Now that Thanksgiving is over, Philadelphians can finally focus on the winter holidays! To many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and they show it by decking the halls with bright and sparkly lights. If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit, gather a few friends and your Michael Bublé or Butch Walker Christmas CD and get ready for an evening of ooh and aahs.

Take this Philadelphia Christmas Lights Road Trip to see the most spectacular displays around the City of Brotherly Love.
Google Maps / OIYS
Click HERE for an interactive map to guide you on your journey!
1. Smedley Street Christmas Lights Spectacular
2700 S Smedley St, Philadelphia, PA 19145, USA
Facebook / Smedley Street Christmas Lights Spectacular
South Philly is full of pretty light displays, but none are so impressive as the Smedley Street Christmas Lights Spectacular. This block of homes has been decorating for years, and they seem to get bigger and brighter every year.

2700 Block of Smedley Street, Between 16th & 17th Streets and Moyamensing & Oregon Avenues.
2. The Miracle on South 13th Street
1600 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, USA
Facebook / The Miracle on South 13th Street
The Miracle on South 13th Street is another amazing South Philly light display. Check out row home after row home all decked out in bright, colorful christmas lights. The whole block really gets into the spirit of the holidays!

1600 S 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19148
3. Macy's Holiday Light Show
1300 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
Flickr / Jim the Photographer
Macy's Holiday Light Show is one of the best around. Enjoy the feeling of an old fashioned Christmas as you walk through the historic Wanamaker Building, hear the organ play, and enjoy the lights dancing in time to the music.

Macy's, 1300 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
4. Jewelers Row
Jewelers' Row, 701 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Facebook / Philadelphia Jewelers Row Association
The sparkliest street in Philadelphia gets even brighter during the Holidays. Enjoy shopping along Jeweler's Row between the light displays and holiday decorations.

Jewelers Row, S 7th St & Sansom St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
5. The Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn's Landing
Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Facebook / Blue Cross RiverRink
Winterfest at Penn's Landing is one of the best times of the year! Enjoy ice skating, spiked hot cider, and more Christmas Lights than you can imagine as you wander around this happy little holiday pop-up.

Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA
6. Franklin Square
200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Facebook / Franklin Square
Franklin Square's holiday light display is so bright, you can see it for blocks away! This is a favorite stop for families, as Santa often makes an appearance and the carousel is always running.

Franklin Square, 200 N 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
7. A Greeby Street Christmas
4200 Greeby St, Philadelphia, PA 19135, USA
Facebook / Greeby Street Christmas
South Philly isn't the only spirited neighborhood! The folks on Greeby Street have been going all out when it comes to Christmas Lights for years. Each year the display is bigger than the last!

4200 Greeby St., Philadelphia, PA 19135
8. Morris Arboretum
100 E Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118, USA
Facebook / Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
The Holiday Garden Railroad is a sight to see! A quarter mile of track featuring fifteen different rail lines, a trestle bridge you can walk under, surrounded by displays that are made entirely with natural materials makes this one of the most impressive things you'll see this winter. Visit the Morris Arboretum website for information about the display, which is open daily from now until December 31st.

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118
9. Boathouse Row
1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
Flickr / Michael W. Murphy
Boathouse Row is probably the best-known of the Philadelphia Christmas Light displays. For generations, the Boathouses along the Schuylkill have been adding a little holiday cheer to commuters stuck in traffic on I-76.

Boathouse Row, 1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130
10. Deck the Hall at Dilworth Park
1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
alex courtney/Google Maps
City Hall is the center of Philadelphia's holiday festivities, with Christmas Village on one side and Dilworth Park on the other. Enjoy the Deck the Hall light show, ice skating, a giant Christmas Tree, and plenty of holiday lights that sparkle through the night.

Dilworth Park, 1 S 15th St., Philadelphia, PA 19102

These local displays are impressive, but nothing quite lives up to Longwood Gardens, which is only a short drive away and home to more lights and Christmas displays than you ever thought possible. If you’ve got an free day to dedicate to a full trip, This Winter Walk Near Philadelphia That Will Positively Enchant You.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

More to Explore

Christmas In Pennsylvania Is Truly Magical

William Suphan | October 18, 2022

What are the must-do holiday activities in Pennsylvania?

If you're in Pennsylvania for Christmas, there are some local experiences you must have. Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem brings together local performers and artisans, serves up delicious holiday fare, and Saint Nicholas is there to meet with visitors. Sesame Place in Langhorne will delight the kids as they can meet Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. They'll love meeting reindeer, singing carols, and visiting Santa's Furry Workshop. The whole thing is called A Very Furry Christmas and is a complete holiday treat.

What are the holiday traditions specific to Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has a lot going on during the holidays to delight the whole family. The Mummers Parade is a real spectacle as thousands of people adorn themselves in makeup, sequins, and feathers and dance in a parade from City Hall to the Convention Center. It's one of the most festive things you'll ever see. Ever since 1956, The Wanamaker Building has had an animated holiday light show that starts every two hours and is surrounded by Dickens Village, where holiday shopping is at its best. Bring your kids to meet Santa!

Does Pennsylvania have Christmas villages?

You'll find some of the best Christmas villages ever in Pennsylvania. The Christmas Village in Philadelphia is a German-style Christmas Village that hosts the Christmas Market, where you'll feel transported to Germany with delicious foods and hot drinks to fill you up and keep you warm while you shop for finely crafted decorations and crafts that will make your home as Christmasy as ever. Not far away in New Hope is Peddler's Village which has taken place for over 50 years. With gorgeously decorated surroundings, the buildings and trees are lit up and it is the Winter Wonderland you've been looking for.

Related Articles