Accessible Holiday Events
It’s TIIIIME! I’m mapping out our family holiday events around town, and I thought I would share. Sometimes we do things at home, but the following is a list of great events in Lancaster County, PA this Christmas season! 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 6th-7th and 12th-14th – 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, chips, cookies, and more!
Admission is free.
December 6th-8th and 13th-15th – 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, including the lights walk-through, are an additional fee.
December 13th and 14th – Bird-in-Hand Christmas Village
Visits with Santa and his reindeer, Holiday balloons for the kids, face painting, caroling, and so much more! Click the link for details because there’s a lot going on, and this year it’s spread out across two venues.
Admission is free. Add on events such as sleigh rides and treats are an additional cost.
December 14th – 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. Not all areas of the farm are accessible, but Santa and his furry friends are easy to access.
December 17th – 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; everyone else $32.95
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 1st-29th; 6-9:30 PM.
Admission is free, but donations are collected to support local charities. This is one of our favorites!
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, December 1st – January 1st.
Admission is free.
3. Christmas Parades
We do Elizabethtown (December 7th) because of convenience… and the Mars chocolate, but I’m told Mount Joy has an incredible parade and holiday event!
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 free. Sing along from the comfort of your car. The show does not run December 23rd and 24th because of Christmas Eve services.
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. Events run every Saturday.
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.
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 are always completely blown away by the Magic and Wonder Show, and they do a great holiday feature.
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.
Check out our other favorite accessible holiday destinations, here!
If you’re looking for other accessible options nearby, I’ve also heard great things about Reading’s Christmas on the Mountain and the Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill in Reading!