Make your holiday merry in Montco
The holidays are bright and alive in Montgomery County with activities, events, displays and much more! Check our holiday bucket list twice so you don't miss a single experience this holiday season!
1. See a Holiday Parade
See the holiday season on parade in towns across Montgomery County in the form of music, floats, performances, and a special appearance from the man of the season—Santa!
Watch the Lansdale Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, November 18th to catch this year’s theme: Holiday Melodies. Ambler Main Street’s Annual Holiday Parade also boasts bands, floats, Mummers, Santa, and more on Saturday, December 2nd.
2. Take a Photo with Santa
Santa is making his way across Montgomery County to take a photo with every family. Catch him through Christmas Eve at the King of Prussia Mall, where you can also celebrate with a brunch featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus at KOP restaurants. He also frequents the Santa House in Lansdale, as well as various holiday parades and tree lightings. Santa is a busy man in Montco!
3. Attend a Town Tree Lighting
Bundle up and sip some cocoa as you watch the town tree twinkle with lights. The scene is made even jollier with the addition of hot cocoa and sweet treats. A few towns in the county have tree-lighting ceremonies including Ardmore, Conshohocken, Souderton, and Lansdale. If you are lucky, you can catch Santa Claus himself at these festive events. Check individual town events for details and times.
4. View a Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
The Hanukkah spirit is bright and wondrous in Montco, so celebrate by visiting a Hanukkah lighting service. The impressive Ice Menorah Lighting at Suburban Square celebrates the holiday while also entertaining with live ice sculpting, prizes, crafts, and more kid-friendly activities. All are also invited to the Lansdale Menorah Lighting on December 7th at Railroad Plaza for the lighting of the Menorah, a performance by the Horns of Hanukkah, an edible craft for kids, and hot chocolate and donuts for all!
5. Attend a Christmas Market and Festival
Take a walk in a winter wonderland at a local Christmas Festival. Not only will it get you into the Christmas spirit, but you can get in some holiday gift shopping while you’re enjoying the night.
Winterfest at King of Prussia Town Center rings in the holiday season with fun family activities. With a Santa Clause meet and greet, Candy Wonderland, ornament workshop and more, there is fun for hours at Winterfest. At Winterfest After Dark guests are invited to dress up in festive attire and partake in a holiday cocktail crawl under the winter night sky.
6. See a Holiday Decoration Display
Visit the new Luminocity at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks to see grand lights and displays. Elmwood Park Zoo’s Wild Lights create a magical, family-friendly experience. Illuminaire Nights in Skippack warmly welcomes shoppers and diners with a cozy and festive atmosphere. See the candles that line the historic village while participating shops stay open in the evenings during the holiday season. View the Miracle of Lights: Hanukkah Laser Show with Old York Road Kehillah. Finally, take a ride on the Colebrookdale Railroad for a charming train car decorated for the holidays.
7. Go Ice Skating or Skiing at Spring Mountain
Lace up your ice skates and dust off your ski gear. Spring Mountain in Schwenksville offers snow-covered hills close to home for you and your family to enjoy. With skiing, snowboarding, and ice-skating lessons available, there is no need to be a pro to have fun in the snow.
8. Stop by the Charles Dickens Festival
At the Dickens Festival, the town of Narberth is transformed into 1840s London, as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and all the characters from A Christmas Carol roam the streets for an afternoon.
There is entertainment and activities for all ages, including horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday crafts, carolers, period vendors and food, dancers, musicians, ballet performances, puppet shows, magicians, puppeteers, a free Dickens-themed scavenger hunt for children, and much more. Put on your top hat and come join the fun on Sunday, December 3rd!
9. Buy a Christmas Tree
This year, rock around the Christmas tree picked up from one of these local farms. Arader Farm and Corkum Tree Farm are two charming spots to pick out the perfect tree. Get into the holiday spirit by decorating your new tree with bright lights and colorful ornaments.
10. Pick Up Candy and Chocolates
Sample some sweet treats to buy for you and your loved ones at these classic and nostalgic chocolate shops that handmake candies and chocolates. For 130 years, Asher’s Chocolates has been creating quality candies with assorted boxes and more. Sweet Ashley’s Chocolate offers truffles, gift baskets, and hot cocoa. all perfect for the holidays.
11. Do Some Holiday Shopping at Malls & Main Streets
While holiday shopping can be stressful and busy, nothing gets you into the holiday mood more than seeing the King of Prussia Mall all dressed up in ginormous Christmas trees, garlands, and Santa with his sleigh. With 2.6 million square feet of retail space, KOP has everything you will need to gift for the holidays. Also decorated and open for the season are the Willow Grove Park Mall, Plymouth Meeting Mall, and Philadelphia Premium Outlets.
If the busy mall is not your thing try some small business holiday shopping with our guide to support local Montco businesses this season.
12. Learn Some Holiday History
Take a peek into what Christmas was like back in time at the Cairnwood Estate. Join them for Holiday Tea & Tours, a vintage exhibition of fashions worn by the ladies of Cairnwood, and a family-friendly Christmas Cookie Stroll. For more history, join Valley Forge National Historical Park for the March-In commemoration. Enjoy daytime activities until the sun goes down and the lanterns light up for fireside evening programs at Muhlenberg’s Brigade.
13. Attend a Religious Service
The famous Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park holds Hanukkah services during the holiday and invites all who wish to experience the worship.
If you are looking to attend a Christmas service, the historic Bryn Athyn Cathedral holds both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, as well as programming throughout December. See the Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 10th and Choral Vespers on Saturday, December 16th.
14. Have a Hot Cocoa or Coffee
Drink some hot cocoa or coffee to warm yourself up after a chilly winter day out. Zwahlen's Ice Cream & Chocolate Co. in Audubon has a cozy environment and serves up a decadent hot chocolate made by melting chocolate chips with warm milk. Both 'feine in Conshohocken and Wake Coffee in Ambler craft delicious and festively flavored coffee drinks as well as hot chocolate.
15. Dine at a Cozy Restaurant
Warm up at cozy Montco restaurants like The Farmer's Daughter at Normandy Farm, Bar Lucca in Conshohocken, William Penn Inn in Gwynedd, Savona in Gulph Mills or Black Powder Tavern in Wayne.
