# Christmas break with kids in Philadelphia, 2026

> What to do with kids in Philadelphia over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus 12 dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 4 places’ holiday hours; 21 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **The Franklin Institute**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Closed. Their page says: “Open daily 9:30am–5pm; closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day” Source: https://fi.edu/en/plan-your-visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Longwood Gardens**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: open 10am–11pm (A Longwood Christmas runs daily); New Year’s Day Open 10am–11pm. Their page says: “A Longwood Christmas: daily Nov 20 – Jan 10, 10am–11pm” Source: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Christmas Village in Philadelphia**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: noon–5pm; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Closed (season ends Dec 27). Their page says: “Nov 21 – Dec 27; closed Nov 23–25 and Dec 25” Source: https://www.philachristmas.com/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Adventure Aquarium**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Not listed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: ““*Closed on Thanksgiving.”” Source: https://www.adventureaquarium.com/plan/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Christmas Eve

- **Scuba Santa at Christmas Underwater** at Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026. Time: During aquarium hours. Price: Included with admission. Scuba Santa dives daily with the sharks and sea turtles. There’s indoor snow every hour in the Rotunda and a storytime by Santa’s throne, sometimes led by Mrs. Claus. Official page: https://www.adventureaquarium.com/explore/special-events/christmas-underwater/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Santa in his Furry Workshop at Sesame Place** at Sesame Place Philadelphia, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047. When: Select dates, Nov 14, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Time: See park hours. Price: Included with park admission. Part of A Very Furry Christmas, which also has a Christmas parade and millions of lights. Official page: https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia/events/a-very-furry-christmas (checked 2026-10-26)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo** at Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, PA 19401. When: Select nights, Nov 20 – Dec 30, 2026. Time: 5–9pm; last entry 8:30pm. Price: Adults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online, 0–2 free; $18.95 after 7:30pm. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 24–25. Cookie decorating is $10 on select dates. Official page: https://elmwoodparkzoo.org/wildlights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo** at Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027. Time: 5–9pm. Price: See the zoo’s ticket page. Official page: https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/events/luminature/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square** at Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027; closed Nov 26, Dec 25 and Jan 1. Time: Every 30 minutes, 5–9pm. Price: See the event page. Opening night, Nov 19, has a free choir performance and hot chocolate, with the first show at 6:30pm. Official page: https://historicphiladelphia.org/events/holidays-in-franklin-square/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **A Longwood Christmas** at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Daily 10am–11pm. Price: Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free. Official page: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Christmas Village in Philadelphia** at LOVE Park and City Hall, LOVE Park, 1500 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19102. When: Nov 21 – Dec 27, 2026; closed Nov 23–25 and Dec 25. Time: Sun–Thu noon–8pm, Fri–Sat noon–9pm. Price: No admission. Open 9am–5pm on Thanksgiving and noon–5pm on Christmas Eve. Kids under 12 ride SEPTA free. Official page: https://www.philachristmas.com/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place** at Sesame Place Philadelphia, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047. When: Select dates, Nov 14, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Time: See park hours. Price: Included with park admission. Millions of lights across the park, a Sesame Street Christmas parade and visits with Santa. Official page: https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia/events/a-very-furry-christmas (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show** at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA 19067. When: Drive-through nightly Nov 21, 2026–Jan 31, 2027; wagon rides Nov 22–Jan 3. Time: Drive-through Sun–Thu 5–10pm, Fri–Sat 5–11pm; wagons Sun–Thu 5–8pm. Price: Varies by date; buy ahead, since gate prices run $5 more per car and $3 more per wagon seat. More than 4 million lights. Santa’s Village is free. Wagon rides skip Nov 26, Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31 and Jan 1. Official page: https://www.shadybrookfarm.com/pages/holiday-light-show (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Grand Illumination at Peddler’s Village** at Peddler’s Village, Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA 18931. When: Nov 20, 2026 (lights stay on nightly through Jan 18, 2027). Time: 4:30–10pm; switch flips at 6:15pm. Price: Free admission and parking. Santa and Mrs. Claus light up the village