Events and Activities in Philadelphia
for Kids in December 2025

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American Heritage's Grand Illumination
Now through Wednesday, January 1, 2026
American Heritage Credit Union Campus, Philadelphia
American Heritage Credit Union welcomes visitors to its annual Grand Illumination celebration featuring the lighting of two 40-foot Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, and over 400,000 lights. This month-long display always gets families into the spirit of the season. Website

The Miracle on South 13th Street
FREE
Monday, December 1, 2025 to Wednesday, January 1, 2026
Philadelphia
The 1600 block of South 13th Street (between Tasker and Morris) morphs into the Miracle on South 13th Street. Residents in this neighborhood join together to put on one of the best residential community light displays in the area. Park nearby and walk, or roll down the block in your vehicle, taking it slow as you take in the sights. Website

Night Before Christmas Train (Strasburg Rail Road)
Now through Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Ronks
Experience the excitement of Christmas Eve even when it's not December 24 on this very special one-hour train ride. Listen to the classic poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on this journey aboard a decorated holiday train, where all guests receive a complimentary milk and cookie. Website

Philadelphia Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Friday, December 5, 2025 to Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Academy of Music, Philadelphia
For years, families have been enjoying George Balanchine's Nutcracker at the Academy of Music. Make this a tradition in your family this season by attending one of the many performances available. Website

Deck the Alley
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia
Guests can meander down Philadelphia’s most historic residential street for a glimpse of 21st-century life in historic houses from the 1700s and 1800s. Visitors can peek inside these historic homes for a glimpse into the past. Website

Christmas Village in Philadelphia
FREE
Now through Wednesday, December 24, 2025
LOVE Park, Philadelphia
Held at LOVE Park, this outdoor holiday market reflects the feel of traditional Christmas markets found in Germany. Visitors can expect booths featuring conventional European food, sweets, drinks, and shopping. Kids can visit Santa and ride the carousel, ferris wheel, and train. Website

Christmas Around the Farm
FREE
Now Through Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Linvilla Orchards Media
Linvilla Orchards celebrates the season with wagon rides to cut your own Christmas tree, visits with the Linvilla barn animals, caroling hayrides, and photos with Santa on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Website

Morris Arboretum Holiday Garden Railway
Now through Thursday, December 20, 2025
Philadelphia
Morris Arboretum’s popular Garden Railway returns. Visitors can enjoy a quarter-mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 rail lines, two cable cars, nine bridges, and bustling model trains, all set in a lovely winter garden. Website

Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular
FREE
Now through January 1, 2026
Philadelphia
For over 50 years, South Philly residents on the 2700 block of Smedley Street have been wowing spectators with an impressive community display of blow-up decorations, beautifully lit trees, and sparkling string lights. Website

Holidays at Johnson's Corner Farm
Now through Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Medford, NJ
Johnson’s Corner Farm has it all for the holidays–take a hayride to view thousands of lights, watch a light show on the lake, visit Santa, decorate Christmas cookies, roast marshmallows, and visit the Discovery Barn and Animal Farm.  Website

Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
Now through Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Camden, NJ
One of New Jersey's most unique holiday traditions, Christmas Underwater, returns to Adventure Aquarium. Guests can surf the yuletide and explore a winter waterland filled with holiday d-eel-ights like Scuba Santa, indoor snow flurries, the world’s tallest underwater Christmas tree, and many more. Website

Betsy Ross House - Old City Menorah Lighting
FREE
Sunday, Decmber 14, 2025
Philadelphia
The Old City Jewish Arts Center and Betsy Ross House will join together to host a community menorah lighting. Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with traditional foods like latke and doughnuts! Website

Sesame Place New Year's Eve Fireworks
Tuesday, December 31, 2025
Langhorne
Celebrate the new year with fireworks set to Sesame Street music. Elmo, Abby Cadabby, The Count and the rest of the gang are ready to join in the fun. This impressive display occurs after the Neighborhood Street Party Christmas Parade. Website

West Chester Griswolds Light Display
FREE
Now through Thursday, January 1, 2026
West Chester
If the name sounds familiar, that's because this West Chester family takes after Clark Griswold and company from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Trust us when we say this home does not disappoint, and this year's display features over 133,000 lights, 800 smart pixels, and a newly-added Cosmic Color Ribbon Tree set to music. Kids can also drop off letters for Santa at the home's special mailbox. Website

Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show
Now through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Yardley
Experience the magic of more than 3 million bulbs illuminating acres of farmland at Shady Brook Farm's holiday light show. Drive through in the comfort of your car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride. Then, set off on foot through Candy Cane Lane, where dancing lights are set to music. Visit Santa and tell him about your wishes before or after enjoying the Holiday Light Show. Website

A Longwood Christmas
Now through January 12, 2025
Kennett Square, PA
Walk through the gardens to see the lights, flowers, and trees, and stop into the conservatory to view the seasonal poinsettias. Don't miss the fountain show set to music. Website

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular
FREE
Now through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s beloved holiday tradition returns. The free, 15-minute family-friendly show, presented on The Comcast Experience video wall in the Comcast Center lobby, features holiday songs, performances by the Philadelphia Ballet, and a sleigh ride around the world and into Philadelphia. Website

Colorful Christmas
Now through Monday, January 5, 2026
Crayola Experience, Easton
Deck the halls with tons of colorr and enjoy holiday fun the Crayola way! Craft handmade gifts from the heart, complete a seasonal scavenger hunt, pose in holiday photo-ops, and more. All this in addition to 20+ hands on attractions. Website

Christmas Village in Philadelphia
Now through Tuesday, December 24, 2025
JFK Plaza, Philadelphia
Running for its 18th season, Christmas Village in Philadelphia will transform LOVE Park and City Hall’s Courtyard and North Broad section into an authentic German Christmas Market. Enjoy the wonderful food, shop for unqiue gifts, and spend a perfect holiday day in Center City. Website

Flight On Ice - Newtown Square
Now through Sunday, February 1, 2026
Energy Transfer Veterans Memorial Rink, Newtown Square
Bring the whole family to the popular 60×100 outdoor ice skating rink. Enjoy a winter wonderland filled with fun for the whole family including convenient on-site parking, festive music, lighting, video & decor, delicious food & beverages, heated hospitality tents perfect for private parties, next-level entertainment, and a robust calendar of family-friendly themed events. Website

Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square
FREE
Now through Saturday, February 28, 2026
Philadelphia
Inspired by Benjamin Franklin's experiments with electricity, the Electrical Spectacle makes Franklin Square sparkle with its musical light show, recurring every 30 minutes. Enjoy 200,000 lights dancing to five festive songs that fill the square. Website

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Now through March 1, 2026
Philadelphia
Cozy up in comforting warming cabins, warm up at a fire pit station, enjoy boardwalk rides and games for the young and young-at-heart, delicious food and hot beverages, see the signature holiday tree, and, of course, go ice skating on the NHL-sized rink. Winterfest is a top destination for anyone looking to rekindle family traditions. Website