Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America will once again return to the newly renovated LOVE Park for its 11th season (1500 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102). From Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22, 2018) through Christmas Eve (Monday, December 24, 2018), Christmas Village will transform LOVE Park for the month into an authentic open-air German Christmas market, with holiday sights and sounds featuring thousands of twinkling lights, festive Christmas decorations, live music, children’s activities, and photos with Santa presented by ACME. Shoppers will find high-quality international and local gifts along with beautiful decorations and are invited to warm up with a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate while enjoying the great variety of European food and drinks. Admission is free as always, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go. Spread the cheer by following @philachristmas on Instagram and Twitter, liking Christmas Village in Philadelphia on Facebook and visiting http://www.philachristmas.com/.

Please see below for a full overview of events for the 2018 Holiday season, including market hours, special events, vendor lists, food/drink menus, entertainment rosters, themed weekends and more.

2018 SEASON GUIDE AND GENERAL INFORMATION:

1) Hours/Schedule

Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America opens daily, starting on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22), to coincide with Philadelphia’s annual Thanksgiving Parade. The open air Christmas market will remain open through Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24.

Daily market hours are Friday through Saturday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sunday through Thursday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Thanksgiving Day hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Christmas Eve hours are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

2) Connect with Christmas Village

Spread the cheer by following @philachristmas on Instagram and Twitter, liking Christmas Village on Facebook, or visiting www.philachristmas.com. Check the official event hashtag at #philachristmas and share your experiences.

3) What’s New for 2018 - Summary

* Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America will return to the newly renovated LOVE Park with additional decorations, upgraded layout and more event space to shop and stroll
* With the addition of beer to the market, look for the debut of a new outdoor beer garden and seating area called The Alm
* Beer tasting tours in cooperation with Brewery Techne/Bar Hygge
* The first ever Mascot weekend on December 1 and 2, 2018 where Philly’s favorite mascots visit the market for a parade and dance off in cooperation with “Mascots for a cure” to raise awareness for childhood cancer
* An extended Make-A-Wish Foundation program, including Make-a-Wish balloons and a delicious Make-a-Wish cake to give back to people in need during the Christmas season
* New vendors, e.g. Mike’s Hot Honey, Lovepop and Momo’s Tree House
* A beer stein-holding competition and a lantern parade for kids to enrich the German American Weekend
* Additional food options like Käsespätzle (soft egg noodles fried with cheese and decorated with onions)
* Collector mug with a new design for 2018

4) Returning Traditions - Summary

* Theme weekends full of live music and entertainment
* A visit from the original German Christkind for the Opening Ceremony
* Photos with Santa presented by ACME
* Live Wine Tastings in partnership with Chaddsford Winery
* HoHo Happy Hour with food & drink specials every Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
* Christmas Village’s mascot Phil the 10th reindeer
* Live history lessons for school tours
* Boot stocking event with St. Nikolaus on December 6, 2018
* Friday Lunch Concert Series from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
* Preview weekend on November 17 and 18 to explore the market before Thanksgiving
* Dog Fridays with specials for our furry friends and visits from PAWS Philadelphia
* Well-known German ornament and gift vendor Käthe Wohlfahrt
* Raclette Cheese Sandwiches from the The Baked Cheese House
* Bratwurst Eating Contest as kick-off event for the German American Weekend
* Special lunch deals on bratwursts Monday through Thursday, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
* Storytimes in collaboration with the Free Library of Philadelphia

SPECIAL EVENTS

5) Theme Weekends

Look for music, performances, and entertainment to celebrate our themed weekends. Full schedules and additional info can be found here: http://www.philachristmas.com/events

* November 17 and 18 – Preview Weekend
* November 24 and 25 – Opening Weekend
* December 1 and 2 – Mascot Weekend
* December 8 and 9 – German American Weekend
* December 15 and 16 – Charity Weekend with Make-A-Wish® Foundation
* December 22 and 23 – Last minute shopping weekend

6) Official Christkind Ceremony (11/25)

Christmas Village will have its Christkind Opening Ceremony on Sunday, November 25 starting at 3:00 pm. Invite your family and friends to come sing along to holiday selections by the Camden Catholic High School Band. You can meet the original Christkind from Nuremberg after she opens the market by reciting her traditional prologue. Grab photos with her as she does her traditional walk of the market. In Germany, she is the person that brings the Christmas gifts to the kids, and she won’t be coming to the City of Brotherly Love empty handed!

