the sea-inspired holiday tree featuring a giant sea turtle, sparkling waterfall and vine wall featuring 20,000 lights, 150,000 sparkling pink and aquamarine lights, 200,000 lights shining above the Septa PZ Express Train, over 1,500 illuminated flamingos and 200 illuminated penguins, 22 ft. tall butterfly tree covered in 4,000 butterflies, 20 ft. tall snake shimmering with 5,000 lights, 15 ft. tall blue gorilla wearing a glowing lei and 20 giant, floating jellyfish.
Additionally, seasonal fare, strolling performers, hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages promise to additionally spark the holiday spirit.
Tickets start at $25 for adults and $20 for children.
Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is lighting it up again this year.
Elmwood Park Zoo’s favorite family tradition, “Wild Lights,” has returned with more lights and decorative attractions than ever before. During this walk-through experience, guests will be surrounded by dazzling light displays, illuminated animals and live entertainment.
“
Wild Lights” operates on select days from 5-9 p.m. now through December 29. “Wild Lights” tickets are valid beginning at 5 p.m. The Zoo and “Wild Lights” will be closed on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. “Wild Lights” will be held rain or shine.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo (5150 Game Preserve Rd, Schnecksville, https://www.lvzoo.org/) is hosting its “Winter Light Spectacular” now through January 4.
This season’s “Winter Light Spectacular,” which runs from 5:30-10 p.m. nightly, will feature more than 30 scheduled event nights.
Guests are invited to bundle up and enjoy the beauty of nature as they stroll through tree-lined paths illuminated by more than 1.2 million twinkling lights and themed animated displays.
They also can warm up next to the cozy outdoor fire pits while enjoying hot cocoa and s’mores.
Children will be delighted when they encounter Santa, Radley the Sea Turtle, The Grinch, Woody, Buzz, Elsa, Princess Belle, Olaf and friends.
Ticket prices start at $15.
“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 1.
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 $39.99.
“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 1, 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 $39.99.
Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park (2249 Route 30 East, Lancaster, 866-386-2389, www.dutchwonderland.com) is hosting its “Dutch Winter Wonderland” now through January 1 on Saturdays, Sundays and select weekdays.
Visitors are invited to celebrate the magic of the season at Dutch Winter Wonderland with rides, entertainment, and the Royal Light Show, a spectacular display of thousands of twinkling lights dancing to music.
Ticket prices start at $29.99 at the gate. Children ages two and under are admitted free.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, http://peddlersvillage.com) is in full celebration mode 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.
“Enchanted Evenings” 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.
“Gingerbread House Competition and Display,” which is 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.
A guaranteed way to get into a Christmas mood is by visiting Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) began its 77th season in November
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 1 — 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 $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 4-10).
A popular Bucks County attraction is the “Holiday Light Show” at Shady Brook Farm (931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, www.shadybrookfarm.com)
The farm features a three–million-light Holiday Light Show with “Dashin’ Through the … Lights,” a family-friendly two-mile drive-through on Thursday and Friday nights.
The main display allows visitors to drive or (if weather permits) ride in wagons past post-sundown displays including illuminated tunnels.
The “Holiday Light Show” is open now through January 5.
Timed tickets, which start at $40, are required.
“Christmas Spirit Light Show” is running now through December 31 (except December 25) at Clipper Magazine Stadium (650 North Prince Street, Lancaster, christmasspiritlightshows.com).
“Christmas Spirit Light Show” is an exciting, one-of-a-kind Christmas light display that families can enjoy from the comfort of their vehicles.
As participants make the journey through the mile-long track, they get immersed and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of color-changing lights that are animated and dancing in harmony with favorite Christmas classics.
The drive-through event is billed as a “breathtaking holiday experience that you and your loved ones will never forget.”
Ticket prices start at $25 per car.
