Christmas in Lancaster PA runs from early November through New Year’s, with holiday train rides, light displays, Christmas shows, and festive shopping across the county. Here’s how to plan your visit.
Christmas trains. The Strasburg Rail Road runs holiday trains all season, including the Night Before Christmas Train, Santa’s Paradise Express, and the Christmas Tree Train. Tickets sell out, so book early.
Christmas shows. The American Music Theatre’s Christmas show is a Central PA tradition. The Barn at Paradise Station, Magic & Wonder, and Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre all run holiday shows, several with dinner included.
Lights and outdoor fun. Zipline through Christmas lights at Refreshing Mountain, see Dutch Winter Wonderland, or drive 40 minutes north to Koziar’s Christmas Village in Berks County, with roughly a million lights.
Shopping. Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse adds lights, live music, and fireside s’mores for the season, and the Best Kept Secrets Tour runs a Twelve Shops of Christmas shopping tour.
Planning tip: Many restaurants close on Christmas Day. See which are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s.
The season at its best
While you’re at it, you can plan ahead for a special holiday dinner at a Lancaster County Restaurant. See our listings of which restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
AMT is where Christmas comes alive! You’ll experience more dancing, singing, silliness and heartwarming Christmas Cheer than you can stuff in a stocking! Don’t miss the Central PA tradition that’s been compared to Radio City. Call the box office or visit their website for show dates and times.
American Music Theatre Christmas Show
2425 Lincoln Highway East (Rt. 30)
Experience the magic of the season at Kitchen Kettle Village! Enjoy twinkling lights, live music, festive treats, and cozy fireside s’mores. Shop unique gifts, Amish quilts, homemade goodies, and top brands like Ugg, Brighton, and Pandora. Make Lancaster County your holiday tradition!
Kitchen Kettle Village at Christmas
3529 Old Philadelphia Pike (Rt. 340)
Lancaster’s most unique Christmas activity! Zipline through a winter wonderland of thousands of Christmas lights, sing carols by the fire while sipping on hot chocolate from the 319Cafe. You can even stay overnight in one of our Christmas cabin suites! Advance registration required.
Refreshing Mountain Retreat & Adventure Center
455 Camp Road
Celebrate Christmas at Lancaster County’s most unique attraction at Paradise Station! Featuring an original Christmas show, movie events, dining experiences and so much more. See a show, sleep in a caboose or eat on a real train car. Visit our website for tickets and info and make your holidays extra memorable.
312 Paradise Lane
A recipient of ABA’s Best of the Best Award. Enjoy family fun that has entertained visitors for over 70 years! Walk through train displays and scenes of every Christmas story, unique shops with Christmas treasures, and visit with Santa. Experience a spectacular view of a million Christmas lights. Take home wonderful Christmas memories.
782 Christmas Village Rd.
Share The Blessing is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families in need – and who live in Susquehanna Valley – enjoy the holiday season. We facilitate this through the collection of food, clothing, gifts and monetary donations that are used, in full, to provide hope and assistance to local families during a very blessed time of the year.
Christmas arrives at the Strasburg Rail Road this November. Special holiday trains include the Night Before Christmas Train, Santa’s Paradise Express, Santa’s Christmas Trolley, and The Christmas Tree Train. Tickets can be purchased online.
301 Gap Road (Route 741 East)
Water Street’s Christmas Cheer Gift Tag Program: many homeless men, women, and children will be spending their Christmas at Water Street Mission. Help spread the Christmas cheer when you gift someone at the Mission with a gift off of their wish list. Visit www.wsm.org/volunteer to learn how to give a gift to someone in need this holiday season.
Most holiday trains, shows, and light displays open in early to mid November and run through late December. Check each event for exact dates.
Refreshing Mountain, Dutch Winter Wonderland, and Kitchen Kettle Village all have holiday lights. Koziar’s Christmas Village in nearby Bernville has about a million.
Many attractions and restaurants close, so plan ahead. See our list of restaurants open on Christmas.
Quietly, with family, church, and a large meal instead of decorations or Santa. Many Amish families also observe “Second Christmas” on December 26 as a day for visiting.
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Wooden airplanes, trucks, ball rollers, doll houses, doll beds, cradles, much more.
Visit WebsiteAn original concert experience to celebrate the Christmas season! Perfect Harmony sings original arrangements of favorite holiday classics in three-part PERFECT HARMONY.
Visit WebsiteDinner & Show! Live Broadway musicals and tribute concerts. Delicious dinners and desserts.
Visit WebsiteCelebrate the magic of the season at with rides, festive entertainment, and thousands of twinkling lights!
Visit WebsiteLocally made quilts, wall hangings; Christmas room full of Christmas decor. Shop online.
Visit WebsiteRead our post about a special designation Lancaster received in 2014.
Enjoy sensational holiday fun at our Christmas magic/comedy show! November 2nd – December 31st.
Visit WebsiteRead our post and videos about dazzling outdoor Christmas Lights displays in and around Lancaster County. View post
Experience MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS in your own home December 1st – 3rd. Gather your loved ones as the angels announce the coming of the Messiah!
Visit WebsiteRide the Christmas Tree Train to choose your Christmas tree!
Visit WebsiteSee our video showing peaceful Lancaster County blanketed in snow. See video
Plan Your Visit
