I love celebrating Christmas through the eyes of my children; from Everett’s first Christmas, I knew that I wanted our little family to develop our own holiday traditions. I’d love to share my top Christmas activities in Philadelphia for kids with you – maybe you’ll find one that you can add to your holiday line-up! Some things have stayed the same since my children were little, and other things we’ve added or changed as they’ve grown and their tastes develop and change.
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Visit A Longwood Christmas and enjoy the lights
Longwood Gardens is the place to experience Christmas lights outdoors, and our family’s personal longest running tradition. This isn’t something you can do in an hour or so – you’ll want to reserve several hours for this activity. There’s a reason why A Longwood Christmas is so popular and why tickets are reserved months in advance; not only will you be able to walk through the gardens to see the multitude of lights, but there are carolers, hot chocolate stands, and the holiday train setup.
As one of the area’s top Christmas activities in Philadelphia for kids, weekend slots book pretty far in advance and are typically the most crowded. We’ve found that by choosing a late afternoon spot (like 4pm) on a weekday is generally the least crowded and allows us to avoid the shuttle bus. We’ve had quite a few very chilly Longwood trips, so hot hands and cozy boots should be something to consider. As one of the best an
See a performance of the Nutcracker
How could this not be on my list of Christmas activities in Philadelphia for kids? Ever since we knew the kids could sit through a performance (and yes, we had one year where we had to take quite a long break in the lobby with Eleanor), we’ve attended a Nutcracker performance. We’ve seen several different ballet companies perform but our favorite remains the Philadelphia Ballet at the Academy of Music. There’s truly nothing like the iconic building and it’s where I grew up going, so it’s a must do for us. However, they are many other options in the Philadelphia area if your little ones can’t sit through the entire performance.
Local dance schools often put on an abbreviated performance. The International Ballet Classique performs a shortened sensory friendly version.
Take a ride on a Christmas train
It’s kind of remarkable how many Christmas train rides that the Philadelphia area has to offer. From Colebrookdale to New Hope to Strasburg, we are lucky to have lots of options to choose from. If you’re looking for an immersive Christmas experience, the Strasburg railroad has a little “town” set up where you can shop, visit Santa, and grab a snack. New Hope is great if you want to do some holiday shopping or grab dinner ahead of your train ride. We generally opt for the Colebrookdale train as it’s in my hometown.
Hit the ice rink (figuratively not literally)
One of our favorite Christmas activities in Philadelphia for kids is a trip to the ice rink. If we have the time to take a trip into Philadelphia, we will do Dilworth Park’s ice rink. Heads up: it does get pretty crowded, and they charge for the ice skating walkers, so be prepared for that. You can purchase tickets in advance to avoid disappointed faces. It’s right next to the Christmas Village so there are lots of food and shopping options if you want to make a longer day of it. Macy’s isn’t too far of a walk either, so you can add in a trip to their light show.
If you’re closer to the Main Line, you might consider Oaks Center Ice. We’ve skated there before and it’s a lovely facility!
Check out Wild Lights at the Elmwood Zoo
If you’re looking to stay closer to the ‘burbs, Wild Lights at the Elmwood Zoo is a great option. With lots of options for activities, it’s a great option for Christmas activities in Philadelphia for kids. There are small rides (think appropriate for the toddler crowd), character meet and greets, opportunities for pictures with Santa, and a chance to play on their amazing playground.
Elmwood Zoo also offers a sensory friendly night, as well as a night for you to bring your dog!
Top 5 Christmas activities in Philadelphia for kids
Did you enjoy this post? I’m so glad! You might also like:
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