Schedule Christkind Ceremony on Sunday, November 25, 2018 – Stage Program and Speakers

3:00 pm - 3:25 pm Performance Camden HS Marching Band on stage
3:25 pm - 3:30 pm Marching Band picks up Christkind and walks along market to stage
3:30 pm - 3:40 pm Host Allyson Malandra greets visitors and introduces Speakers
3:40 pm - 3:45 pm Speech by Sheila Hess, City Representative
3:45 pm - 3:50 pm Speech by Councilman Al Taubenberger
3:50 pm - 4:00 pm Interview Thomas Bauer, President and Founder of German American
Marketing, Inc. & Christmas Village in Philadelphia
4:00 pm - 4:05 pm Interview Christkind
4:05 pm Traditional Prologue by Christkind
4:05 pm - 4:30 pm Clearview Highschool Choir
4:10 pm - 4:20 pm Official Photoshoot with Mayor, Christkind, City Reps & Thomas Bauer
After shoot Christkind strolls along market giving out candy to children
After 4:30 pm Regular Stage Performances

7) Official Christmas Village opening of new central feature, presented by Bank of America

Stop by on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 4:15pm for the opening of Christmas Village in Philadelphia 2018 when a new, central holiday feature will be revealed.

8) Mascot Weekend together with “Mascots for a Cure” (12/01 and 12/02)

This year Christmas Village will partner up with “Mascots for a Cure” to host its first ever mascot weekend. Bring your little ones and celebrate with your favorite high school, college, sport team and business mascots. The fun starts at 2:00pm on Saturday, December 1 when all mascots will take part in a parade around City Hall, Dilworth Park and Love Park.

Once the parade is over, you have the chance to take pictures with your favorite mascots all around Christmas Village. To finish the day, the mascots will go wild in a Mascot Dance Off. Be sure to cheer on your favorite and to vote for them.

Christmas Village hopes to see you out there supporting Mascots for a Cure in their fight against childhood cancer by donating money into the buckets each mascot is carrying in the parade and during their photospot time, along with voting for your favorite college mascot in the dance off, where one dollar equals one vote.

Saturday, December 1, 2018:
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Mascot parade around City Hall, Dilworth Park and Love Park
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Photospot opportunities with mascots
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Philly College Mascot Dance Off

9) Visit from St. Nikolaus (Thursday, 12/06)

Saint Nikolaus plays a major role for German kids within the Advent time. On the evening of December 5, German kids clean their boots and put them in front of the door. Overnight, St. Nikolaus comes and stocks the boots with either candy or small gifts for the kids who have been good, or with coals for the naughty ones.

Since St. Nikolaus day is on December 6, we're going to celebrate this special day in German culture at the market, too. Bring your kids to our boot filling event as St. Nikolaus will fill children’s boots with sweet treats at no cost. Every boot that is dropped off at the information booth on December 6 between 11:00 am and 3:30 pm will be filled with special treats and returned to the child at 4:15 pm by St. Nikolaus himself. Afterwards, children will have the opportunity to talk to St. Nikolaus and take pictures with him.

Registration:

In order to accommodate everybody, please sign up your children at event@philachristmas.com by providing the number of children attending the event, their age, and potential food allergies.

10) Lantern Parade

This year, an old tradition will be returning to the market: The annual St. Martins lantern parade on December 8, 2018. In Germany, children usually walk with their lanterns in large groups through the cities on November 11th to honor St. Martin. These parades are so much fun for children who can show of their self-decorated lanterns.

