-Courtesy of Aversa PR & Events
Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America is back at LOVE Park and City Hall for its 16th consecutive season. From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve, Christmas Village transforms Center City into an authentic open-air German Christmas market. Holiday sights and sounds include thousands of twinkling lights, Christmas decor, themed weekends and live music that will immerse visitors in the true spirit of the season. Shoppers will find high-quality international and local gifts along with beautiful decorations at over 120 vendor booths spanning across LOVE Park, City Hall Courtyard and North Broad. Foodies are invited to warm up with a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate while enjoying European food options. Attractions and family fun will include a double-decker Christmas Village Carousel, the majestic Ferris Wheel and the Kids Train. Visitors will feel like they are wandering the romantic winter street of a historic town in the heart of Germany.
New for 2023, look for new later hours after dark, vegan food options, new seating at North Broad section, new souvenir mug design and new European festive lights. Admission to Christmas Village in Philadelphia is free, while food, beverages, and shopping are pay-as-you-go.
Schedule
Open daily starting on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 23rd) until it closes on Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24th. Regular day hours are Friday to Saturday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm and Sunday to Thursday from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Special holiday hours are Thanksgiving Day from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Christmas Eve from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.
Transportation
SEPTA proudly serves as the official transportation partner of Christmas Village ensuring a convenient and speedy journey to the festivities via public transportation. Arriving at Christmas Village is a breeze: board the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, take the Broad Street Line to City Hall, or opt for Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124, or 125. Take Regional Rail hop off at Suburban Station, and you are just steps away.
What’s New
Look for later hours after dark (open until 8:00 pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday). With the change in time, visitors are invited to gaze upon the thousands of twinkling lights, including new European market lights being added to last year’s brand new rustic wooden huts.
* Calling all collectors! Exclusive Christmas Village red boot mugs will debut this year – and as always, are expected to sell out super quickly. Visitors are encouraged to warm up with with a drink from the market’s traditional dark blue Glühwein (mulled wine) mug or toast with an authentic cream-colored beer mug, which will all feature an exclusive 2023 mug design.
*Christmas Village will debut Vegan Wurst Wednesdays with the first-ever mouthwatering Vegan Bratwurst every Wednesday after 5:00pm. Vegan Wurst Wednesdays will be a new ticketed culinary experience, with some Vegan brats available first come, first served for walk-ups too.
* The North Broad section will debut a brand new seating area with a warm and cozy atmosphere perfect to take a break from all that shopping.
* Get ready for 2024 with a new photo opportunity. After a cross-country road trip from California, the 2023 KIA Numeral Tour will come to Philadelphia to Christmas Village in Love Park. This is the last stop on it’s journey before it reaches Times Square for the Ball Drop. Visitors are invited to take photos with the famous 7-foot-tall 2024 numerals on December 16th and December 17th.
Returning Traditions
Some of the market’s most popular vendors will return as the crowd favorites – including German ornament and gift vendor Käthe Wohlfahrt, Helmut’s Strudel and Raclette Hut.
* The biggest weekend of them all is back! German American Weekend returns with three German dance bands schuhplattling all weekend long on December 9 and 10, 2023. Visitors can enjoy a full-fledged bout of German tradition as they grab a yummy Bratwurst while watching local United German Hungarian Schuhplattlers and G.T.V. Almrausch perform their choreography in traditional dresses. Visitors are invited to join the fun during the German Games on that Sunday, with a Beerstein holding contest, Bratwurst eating contest and a match of Brezelschnappen! Brezelschnappen presents a fun and traditional German game where participants compete to catch hanging pretzels with their mouths
* Kids of all ages are invited to immerse themselves in the enchantment of Family Weekend (December 2nd and 3rd) with the presence of “A Moment of Magic” at Christmas Village. Family Weekend brings beloved princesses, superheroes, Christmas Village’s mascot, Phil the Reindeer, and more all together to create magical memories for children and adults alike.
* Beer lovers can enjoy locally brewed craft beer made by Brewery Techne at “The Alm”, the traditional beer garden located in LOVE Park and presented by the German Consulate General in New York.
* Foodies are invited to have a seat at the warmly lit food court area inside City Hall’s Courtyard, equipped with authentic German beer tables and benches. From flame-grilled bratwurst, gooey raclette cheese, and crispy belgian fries, and so much more: this culinary hub at City Hall leaves nothing to be desired.
