The Top 12 Things We’re Most Excited About Doing This Holiday Season In Philadelphia

It’s official, folks. It’s safe to say the holiday season has begun.

Though holiday shopping and seasonal lights may not hit in earnest for a couple weeks, it’s definitely time to start making those lists (and checking them twice) so you don’t miss any of the spectacular holiday sights or awesomely festive attractions.

Whether you’re looking to skate the brand-new Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park, shop the popular German-style Christmas Village at LOVE Park, hang out at the revamped Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest and Franklin Square Holiday Festival, or take in the Macy’s Christmas Light Show, the region is sure to get you into the holiday spirit.

Here’s how we’re looking forward celebrating this holiday season.

1. Ice Skating at Dilworth Park

The brand-new Rothman Institute Ice Rink officially opens on Friday, November 14 — and we’re stoked to ice skate in Center City. The rink will be up-and-running before Thanksgiving and will remain open through February 22, 2015 for daily skating throughout the season.

2. Hanging Out Fireside at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

This winter, Penn’s Landing’s longstanding Blue Cross RiverRink amps up the ice skating experience on the Delaware River waterfront by once again transforming the annual rink into a bona fide winter wonderland. Opening to the public right after Thanksgiving Day on Friday, November 28, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest takes the perennial good times of the rink to a whole new level, transforming Penn’s Landing into a winterized riverfront park with ice skating, a winter beer garden — yup, complete with multiple fire pits — a light show and holiday market.

3. Sipping a Beer at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival

A major expansion of the annual holiday happenings at the historic park, the Franklin Square Holiday Festival includes not only the traditional on-site fun Philadelphians have come to count on — holiday lights, visits with Santa and family-friendly programs — but also some excellent additions for grown-ups like a winter beer garden, holiday craft market and food trucks. Kicking off on Thursday, November 13 and continuing daily through Wednesday, December 31, the Franklin Square Holiday Festival celebrates the season with the return of the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show and the opening of these great new park attractions.

4. Balloon Spotting at the Thanksgiving Day Parade

An annual spectacle now in its 95th year, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will transform into an epic visual display on Thanksgiving Day 2014, Thursday, November 28. Giant balloons — Frosty the Snowman! Mr. Potato Head! Clifford the Big Red Dog! — festive floats, lively dancers, costumed characters, celebrities and marching bands will parade through the city as the streets are lined with thousands of onlookers. Be there!

5. Shopping Holiday Markets and Pop-Ups

Shoppers eager to purchase fun, unusual, creative or sure-to-be-coveted gifts this holiday season have plenty of markets, bazaars and pop-up shops to choose from in Philadelphia. Gift givers can choose from garden-focused delights at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Pop-Up Shop, crafty goods at the Blue Cross RiverRink’s Art Star Holiday Shop, handmade gifts at the German-style Christmas Village in LOVE Park and much more.

6. Gathering Around for Tree Lightings

It doesn’t truly feel like the holiday season until Christmas trees are set up and decked out all around the city. From Rittenhouse Square to East Passyunk Avenue to the Christmas Village in LOVE Park, areas all around town (and the countryside, too) welcome brightly lit Christmas trees to central spots to spread holiday cheer. Stay tuned for the full lineup of tree lightings all around town.

7. Marveling at Neighborhood Holiday Lights

All throughout Philadelphia, but particularly in South Philly, neighborhoods are transformed by spectacular lights and decorations, making city streets into holiday attractions. The elaborate lights hung on neighborhood homes along South 13th Street, a holiday-lights destination for more than a dozen years, is seriously a must-see.

8. Catching Holiday Railway Displays

At the Reading Terminal Market and at Morris Arboretum, holiday railway displays showcase miniature winter wonderlands. At Reading Terminal Market, a super impressive 500-square-foot holiday railroad chugs daily in the piano court. At Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, a quarter-mile of model-train tracks includes seven loops and tunnels; 15 different rail lines; cable cars, bridges and model trains and Philadelphia-area landmarks adorned with thousands of twinkling lights for the holidays.

9. Singing Along to the Macy’s Christmas Light Show

A Philadelphia tradition since 1956, the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s Center City illuminates a large wall inside the historic Wanamaker building with nearly 100,000 LED lights that all dance to the sounds of carols pumped out of the Wanamaker Organ. Performances take place at the top of the hour, every two hours, from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.

10. Watching the Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Prepare to be impressed by the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, a festive film experience on one of the largest four-millimeter LED screens in the world featuring enchanting holiday scenes and computer generated animations. Located in the lobby of the Comcast Center in Center City, the shows run every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (no shows at 5 p.m. during the week).

11. Counting Down to New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Yup, we’re already counting down to 2015 and Penn’s Landing is the place to ring in the New Year with SugarHouse Casino’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront. Philadelphia’s main attraction on New Year’s Eve draws thousands of people to the Delaware River Waterfront each year to watch two fireworks displays.

12. Strutting with the Mummers

The Mummer’s Parade is a Philadelphia New Year’s Day experience that’s as iconic as cheesesteaks. Dating back to 1901, the only-in-Philly celebration is a lively and colorful parade of costumed men, women and children who practice all year to strut, dance and play music up Broad Street. And, for the first time, the parade will start at City Hall and end at Washington Avenue.

Read the full article at Uwishunu.

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The Top 12 Things We’re Most Excited About Doing This Holiday Season In Philadelphia

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