• Home
    • About
      • About Brianna
      • Contact Me
      • Work With Me
    • Destinations
    • Travel
      • Budget Travel
      • Short Term Travel
      • Travel Gear & Tech
    • Stories From Abroad
      • Travel Fails
      • Stories
    • Travel Resources
  • Archives

    • November 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
  • Home
  • About
    • About Brianna
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
  • Destinations
  • Travel
    • Budget Travel
    • Short Term Travel
    • Travel Gear & Tech
  • Stories From Abroad
    • Travel Fails
    • Stories
  • Travel Resources

Things to do in Philadelphia in Winter

December 30, 2017

The city of Philadelphia is one of the United States’ top cities for learning about the country’s early history. It’s home to the famous Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed by the nation’s Founding Fathers. But not only is it a great city for historical sites, it’s also a great place to visit in winter! Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you’re looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try checking out these things to do in Philadelphia in winter!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

  

Weather

When I arrived in Philadelphia in winter (late-December), I was all packed and prepped to explore in the cold. However, I was greeted with no snow, and temperatures around the 40’s and 50’s (F). Coming from the frigid state of Michigan, this was like pleasant, spring weather! I had no issues facing the winter weather in Philly, and often times found myself to be too warm!

Now, as winter progresses through the months, I’m sure temperatures drop more and there will be more precipitation. Keep an eye on the weather channel for the most accurate forecast.

 

Snowflake Shuttle

Philadelphia is a pretty good sized city. With so many things to in Philadelphia in winter, the city offers a FREE shuttle service between many of the city’s top holiday-themed sights. During the holiday season, the shuttle runs Thursdays through Saturdays from 6PM to 9PM (When all the holiday lights are shining brightest!) Save your dollars and your feet by taking this free service.

 

Things to do in Philadelphia in Winter

 

Dilworth Park Wintergarden

During the winter season, Philadelphia’s Dilworth Park transforms into a winter wonderland! Enjoy walking through the Garden Capital Maze, all lit up with holiday lights, take a few laps on the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, and stop by the Cabin for warm drinks and food! You can also check out some of their great public events like Game Nights, Karaoke, Gardening classes, and more!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

  

Made in Philadelphia Market

Dilworth Park also becomes home to the Made in Philadelphia Market. Here, you will find some of the best locally made treasures in Philly. From artwork to handmade clothing, soaps, and sweets, you can find all sorts of locally made gifts for the holidays. The market is only open mid-November, through the end of December so plan your trip to Philadelphia in winter accordingly!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

 

Deck the Hall Light Show at City Hall

Also to be experienced while exploring Dilworth Park Wintergarden is the Deck the Hall Light Show! For a few weeks from mid-November to the end of December, a fantastic holiday light show is projected onto City Hall. Watch as the lights and music turn this iconic Philadelphia landmark into a festive holiday display! Shows run every half hour, starting at 5:30pm and going until 9:30pm. Check online to see when the Deck the Hall Light Show will be playing!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

 

Holiday Tree at City Hall

While you’re in the City Hall area, duck around the corner to find Philadelphia’s magnificent holiday tree! This giant tree is covered with bright lights and huge ornaments. It just can’t be missed!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

  

Christmas Village in Philadelphia

Not far from Dilworth Park, sits Philadelphia’s LOVE park. Most of the year, this park is home to the city’s iconic LOVE statue, which pays homage to the city’s title of “The City of Brotherly Love”.  But for just one month, during the holiday season, this park becomes a Christmas Market, very similar to the ones you find in Europe during this time of year.

Get a small dose of European winter charm as you wander through the Philadelphia Christmas Village. Sample Philly’s version of German Gluhwein, grab a hot Belgian Waffle or go all out with a giant Doner Kebab. Vendors also offer products, crafts, toys and more from all over the world!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

  

Holiday Decorations at Elfreth’s Alley

Visiting Elfreth’s Alley is incredible all throughout the year. This is the country’s oldest continually inhabited residential street and the history here is almost palpable. But it becomes even more magical during the winter when the centuries-old homes are decorated with lights and greenery for the holidays. The Elfreth’s Alley Association also hosts multiple holiday-themed events through the season that you may want to check out.

