Dec4Fri
West Chester Hometown Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
Historic Chester County Courthouse steps and downtown West Chester · High St., West Chester, PA 19380
- When
- Friday, Dec 4
- Time
- Tree lighting 6:30pm; parade 7pm
- Price
- Free
December 2026Philadelphia · City of Brotherly Love
December in Philadelphia with little kids.
20 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Philadelphia in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.
2 listings
Dec 1 to Dec 6
Dec6Sun
1 listing
Dec 14 to Dec 20
Dec19Sat
Stories, Cookies & Milk with Santa
Frosty’s Fireside Lodge, Franklin Square · 200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
- When
- Saturday, Dec 19
- Time
- 11am–1pm
- Price
- Tickets required
4 listings
Dec 28 to Dec 31
Dec31Thu
Countdown to Noon at Cinnaminson Library
Burlington County Library System – Cinnaminson Library · 1619 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 10:30am–noon
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown in Franklin Square
Franklin Square · 200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 5–8pm; the Square Drop is at 6pm
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve Countdown at Sellers Library
Upper Darby Sellers Memorial Library · Upper Darby
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11am–noon
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Rockin’ Noon-Year’s Eve at Burlington County Library
Burlington County Library · 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11:30am–12:30pm
- Price
- Free
13 listings
Open for weeks at a time
Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.
Dec1to 31
A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place
Sesame Place Philadelphia · 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
- When
- Nov 14 to Jan 3
- Time
- See park hours
- Price
- Included with park admission
Dec1to 31
Santa in his Furry Workshop at Sesame Place
Sesame Place Philadelphia · 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
- When
- Nov 14 to Jan 3
- Time
- See park hours
- Price
- Included with park admission
Dec1to 31
Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square
Franklin Square · 200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
- When
- Nov 19 to Jan 3
- Time
- Every 30 minutes, 5–9pm
- Price
- See the event page
Dec1to 31
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo · 3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104
- When
- Nov 19 to Jan 9
- Time
- 5–9pm
- Price
- See the zoo’s ticket page
Dec1to 31
A Longwood Christmas
Longwood Gardens · 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 10
- Time
- Daily 10am–11pm
- Price
- Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free
Dec1to 31
Grand Illumination at Peddler’s Village
Peddler’s Village · Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA 18931
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 18
- Time
- 4:30–10pm; switch flips at 6:15pm
- Price
- Free admission and parking
Dec1to 23
Santa’s Workshop at Wild Lights
Elmwood Park Zoo · 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, PA 19401
- When
- Nov 20 to Dec 23
- Time
- 5–9pm
- Price
- With Wild Lights admission (adults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online)
Dec1to 24
Scuba Santa at Christmas Underwater
Adventure Aquarium · 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
- When
- Nov 20 to Dec 24
- Time
- During aquarium hours
- Price
- Included with admission
Dec1to 30
Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo
Elmwood Park Zoo · 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, PA 19401
- When
- Nov 20 to Dec 30
- 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
Dec1to 27
Christmas Village in Philadelphia
LOVE Park and City Hall · LOVE Park, 1500 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
- When
- Nov 21 to Dec 27
- Time
- Sun–Thu noon–8pm, Fri–Sat noon–9pm
- Price
- No admission
Dec1to 31
Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show
Shady Brook Farm · 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA 19067
- When
- Nov 21 to Jan 31
- 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
Dec1to 19
Jingle & Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square
Franklin Square · 200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
- When
- Nov 27 to Dec 19
- Time
- 5–7pm
- Price
- See the event page
Dec1to 20
Santa at Linvilla Orchards
Linvilla Orchards · 137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA 19063
- When
- Nov 27 to Dec 20
- Time
- 11am–5pm (Santa’s break 1–2:30pm)
- Price
- No reservations needed; bring your own camera
Guides
More December guides for Philadelphia
Christmas lights in PhiladelphiaKeep planning
More for little kids in Philadelphia
November: things to do in PhiladelphiaEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in PhiladelphiaFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in PhiladelphiaFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Indoor play in PhiladelphiaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in PhiladelphiaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in PhiladelphiaHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in PhiladelphiaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in PhiladelphiaKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in PhiladelphiaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in PhiladelphiaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in PhiladelphiaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in PhiladelphiaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in PhiladelphiaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Birthday party places in PhiladelphiaStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in PhiladelphiaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
December in Philadelphia: the FAQ
20 dated listings so far, including West Chester Hometown Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting (Dec 4), New Hope Holiday Parade (Dec 6), Stories, Cookies & Milk with Santa (Dec 19) and Countdown to Noon at Cinnaminson Library (Dec 31). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.
West Chester Hometown Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting (Dec 4), New Hope Holiday Parade (Dec 6), Countdown to Noon at Cinnaminson Library (Dec 31), Noon Year’s Eve Countdown at Sellers Library (Dec 31) and Rockin’ Noon-Year’s Eve at Burlington County Library (Dec 31), plus 1 more marked Free below. For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in Philadelphia.
14 start this December: Stories, Cookies & Milk with Santa (Dec 19), A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place (Nov 14 to Jan 3), Santa in his Furry Workshop at Sesame Place (Nov 14 to Jan 3), Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square (Nov 19 to Jan 3) and LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo (Nov 19 to Jan 9), plus 9 more below.
Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.
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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.
The checked list, every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Philadelphia that weekend.