Since we are not open yet on St. Martins Day, we will have our lantern parade on Dec 8th together with our German-American weekend. We will start the parade at 5pm in LOVE Park, walk across the street to Dilworth Park and the Courtyard and back again to Christmas Village.

All children, who would like to participate, can get a lantern brought from Germany at the Info Booth.

If you and your child would like to participate in this great tradition, send an email to event@philachristmas.com with the number of children and their ages. Knowing beforehand how many participants we have will help in coordinating this event! Walk-ins are welcome on Dec 8th to go to the Info Booth and get a lantern for their child!

11) School Tours and German Culture Lessons

Christmas Village is once again offering school classes 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

If you are interested in booking a “Live History Lesson at Christmas Village” this Holiday season, please send an email to event@philachristmas.com.

12) Storytimes in cooperation with the Free Library

Every Wednesday from 11am - 12pm, The Free Library of Philadelphia will once again bring storytimes to Christmas Village in Philadelphia! 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 cozy storytime!

13) Entertainment (Daily)

Look for more live music, concerts, dance performances, children's choirs, big bands, and festive fun, taking place on our stage right in the center of LOVE Park.

Music schedule on the main stage:
* Monday through Thursday - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
* Fridays - 12:00pm to 1:00pm and 4:00 to 8:00pm
* Saturdays - 12:00pm to 8:00pm
* Sundays - 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Selected early announced performances include:
* Saturday, November 24 from 4 pm – 5 pm: Philly Squeeze Accordion Band
* Saturday, December 1 from 5 pm – 6 pm: Philly Kinder Kinderchor
* Saturday, December 1 from 7 pm – 8 pm: Penn Band
* Sunday, December 2 from 6 pm – 7 pm: Franklinville-Schwarzwald Maennerchor
* Friday, December 7 from 5 pm – 6 pm: Walnut Street Theatre Winter Wonderettes
* Saturday, December 8 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: GTV Almrausch
* Saturday, December 15 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Carly Moffa (known from American Idol)
* Friday, December 22 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Michelle Buell

FOOD RELATED EVENTS AND TASTINGS

14) HoHo Happy Hours on every Wednesday (11/28, 12/05, 12/12, 12/19)

Christmas Village in Philadelphia will bring back its special Wednesday night happy hour series called HoHo Happy Hour. On every Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, all visitors are invited to enjoy amazing performers and great food and drink specials. Enjoy hot mulled wine from Chaddsford Winery for $6 (refills will only be $3!), $2 off every draft beer and $2 off every bratwurst at the German Grill.

This year, Thirsty Dice will join the party and bring exciting board games to the HoHo Happy Hour to make it even more fun.

Make sure to come early to be one of the first 100 customers to buy a cup of mulled wine and you will receive a free food sample from our amazing restaurant partners.

* November, 28: Chocolate-dipped fruits from Edible Arrangements of Ridge Avenue
* December, 5: Chocolate-dipped fruits from Edible Arrangements of Ridge Avenue
* December, 12: Chocolate-dipped fruits from Edible Arrangements of Ridge Avenue
* December, 19: Tir Na Nog

15) Live Wine Tastings at Christmas Village

Chaddsford Winery is hosting live wine tastings at Christmas Village in Philadelphia every Tuesday and Thursday from November 27 through December 20. Experience the charm of a traditional German Christmas market while enjoying samples of Chaddsford’s award-winning, locally-produced wine as well as sweet and savory tasting samples from Übel und Sachs and The Bacon Jams.

Each ticket includes:

* Three wine samples (2 oz. each) from Chaddsford Winery
* Live Wine Tasting
* Food sampler plate including crackers, cheese, chocolate and Bacon Jams
* $5 Coupon towards a bottle of Chaddsford wine bought at the wine tasting
* $5 off all orders over $25 at The Bacon Jams booth
* $1 Coupon towards a product at the German Sweets Booth

Tickets can be purchased via Travelzoo, Groupon:
https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-christmas-village-in-philadelphia-1?deal_option=cc91bbfb-a6e0-445d-a7d5-8dd271fae559 or on-site at the Information Booth.