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

 

Macy’s Christmas Light Show

Since the 1950’s the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s in Philadelphia has been a yearly tradition. Inside the Wanamaker Building, the display containing more than 100,000 lights puts on a show involving familiar holiday music and story narration. Classic characters like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and the Nutcracker make appearances through the show, which plays every two hours starting at 10am from mid-November through the end of December. Make sure to arrive early, as this holiday favorite gets crowded with people!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

If you’re looking to adventure a bit outside of the city center, you can head over to the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. Situated along the Delaware River, this cozy, rustic-themed park is perfect for a family-friendly Philadelphia winter evening. There is so much to do from ice skating, warming up in the arcade lounge, admiring the holiday lights, and more.

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

The Lodge is particularly noteworthy, with its plushy couches, cozy blankets, and warm fireplaces. Plus you can get a variety of Philly’s favorite foods here, including the highly-sought-after Crabfries from Chickie and Pete’s.

Outside, find rustic wooden rocking chairs and Adirondack chairs surrounding small fire pits. You can enjoy the outdoor lights and atmosphere while staying warm by your own fire!

  

RiverRink Ice Skating

Ice Skating on the Blue Cross RiverRink is an obvious highlight of going to Winterfest. The huge rink is surrounded by holiday lights that only gleam brighter as the sky darkens. Skate rental is available on-site, so don’t worry about being unprepared. They even have little carts for beginning skaters to hold onto as they learn to control their balance on the ice. Admission to each skating session costs $4 per person, and skate rentals cost $10.

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

 

Hot drinks from Franklin Fountain

While at Winterfest, you can’t miss out on the delicious offerings from the Franklin Fountain! Warm up with a classic hot cocoa, or go all out with a rich cup of “Jefferson’s Drinking Chocolate”. For even more fun, you can purchase a s’more-making kit and roast your own homemade marshmallows over the fire pits!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

  

Franklin Square Light Show

Haven’t gotten enough of all the holiday lights in Philadelphia? Head over to Franklin Square for the Electrical Spectacle light show! Over 50,000 lights stretch across the park and dance along with different holiday songs. The light-up kite in the middle of the display is a fun nod at Benjamin Franklin’s famous lightning experiment. There are also warming tents at this park, serving warm beverages, wintry cocktails, and hot food and snacks. In between the light shows, decorate cookies and check out the mini-golf course and the holiday carousel!

Philadelphia has lots of fun holiday-related activities to experience, and they can all be done on a budget! If you're looking for a place to get into the holiday spirit, try visiting Philadelphia in winter!

  


 

Ready to book your winter trip to Philadelphia? Click here to find hotels on TripAdvisor

 

HOVER OVER THE IMAGES BELOW TO ADD TO PINTEREST


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and purchase one of these items, I will get an itty bitty (no, really…) commission at no cost to you! Thanks!


  

  

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter to get updates on my adventures! Or check out my Instagram for pretty pictures!

  

Share103
Tweet
Pin1K
Share
1K Shares
Blue Cross RiverRink WinterfestDeck the Hall Light Show PhiladelphiaDilworth Park WintergardenFranklin Square Light Show PhiladelphiaMacy's Christmas Light Show PhiladelphiaMade in Philadelphia MarketPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Christmas VillagePhiladelphia Holiday EventsPhiladelphia Holiday TreePhiladelphia ice skatingPhiladelphia in winterPhiladelphia WinterfestThings to do in PhiladelphiaUnited StatesWinter Travel
Share

USA

You might also like

One Day in Charleston, South Carolina: What You Can’t Miss In The City
August 31, 2018
The 5 Best Beaches in Traverse City, Michigan for Escaping the Crowds
May 4, 2018

33 Comments


Renata
January 1, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Reply

I never thought of Philadelphia as a Christmas destination, however the Christmas village looks veeery German, and Elfreth’s Alley rather British – seems to be an atmospheric mix.



