The best Holiday events in and around Lancaster County
I love the idea of a an activity advent calendar. Instead of a chocolate before school each morning, or a cheap toy that will be stepped on and thrown away, we do a calendar of events. Sometimes we do things at home, but the following is a list of great events for this year! Bring on the festive!
As always, all suggestions are family friendly and wheelchair accessible.
Free
1. Messick’s Light Show. The most festive tractors you will ever see. It’s a drive up and park to listen and watch show. BRILLIANT.
2. 153 Crimson Lane, Elizabethtown. It’s just someone’s home… but they go all out. The kids enjoy watching the show from the car.
3. Christmas Parade. We do Elizabethtown (December 11th) because of convenience, but I’m told Mt. Joy (December 4th) is the best.
4. The Christmas Barn and then the light show at Calvary. This is a tradition I’ve passed on from my own upbringing. The kids each pick out an ornament to represent their year… or themselves. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a neat store to explore. Since it’s a bit of a drive for us, I added on the light show to our tradition. The light show is fantastic and there are free crafts and treats.
5. Chocolate World. Of course you can also do Christmas Candylane, but that’s pricey for a family of five. The lights around Chocolate World and leading up to the park are beautiful, Chocolate World runs all kids of Christmas themed activities, and you get free chocolate. There’s no losing here.
6. Christmas Eve Services. These are all over the place and any one of them will help you celebrate. If you don’t have a church family, you’re more than welcome to meet mine at Crossroads in Mt. Joy.
7. Bird-in-Hand Christmas Village. Visits with Santa and his reindeer, Holiday balloons for the kids, face painting, come early and carol along with the cast of A Christmas Tree Ship, family-friendly laughs & live entertainment with Steven Courtney, and more! Main event is on December 11th, with a smaller event the day before.
8. Friday. Downtown Elizabethtown does the second, Mt. Joy does the fourth, Lancaster City does the first, Lititz does the second. In all of them, shops are decked out for the holidays special holiday events are taking place November-December.
9. Santa and Goats. Baby goats, Santa and hot cocoa. WIN. December 11th from 1-3 you can take pictures with baby goats in Santa’s sleigh and then enjoy holiday activities on the farm at the Amish Farm and House. Admission is free, but donations are suggested to help keep up with feeding the animals.
10. Kitchen Kettle Village. Live music, visits with Santa, s’mores over an open fire, free hot chocolate, candy making demonstrations, and samples of tasty treats are a weekend norm in the village. In addition to the family fun events, you can check out paid events like a holiday tasting tour or dinner with Mrs. Claus
11. Krasley Christmas. This is someone’s front lawn display, set to music. If you’re local, it’s worth catching.
12. Head up to Christmas City. The city lights are free to stroll, as are a couple of holiday events, like the live advent calendar (5;30 PM daily). When you live this close, it makes sense to visit our Christmas capital. You can add on a tour or the Christkindlmarkt (paid admission).
13. Refreshing Mountain Light Drive-thru. A free drive-thru and bonfire. S’mores for purchase. You can also zipline through the lights – but that’s not a wheelchair accessible activity.
Worth the Admission
14. Catch a show. Miracle on 34th Street is showing at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, or you can catch the Magic and Wonder of Christmas.
15. Christmas at the Star Barn. (December 4th) With magical guests, train rides, s’mores, cookie decorating, games, crafts, portraits, and more… and all the proceeds going towards Brittany’s Hope… you can’t go wrong! They’re also running a Santa Express train ride the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas.
16. National Christmas Center. For over 19 years, this 22,000-square foot beloved tourist destination shared the magic of Christmas, both religious and secular, its memories, its history, and its traditions with thousands of visitors. It closed it’s doors in Paradise and moved to Elizabethtown! It’s not in it’s final stage of completion, but it’s still a festive site to behold!
17. Koziar’s Christmas Village. I’m told it’s the best in the world. Whether that’s true or not, it’s still impressive.
18. Christmas at Longwood. Catch the outdoor train display then head inside for the warmest display you’ll catch this season. There’s nothing like flowers in winter to warm your soul.
19. Ride a Christmas train. This is my favorite. We do the Night Before Christmas Train. A gentleman in a nightcap reads the classic story while the kids snack on milk and cookies in their PJs. Everyone carols on the way back. It’s amazing. They also do Santa trains. If you’re in Strasburg, check out the other train stops – everyone does something festive!
20. Star Barn Christmas Light Drive-Thru. Hershey also has their Sweet Lights drive-thru. Both are beautiful and they’re about the same price. I like Star Barn because the money goes to orphans… and one of those orphans is now a part of our family.
21. Dutch Wonderland. Amusement parks are a great place for wheelchair accessible light displays. This is a festive one, and the rides are a bonus if you’re able to participate.
22. The Sweetest Place on Earth. Hershey Park’s Christmas Candylane is just the beginning of the wheelchair accessible fun in Hershey!
23. Ice Cream with Santa. My favorite ice cream with my favorite dude at a neat attraction.
