Family and Dog-Friendly Winter / Holiday Events in Philadelphia 2025
Here is a collection of family and dog-friend Winter and Holiday events happening throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding areas! I’ve gathered events for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s! Some events are dog-friendly, and you will know because it will be marked with a paw print! If you have any questions regarding the events, please contact the events coordinators using the links below. Make sure to keep checking back to see any additional, events that may get added on as we find them!
Holiday Festivals + Markets
Brixxxy & Coo x Itsajanda Holiday Collective Pop Up
Now through December
4324 Main Street
Local Philadelphia vendors, Brixxy & Co. and Itsajanda, are hosting a holiday collective pop-up shop in Manayunk along Main Street (where the Pet Friendly Dog Bakery used to be!) this holiday season! Stop by and support small local businesses and enjoy all the cool pet bandanas, hoodies, and more!
Christmas Village in Philadelphia 🐾
November 22nd through December 24th, 2025
Dilworth Park & Love Park
Dilworth and Love Park will be transformed into Philadelphia’s most iconic Christmas Village. Visit over 100 vendors selling great holiday gifts, food, and drinks, the illuminated Ferris wheel, the double-decker carousel, and the grand holiday tree! This event is sort of dog-friendly – they allow dogs throughout Dilworth Park, but your pup may not be allowed in the LOVE Park portion.
Holidays on the Hill 🐾
November 22nd through December 25th
Chestnut Hill is hosting its annual holiday festival from November 22nd through December 25th! There will be lots of festivities, such as live entertainment, seasonal treats, opportunities to meet Santa, and extended business hours on Wednesdays for their Stag + Doe Nights. Make the trip to Chestnut Hill to enjoy all the holiday cheer while shopping for your holiday gifts and decor from local small businesses!
Independence Blue Cross WinterFest
November 28th, 2025, through the rest of winter
Penn’s Landing
Delaware River Waterfront is hosting its annual WinterFest, opening on November 28th. Experience the winter wonderland filled with beautiful lights, heated cabins, firepits, boardwalk rides and games, a holiday tree, seasonal beverages, a rinkside lounge, and ice skating. Make sure to reserve your ice skating tickets and your heated cabin or your spot at the rinkside lounge ahead of time to ensure the best experience!
Hanukkah Makers Market
Sunday, November 30th, 2025
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
The Weitzman is hosting a Hanukkah market, where you can enjoy food vendors and great small and local businesses for unique gift ideas! The market offers a range of price points and styles for everyone to enjoy! The market also kicks off Winter at The Weitzman, a series of holiday programs leading up to the museum’s annual family celebration on December 25th!
Christmas Events + Events with Santa
Santa’s North Pole Express
November 15th through December 30th, 2025
New Hope Railroad
Adventure through Bucks County with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Santa’s North Pole Express while listening to Christmas carols and enjoying hot cocoa and cookies, and each child will be gifted a sleigh bell from Santa! Create a new, magical holiday tradition with your family while you travel on Santa’s train!
Breakfast with Santa
December 13th & December 20th, 2025
Dilworth Park
Santa Claus is coming to Dilworth Park! Families can enjoy a buffet-style breakfast, followed by ice skating with Santa Claus. You must purchase a ticket to attend (ticket includes breakfast, skating admission, and skate rental!. You don’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience! While you’re at Dilworth Park, you can also visit the various vendors from the Holiday market present there!
Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus
December 7th & December 14th, 2025
Giggleberry Fair – Peddler’s Village
Enjoy a magical morning with the Claus’ at Giggleberry Fair during a buffet-style breakfast experience, followed by a story time reading from Mrs. Claus, special treats, a $5 game card, and the grand carousel.
Christmas Celebration at the Please Touch Museum
Saturday, December 20th, 2025
Please Touch Museum
Experience a day filled with Christmas fun at the Please Touch Museum, where kids can meet Santa, engage in arts and crafts, and experience so much more!
Light Shows + Tree Lightings
Santa’s Grand Illumination
Saturday, November 15th, 2025
Sesame Place
Join Elmo and friends at Santa’s Grand Illumination to kick off all of Sesame Place’s holiday festivities! Enjoy a night filled with singing and dancing with Santa’s elves, the residents of Sesame Street, and, of course, a special appearance from Santa Claus himself!
