A Holiday Calendar of Wheelchair Friendly Family Events
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.
One Time Events
I put these at the top so that you don’t miss them! Save the date!
December 2nd – 3rd and 9th- 10th – The Christmas Hope Festival
Experience the full story of Christmas through immersive presentations. Enjoy sparkling lights, a festive European village atmosphere, and tasty holiday treats. Free hot dogs and chips for the first 200 registrants.
Admission is free.
December 2nd – 4th – Christmas in the Park at Terre Hill
Enjoy handmade lighted displays along a Christmas themed walking trail, ice carving demonstrations, visits with Santa at Santa’s Workshop, craft vendors, kids’ activities, live music in Christmas Tree Plaza, carriage rides, food vendors, and more. The crushed stone surface will work for most wheelchairs, but free golf cart transportation is available if needed.
Admission is free – activities are an additional fee.
December 3rd – Christmas at the Star Barn Village
See this historic village in all of its festive glory! Enjoy pony rides, face painting, cookie decorating, s’mores, games, a Kris Kringle market, and so much more!
General Admission: $15 in advance, or $18 at the gate; VIP (includes breakfast): $30. Register here.
100% of all funds raised from Christmas at the Star Barn Village directly benefit vulnerable and orphaned children through Brittany’s Hope.
December 9th – 10th – Bird-in-Hand Christmas Village
Visits with Santa and his reindeer, Holiday balloons for the kids, face painting, caroling, Kids’ Cookie Break, and more! Main event is on December 10th, with a smaller event the day before.
Admission is free. Add on events such as sleigh rides and treats are an additional cost.
December 10th – Santa and Goats
Baby goats, Santa and hot cocoa. WIN. 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.
December 18th – Ice Cream with Santa at the Turkey Hill Experience
Join Santa for an evening filled with fun activities, decorations, and of course, plenty of delicious Turkey Hill Ice Cream and beverages!
Reservations are required for this event. Make reservations online today!
Ages 2 and under: FREE; Ages 3-12: $24.95; Ages 13+: $14.95
Ongoing Free Events
These are a little easier to fit into your schedule – and perfect for a holiday budget.
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. Runs December 2nd-28th; 6-9:30 PM.
Admission is free, but donations are collected to support local charities.
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. 5:30 – 10 daily
Admission is free.
3. Christmas Parades
We do Elizabethtown (December 10th) because of convenience, but I’m told Mt. Joy is the best.
Free admission for both parades and downtown holiday activities.
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. 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. Check out the facebook page for each borough to see all that’s coming up!
8. 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 free family fun events, you can check out paid events like a holiday tasting tour or dinner with Mrs. Claus.
9. Krasley Christmas
This is someone’s front lawn display, set to music. If you’re local, it’s worth catching.
10. 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
These events aren’t free, but they’re wheelchair accessible holiday events that we’ve found worth the family admission. We wouldn’t do them all in the same year, but maybe one will stick as a family tradition!
Catch a Show
Dutch Apple Dinner Theater always offers a special holiday feature. We were completely blown away by the Magic and Wonder Show.
Holiday Movies at The Elizabeth
The Elizabeth is a historical theater in Elizabethtown with holiday movie features throughout December, think along the lines of Polar Express and White Christmas. Prices and included activities vary, but there’s something fun every week over the holiday season.
Koziar’s Christmas Village
This one is world renown, and it’s right in our backyard! Everyone should see it at least once.
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.
Admission is only $2 with your disability ACCESS card.
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. There is a lift available for wheelchair users, though seating options are limited if you’re not able to transfer.
If you’re in Strasburg, check out the other train stops – everyone does something festive!
The Santa Express at Stone Gables in Elizabethtown is another fun one.
Drive-Thru Lights
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.
Amusement Parks
Amusement parks are a great place for wheelchair accessible light displays.
Dutch Wonderland is a festive one, and the rides are a bonus if you’re able to participate.
Hershey Park’s Christmas Candylane is just the beginning of the wheelchair accessible fun in The Sweetest Place on Earth.