10 dazzling holiday light displays in Philadelphia

Be dazzled by the 10 best holiday light displays illuminating the greater Philadelphia area. 

The shorter days and longer nights of winter mean more time for Philadelphia’s festive light displays to glow. This holiday season, get your holiday light fix by visiting elaborately decorated homes, shining gardens, and brightly lit parks throughout and around Philly. You have a variety of options to choose from: Free or ticketed, walk-through or drive-through, suburban or in the heart of the city.

We’ve put together a collection of our favorite light shows and displays to help you plan your next seasonal outing! 

1. Miracle on South 13th Street – Philadelphia

For more than 20 years, neighbors on the 1600 block of Philly’s South 13th Street have created a magnificent holiday display by coating their homes with lights, decorations, and a little bit of magic (we assume!). The Miracle on South 13th Street holiday display is totally free, so you can wander the block with your family and friends any night of the season.

2. American Heritage Credit Union’s Grand Illumination – Philadelphia

Found at the American Heritage Credit Union campus in Northeast Philly, Grand Illumination is a free light display for Philadelphians to enjoy throughout the holiday season. The walk-through display hosts over 400,000 twinkling lights and two giant Christmas trees, all set against a soundtrack of seasonal tunes. The celebration starts at dusk each night and lasts until New Year’s Day.

3. Franklin Square Electrical Spectacle – Philadelphia

The Franklin Square Electrical Spectacle pays homage to that famed Philly son Ben Franklin with the name of the Center City square as well as the enthusiasm for the wonders of electricity! Every 30 minutes after nightfall during the holiday season, the electrical spectacle—a colorful light show set to Christmas music—makes Franklin Square glow. And it’s completely free!

Photo by M. Edlow courtesy of Visit Philadelphia.

4. Macy’s Christmas Light Show – Philadelphia

For decades, Macy’s Christmas Light Show has delighted merrymakers at the Center City department store during the holiday season. More than 100,000 lights shine along a giant velvet curtain in the store’s historic atrium to tell the stories of Christmas carols. The free show, brought to life with music from the famous Wanamaker organ, lasts about 11 minutes. You can see a show daily at 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. Macy’s also hosts Dickens Village, an immersive holiday experience featuring animatronics telling the classic Dickens story “A Christmas Carol.” If you want to see Dickens Village, be sure to make reservations.

5. Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show – Yardley

Bucks County’s Shady Brook Farm does not hold back any holiday cheer during its annual Holiday Light Show. The drive-through display boasts more than three million lights—and that’s not a typo! You’ll drive through acres of farmland lit with the warm glow of colorful holiday lights that create fun and festive scenes, some featuring beloved characters. Since you’re in the comfort of your own car, you can blast your favorite holiday playlist from your car speakers, or you can tune in to 90.7 FM for popular holiday music. Tickets to the light show vary based on date but start at $40 per vehicle. Buy your tickets online, as you’ll save $10 versus paying at the gate.

Photo courtesy of Visit Bucks County.

6. A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens – Kennett Square

With a seasonal visit to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, you can enjoy A Longwood Christmas and its extravagant light and horticultural exhibits. The holiday magic permeates the property; even the gardens’ classes have gotten the festive treatment (seasonal floral design, anyone?). Though the gardens’ lights shine brightest at night, some lights are on as early as 10 a.m., meaning you can experience holiday magic even when the sun is out. In addition, the garden fountains present glittering musical shows throughout the day. Indoors, holiday exhibits continue with gingerbread houses, seasonal plants, and miniature model trains. Reserve tickets in advance to experience the holiday joy! Tickets are $42 for adults and $23 for children.

7. Rose Tree Festival of Lights – Media

For many in the Greater Philly area, it’s essential to take a pilgrimage to Rose Tree Park in Delaware County during the holiday season. At the park’s Rose Tree Festival of Lights, a free walk-through light display, park trees are draped in thousands of colorful lights. The festival runs each night through January 4, though you can also enjoy food trucks and live entertainment on select nights in December. Bonus: You don’t have to leave your furry friend at home because dogs are allowed!

Photo by J. Fusco courtesy of Visit Philadelphia.

8. LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo – Philadelphia

LumiNature is the fantastic holiday light show at the Philadelphia Zoo, where more than a million lights glow in the night while the animals rest. You can take a train ride beneath a glittering canopy of lights, see a lighted jungle and a glowing coral reef, and gawk at performers in elaborate animal-themed costumes. Tickets start at $18 for children and $22 for adults.

9. Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular – Philadelphia

The Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular is a DIY Christmas display put together by some of the most festive folks in South Philly, who all happen to live on the 2700 block of Smedley Street. You’ll see the main magic in the median of the street, which is chock full of lights, decorations, and a general flurry of holiday cheer! The neighborly Christmas display is free to enjoy.

10. Holiday Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum and Gardens – Philadelphia

The Holiday Garden Railway at the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum and Gardens is a delight both day and night, as kids and adults can follow miniature trains running through a winter wonderland on a third-of-a-mile track. To celebrate the season, the outdoor train display is surrounded by beautiful arboretum plants and covered in bright holiday lights. Admission to the Holiday Garden Railway is included with regular admission to the arboretum, which is $20 for adults and $10 for kids. At night, you’ll need separate tickets to visit the railway. Seeing the display lit up against the night costs $22 for adults and $12 for children.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.