The holiday season is upon us, and there are plenty of festive excursions waiting for you in the Northern Delaware and Southern Pennsylvania region. From twinkling lights to unique holiday markets, there’s something for everyone. Best of all, some events are free, while others offer a full holiday experience at a reasonable cost. Here are seven events to get you in the holiday spirit:

Yuletide at Winterthur  Dates: November 21, 2026 – January 3. 2027

Address: 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  Adult tickets starts at: $33   Event Link

 

Marvel at the holiday wonder of Winterthur, where the estate is transformed into a sparkling holiday celebration. Stroll through dazzling outdoor light displays and enjoy festive exhibits throughout the property.  Yuletide charm meets contemporary creativity in the historic mansion, and dazzling decor awaits outdoors. There is so much to see and do throughout the season—delight in beautifully decorated trees and marvel at a large-scale gingerbread “house” and a magical 18-room dollhouse. Home is a reflection of who we are and what we hold dear. Our Yuletide Tour celebrates home and all things home can mean—a place, the people, the food, the music, the traditions, and more. (New Holiday Nights starting Friday, November 28 | Fridays & Saturdays, open until 8:00 pm. Excludes November 29 and December 26.)

 

Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Early closure on Christmas Eve. Open New Year’s Day.

A Longwood Christmas  Dates: November 20, 2026 – January 10, 2027

Address: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA  Adult tickets starts at: $45   Event Link

 

Experience a Cosmic Christmas.  When the stars align, extraordinary beauty happens.

This holiday season, explore a universe of infinite wonder with A Longwood Christmas. Inspired by the mystery and majesty of the cosmos, journey through an out-of-this-world display of stellar spectacles and luminous lights. From soaring, rotating trees swathed with stars, to the Music Room recreated as a gilded astronomer’s observatory, to the Exhibition Hall transformed into a spherical galaxy with sweeps of poinsettias, the magic of the season meets cosmic splendor.

Marvel at grand scenes that sparkle like constellations. Explore possibilities as limitless as the night sky. Go beyond the expected. Let your imagination take flight. Here, beauty knows no bounds.   Experience A Longwood Christmas, where holiday magic is written in the stars.

Christmas Village in Philadelphia  Dates: November 21 – December 27

Address: Love Park, 1500 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA    Cost: Free    Event Link

 

Philadelphia’s iconic LOVE Park transforms into a European wonderland during the annual Christmas Village! Stroll through over 120 vendors set up in charming wooden cottages offering unique international gifts. With live music, events, and a festive atmosphere, the Christmas Village is perfect for holiday shopping or simply soaking in the season’s joy. Don’t miss the giant new centerpiece – a 30-foot German pyramid, inspired by Germany’s Ore Mountains – along with the Ferris wheel and Kids Train at the nearby City Hall extension, and the delightful German food court and carousel.

Holidays at Hagley  Dates: November 27 – January 3

Address: 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington, DE  Adult tickets starts at: $20   Event Link

 

Hagley Museum welcomes the holiday season with “Holidays at Hagley.” This special celebration invites guests to enjoy a variety of 19th-century themed craft activities, blending history and holiday cheer. Guests can explore the beautifully decorated du Pont family home, Eleutherian Mills, where the spirit of the season comes alive with period-inspired decor and seasonal traditions.

 

Visit our Workers’ Hill village on weekends and throughout Christmas week to design their own Victorian-style holiday cards and decorative collages. Artists and crafters will love making personalized holiday ornaments, perfect for gifting or adding to the family tree. For a sweet treat, guests can enjoy gingerbread cookies fresh from a wood-burning oven.

No holiday visit is complete without a photo opportunity, and Hagley delivers with a festive backdrop designed for memorable family pictures. On Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., children can meet Santa Claus himself in a cozy setting, sharing their holiday wishes and enjoying the magic of the season.

CLOSURES: Hagley closes at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve (December 24) and is closed Christmas Day (December 25).

Holiday Magic at Riverfront Wilmington  Dates: December 1 – December 24 (10AM—8PM)

Address: 3 South Orange Street, Wilmington, DE   Cost: Free  Event Link

 

Holiday magic at Riverfront Wilmington is back!   The Christina Riverwalk is transformed into a captivating walk-through holiday light display with lights draping on trees and archways, creating a whimsical atmosphere all long. Enjoy mini golf, hot chocolate, ice cream, and other sweet treats all holiday season, or ring in the New Year with confetti countdowns at the Delaware Children’s Museum.  Open 7 days a week, lights turn on at Dusk.  Free parking is available at 601 S. Madison St.

Festival of Lights at Delaware Park  Date: Fridays & Saturdays November 27- December 19 (4-9PM)
Address: 777 Delaware Park Boulevard Wilmington, DE
Cost: Free, but vendors and photos with Santa have cost  Event Link

 

The Delaware Park Festival of Lights is a free, family-friendly holiday celebration that transforms the casino grounds into a festive winter wonderland, with thousands of twinkling lights lining walkways, trees, and gathering areas for an immersive holiday atmosphere.

 

Visitors can browse a holiday market featuring local vendors, handmade gifts, seasonal treats, and specialty items. Santa photo sessions are available for purchase, offering families a keepsake holiday photo. Live entertainment includes performances by The Philly Keys dueling pianos, DJs, and seasonal music in a heated outdoor party tent with cozy seating. Seasonal food and drink options are also available, making it an easy and enjoyable outing for families, friends, and visitors of all ages.

The open-air setting encourages guests to explore at their own pace, take photos at festive spots, and warm up in the heated tent. The combination of lights, shopping, and entertainment creates a welcoming and festive environment that has become a seasonal tradition.

 

 

The Spirit of Holiday Lights

As winter settles in and daylight fades early, people around the world have always turned to light as a symbol of hope, warmth, and togetherness. It’s no coincidence that so many winter holidays are centered around illumination with each one reminding us that even during the darkest time of year, light endures.

Christmas is well known for its dazzling lights:  strings that adorn trees, windows, and rooftops. What began as candles on evergreen boughs to symbolize the “light of the world” has evolved into joyful displays that fill homes and city streets with sparkle and cheer.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates the miracle of one day’s oil burning for eight. Each evening, families light the menorah, adding one candle at a time until all shine brightly, a beautiful reminder of perseverance, faith, and renewal.

Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African American heritage and community, also honors light through the kinara, a seven-candle holder representing the guiding principles of unity, self-determination, and creativity, among others.

And  Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights that often falls in late autumn, shares this universal theme:  lighting lamps called diyas to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

And as we all ring in the New Year, fireworks and sparklers once again illuminate the sky, ushering in fresh beginnings with brightness and hope.

At Lang Development Group, we take inspiration from these traditions as we decorate many of our properties for the season. Our goal is to bring that same sense of light and joy to the places where our tenants and community live, work, and gather, creating warm, welcoming spaces for all.

As you brighten your own surroundings this season, we encourage everyone to keep safety in mind:

  • Inspect light strings and cords before hanging: never use damaged or frayed lights.
  • Avoid candles, especially near flammable materials; battery-operated candles offer a safe glow.
  • Turn off lights before leaving or going to bed, or use timers to automate your display.
  • Keep real trees well-watered, as dried-out trees can become highly flammable.
  • Place decorations away from heat sources and walkways to prevent accidents.

From all of us at Lang Development Group, may your holidays—and your homes—be filled with light, warmth, and peace.