* On Tuesdays from 12:30pm to 1:00pm, the Free Library of Philadelphia will offer kids reading hours to the public, at Christmas Village’s LOVE Park stage.
* The Make A Wish® Wall is a special destination at Christmas Village, where visitors can make their heartfelt wishes come true. This heartwarming tradition allows guests to inscribe their cherished wishes on wooden hearts, creating a truly magical and interactive experience.
* Visitors are invited to join us for Thirsty Thursdays, where Christmas Village offers exclusive spirit tastings every Thursday. These tastings are your ticket to explore a variety of local liquors from Boardroom Spirits, ensuring a flavorful midweek experience.
* In an effort to promote equity and reflect the diversity of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department partnered with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to provide grants to support minority-owned vendors at Christmas Village. Through these grants, The Welcoming Center, Esperanza, and LA21 will each recruit three or more local minority-owned businesses to vend at Christmas Village and provide them with a booth at little or no cost.
ATTRACTIONS
Situated in the heart of City Hall’s Courtyard, this classic Christmas Village carousel promises endless fun for the entire family. With horses, carriages, and reindeer to ride, it’s a fun ride for the whole family, sure to fill the air with laughter and giggles. This merry-go-round is the go-to for creating unforgettable moments during your Christmas Village visit. The carousel will be open until Christmas Eve and will be operated Friday and Saturday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm and Sunday through Thursday 12:00pm to 8:00pm.
Reach majestic views at the top of the tallest Christmas attraction in Philadelphia! Christmas Village, presented by Bank of America, will again feature a 65′ high Ferris Wheel in the North Broad section. The Ferris Wheel will be open until December 24th. Operating hours are Friday and Saturday 12:00pm to 9:00pm and Sunday to Thursday 12:00pm to 8:00pm.
Choo choo, climb aboard the Christmas Village Kids Train Presented by SEPTA! This timeless ride is here to spread joy among the youngest visitors and their families until December 24th. You’ll find the train has fantastic views of the Ferris Wheel and Christmas Tree, surrounded by the bustling North Broad section of Christmas Village. The best thing? All SEPTA Keycard holders receive $1 off on every Kids Train ride! SEPTA is excited to be the official Transportation partner for Christmas Village for the 3rd straight year.
Theme Weekends
Explore the website to find special weekend events with a lineup of music, performances, and entertainment to enhance the celebration. Detailed schedules and more information can be easily located under the “Activities” section on philachristmas.com.
* December 2nd and 3rd – Family Weekend
* December 9th and 10th – German American Weekend
German American Weekend
To celebrate Philadelphia’s rich German-American heritage, Christmas Village is welcoming all visitors to the annual German American Weekend December 9th and 10th, presented by the German Consulate General in New York. Enjoy traditional German dance choreography by local United German Hungarian Schuhplattlers and G.T.V. Almrausch, where performers stomp and clap and strike the soles of their shoes, thighs, and knees with their hands held flat. Wash down a delicious Bratwurst with some beer to embrace the full authentic German experience on this side of the Atlantic.
German Games at German American Weekend
On Sunday, December 10th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Christmas Village will host its German Games competition again, presented by the German Consulate General in New York. Contestants can put their skills to the test in three exciting disciplines: Bratwurst eating contest, beer stein holding competition and Brezelschnappen. The beer stein holding competition (“Maßkrugstemmen”) will be first, officially kicking off the German Games! A beer stein holding competition is a Bavarian feat of strength and endurance where contestants hold a 1-liter stein of beer out in front of them at shoulder level for as long as they can. No content can be spilled, no elbows can be bent, and extended arms must be kept parallel to the ground. Whoever can keep their stein aloft the longest is the winner! Next on the German Games agenda: the annual Bratwurst eating contest! It is an amateur competition with no entry fee. Each of the five contestants will be provided with three bratwursts – the contestant who eats the fastest will be crowned the winner.The final discipline in the annual German Games is Brezelschnappen, a fun and traditional German game where participants compete to catch hanging pretzels with their mouths. Contestants are presented with a unique challenge where pretzels are suspended from a string. The catch is that participants must keep their hands behind their backs as they try to catch and enjoy as many pretzels as possible within a set time limit. The winning individuals of the German Games will receive a gift package containing Christmas Village-related prizes. Interested parties should sign up on December 10th at the info booth at LOVE Park.
