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Bring the family to Main Street all season long for Holiday Light Nights. Photo courtesy of Manayunk

Christmas Weekend 2024 in Philly Top Things To Do: Jolly Trolley, Selfies with Santa, Menorah Parade, and more.

Rose Tree Park glimmers at night, welcoming visitors to enjoy a wintery walk at Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the park

21 Free Holiday and Christmas Events for Philly Kids

The amazing Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular.display is back! Photo courtesy of the venue

24 Best Things to Do in Philly December 2024 with Kids

Santa roams Philadelphia's Christmas Village all season long. Photo courtesy of Kory Aversa for Christmas Village.

GUIDE

Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Philadelphia

Take a sparkling selfie at the Miracle on South 13th Street. Photo by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia

Spectacular Neighborhood Holiday Lights and Christmas Lights in Philly

The zoo lights are aglow at LumiNature. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo

30 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Philly for Kids

Curiosity meets discovery in Body Odyssey, where the walkthrough Giant Heart is just the beginning.

The Giant Heart is Back and Better Than Ever at the Franklin Institute

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Best Philly Tours for Kids: Art Hunts, Food Tours, Ghost Tours, and More

Kids under 18 are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Liz Baill

100 Free Fun Things To Do in Philly with Kids

Fishtown families flock to Penn Treaty Park for the waterfront views, special events, and open space. Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

Fishtown with Kids: 9 Things To Do in the Fishtown Neighborhood of Philly

School Calendars 2024-2025: Important Dates for Philadelphia School District

Grand Slam U.S.A. challenges you to a game of laser tag! Photo courtesy of the center

Best Laser Tag Zones and Paintball for Philly Kids

Build birthday memories brick by brick at LEGOLAND. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND

31 Fun Indoor Birthday Party Places for Kids in Philly

Ricketts Glen State Park is a family-friendly destination with awesome activities for all ages. Photo of Ricketts Glen by the author

Amazing Budget Weekend Getaways for Philly Families

Put your skills to the test on the obstacle course at Urban Air. Photo courtesy of Urban Air

Extreme Sports and More Thrilling Activities for Kids in Philly: Go Karts, Axe Throwing, and More!

Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), located in the heart of Old City.

Visiting Historic Philadelphia: Top Things To Do in the Historic District with Kids

Take in 300 years of history on Elfreth's Alley. Photo courtesy of the museum

3 Days in Philadelphia with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

Kids 18 and under are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of the museum

Free Museums and Free Museum Days in Philly

Turn your eye of the tiger into the eye of an artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Kids: Creative Family Time at the Art Museum

GUIDE

Guide to Classes for Kids in Philadelphia

Learn all about fire safety and the history of firefighters in Philly at the Fireman's Hall Museum.Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

14 Free Things To Do Indoors in Philly: Indoor Places To Play On Cold and Rainy Days

Take a bikde ride through Doylestown. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

9 Walkable Neighborhoods near Philly for Family Outings

Six Flag Great Adventure brings big-time thrills and is one of our favorite amusement parks in New Jersey.

Great Theme Parks and Amusement Parks Near New Jersey

Both babies and dogs love stroller walks for some fresh air. Photo courtesy of Gina Massaro for Mommy Poppins

Great Stroller Walks and Stroller Hikes near Philly

Parents eat while kids climb and slide at Craft Hall.

13 Philly Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat

Pony rides always bring out smiles at Linvilla Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard

Animal Farms and Petting Zoos near Philadelphia that are Perfect for Preschoolers

Try a whiz-wit at Tony Luke's, a reliable Philly cheesesteak spot with multiple locations. Photo courtesy of J. Varney for GPTMC

11 Kid-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak Spots

Challenge the rope bridge and zip line at Elmwood Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the zoo

100 Things To Do in Philly with Kids Before They Grow Up

Blue Cross RiverRink is open for Summerfest in the warmer months and Winterfest in the colder months. Photo courtesy of J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Top Attractions in Philadelphia: Best Things to See and Do with Kids

Kids can zoom down the slide and, of course, launch scarves at Kith + Kin. Photo courtesy of Kith + Kin

38 Best Indoor Play Spaces and Indoor Playgrounds in Philadelphia

No one walks the plank, but everyone has fun with with Scallywag’s Pirate Adventures in Erie. Photo courtesy of Scallywag's Pirate Adventures.

10 PA Weekend Getaways for Families

Take a hike: Family getaways are a great opportunity to reconnect with nature.

GUIDE

Philly Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways

Presented by Pages to Pirouettes, The Nutcracker returns to the Free Library stage! Photo courtesy of the event

Kwanzaa Celebrations, Snowflake Trains, Gingerbread Competition, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

What's Open on Christmas Day in Philly: A List of Awesome Things To Do

See more than a million lights on Christmas Day at LumiNature t the Philly Zoo. Photo by Georgi Anastasov.

12/15/24 - By Maureen Rayburn

We’ve rounded up what’s open on Christmas Day near Philly for those who don’t celebrate the Christmas holiday or just find themselves getting restless once the gifts are unwrapped. Getting out on Christmas Day in Philly has its perks—traffic is light and spots that are normally crowded are virtually empty. And if you’ve ever been greeted with a ticket on your windshield and wished the Philadelphia Parking Authority would take some time off, guess what? It does exactly that on Christmas. Parking isn’t all that’s free on our list, so keep reading to learn about places that are open on Christmas in Philadelphia near you.