16) Live Beer Tastings at Christmas Village

For the first time in 11 years, Christmas Village in Philadelphia will introduce Beer Tasting Events to the market. Every Wednesday from November 28 through December 19, visitors have the possibility to enjoy four locally brewed beer samples from Brewery Techne/ Bar Hygge (Fairmount Avenue) as well as tasting samples from the German Grill.

Each ticket includes:
* Beer flight with four beer samples from Brewery Techne/ Bar Hygge
* Soft pretzel with sweet mustard
* Voucher for draft beer valued $5 at Bar Hygge
* $3 credit towards a 16 fl.oz. beer at Christmas Village
*$ 3 credit towards a bratwurst on a roll at Christmas Village

Tickets can be purchased via Travelzoo, Groupon:
https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-christmas-village-in-philadelphia-1?deal_option=cc91bbfb-a6e0-445d-a7d5-8dd271fae559 or on-site at the Information Booth.

17) Annual Bratwurst Eating Contest (12/07)

On Friday, December 7 at 6:00pm, Christmas Village will again host its annual Bratwurst eating contest to kick off the Army-Navy Game as well as our all-time favorite German American Weekend. It is an amateur competition with no entry fee. Each contestant must eat as many bratwursts as possible (max. 10) in fifteen minutes. The contestant who eats the most or finishes them all first will be declared the winner. The winner will receive a trophy along with a gift package containing a variety of Christmas Village products. Interested in participating? Sign-up by sending an email with your name and contact details to event@philachristmas.com.

18) Beer Stein-Holding Competition (12/08)

New this year, will be another traditional German competition to make the German American Weekend even more fun. It is called “beer stein-holding competition” (Maßkrugstemmen) and will take place on Saturday, December 8 at 3:00 pm. Masskrugstemmen is a Bavarian feat of strength and endurance where contestants hold a 1-liter stein of beer (which weighs about 5 pounds) out in front of them at shoulder level for as long as they can. No beer can be spilled, no elbows can be bent, and extended arms must be kept parallel to the ground. The winner is the person who can keep their stein aloft the longest. The winner will receive a trophy along with a gift package containing a variety of Christmas Village products. Interested in participating? Sign-up by sending an email with your name and contact details to event@philachristmas.com.

19) Friday Lunch Concert Series

Christmas Village is proud to announce the coming back of the beloved Friday Lunch Concert Series! Every Friday at 12pm you can enjoy great food while listening to cool tunes from amazing performing artists.

FOOD AND DRINK

20) Food and drink vendors for 2018

* Top new food addition: Spaetzle Booth - German cheese noodles (Spaetzle) decorated with onions
* Top new drink addition: Almhütte by Bar Hygge/ Brewery Techne - Philadelphia brewed craft beer on draught right from Fairmount Ave
* Favorite returnee: Baked Cheese House - Grilled cheese specialties and Swiss raclette cheese sandwiches
* All time favorite: Bratwurst Grill - German bratwurst from our huge outdoor charcoal grill
* Chaddsford Winery - Hot mulled wines served in Christmas Village collector's mug or wine by the bottle
* Berliner Doner Kebob Booth - Döner Kebap, the original invented in Berlin
* Helmut’s Original Austrian Strudel - Strudels and pretzels - sweet and savory
* Mike’s Hot Honey - Honey infused with chilies
* Belgium Fries - Freshly cut Belgian fries
* Waffles - Sweet waffles
* Jerky Hut - Jerky meats
* John & Kira’s Chocolates - Gourmet hand-crafted chocolates
* The Truffleist - Truffle products for delicious, unique dishes
* Torchbearer Sauces - Tasty condiments sauces
* Pretzelphoria - Pennsylvania-made chocolate covered pretzles
* The Bacon Jams - Spreadable bacon preserve and bacon salt
* German Sweets - Roasted nuts from all over the world, chocolate-covered fruits in finest Belgian chocolate, gingerbread-hearts, Magenbrot and cotton candy
* Crêpes and German Christmas Sweets - Fresh handmade crêpes: sweet or savory! Wide assortment of German Christmas-sweets: Gingerbread, Stollen, Pfeffernuesse - also famous German delicacies such as: "Milka", Marzipan, "Kinderschokolade" or fresh marshmallows
* German Grill - German bratwursts, schnitzel and potato pancakes served with or without potato salad and sauerkraut
* chocoidea - Special shaped chocolate products
* Hot Beverages - Hot chocolates, coffee, tea and apple cider