Family Day with A Moment of Magic
Family Day at Christmas Village returns in partnership with University of Pennsylvania’s nonprofit organization: A Moment of Magic. With the help of beautiful dresses, students transform into children’s movie heroes and heroines, making their hearts beat faster. The characters will visit Christmas Village this year on Family Day, Sunday, December 3rd, giving children the opportunity to meet their favorite childhood characters in real life at the market. Together with the mascot of Christmas Village, Phil the Reindeer, children can watch them sing, perform, and showcase their talents on stage for two hours starting at 3:00pm. Before and after their stage performances everyone can take pictures of and with them during their walkaround of the market.
Make-A-Wish® Wall
Christmas time is also time to make wishes that come from the heart! Together with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware and Susquehanna Valley, visitors will have the chance to donate by buying a hanger for Christmas Village’s Wish Wall, which can be purchased at the events info booth at LOVE Park. After writing their personal wish on it, the heart shaped message can be hung up on the Wish Wall to be seen by everyone. $1 of each sold heart will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley to support their goal of granting the wishes of critically ill children.
School Tours and German Culture Lessons
Christmas Village is once again offering schools a wonderful journey through time with merchants, craftsmen, and traders. Explore the history of European Christmas markets from the very beginning to the present day with a professional tour guide.
The tour includes:
* A guided tour through Christmas Village in Philadelphia
* Storytelling in a cozy Christmas atmosphere
* A traditional German lunch
* A sweet treat for every participant
* An interactive quiz where students have the opportunity to explore the market
Interested parties looking to book a “Live History Lesson at Christmas Village” should send an email to event@philachristmas.com.
Storytimes in Partnership with the Free Library
Every Tuesday from 12:00pm to 12:30pm, the Free Library of Philadelphia will once again bring storytimes to the Christmas Village stage! A variety of seasonal and holiday books will be read to children of all ages. Seating will be provided for kids and parents to ensure a comfortable and cozy experience
Entertainment (Daily)
Look for more live performances – including choirs, bands, dance groups, and much more festive fun – taking place on the stage in the center of LOVE Park. Performance schedule on the main stage:
* Monday to Thursday – 5:00pm to 8:00pm
* Fridays – 5:00pm to 9:00pm
* Saturdays – 12:00pm to 9:00pm
* Sundays – 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Sunday, December 3rd, 12:00pm to 1:00pm: Philly Cheer Elite
Sunday, December 3rd, 4:00pm to 5:00pm: Penn Band
Saturday, December 9th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm: Temple University’s “Pitch, Please”
Saturday, December 9th, 1:00pm to 2:00pm: GTV Almrausch traditional German Schuhplattler
Saturday, December 9th, 4:00pm to 5:00pm: Greg Sover
Sunday, December 24th, 4:00pm to 5:00pm: Fire Twirling Majorette
Santa
This year, Santa will take a trip to Christmas Village in Philadelphia once again! He is awaiting visitors and their families to take holiday photos at the LOVE Park Visitor Center. Don’t forget to bring the wish list! Hours this season are every December Friday and Saturday until Christmas, 12:00pm to 9:00pm; every December Sunday until December 17th, 12:00pm to 8:00pm; and Sunday, December 24th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Check out http://phillysanta.com/ for more details including photography pricing.
Spirits Tastings
Spirits tastings will be back to bring holiday cheer to Thirsty Thursdays! Starting November 30th, visitors have the chance to enjoy exclusive signature cocktail tastings from local distillery Boardroom Spirits at the seating area in City Hall’s Courtyard every Thursday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. A ticket includes:
Four (4) 2-fl-oz samples of Boardroom Spirits craft cocktails
One (1) German Bratwurst OR one (1) order of Belgian fries
$2 off one (1) Glühwein in a Christmas Village mug
One (1) Souvenir Boardroom Spirits shot glass to take home
$5 off on two (2) Boardroom Spirits bottles bought at Christmas Village
Free delivery for one (1) order on www.boardroomspirits.com
More information about the event, as well as a link to purchase tickets, can be found on the philachristmas.com website under “Tastings.”
