The Best Places to See Holiday Lights Around Philadelphia
Get festive with the most magical, twinkly-light-filled spots around town.
Holiday lights in their most classic Philly form: the Wanamaker Christmas Light Show / Photograph by Laura Swartz
The holidays in Philly bring lots of sparkle, with traditions both old and new. Holiday lights start in late November, so you’ve got time to see them all — and you can, with help from our guide.
Wanamaker Light Show
To quote Julie Andrews’s narration of this 100,000-light spectacle, the Wanamaker Light Show is a “grand tradition.” If you’re from Philly, you probably grew up watching it, and not a thing has changed about the actual show … well, except the entire context around it. The bears, the dancing snowmen, the “magic Christmas tree,” the majestic organ finale — it’s all there, and it’s all aglow in colorful nostalgia. But the department store around it? Whether we’re talking old-school Wanamaker’s or the building’s most recent occupant Macy’s, it’s been sitting vacant since last spring. But, if you’ve been following along, you know it was rescued for the 2025 holiday season by the good folks at the Philadelphia Visitor Center. And so you’re not watching the light show in a cavern of post-retail dystopia, Christmas Village has extended its offerings into Wanamaker’s Grand Court — a win for shopping local — where FCM Hospitality will also be selling food and drinks at their “Holly and Humbug” pop-up.
But back to the light show: It will run every hour on the half-hour. And if you want some extra spectacle, the light show will be accompanied by live performances of the historic Wanamaker Organ at select times (see here for exact showtimes). Pro-tip for Philly parents with small children: It’s much less crowded during the workday. While you’re there, head upstairs to Dickens Village to walk through an animatronic telling of A Christmas Carol. Note that this year, online reservations are required to visit Dickens Village and Santa, so this will take a little planning. Worth it.
One final note: Because of the planned construction on the building, this will be the last time you can catch the Philly institution for at least two years, the Visitor Center tells us. So make sure you catch it while you still can — maybe a few times for good measure.
Free; November 28th-December 24th (daily, every hour on the half-hour from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.), Wanamaker Building, 1300 Market Street.
Franklin Square Electrical Spectacle
Holiday lights at Franklin Square / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
Every night, more than 200,000 lights will shine throughout Franklin Square for the Electrical Spectacle. Through January 4th, the lights will dance, synchronized to a soundtrack of holiday classics (including Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” selections from The Nutcracker, and “Baby Please Come Home” by the Philly Specials’ blockbuster Christmas album). The shows run every 30 minutes beginning at 5 p.m. daily and running throughout the night’s activities until 9 p.m. While you’re there, take a spin on the carousel, warm up by outdoor fire pits with a boozy hot cocoa from pop-up bar Frosty’s Fireside Lodge, and play Chilly Philly Mini Golf with (even more) lights, holiday music, and friendly animal decorations.
Free; through January 4th (daily, every 30 minutes from 5-9 p.m.), Franklin Square, 6th and Race streets.
LumiNature
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo / Photograph by Winnie Chung
The Philadelphia Zoo lights up for the holidays with larger-than-life illuminated zones and installations throughout the zoo. Favorites like the 25-foot-tall pink-flamingo tree and the “Penguin Prismatic” light show on the lake return. Joining them are new installations including an “enchanted fairy forest” with bubble fairies and a troll’s house that “awakens” when you use your Zoo Key. Also new this year? The massive Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel! It’s all lit up for the season, and takes you 100 feeet up to take in the skyline, Schuylkill, Art Museum, and more sights from above. (Tickets for that are separate, or you can spring for the package deal.) And stop by the cozy new Lodge for treats, a bar for the grownups, and Santa visits. Be aware that you won’t see zoo animals during LumiNature — it’s too dark, and most of them are sleeping! LumiNature runs through January 3rd. Pre-purchase timed-tickets online.
$15-$29 (free for children under two); through January 3rd, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 West Girard Avenue.
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular
Comcast Holiday Spectacular / Photograph by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
Not quite a light show in the traditional sense, but it’s a “spectacular,” so just go with it! Every year, this 15-minute festive musical fills the Comcast Center lobby with holiday songs, aerial footage of Philly, parts of the Philadelphia Ballet’s Nutcracker, and more on one of the world’s largest LED video walls. The show opens on Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m. and runs at the top of every hour through New Year’s Day. Comcast is also including a sensory-friendly version of the show every day at 2:30 p.m., and a sensory room downstairs on the Concourse level. Bonus: Head across to the Comcast Technology Center for a ride in the Sphere: It’s transformed into a special Shrek-themed sleigh ride for the season!
Free; through January 1st (daily at the top of every hour, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; sensory-friendly show daily at 2:30 p.m.), Comcast Center, 1701 JFK Boulevard.
Miracle on South 13th Street
Miracle on South 13th Street / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Every year, the residents of this lovely little South Philly block string up the lights and plug in the bobbing reindeer for a group-effort Christmas display that pleases the eye (and probably raises the PECO bill). It’s colorful and kitschy and pure Philly. Drive or walk through slowly and bask in its homespun glory till New Year’s.
Free; November 29th through January 1st, South 13th Street between Tasker and Morris streets.
Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular
Holiday lights on Smedley Street / Photograph courtesy of Founding Footsteps
An otherwise unassuming block in Southwest Philly becomes a Christmas Street every year around this time, thanks to the many light-up attractions large and small that pop up along the median. Cruise through or bundle up and walk (but keep off the grass).
Free; Smedley Street between 16th and 17th streets, Moyamensing and Oregon avenues.