SHOPPING

Christmas Village in Philadelphia consists of more than 80 booths and vendors. Within the village, you'll experience a wide variety of seasonal goods that cannot be found elsewhere. Aside from our local vendors, we have German vendors like Käthe Wohlfahrt selling Christmas ornaments, decorations from genuine Erzgebirge, accessories, fashion, jewelry and much more. Find an up-to-date vendor list at the Christmas Village website:
http://www.philachristmas.com/vendors.html

21) Vendors for the new season

Christmas Ornaments
* Käthe Wohlfahrt - Käthe Wohlfahrt is Germany’s top Christmas ornament and decor company, reflecting traditional German handcraft for over 50 years. You will find incense smokers, nutcrackers, pyramids, Schwibbogen, music boxes, wooden and glass ornaments there
* Heimat Berlin - Star shaped lampshades
* Yolkstar Ornaments and Gifts - Hand-painted glass and wooden ornaments and Christmas gifts from Ukraine and Russia
* LOL Signs - Humorous home decor signs, magnets and sox
* Gifts from Afar - Russian Christmas ornaments, nested dolls, wooden ornaments, amber jewelry, wooden carved Santas
* Herrnhuter - Original Herrnhuter Stars presented by My Brilliant Star
* Mexican Handcrafts - Mexican Christmas ornaments and gifts
* Unique Ornaments - Glass Christmas ornaments from Egypt
* Christmas Souvenir Ornaments - Holiday ornaments of all shapes and sizes
* Amazing Light - Colorful shaped lights

Handmade and Home Decor
* Lovepop - 3D paper sculpture cards
* Wendell August Forge - Quality metalware and personalized metal ornaments
* Silk Road Traders - Turkish mosaic lanterns, ceramics and artisan crafts, textiles
* The Coaster Mill - Coasters with vintage pictures of New York City, Philadelphia and other cities
* Chopstick Art - Home décor made from chopsticks
* Flatboat Fair Traders - Ceramic luminaries, balsa wood ornaments, balsa wood sculptures and aluminum wall hangings
* Asante Sana Art - African handmade art
* Inkas Hands Art Gallery - Contemporary art works, fine pottery, silver jewelry and woolens
* Tribal Art - Pillows, wall hangings, table runners and other handmade décor from Turkey and Kashmir
* Peachey’s Woodworks - PA Dutch made wood ornaments and puzzles
* Russ Brown Photography - Framed photo art with Philadelphia motives
* Nepa Bhon - Handmade works of art from Nepal
* Edible Birdhouses - Edible birdhouses
* Yunka Intl. Trading - Pocket watches, mini clocks and cell phone accessories
* Little Marrakesh Bazaar - Handbags and home décor from Morocco

