Family-Friendly Things to Do in Lancaster During the Holidays
There’s a chill in the air in Lancaster County and that means the holidays are just around the corner! Everyone in Lancaster gets excited about the holiday season and shows their Christmas spirit in a unique way! Even the Amish celebrate Christmas, although their events are simpler and more traditional.
If you decide to visit Lancaster County during the holidays, you will have plenty of fun and festive activities to choose from for the whole family!
AMUSEMENT PARKS:
Dutch Winter Wonderland
November 16 – December 31
Dutch Wonderland is a family amusement park that has been in business for more than 60 years. Dutch Winter Wonderland is a fun, family friendly event, featuring themed rides, special entertainment, warm holiday drinks, and The Royal Lights Show! Take in thousands of twinkling lights as the kingdom is fully decorated for a truly royal holiday!
https://www.dutchwonderland.com/
Hersheypark Christmas Candy Lane and Sweet Lights
Select Dates November 15 – January 1
Start a new holiday tradition or cherish an old favorite at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane! Experience the wonder of family rides & select coasters, sip a delicious hot chocolate while strolling through more than 5 million twinkling lights, and meet the Hershey Characters in their holiday best! Plus, pay a special visit to Santa and his 9 live reindeer!
https://www.hersheypark.com/explore-the-park/christmas.php
TRAIN EXPERIENCES:
Christmas Trains
November – December
The Strasburg Railroad is a heritage railroad and the oldest continuously operating standard-gauge railroad in the western hemisphere. Starting in November when you visit the Railroad, you can enjoy one of their Christmas trains! Each train has different options and dates:
- Santa’s Paradise Express
- Night Before Christmas
- Santa Claus Limited
- Christmas Feast with a special visit by Mrs. Claus
https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/christmas-train/
Home for the Holidays Train Experience
December 7 and December 14
You can take a nostalgic glimpse at holiday rail travel and meet costumed engineers, conductors, ticket agents, and passengers representing the past century at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg. Participants will enjoy seasonal music and festive decorations among a world-class collection of trains. Kids can also visit Santa and send a personal telegram to the North Pole!
Choo Choo Barn Christmas Display
Starting in December
The Choo Choo Barn, also known as Traintown U.S.A., is located in Strasburg and features a 1,700-square-foot train layout that features more than 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains! During the holiday season this layout is decorated for Christmas.
AMISH/FARM EXPERIENCES:
Amish Farmhouse Christmas Experience
November 29 – December 30
The Amish Farmhouse and Village provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the Amish of Lancaster County. But during the holidays, visitors can enjoy the holiday atmosphere in the farmhouse kitchen, making fresh butter, apple cider, bread, apple sauce, pies, and getting to taste it all!
https://oldwindmillfarm.com/our-tours/farmhouse-christmas-experience/
Bird in Hand Christmas Village
December 13 – December 14
Santa is coming to Bird-in-Hand! This year, the festivities will take place at the Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe and Bird-in-Hand Artisan Village, complete with reindeer, entertainment, and prizes. Kids of all ages can take a hayride and warm up with hot chocolate and other goodies from the outdoor Snowflake Station. Activities will include a Frozen-themed Bounce House, musical entertainment, and more. Shop for gifts at Artisan Village, or step inside the Bakery & Cafe to check out the goodies on the menu or to decorate your own Christmas cookie.
https://bird-in-hand.com/event/christmas-village-3/
Santa & Goats at Amish Farm
December 14 / 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
In December, the Amish Farmhouse and Village invites guests back for a visit with Santa and his goats! When you visit the farm, guests can participate in a festive photo opportunity with Santa’s sleigh and baby goats. Since it’s a pet-loving farm, you can also bring along your furry companions to join in the festivities.
https://www.amishfarmandhouse.com/santa-and-goats/
HOLIDAY DISPLAYS:
Christmas Spirit Drive Thru Light Show
November 29 – December 30
Clipper Magazine Stadium is the home of the Lancaster Stormers, Lancaster’s professional baseball team. During the holidays, the stadium is transformed into a Christmas light show that you and your loved ones can enjoy from the comfort of your vehicle. As you journey through the mile-long track, you will be immersed and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of color-changing lights, animated and dancing in harmony with your favorite Christmas classics.