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Winterfest lights up the RiverRink / Photograph by Matt Stanley
Eating and drinking costs money — as does ice skating and playing the arcade games — but being merry is free of charge. Put on a scarf and stroll the grounds of this riverside winter wonderland with a sweet view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Plus, they’re having their tree lighting on December 5th for even more lights.
Free to attend; through early 2026, 101 South Columbus Boulevard.
Grand Illumination at American Credit Union
American Heritage Credit Union’s campus lights up with over 400,000 lights and two 40-foot Christmas trees. Stroll the campus, enjoy the lights and decorations, and take lots of photos, all for free every night.
Free; November 29th through December 31st, American Heritage Carriage House, 2060 Red Lion Road.
Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum
Holiday lights at the Garden Railway / Photograph by Mark Stehl
Morris Arboretum’s beloved Garden Railway gets its annual holiday upgrade. For the season, its quarter-mile of track and miniature replicas of Philadelphia-area landmarks made from natural materials will light up with thousands of lights. And new for this year, a 60-foot “holiday tunnel” illuminated with thousands more twinkling lights. The garden holds special “Nighttime Express” ticketed events on weekends from 4:30 to 8 p.m. where you can really get the full effect of the lights. You can also view the railway during the day for free with general admission.
$10-$22 (free for children under three); weekend nights from November 29th through December 21st, 4:30-8 p.m., Morris Arboretum, 100 East Northwestern Avenue.
Bonus: Jolly Trolley Rides
Founding Footsteps’ Holiday Light Trolley Tour
All aboard the jolly trolley! / Photograph courtesy of Founding Footsteps
Want to hop on a jolly trolley full of lights and music (and drinks, if you BYOB) and see a bunch of these lights in one night? Then book a ride with Founding Footsteps. Their decked-out holiday trolley features decorations and live music, and passes by festive sites like Miracle on South 13th Street, Smedley Street, Franklin Square, Penn’s Landing’s Winterfest and more. (You’ll also get off the trolley at certain stops to explore on foot.) Advance tickets are required, and weeknight tours are discounted.
Pricing from $60; select nights through December 31st, meets at Craft Hall, 901 North Delaware Avenue.
City Sightseeing Holiday Lights Tour
City Sightseeing’s holiday lights tour / Photograph courtesy of City Sightseeing
Hop aboard a festively decorated Victorian-style trolley for a 1.5-hour tour including the Miracle on 13th Street, Smedley Street, Franklin Square, and Christmas Village. The tour is also BYOB (wine and beer, no liquor) and, yes, there will be sing-alongs!
Pricing from $29 for children and $45 for adults; select nights through December 30th, meets at the Bourse, 111 South Independence Mall East.
Manayunk Gets LIT Jolly Trolley
The Manayunk Jolly Trolley / Photograph courtesy of Manayunk
Every holiday season, the shops on Manayunk’s Main Street go all out with the decorations in the “Manayunk Gets LIT” competition. (Be sure to vote for your favorite display through December 17th.) To make things a little easier, there will be free Jolly Trolley rides up and down Main Street. The trolley begins its run on December 4th and will run through December 20th on Thursday and Friday nights (5 to 9 p.m.) and Saturdays from 1 to 9 p.m.
Free; Thursdays through Saturdays from December 4th-20th, Main Street, Manayunk.
Holiday Lights Worth the Drive Outside Philly
Astra Lumina
Astra Lumina / Photograph courtesy of Moment Factory
This hour-long outdoor experience by creative studio Moment Factory leads guests along a one-mile pathway of light, sound, and projection for an immersive, enchanted stroll inspired by the cosmos.
$24-$30; select nights through December 31st, Abington Art Center, 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown.
Shady Brook Farm
Every winter, a live working farm in Yardley sets up a two-mile stretch of illuminated holiday attractions. Drive yourself through or hop in the back of an open-air wagon. Then pull over for cocoa and s’mores.
$45-$150 per car; $15-$20 for a wagon ride; through January 4th, Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley.
Herr’s Snack Factory Holiday Lights Display
Holiday lights at Herr’s / Photograph courtesy of Herr’s
This free, drive-through lights display is far, but a tradition for lots of Philly-area families. So pile into the car and head out to Chester County to travel through 600,000 lights decorating the snack-factory campus. According to Herr’s reps, over 9,000 cars visit the whimsical displays each year. So why not you, too? It runs every day from dusk (5 p.m.) to dawn (7 a.m.) — that’s right, you can head there at 3 a.m. if you can’t sleep and just need some jolly lights! We won’t judge.
Free; through January 5th, 5 p.m.-7 a.m., Herr’s Company Headquarters, 20 Herr Drive, Nottingham.
Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo
This Norristown zoo lights up every year for the holidays with animal-themed displays and live entertainment, plus animal encounters and character visits. Tickets available online.
$24-$27 (free for children ages two and under); through December 30th, Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown.
A Longwood Christmas
Longwood Gardens glows up for the season with gorgeous outdoor and indoor light displays inspired by nature. There’s also live holiday music, open-air fountain shows, and the delightful Garden Railway display. Timed tickets are required, and weekends in particular sell out — but they’re one of the few attractions open on Christmas Day, so keep that in mind for next month.
$25-$45 (free for kids ages four and under); through January 11th, Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square.
West Chester Griswolds
Taking a cue from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the Plummer family likes to go extra, extra large with their light displays. We’re talking about 103,000 bulbs, many of which are synched up for maximum bedazzlement. They start working on their holiday spectacle each fall, and it runs from Thanksgiving through December 28th. The Plummers suggest that if you visit, to tune your car radio to 87.9 for Christmas songs and information about the display.
Free; November 27th-December 28th, 304 Dutton Mill Road, West Chester.
Additional reporting by Patrick Rapa.