For more ways to keep the kids entertained while school’s out, don’t miss 37 Fun Things to Do Over Winter Break in Philly with Kids, and browse our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.

Open Christmas Day in Philly: Smedley Street Christmas Spectacular.
For a Christmas day activity visit a light display like Smedley's Street Christmas Spectacular. Photo courtesy of the venue

Places Open On Christmas Day Near Philly

1. Residential Light Displays –– Multiple Locations

When it comes to getting in a festive mood, nothing beats Christmas lights! Head to South Philly for The Miracle on South 13th Street or the Smedley Street Christmas Spectacular. To see lights in the Philadelphia suburbs, pay a visit to the West Chester Griswolds or find another bedazzled location on this list.

2. Weitzman Museum Family Festival –– Old City

The Weitzman's annual family program "Being _______ at Christmas" features winter movies, snacks, crafts, percussion performance, art making, a sensory-friendly play zone, and more.

3. Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show –– Yardley

Over 3 million lights make up this remarkable Bucks County display, which is open 5pm–10pm.

4. Outdoor Ice Skating –– Philadelphia

Lace up your skates and take the kiddos ice skating at an outdoor rink. Both Blue Cross RiverRink and Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink are open with limited hours.

Open on Christmas in Philly: Longwood Gardens.
Holiday cheer meets botanical splendor at Longwood Gardens. Photo courtesy of the gardens

6. A Longwood Christmas –– Kennett Square

Tour Longwood Gardens' beautiful Christmas displays which include an Open Air Theatre Fountain Show, Garden Railway, Organ Sing-a-longs, and a half-million decorative lights. Note that advance tickets are required!

7. Koziar's Christmas Village –– Bernville

Take a ride to Koziar's Christmas Village to see the spectacular light attraction, train displays, and Winter Wonderland showcase.

8. Festival of Lights –– Media

From 5pm–10pm, visitors can stroll through the glimmering walkways to view the peaceful beauty of this (free!) annual light display.

Open on Christmas in Philly: Sesame Place
Ernie and company help celebrate the holidays at A Very Furry Christmas. Photo courtesy of Sesame Place

9. A Very Furry Christmas –– Langhorne

Come out for a few hours with your favorite furry friends, all decked out for the holidays. Don't miss the 1-2-3 Christmas Tree Show, sing-a-longs, "Elmo's Christmas Wish," Rudolph's Winter Wonderland, holiday photos, a visit with Santa in his Furry Workshop, and much more. On Christmas, the park is open 1-6 pm.

10. Adventure Aquarium –– Camden, NJ

Scuba Santa swims back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, but the aquarium and the rest of its sea life are open on Christmas Day from 11am-3pm. Plus, see the world's largest underwater Christmas tree!

11. Washington Crossing the Delaware –– Washington Crossing

Witness the reenactment of George Washington's historic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1776, at Washington Crossing Historic Park. The actual crossing begins at 1pm.

12. Herr's Snack Factory Christmas Lights –– Nottingham

Load up the car and drive through the Herr's Snack Factory property to view the 600,000 twinkling lights on display from dusk until dawn.

13. The Comcast Holiday Spectacular –– Philadelphia

Stroll through the city and make time for this Philly favorite tradition that brings the magic of the holidays to life for 15 minutes at the top of the hour, 10am–8pm, with sensory-friendly shows daily at 2:30.

Play a round of Chilly Philly Mini Golf in historic Franklin Square. Photo courtesy of Historic Philadelphia

14. Winter in Franklin Square –– Philadelphia

Celebrate the holiday season day and night, with mini golf, fire pits, winter favorite treats, and 200,000 twinkly lights.

15. LumiNature –– Philadelphia

Visit the zoo after the animals' bedtimes, take a selfie with a giant illuminated butterfly, check out two new areas, Shimmer River and LumiNature Lane, and more. Advance tickets are recommended!

16. Crayola Experience –– Easton

It will be a "Colorful Christmas" at the Crayola Experience, which is open from 12pm–6pm. A themed adventure, a story-telling snowman and tree friends, a life-sized snowglobe, and gift crafting await visitors. Note that online tickets are less expensive than buying in-person.

17. Museum of Illusions –– Philadelphia

Check out one of Philly's newest hot spots for some indoor fun that will boggle the mind!

18. Local Movie Theaters –– Multiple Locations

Visiting the movie theater is often a go-to choice when it comes to things to do on Christmas Day. Start a new family tradition in front of the big screen!

19. Go out to eat! –– Multiple Locations

We've rounded up restaurants open on Christmas all over the area, so make your reservations now.

20. Macy's Christmas Light Show & Dickens Village –– Philadelphia

This iconic sound and light show at the country's first department store has been a holiday tradition for families for generations. Add on a visit to the Charles Dickens village for extra holiday cheer.

This article has been updated for 2024 by Hillary Moses Mohaupt.