at 6:15 sharp. Parking fills fast, so the village asks you to arrive by 5:30. Official page: https://peddlersvillage.com/event/grand-illumination-celebration/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink at Dilworth Park** at Dilworth Park, 1 S 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. When: Nov 13 – Jan 21. Price: Kids 10 and under $7; 11 and up $10. Official page: https://centercityphila.org/explore/dilworth-park-winter/rink/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **IBX RiverRink Winterfest** at Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106. When: Nov 27 – Feb 28. Price: Skating $5. Official page: https://news.ibx.com/newsroom/press-release/ibx-riverrink-winterfest-2026/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown in Franklin Square** at Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 5–8pm; the Square Drop is at 6pm. An early countdown for kids, with the Square Drop at 6pm. Official page: https://historicphiladelphia.org/events/holidays-in-franklin-square/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Noon Year’s Eve Countdown at Sellers Library** at Upper Darby Sellers Memorial Library, Upper Darby. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free. Make noise, sing and dance, then a balloon drop at noon. All ages; kids 8 and under need a caregiver 14 or older. Official page: https://delcolibraries.libcal.com/event/17372299 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Countdown to Noon at Cinnaminson Library** at Burlington County Library System – Cinnaminson Library, 1619 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10:30am–noon. Price: Free. Best for ages 5 and under: New Year’s Eve crafts, a photo booth and a countdown at 11:59. Official page: https://bclsnj.bibliocommons.com/events/6adbb9f611bbf300684d11fc (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Rockin’ Noon-Year’s Eve at Burlington County Library** at Burlington County Library, 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. For preschoolers and up: music, dancing and festive activities, then a countdown when the clock strikes noon. Official page: https://bclsnj.bibliocommons.com/events/6ac3ffbae06996003a818116 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo** at Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027. Time: 5–9pm. Price: See the zoo’s ticket page. Official page: https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/events/luminature/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **A Longwood Christmas** at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Daily 10am–11pm. Price: Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free. Official page: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place** at Sesame Place Philadelphia, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047. When: Select dates, Nov 14, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Time: See park hours. Price: Included with park admission. Millions of lights across the park, a Sesame Street Christmas parade and visits with Santa. Official page: https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia/events/a-very-furry-christmas (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show** at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA 19067. When: Drive-through nightly Nov 21, 2026–Jan 31, 2027; wagon rides Nov 22–Jan 3. Time: Drive-through Sun–Thu 5–10pm, Fri–Sat 5–11pm; wagons Sun–Thu 5–8pm. Price: Varies by date; buy ahead, since gate prices run $5 more per car and $3 more per wagon seat. More than 4 million lights. Santa’s Village is free. Wagon rides skip Nov 26, Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31 and Jan 1. Official page: https://www.shadybrookfarm.com/pages/holiday-light-show (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Grand Illumination at Peddler’s Village** at Peddler’s Village, Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA 18931. When: Nov 20, 2026 (lights stay on nightly through Jan 18, 2027). Time: 4:30–10pm; switch flips at 6:15pm. Price: Free admission and parking. Santa and Mrs. Claus light up the village at 6:15 sharp. Parking fills fast, so the village asks you to arrive by 5:30. Official page: https://peddlersvillage.com/event/grand-illumination-celebration/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Philadelphia with kids?
The Franklin Institute (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Longwood Gardens (Dec 24 and Dec 25: open 10am–11pm (A Longwood Christmas runs daily)), Christmas Village in Philadelphia (Dec 24: noon–5pm; Dec 25: closed), Adventure Aquarium (Not listed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Philadelphia?
On the calendar: Scuba Santa at Christmas Underwater and Santa in his Furry Workshop at Sesame Place.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Philadelphia?
The Franklin Institute (Closed), Longwood Gardens (Open 10am–11pm), Christmas Village in Philadelphia (Closed (season ends Dec 27)), Adventure Aquarium (Not listed).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Philadelphia?
On the calendar for Jan 1: LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo, A Longwood Christmas, A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place and Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show and one more. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Philadelphia?
Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo, LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo, Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square, A Longwood Christmas and Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).