Fashion & Beauty
* Zanygoose - Ugly Christmas sweaters
* Living and Giving - Woolen sweaters and accessories
* Just Make Scents - Herbal Packs
* Norden Arts - Woolens, handmade bags from recycled jute, hemp and cotton from Nepal
* Kashmir Dream - Shawls, beaded bags, Moroccan and Syrian goods
* Felt n Wool - Handmade hats, handbags and paper art from Nepal/Himalaya
* Park & Madison - Soy candles, room sprays and reed diffusers
* Suzette Arts Couture - Accessories and home décor
* Chic Afrique Herbals - Natural cosmetics and jewelry
* Donegal Importers - Irish capes, sweaters and gifts
* Janette’s Designs - Handmade sweaters, ponchos, hats, gloves and scarves for women and kids
* Chez KisKis - French soap, clocks, tablecloths and handmade Italian leather gloves

Glass & Pottery
* Dakota Prairie Designs - Hand-painted glass
* I see Spain - Ceramic grating plate for garlic, hand-made and hand-painted by Spanish artisans
* New Found Fun - Glass jewelry and charm lockets

Jewelry & Accessories
* Eardivine - Earpins, ear cuffs and other fine jewelry
* Bella U - Boutique with jewelry and accessories
* Wishbeads - Wish jewelry
* Tommy Conch Designs - Handmade designer Sterling silver jewelry
* Mistura Timepieces - Unique and contemporary wooden watches and sunglasses
* Ideal Handcrafted Jewelry - Jewelry from the Basque country in northern Spain
* Onice - Home and personal accessories i.e. scarves, totes and socks
* Big Skinny Wallet - Thin leather and nylon wallets
* Moon Glow - Moon glow personalized jewelry
* Wagman Designs - Designer jewelry
* Tibet Collection - Handmade jewelry from Nepal and India such as earrings, necklaces and bracelets

Toys & Gifts
* Yolkstar Toys - Bohemian jumpers/bouncies
* Walking Toys - Walking toys and glass figurines
* Persnickety - Kids toys, stainless steel lawn ornaments and crystal twister lawn ornaments
* Momo's Tree House - High quality and educational toys and kids books
* Kylie's Canine Treats - All natural dog, cat and bird treats and accessories
* Ideal Blox - Magnet blox 3D puzzle toys

Special Booth
* Santa's House presented by ACME - Make sure to take your photo with Santa
* Christmas Village Info - Information about Christmas Village and Partner Promotions. You can buy heart hangers for our Wish Wall here!
* The Christmas Tree Stand - Fresh Trees and Wreaths

City Hall Courtyard Section
* Article 22 - Ethical jewelry
* Boardroom Spirits - Locally distilled clean spirits from nationally recognized Lansdale, PA distillery
* New Found Fun - Glass jewelry and charm lockets
* Lily Lough Boutique - Design jewelry
* Birchwick Trading - Luminara real light effect candle
* Girasola Designs - Colorful wooden toys
* Courtyard Cafe - Hot chocolates with whipped cream and Lacas coffee
* Chicken Skewers - Grilled chicken skewers
* Penn Potato Fries - Potato fries
* Pook - Unique winter apparel
* Silly Puppets - Glove/hand puppets
* Painted Sky Alpaca Farm - Alpaca coats, scarves and accessories
* Sealife Creations - Glass jewelry
* Piggyback Treats Company, LLC - Goods and treats for cats and dogs
* Suzette Art Couture - Accessories and home décor

22) Highlights of the new vendors for 2018

* Mike’s Hot Honey – Honey infused with chilies
* Almhütte by Bar Hygge/ Brewery Techne - Locally brewed draft beers
* Spaetzle Booth - German cheese noodles (Spaetzle) decorated with onions
* Lovepop Cards – Unique, laser-cut pop-up cards (3D paper sculpture)
* Momo’s Tree House – Smart kid toys for curious kids
* Wendell August Forge – Personalized and artisans of fine metal and gifts
* Peachey's Woodworks - PA Dutch made wood ornaments and puzzles
* Zanygoose - Ugly Christmas sweaters

23) Photos with Santa presented by ACME

Complete your Christmas experience with a visit to Santa’s House presented by ACME at Christmas Village! The holiday Saint himself will be in attendance at LOVE Park from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Bring your children, the whole family or even your furry friends to take pictures with Santa and make heartwarming memories that will last for years to come!

