Christmas really is for the kids but adults may enjoy a few things on this short list. This is not everything that the Philadelphia area has to offer for the holidays, it's just a few.
1. The Holiday Light Show at Wanamakers: Across from City Hall on Market Street, you find the Wanamaker Building. It's Macy's now, and every hour on the hour you can see the Christmas light show. Started in 1956, it still draws a crowd of parents and children to marvel at Julie Andrews telling short holiday stories and the blinking light show set to holiday music. Not so high tech, but high in holiday spirit. It is an absolute MUST do for children. Even though it is officially Macy's, it will always be Wanamaker's to Philadelphians.
Hint: While you're in Macy's if you have some time and want to see Santa, be prepared to wait. But at least the wait is a little less dull with the Dickens town, the old Litt Brother's display of moving figures of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. Over 100,000 people (kids and adults) visit Macy's Santa each season!
2. New! Christmas Villiage at Dillworth Plaza: The German American Marketing group and the City of Philadelphia set up over 50 vendors to form a medieval village selling European food, sweets and drinks, international seasonal holiday gifts, ornaments and high quality arts and crafts. Located at Dillworth Plaza - outside City Hall on 15th Street. Yummy, yummy German food, barvarian pretzels and so many crafts that you can finish your holiday shopping!
Hint: Santa is at City Hall too - daily from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm!
3. New! The Comcast Center Holiday Spectacular: Another MUST SEE! Enter the Comcast building, the tallest in Philadelphia at 17th and JFK and you will encounter a group on onlookers staring at the paneling. At first, you wonder what the heck is going on, but every hour Comcast produces their version of Holiday Lights, the high tech version. The paneling is really a gigantic hi
gh definition tv screen made to look like paneling. While you are still trying to figure out what is going on, the wall changes to a scene of light bulbs set to holiday music, a sleigh ride through the snow, a nutcracker dance (that shows every wrinkle on the Sugar Plum fairy's face even though she look's like she's about 20), and Santa Clause traveling over the Philadelphia skyline at night. It's so high def and realistic and the music really puts you in the holiday spirit. Plus Comcast owes you for how much you spend on TV every year!
4. Shadybrook Farm Holiday Drive-Through Light Show: Just of the Yardley/Newtown Exit of I-95, experience the magic of millions of lights illuminating acres of farmland during Shadybrook Farm's Holiday Light Show! This is the coolest experience for lazy people! Drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on a moonlit hayride. Drive-thru open Nov. 26 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009 from Dusk to 10 PM. Hayride open Nov. 28 to Dec. 23, & Dec. 26 - Dec. 30 from 6 to 8 PM. Pack the car with the neighbor's kids too. A carload is $20, but you can find coupons online: http://www.shadybrookfarm.com/wintercoupons.php. The Holiday Light Show benefits the Salvation Army, St. Mary Medical Center, & the MS Society.
Hint: While you're there, visit Santa's Village and the North Pole Adventure! Kids will delight in the holiday fun where they will encounter gift shops and Santa's Elves.
5. Holiday Shopping at Sesame Place: OK, it's technically not Philadelphia, it's in Langhorne, PA right near the Oxford Valley Mall and Keller Williams Real Estate Langhorne. Sick of seeing Santa, or don't celebrate Christmas? Get your children's holiday picture taken with Elmo or another Sesame Street Character. Not much else to do here but shop and ride the carosel, but there's no admission fee and it is always a kick for a kid to see Elmo. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Happy Holidays!
P.S. The child in the picture is my 4-year old son. You can't tell in the pictures, but he had a blast at ALL of these events, especially Sesame Place and Macy's. He just hates getting his picture taken sometimes. LOL
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