If you are looking for the best places to view holiday decorations and lights in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there are a lot of places from which to choose. There is everything from small time displays to large grand productions of holiday light displays in Philly. However, I have narrowed down that list to the best holiday light display in the Philly area.
Located in Central Philadelphia in the Center City district is where you will find the Holiday Light Show and Organ Concert. The Holiday Light Show and Organ Concert has long been a staple of Philly. This holiday light display has been around Philly since 1955! You will hear the sounds of the infamous Grand Organ while viewing colored lights and the magic Christmas tree. This year you will also hear the unmistakable Julie Andrews as the narrator. You will find it at Macy’s at 1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA19106. The holiday light display starts on November 24th and goes through December 24th. Hours are every other hour, on the hour for the light show. It goes on during mall hours. Crowds are largest at night, but that is when it looks the best, so prepare to join everyone else.
Longwood Gardens is another great place to go in the Philly area to see some beautiful holiday light displays. Christmas at Longwood features the grounds being illuminated by thousands of lights. You can also experience carolers while you are taking in the light displays. Longwood Gardens is located at 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. There is an admission fee of $15 to the gardens. Hours are from 9am to 9pm through January 7th. The fun starts the weekend after Thanksgiving. Look for more information on their website or by calling them at (610) 388 – 1000.
And possibly the most well known and looked forward to light display in all of Philadelphia is the Christmas Light Show. You may know it by it’s old name, the Wanamaker Light Show. It was called that because that was the name of the store when it was started up back in 1956. While the store has changed names to Lord and Taylor’s the Christmas Light Show is still the same. The Christmas Light Show is free and it is very popular, so expect a big crowd when you go, including kids sprawled about the Grand Court. You can find the Christmas Light show at 1301 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. Hours vary during the holiday season, so please call them at (215) 241 – 9000, extension 470, before heading on down there.
And be sure not to miss the holiday lights at historic City Hall in Philadelphia. They usually light up the last day of November and go through the first of the year. The lighting of the Christmas tree will take place at John F. Kennedy Plaza (LOVE Park), 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Philly. You can visit the Philadelphia Holiday Festival website to find out more about these holiday light displays as well as any others around town that might be of interest.