Vegan Vurst Wednesdays
Christmas Village is happy to announce the debut of Vegan Vurst Wednesdays. This savory initiative features the first-ever Vegan Bratwurst, which will be sizzling and ready to delight taste buds every Wednesday after 5:00pm. Vegan Wurst Wednesdays mark an exciting shift in Christmas Village’s culinary landscape, introducing a ticketed culinary experience that lets you savor the delectable Beyond Meat Bratwurst. Patrons have the chance to secure their Vegan Bratwurst and a complimentary, online-exclusive German-style pretzel by pre-ordering the $12 Vegan Vurst Wednesday offer on Eventbrite. For those who prefer spontaneity, a limited number of Vegan brats will also be available for walk-ups on a first-come, first-served basis at the German Grill at LOVE Park. This program is not just about delicious food; it’s a step forward in their commitment to exploring sustainable and inclusive options. This trial program was carefully crafted to test these new Vegan offerings, ensuring that Christmas Village continues to expand its food choices to align with evolving preferences and lifestyles.
Exclusive Christmas Village Beer
Announcing the much-anticipated return of the beloved Christmas Village Kölsch, masterfully brewed by Brewery Techne, and the heartwarming Christmas Bock, skillfully crafted by Mainstay Independent. Christmas Village is excited to share that these iconic holiday brews will be available in convenient, specially canned editions this year. Get ready to savor the festive spirit with every sip as you stroll through Christmas Village. Don’t miss out on these delightful seasonal flavors that perfectly complement your magical experience!
Glühwein and Mead
Mazza Wines will be providing tasty Glühwein (Mulled Wine) and mead to make visitors’ Christmas Village experience even tastier! “The opportunity to pour and sell our wines at the Christmas Village was perfectly timed as our presence in the Philadelphia market continues to grow,” says General Manager and Vice President Mario Mazza. “We’d like to raise a boot (or a mug!) to a warm and productive partnership with this Philadelphia institution.”
Food and Drink Vendor Highlights
* Hot Beverages and Spiked Drinks – Spiked with Boardroom Spirits
* Red mulled wine and Mead – by PA Winemaker Mazza Wine
* German Spaetzle Booth – German cheese noodles
* Belgian Fries – Hand cut double fried fries
* Raclette Stube – Swiss Raclette Cheese and PA Cider
* French Toast Bites (as seen on the Today Show) – French toast bites and spices
* Schnitzel Haus – Schnitzel sandwiches on a roll or as a plate with Potato Salad or Potato Pancakes
* Helmut’s Austrian Strudel – Apple strudel, Cheese Strudel and more
* Stroopies – freshly made Dutch waffles with caramel filling
* Waffles – freshly made sweet waffles
New Seating Area at North Broad
Discover added coziness on North Broad as a new seating area is unveiled, offering a peaceful retreat from the crowds. Delight in the warm and inviting atmosphere designed for immersing yourself in the joy of the holiday season. This charming enhancement raises the bar for your festive journey, providing a welcoming oasis to relax and relish in the magic of Christmas Village.
The Alm presented by the German Consulate in New York
The Alm presented by the German Consulate in New York, is the event’s authentic German Beer Garden, will ensure that foodies can enjoy food and drinks in a typical German Beer Garden ambience right in the heart of LOVE Park.
City Hall Courtyard
Visitors can enjoy delicious Brats from the German Grill or mouthwatering Belgian fries while resting and enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of City Hall´s Courtyard and have a view of the unique Double-Decker-Carousel.
A complete list of VENDORS, FOOD, a map and more can be found here.
Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market
From Friday, November 10, 2023 to Monday, January 1, 2024 Christmas Village in Philadelphia will be accompanied by the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market (at Dilworth Park). More than 40 local artisans, designers, crafters, and confectionaries will offer unique selections for gifts and special holiday foods. The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market will get an upgraded look and feel in 2023: vendors will set up shop in brand new wooden booths. These new booths will all be white – the event’s signature color – with a white Moravian star on top. In contrast to the authentic German Christmas Village with international vendors, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market offers a wide variety of arts and crafts from local vendors based in the greater Philadelphia area. With such a wide selection, visitors will be sure to find the perfect gift for their loved ones and themselves, like fashionable jewelry and clothes, unique decor, and so much more. At the same time, a wide choice of locally-made sweets and foods will be available for visitors’ enjoyment, as well as the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin, and the beautiful Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn, all conveniently located in Dilworth Park. Admission is free, so come by and enjoy the vibrant holiday atmosphere and shop local to find unique gifts for your family and friends! Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market is again presented by Center City District in partnership with the operators of Christmas Village in Philadelphia.
To find out more info on vendors and programming, please follow @philaholidays on Instagram, visit http://www.madeinphila.com/holiday-market/ or like Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market on Facebook.
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