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Holiday Things to Do in Central PA 🎄

12 items

Sydney Markel

The best holiday things to do around Harrisburg, Hershey and Central PA this season! Light shows, Santa trains, tree lightings, and New Year's Eve drops for the whole family 🎄✨ Heads up: Hershey Sweet Lights isn't back this year, so here's where to ...

Sections

Light Shows & Holiday Parks ✨

Santa & Holiday Trains 🚂

Tree Lightings & Small-Town Christmas 🎄

New Year's Eve Drops 🎉

Light Shows & Holiday Parks ✨

Worth the drive! An old farm covered in over a million lights, with little Christmas scenes and model trains all reflecting on the pond. Open Nov 7 – Jan 2 (weekends until Thanksgiving, then nightly). Kids 3 and under are free ✨

Koziar's Christmas Village (Bernville)

The ultimate Central PA holiday outing! 5 million lights, rides, Santa's reindeer and hot cocoa everywhere. New this year: a Fire & Ice show and a bigger TREEville. Select dates Nov 13 – Jan 3, so check the calendar before you go ✨

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

A half-mile walking trail through the woods with 600,000+ lights, live music and Santa. Bundle up and grab hot chocolate! Usually runs late Nov through Dec, so watch for this year's dates ✨

Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge Park (York)

Such a cozy family night! A walking trail of lights with campfires, s'mores vibes, a petting zoo, a kids' play area and a live nativity. Usually opens right after Thanksgiving ✨

Trail of Lights at Country Creek Farm (Chambersburg)

Santa & Holiday Trains 🚂

A must with little ones! A 45-minute steam train ride through the Amish countryside with carolers, a gift for every kid, and Santa himself walking through the cars. Book early, these sell out fast ✨

Santa's Paradise Express at Strasburg Rail Road

Hidden gem for train-obsessed kids! A huge model railroad layout of old Pennsylvania towns, open to the public on select holiday weekends. Check their site for open house dates ✨

Miniature Railroad Club of York Holiday Open House

Tree Lightings & Small-Town Christmas 🎄

A sweet, low-key community tree lighting at one of Harrisburg's prettiest parks, with carols and holiday treats. Usually mid-December, and perfect for little ones who can't do a late night ✨

Christmas at Italian Lake (Harrisburg)

Such a pretty (and free!) December outing. The rotunda gets a gorgeous Christmas tree and local school choirs perform holiday concerts. Book a tour online since they fill up ✨

Christmas at the PA State Capitol

The most charming small-town Christmas! A carol sing with candle lighting and the community tree lighting in Lititz Springs Park. Fri, Dec 4, 6:30–7:30 PM. Stay after to stroll Main Street and grab a pretzel ✨

Christmas in the Park (Lititz)

Make it a date night or a girls' night! This gorgeous historic theater puts on holiday shows every December. Pair it with dinner downtown and a walk past all the twinkly storefronts ✨

Holiday Shows at the Majestic Theater (Gettysburg)

New Year's Eve Drops 🎉

Only in Central PA! Dillsburg drops a giant lighted pickle to ring in the new year, and the whole town comes out for it. Quirky, small-town and so much fun with kids 🥒✨

Dillsburg Pickle Drop

Ring in the new year Harrisburg style! Live music at FNB Field on City Island, then the giant strawberry drops at midnight with fireworks. Dress super warm, it's right on the river ✨

Harrisburg's Strawberry Drop (City Island)