https://www.christmasspiritlightshows.com/
Christmas Tree Lane
December 6 – December 23
Beginning in December, you can travel back to Clipper Magazine Stadium to experience Christmas Tree Lane, a free event where you can walk through more than 100 beautifully decorated trees and vote for your favorite! All proceeds from the voting go directly to local non-profits, making it a festive way to give back. While you’re there, you can also enjoy other holiday activities, including snapping a picture with Santa, writing letters to the North Pole, and indulging in festive treats.
https://www.lancasterstormers.com/non-game-day-stadium-events/christmas-tree-lane/
CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES:
Lancaster Tree Lighting
November 29 / 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Join the mayor and the rest of the City of Lancaster for their annual tree lighting event in the heart of the city at the square. Santa will arrive and light the tree, and there will be live entertainment!
https://visitlancastercity.com/city-events/lancaster-city-for-the-holidays/mayors-tree-lighting/
Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends
November 30 – December 21
Kitchen Kettle Village is a historic Pennsylvania Dutch village with specialty shops, restaurants, and a canning kitchen. Beginning at the end of November, you can
enjoy a delicious meal, carol with Elf Angela, participate in a scavenger hunt, and share your holiday wish list with Santa and a few of his friends.
https://www.kitchenkettle.com/seasonal-fun/holiday-fun-with-santa-and-friends.asp
Dashing Through the Lights $5K
December 13 / 10:00 PM
On December 13th, participants can compete in a jolly fun 5K or take it slow with a lite one mile stroll at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Your best Christmas attire is encouraged! You’ll dash through the hundreds of thousands of twinkling holiday lights at the Christmas Spirit Light Show under the night sky!
https://www.discoverlancaster.com/events/dashing-through-the-lights-5k/
THEATRE PERFORMANCES:
American Music Theatre: Christmas Show
November 5 – December 30
The Joy to the World Christmas show at the American Music Theatre won’t disappoint! The ringing of church bells in a quaint town square sets the scene for this performance. The stage will be transformed into a small-town winter carnival, brimming with family, friends, and entertaining elves. Awe-inspiring music and dance, phenomenal voices, and light-hearted holiday humor are the ingredients for this holiday extravaganza! This year’s all-new holiday show features beloved seasonal and sacred Christmas songs.
Fulton Theatre: A Christmas Carol
November 30 – December 28
A miserly and miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge greets each Christmas with a “bah humbug,” until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Through a restless night, the spirits show him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present, and the grim future if he continues his cantankerous ways. This musical adaptation retains the emotional power and pure joy of the Charles Dickens story, showing us that it is never too late to change!
https://thefulton.org/shows/a-christmas-carol/
Site and Sound: Daniel
November 1 – December 31
Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the perilous kingdom of Babylon. Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in God remain steadfast through every test of faith? Daniel is a spectacular theatrical experience for the whole family. Witness one of the Bible’s most powerful stories as it comes to life in this brand-new original stage production!
https://www.sight-sound.com/ticketing/DAN24/calendar
Book Your Stay for a Memorable Holiday Getaway
When you and your family visit Lancaster County for the holiday events, you’ll need a unique place to stay. The Fulton Steamboat Inn is the only hotel in the area where you can experience the charm of a steamboat-themed stay with nautical and Victorian-inspired rooms. Beyond its distinctive design, The Fulton Steamboat Inn pulls out all the stops for the holidays, featuring beautifully decorated trees on every floor, stunning light displays that reflect on the pond by the walking trail, and a special letters-to-Santa mailbox for festive wishes. These touches make it a cherished holiday destination year after year.
What makes The Fulton Steamboat Inn truly unique is its family-friendly accommodations, especially the spacious bunk and trundle bed rooms, perfect for families needing extra room. These nautical-themed rooms offer multiple sleeping options, including a king-size bed, ensuring comfort for everyone. For those seeking some quiet time, the adults-only sundeck and exclusive pool hours provide a relaxing escape.
The Steamboat also boasts a variety of family-friendly amenities, including a playground, game room, Emporium gift shop, heated indoor pool and hot tub, and a duck and koi pond with a scenic walking trail. After a day of fun, guests can unwind by roasting s’mores around the fire pit. Plus, kids 12 and under can enjoy free ice cream with the purchase of an adult meal at Huckleberry’s Restaurant—just ask about the Jr. First Mate’s hat when you check in!
Book your stay online today or call us at 717-299-9999 to enjoy a magical holiday getaway in Lancaster!