Bernie
January 2, 2018 at 11:59 am
Reply

Just how lovely is that! Light shows really aren’t a thing here in the UK, and after seeing those options, I wish they were. Wrapping up warm and meandering around interesting things is exactly my idea of a great winter break. And I’m loving the thought of toasting my toes in front of a fire pit. Great ideas for a winter break!



Carol Colborn
January 2, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Reply

Yes, we’ve been to Philadelphia for the nation’s rich history it carries. Never thought of it as a winter destination. But I would love all those Christmassy markets and festive lights and the White Christmas ice skating!



Amy
January 3, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Reply

Holy cow, that looks amazing. I never would have expected Philly to look so super cute in the winter. And the free shuttle is awesome!



Michael Taylor
January 3, 2018 at 11:36 pm
Reply

I’m hoping to include Philadephia on my epic 70 Days Across America travel blogging adventure next summer, which I am doing to celebrate a milestone birthday after spending most of my adult life as an expatriate living in Asia. One of the reasons I’ve chosen Philadelphia is because of its role in early American history. I’m sure the city will have a different vibe in summer than in winter. But your piece helped confirm that I made the right decision to include the City of Brotherly Love on my list!



Sandy N Vyjay
January 4, 2018 at 9:29 am
Reply

I have always known Philadelphia as a city with a very rich heritage and deep historical roots, I can see it assumes a dazzling personality come winter. It is nice to see the services of a free shuttle in the winter. The top thing I would like to experience is the Franklin Square Light show. I have a great fascination for Benjamin Franklin and his experiments with electricity.



Rye Santiago
January 4, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Reply

I’d love to ride that Snowflake Shuttle! I’m used to long, harsh winters. (I lived in North Dakota and Manitoba, after all.) But I’d welcome a leisurely ride in the evening just so I don’t get too frosty. 😀



Jas
January 4, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Reply

That’s lucky you weren’t greeted with snow! I feel like snow is only pretty in pictures but in reality, walking in it is no fun at all hahaa. I’ve also never thought about visiting in the winter but the Made in Philadelphia Market and the Christmas Village are all so festive and cute!!! Ughh Belgian waffle also sounds to die for too. I’m drooling already!



PossesstheWorld
January 5, 2018 at 12:11 am
Reply

Do you know I did not Philadelphia has such wonderful history, thank you for sharing. Must add this city to my USA list but maybe in summer



Grace
January 5, 2018 at 1:02 am
Reply

I can’t believe I live only an hour from Philadelphia and have never done any of this! Thanks for all the great suggestions 🙂



Ketki
January 5, 2018 at 8:29 am
Reply

My cousin lives in Philadelphia for year now and has never told me about all these cool places to visit or shared pictures. It looks absolutely gorgeous, especially as a Christmas destination.



Aisha
January 5, 2018 at 10:01 am
Reply

I’m not a fan of the cold so I never contemplated visiting Philadelphia in the winter but this list makes it look appealing! The lights and the decorations make all these places and experiences feel magical despite the low temps!



Ian
January 5, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Reply

Great guide. I’ve never been but I am sure I will one day.



Lydia Smith
January 5, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Reply

I’ve not considered Philadelphia seriously but reading through your post, I’m surprised the city has so much to offer. I love visiting local markets so Philadelphia’s market will be a must visit for me. Ice skating looks nice but skate rentals is more expensive than the lesson. All in all, the city looks charming



nicki
January 5, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Reply

I have not spent any time in Philadelphia and I am intrigues by all this holiday and winter goodness. Definitely adding it to my list for next year as it is so close!