Manayunk Gets Lit! 🐾
November 20th through the holiday season
Main Street in Manayunk
Main Street will officially light up on November 20th, with over 80,000 holiday lights, displays, decorations, and more! The annual tree lighting ceremony will be taking place this year on November 20th at 5:30 pm at Canal View Park. During opening night, enjoy lots of holiday festivities, including special guests, live performances, and of course, the breathtaking holiday lights. From opening night throughout the rest of the holiday season, you can vote for your favorite business display in various categories!
LumiNature
November 20th through January 3rd, 2026
Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo will be decorated with over a million twinkling lights throughout 16 areas of the zoo! Some of the attractions featured are the path with performers dressed in glowing, animal-themed costumes, various photo opportunities (including the 22-foot butterfly tree!), the Septa PZ Express train beneath a canopy of 200,000 lights, a 100-foot-long jungle canopy, a 20-foot coral reef with a giant sea turtle, and a beautiful sparkling waterfall!
A Longwood Christmas
November 21st through January 11th, 2026
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens’ iconic Christmas display has expanded this year! The gardens will be transformed into a living jewel box, featuring beautiful jewel and gem-inspired light displays. Longwood will feature both indoor and outdoor displays of marvelous lights and decor. Make sure to check their fountain show schedule to witness the marvelous water display to iconic holiday music. And make sure to keep an eye out, as on select nights they may have strolling carolers filling the gardenscape!
Historic Holiday Tree Lighting at Betsy Ross House
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025
Betsy Ross House
Attend the Betsy Ross House for their holiday tree lighting, where you can also enjoy performances from musical and dance groups, and of course, special appearances from Santa and Betsy Ross!
Rittenhouse Square Holiday Tree Lighting 🐾
Friday, December 5th, 2024
Rittenhouse Square
On December 5th, Rittenhouse Square will host their annual tree lighting event, but on a larger scale this year! This year, the event will begin at 2:00 pm, where families can enjoy an array of arts and crafts, followed by giveaways and performances starting at 3:00 pm and onwards.
Holiday Tree Lighting Powered by PECO
December 5th, 2025
Penn’s Landing
Join Independence Blue Cross Riverrinks’ holiday tree lighting, powered by PECO, on December 5th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Enjoy festive performances, ice skating, seasonal treats, and even a breathtaking fireworks display as the evening’s finale!
Hanukkah Events
Historic Holiday Menorah Lighting at Betsy Ross House
Sunday, December 14th, 2025
Betsy Ross House
The Betsy Ross House will be hosting a sunset lighting of their giant electric menorah, in addition to a musical performance from DJ SRUL and delicious holiday treats.
Hanukkah at the Please Touch Museum
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
Please Touch Museum
Visit the Please Touch Museum to enjoy a day of Hanukkah festivities, such as hands-on crafts, dreidel spins, cozy story times, and more!
Manayunk Hanukkah Candle Lighting 🐾
Thursday, December 26th, 2024
Canal View Park
On Thursday, December 18th, there will be a Hanukkah Candle Lighting at Canal View Park, in which they will also have candles, latkes, and more available!
Hanukkah Celebration
December 19th through December 22nd
Sesame Place
Sesame Place will be hosting a special Hanukkah Celebration where families can enjoy the Menorah Lighting Ceremony, a storytime with Baby Bear, arts and crafts, and even a Furry Friends Holiday Dance Party! This event is a great way to get the kids involved in Hanukkah festivities!
Kwanzaa Events
Kwanzaa Celebration at Please Touch Museum
Sunday, December 28th, 2025
Please Touch Museum
Enjoy a day celebrating Kwanzaa at the Please Touch Museum, filled with activities such as story times, live music, arts and crafts, and so much more!
Kwanzaa Celebration at Sesame Place
December 26th through January 1st
Sesame Place
Sesame Place will be hosting a Kwanzaa event where families can learn about the celebrations of Kwanzaa, experience the Kinara Lighting Ceremony, and listen to a Kwanzaa storytime read by one of Sesame Place’s infamous characters!
General Winter Events + Places to Visit
Bustards Christmas Tree Farm 🐾
2210 Bustard Road, Lansdale, PA
Bustards Christmas Tree Farm is a great dog-friendly farm that is filled with pre-cut Christmas trees. Bring your family, friends, and dogs to Bustards for a cute holiday tradition to start! What better way to get in the Christmas spirit than to do it with your dog by your side?