Opening hours of Santa’s House:
November 22 (Thanksgiving Day): 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
November 23 (Black Friday): 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 24: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 25: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday, November 30: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 1: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 2: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
After December 7: Open every day! Mon-Thurs from 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm; Fri-Sat from 11: 00 am – 8:00 pm and Sun from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

This year, Santa’s house will be presented by ACME and therefore have some surprises for the little ones. For example they’ll bring a scavenger hunt to the market. Stop by the info booth or Santa’s House to pick up Santa’s Secret Scavenger Hunt and Coloring Book and bring the completed coloring page into your local ACME to receive a free treat. Plus, save on your holiday essentials with a special coupon inside.

24) Holiday Activation by Metro CPS by T-Mobile

Metro CPS by T-Mobile will bring its holiday tour gift box to the market from December 7 to December 9, 2018. Visit the huge (20x20’) gift box to chat with Santa and experience the newest technology while warming up and relaxing in one of the lounges.

25) Dog Fridays

Bring your four-legged friend to Philadelphia's biggest outdoor Holiday event! On every Friday, Christmas Village transforms to a paradise for dog lovers:

SANTA PAWS
Want to include your furry friend on the Holiday card this season? Come out on Fridays to celebrate your pet(s) with us and treat them to a special photo shoot with Santa that they deserve.

FRIDAY SPECIAL AT KYLIE'S CANINE TREATS
The famous dog treat vendor Kylie's Canine Treats spoils every dog visiting his hut on Friday with one free treat, so make sure to stop by! And if that’s not enough, all dogs visiting his hut on Fridays will be entered into a drawing where one winner chosen on Christmas Eve will receive a free one year supply of Kylie's Canine Treats.

PAWS PHILADELPHIA
Once again, the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) will be coming back to Christmas Village with their furry friends. PAWS is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals. Come to Christmas Village to pet the animals and even sign up to take one home! That’s right, you will have a chance to adopt a puppy to bring home with you this Holiday season.

PAWS will be at Christmas Village on:
Friday, December 7 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday, December 21 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

26) General Information - Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America

Now in its 11th season, Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America has grown into one of the region’s most unique and charming holiday destinations and attractions. Christmas Village, along with the Christmas Village Carousel in the Philadelphia City Hall Courtyard, The Made in Philadelphia Market and other holiday activities on Dilworth Park, has helped attract over two million people annually to Center City District. The economic impact of Christmas Village, and its sister festival The Made in Philadelphia Market, is felt throughout the city at hotels, restaurants and retailers - as visitors travel to Philadelphia from the suburbs, from across the country, and from around the world. After a shortened season in 2017 due to construction, Christmas Village organizers and the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department expect record numbers for 2018 - with the largest turn-out ever for the market that has been named “Best in America” year after year.

27) Christmas Village Courtyard Section

For the second straight year, Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America will be joined by additional 15 vendors in the City Hall Courtyard and the beloved Christmas Village carousel.

The whimsical, ornate and grand carousel will give children of all ages a new holiday tradition. The 15 wood carved horses will be joined by five special reindeer and a Christmas sleigh this year for added fun. Rides on the Christmas Village Carousel are $3.00 each.

28) Made in Philadelphia Market at Dilworth Park

From Saturday, November 17, 2018 until Tuesday January 1, 2019 Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America will be accompanied by the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market sponsored by 101.1 MORE FM (across the street in Dilworth Park). More than 50 local artisans, designers, crafters and confectionaries will offer unique selections for gifts and special holiday foods in white, festively lit tents topped with original Herrnhuter Stars. 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 from 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 decoration items 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 beautiful Wintergarden presented by TD Bank with an extended seating area, the ice skating at the Rothman Orthopedics Ice Rink and the Rothman Cabin, 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 Market is again presented by Center City District in partnership with the operators of Christmas Village in Philadelphia.