Sherrie Fabrizi Allbritten
January 5, 2018 at 10:00 pm
Reply

I hate to say but I have only been in Philadelphia’s airport! I really never thought about going there for some reason. But you have shown it to be a really interesting city, especially during the holidays. Will add it to my list!



Charlotte Kerr
January 8, 2018 at 1:08 am
Reply

I’ve never been to Philadelphia and I have no idea when I might have an opportunity to go there, but I hope it’s in time for the holidays so that I can appreciate and enjoy all of these treats!



Leah
January 30, 2018 at 7:04 pm
Reply

The place is lovely! Elfreth’s Alley looks like some random elves and nutcrackers will pop up as you walk around it. Very exciting! Bet you wanted to stay longer?



    Brianna
    February 4, 2018 at 8:38 am
    Reply

    I know right?! It was a fascinating place to discover. I did have a few more things I wanted to see, that I didn’t have time for. Perhaps another trip is in store!

Rhiannon
October 19, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Reply

So many lights! I’ve always wanted to visit Philadelphia for no reason other than the Fresh Prince theme song, without knowing anything about the city! There looks like there’s loads to do though, even in Winter, so I imagine summer would be even more stuff?
Elfreth’s Alley reminds me of every single made for TV Christmas movie set in the US I’ve ever seen! In a good way, though.



    Brianna
    October 19, 2018 at 9:07 pm
    Reply

    Oh my goodness, you’re so right! I can totally picture Elfreth’s Alley on a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.

Cass
October 19, 2018 at 9:40 pm
Reply

There is something so special about Christmas in a dark and cold place. This looks perfect.



    Brianna
    October 19, 2018 at 9:41 pm
    Reply

    Very true!

Savannah
October 20, 2018 at 1:33 pm
Reply

Wow, I had no idea there were so many cool things to do in Philly. I could easily take a weekend road trip up from down here in Virginia. I think I would love to see Elfreth’s Alley and the holiday village at LOVE Park. Thanks for sharing!



    Brianna
    October 20, 2018 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    You could definitely make the drive!

Harmony, Momma To Go
October 20, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Reply

we’ve done Philadelphia right after xmas, it was COLD! But there are so many great museums, which are inside obviously, so we still had a great time!



    Brianna
    October 20, 2018 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    I can imagine it gets pretty cold!

Amanda
October 20, 2018 at 9:34 pm
Reply

I’ve actually never been to Philly – but it looks so festive in the winter!



    Brianna
    October 20, 2018 at 9:51 pm
    Reply

    I was surprised by how festive it was!

Elaine Masters
October 23, 2018 at 1:22 am
Reply

I was in Philadelphia for a warm Christmas too! Loved the lights and markets. So much to see.



    Brianna
    October 23, 2018 at 9:28 am
    Reply

    The lights were my favorite!

Rob Taylor
November 7, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Reply

We did NYC in winter last year and having seen this I would so much rather do Philadelphia. I love the markets, and pair with everything historical it’s basically my dream winter trip.



    Brianna
    November 7, 2018 at 4:41 pm
    Reply

    You should definitely plan a visit, then!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • I’m Brianna and I’m possibly the funniest person I know. I’m a total goofball who loves to travel. I fell in love with the world in 2007, when my family and I moved to Sydney, Australia. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to see the world. I'm an ordinary adventurer here to show you how the average person can travel the world.

    Get To Know Me More

     
  • Aching For More Adventure?

    Sign up today for instant notifications of new posts and EXCLUSIVE travel tips!
    * = required field
  • Find Me On Instagram

    instagram
  • Sleep on the Cheap

  • Top 1000 Travel Blog

  • As Seen On…

  • Where I’ve Been




© Copyright 2017 Archives of Adventure // LetsBlog Theme - Theme by ThemeGoods // View this site's Privacy Policy / Disclosure Policy // We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

 

Loading Comments...
 

    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.

    Click here for our full Privacy Policy

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.