Destination

Christmas Village

Christmas Village in Philadelphia is an outside Holiday festival in Center City Philadelphia at LOVE Park and City Hall modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany.

Shop a unique selection of international and local vendors. Expect handmade holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry as well as high-quality arts and crafts. Warm yourself with sweet and hot drinks while enjoying festive Christmas lights and the delicious smell of waffles, gingerbread, bratwurst, and mulled wine. It's the perfect spot to bring you and your family into the perfect Christmas spirit.

Christmas Village in Philadelphia is open November 18, 2023 through Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023 with a special weekend preview on Saturday, November 18, 2023 and Sunday, November 19, 2023.

How to get there

Christmas Village is located at LOVE Park and at City Hall in the heart of Center City. Due to its central location - it is so easy to get here (and home from here) on SEPTA. Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

Fare

There are many ways to get here on SEPTA and many ways to pay. Click here to learn which fare is best for you!

If you have a SEPTA Key card - remember to load it before you head out or you can purchase a Quick Trip from a Fare Kiosk or from Conductor of you're coming in on Regional Rail.

ICYMI SEPTA customers can tap now their contactless credit card, debit card, smart phone or watch to ride SEPTA buses, trolleys, and subways. Regional Rail will follow in early 2024. Simply tap your contactless credit or debit card or use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay at a turnstile or as you board a bus or trolley. Contactless does not replace SEPTA Key cards – however it provides a simple solution for occasional riders who want to enjoy the same benefits as cardholders including a discounted $2 one-way fare and up to two transfers. Note: There are no passbacks. You cannot use the same card to tap through others in your group.

Note - paper One Day Independence Passes are no longer available for purchase. You can add a One Day FleX Pass to your SEPTA Key card. You can do this at a Regional Rail Station Fare Kiosk (you'll find these at Jefferson Station, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Temple University Station, Penn Medicine Station, and at Philadelphia International Airport), SEPTA Transit/Regional Rail Sales or Ticket Window, or online at septakey.org.

A SEPTA Key card initially costs $4.95 but when you register the card at septakey.org, $4.95 is added to the card's Travel Wallet which you can use for future rides or towards the purchase of another pass.

Children under age 12 accompanied by a fare-paying adult ride for free.

Hours

The hours for the 2023 Holiday season:

Sun – Thu: 12PM – 8PM

Fri – Sat: 12PM – 9PM

Christmas Village is open on Thanksgiving Day from 9AM – 5PM and on Christmas Eve from 12PM - 5PM.

Things To Do

Vendors in wooden booths set up shop in Love Park and City Hall to sell a wide variety of international holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry, and high-quality arts and crafts, as well as traditional European food, sweets, and drinks. The unique atmosphere with thousands of lights and the delicious smell of waffles, gingerbread, bratwurst, and mulled wine will bring you and your family into the perfect Christmas spirit.

Choo Choo! All aboard the Christmas Village Express! This classic Kids Train presented by SEPTA brings joy to the youngest visitors and their families. Located right next to the Ferris Wheel at the market's North Broad Section - little train riders can enjoy the vista of the Christmas Tree, the Ferris Wheel, and the market. Kids under 36" are accompanied by a responsible, paying adult.

Weekdays bring an extra touch of magic for young passengers. Simply present your SEPTA Key card when purchasing a Kids Train ticket to get $1 OFF, a coupon for a FREE HOT CHOCOLATE, and a special SEPTA surprise (while supplies last) for your little ones!

And - SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card holders can stop by the information booth (Monday - Friday) to receive a hot chocolate coupon!

New this year - stop by the Visitors Center for The Festival of the Trees! Vote for your favorite tree aka the SEPTA tree! All proceeds go to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Upcoming Local Happenings

Christmas Village

Love Park

Visit Philly’s most beloved holiday attraction as gorgeous LOVE Park transforms into an open-air European marketplace during the annual Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Over 100 vendors set up shop in wooden stalls offering local and international gifts, ornaments, accessories, and wintry apparel. After shopping up an appetite, indulge in tasty treats like raclette sandwiches, spiced wine, apple cider, strudels and more. Across the street on the north apron of City Hall and in the courtyard, a double-decker Christmas Village carousel, Ferris wheel and the kids train where you can enjoy $1 off and a hot cocoa if you show your SEPTA Key Card M-F. As a special treat for SEPTA seniors enjoy a cup of hot cocoa during the shopping experience during the week when you flash your Senior Fare Card at the welcome center booth. Stay a bit longer and visit the Festival of Trees located in LOVE Park Welcome Center where you can view over 17 custom-decorated trees from local Philadelphia companies! Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

Plan Your Trip

Wintergarden

Dilworth Park

This open-air wonderland brings a festive touch of greenery, featuring holiday lights, reindeer topiaries, rustic woodland décor and an on-site Chaddsford Winery kiosk selling warm mulled wine. Open now thru 3/17. Get here on SEPTA! Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

Plan Your Trip

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market

Dilworth Park

Shop local and support more than 40 small businesses selling handmade crafts, jewelry, artwork, treats and so much more - open from 11/10 thru 1/1. So easy to get here on SEPTA. Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

Plan Your Trip

Macy’s Christmas Light Show

Macy's Center City

The Grand Court in the National Historic Landmark Wanamaker Building has hosted the brilliant Christmas Light Show since 1956. Macy’s keeps the free holiday tradition going this year with thousands of twinkling lights (accompanied by tunes from the famed Wanamaker Organ), animated holiday windows and the fully immersive Dickens Village, which captures scenes from the age-old tale A Christmas Carol. Free light show performances occur daily and advanced registration is required for Dickens Village. Take the Market-Frankford Line to 13th, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Regional Rail to Jefferson, Trolley Routes to 13th, or Bus Routes 17, 23, 33, 28, 44, 45, 47, 61, 78, 124, or 125.

Plan Your Trip

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker

Academy of Music

See The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music from 12/9 thru 12/30! Get there on SEPTA. Take Regional Rail to Suburban Station, the Broad Street Line to Walnut-Locust, the Market-Frankford Line to 15th Street, or Routes 4, 9, 12, 21, 27, 32 or 42.

Plan Your Trip