Clark’s Christmas Tree Farm & Gift Shop 🐾
351 Pusey Mill Rd, Cochranville, PA
Clark’s Christmas Tree Farm is a dog-friendly Christmas tree farm that also has a great gift shop filled with various traditional Christmas decorations and seasonal beverages! Clark’s allows you and your family to pick out the tree you want and cut it down yourself, allowing for a fun-filled family tradition to start with the inclusion of your pup!
Holidays in Franklin Square
November 20th through February 28th, 2026
Franklin Square
Starting November 20th, Franklin Square transforms into a magical Winter wonderland as it hosts a spectacular free Light Show, featuring “Baby Please Come Home” by The Philly Specials, featuring Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Jason Kelce from the Philadelphia Eagles. This Winter Wonderland will also have Chilly Philly Mini Golf, street curling, various delicious seasonal treats, and holiday carousel rides!
Manayunk’s Jolly Trolley
December 4th through the 20th
Main Street in Manayunk
The Jolly Trolley in Manayunk is a free trolley throughout Manayunk’s Main Street, where you can make stops at various small businesses to take in all of their beautiful light displays, and visit the various holiday events and entertainment taking place throughout Main Street! They also have a great selection of entertainment throughout December.
Deck the Alley
Saturday, December 6th, 2024
Elfreth’s Alley
Elfreth’s Alley is hosting tours throughout the historic homes while you are fully immersed in seasonal decor, sounds, and smells. Make sure to purchase your tickets (which help fund the preservation of the historical street), and enjoy hot cider, snacks, and the carolers while exploring the city’s history!
Historic Holiday Open House
Saturday, December 6th, 2025
Betsy Ross House
In addition to Elfreth’s Alley’s Deck the Alley event, the Old City neighborhood will also be hosting a Holiday Open House event at the Betsy Ross House. Visitors will be able to enjoy a candlelit house tour, colonial chocolate-making demonstrations, holiday arts and crafts, and a chance to have their photo taken in front of the festively decorated home. Purchase a ticket to help preserve this historic site (and enjoy your complimentary cider, which even has a spiked option!)
Winter Kick-Off at Please Touch Museum
Saturday, December 6th, 2025
Please Touch Museum
The Please Touch Museum will be hosting a day filled with Winter events and activities, where it feels like you step into a real-life snowglobe! Wear your cozy winter pajamas and stop by to enjoy festive photos, hands-on frozen play, and of course, sweet seasonal treats.
Holly Jolly Weekend 🐾
December 6th and 7th, 2025
Peddler’s Village
Peddler’s Village will be hosting a weekend filled with various holiday festivities! Experience the Village’s Santa Parade, live entertainment, family activities, holiday food and drink specials, and of course, make sure you stop by the Gingerbread display! Once the sun sets, the village becomes beautifully illuminated by the holiday lights scattered throughout.
Tubachristmas
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
Kimmel Center For the Performing Arts
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will present Tubachristmas for FREE this year on December 21st, 2025, for two different performances, one at noon and the other at 6:00 pm. 100 tuba players will be performing the most iconic holiday tunes to really get you in the holiday spirit!
New Year’s Eve Events
PRO TIP!!! If your dog gets upset by fireworks and is sensitive to sound, play action movies VERY loudly for them! It may sound a bit silly but it has worked wonders for my dogs. (We love Jurassic Park and anything with Gerard Butler!)
Countdown to Noon
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025
Please Touch Museum
Please Touch Museum will be hosting a Countdown to Noon on New Year’s Eve, so your kids can enjoy and feel the energy of the New Year’s celebrations! Kids will experience a DJ dance party, interactive activities, and a special ball drop!
New Year’s Fireworks
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025
Sesame Place
Celebrate the New Year with Sesame Place’s famous furry friends, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and Count von Count while enjoying a breathtaking firework display!
Toy + Pet Drives
PAWS Donations
Any PAWS’ clinic locations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m (2900 Grays Ferry Avenue, seven days a week, 1810 Grant Avenue, Tuesday through Saturday)
Help animals in need this holiday season by donating to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)! They are always looking for dry, unopened dog and cat food, pate-style canned dog, cat, and kitten food, kitten formula and bottles, litter, cat toys, soft, unopened dog training treats, Kong dog toys, paper towels, laundry detergent, and trash bags.
