HARRISBURG, Pa. – Travelers ready to get into the holiday spirit this season will find yuletide cheer across the commonwealth, thanks to a new list of unique holiday attractions in Pennsylvania.
“In Pennsylvania you will find an abundance of postcard perfect, memory making experiences during the holiday season,” said Carrie Lepore, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Marketing, Tourism, and Film, Department of Community and Economic Development. “Visitors and residents alike can make this season even more extraordinary by checking out some of these iconic holiday celebrations that include thousands of lights, unique crafts, and must-see attractions.”
A sampling of Pennsylvania’s must-see holiday attractions:
- Christmas in Hershey – Hersheypark’s light show featuring more than four million lights are a perennial favorite, and this year, visitors can enjoy rides on four rollercoasters throughout the park, open now through Dec. 31.
- Longwood Gardens – Nestled in the Brandywine Valley, this world-renowned botanical wonderland features creative Christmas-inspired arrangements, life-size displays and half a million twinkling lights, now through Jan. 10, 2016.
- Christmas City – In the city of Bethlehem, PA, more than 165 vendors and 60 musical acts, as well as the famous Christkindlmarkt, will be featured at the ArtsQuest center, now through Dec. 20.
- Christmas Village – Philadelphia’s Love Park houses a recreated traditional German market featuring more than 60 wooden booths selling traditional European food, sweets, and drinks. Open now through Dec. 27.
- Koziar’s Christmas Village – A dazzling array of more than 500,000 festive lights reflected off an adjacent lake, as well as a train display and an old-fashioned bakery, are only part of the reason this destination was named by the American Bus Association as one of the ‘Top 100 Best Events in North America.’ Open daily through Jan. 3, 2016.
- Overly’s Country Christmas – This wonderland of 2.4 million Christmas lights spread across 15 acres in the Pittsburgh suburbs offers a magical holiday experience. All proceeds go to at-risk families, open now through Jan. 1.
- Christmas Magic – Boasting 600,000 Christmas lights displayed along a half-mile, handicapped- accessible walking path, this York County destination hosts fundraisers and offers a Pet Night. Open for the season until Dec. 31.
- Holiday Lights on the Lake – Load the family in the car to explore this 51-acre dazzling display of lights and animation at the historic Lakemont Park in Altoona. Open through Jan. 3, 2016.
- Peoples Gas Holiday Market – Downtown Pittsburgh hosts a Christmas-themed market, which is open now through Dec. 28, as well as the BNY Mellon Season of Lights, which illuminates Market Square with more than 150,000 lights.
- A Dickens of a Christmas – Set in the idyllic town of Wellsboro, Main Street is transformed into a Victorian-era marketplace with costumed actors and carolers. The event includes the Festival of Trees in Wellsboro Plaza. Although this year’s event has just wrapped up, this annual celebration must be included in your list for 2016.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Tourism Office and more holiday attractions in Pennsylvania, visit www.visitPA.com.