Christmas / Lights / Philadelphia

The best Christmas lights in Philadelphia

6 displays · 3 free · Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's light season runs on neighborhood pride and old traditions, from a South Philly rowhouse block that turns itself into a light tunnel to the organ-backed light show that has played in the Wanamaker Building's Grand Court for generations. It is a city where the best displays feel personal rather than corporate.

Lights flip on the week of Thanksgiving and hold through New Year's, with the Miracle on South 13th Street block party as the unofficial opening bell. The mix skews wonderfully affordable: two of the city's signature shows are completely free, and the big ticketed events at the Zoo and Longwood Gardens are day-trip worthy.

1.Miracle on South 13th Street

East Passyunk, South Philadelphia

Free neighborhoodFree

For more than three decades, neighbors on the 1600 block of South 13th Street have strung lights across the entire street, turning a classic rowhouse block into a glowing canopy. The lights run nightly from 5 to 11pm, and the season opens with a block party complete with Santa. It is Philly's most beloved free holiday tradition.

Season: Late November through New Year's Day

2.LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo

Centennial District, West Philadelphia

Ticketed eventAround $25-40 per person

The zoo's nature-inspired night show, now several seasons in, fills the grounds with hundreds of larger-than-life illuminated animals, projections, and synchronized light shows. It is a walking loop through distinct themed zones rather than a single display. Weeknights are noticeably calmer than weekends.

Season: Mid-November through early January

3.Electrical Spectacle at Franklin Square

Old City

Walk-throughFree

A free light show that runs every 30 minutes each evening in one of the city's original squares, with hundreds of thousands of lights and a giant illuminated kite floating above the fountain as a nod to Ben Franklin's experiment. Winter in Franklin Square adds mini golf, food, and holiday drinks around the show.

Season: Mid-November through New Year's

4.Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show

Yardley, Bucks County

Drive-throughAround $45-60 per car

Three million lights spread across acres of Bucks County farmland, seen from your own car along a winding route. After the drive, you can park for a bonfire, s'mores, and a stop at the farm market. It is the region's biggest pure drive-through and about 45 minutes from Center City.

Season: Late November through early January

5.A Longwood Christmas

Kennett Square, Chester County

Ticketed eventAround $30-40 per person

Longwood Gardens' holiday season is one of the premier horticultural Christmas displays in the country, pairing an outdoor landscape strung with hundreds of thousands of lights with a Conservatory full of over-the-top floral trees. Timed tickets sell out well in advance for December weekends. Worth the roughly one hour trip from the city.

Season: Mid-November through early January

6.Wanamaker Building Holiday Light Show

Center City

Walk-throughFree

A Philadelphia ritual since 1956, this indoor show fills the Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker Building with tens of thousands of lights telling a holiday story, accompanied by the building's famous pipe organ. Generations of Philadelphians grew up watching it from the marble floors. Shows run multiple times daily through the season.

Season: Late November through New Year's Eve

Local tip

See the Miracle on South 13th Street and the Electrical Spectacle in one evening; both are free, and the Broad Street Line connects South Philly to Old City in minutes. Go to 13th Street on a weeknight around 6pm to catch the canopy at full glow before the weekend crowds fill the sidewalk.

Displays and prices are researched from recent seasons and stated approximately; hours, routes, and admission change year to year, so check an event's official page before you drive out.

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Common questions

When do Christmas lights go up in Philadelphia?
The season starts in mid to late November. Franklin Square's Electrical Spectacle and LumiNature open in mid-November, and the Miracle on South 13th Street lights up the Saturday after Thanksgiving with a block party. Nearly everything stays lit through New Year's Day.
What is the best free Christmas light display in Philadelphia?
The Miracle on South 13th Street is the sentimental favorite: an entire rowhouse block wrapped in a canopy of lights by the neighbors themselves. The Electrical Spectacle at Franklin Square and the Wanamaker Building's organ-backed light show are also completely free, which makes Philly one of the best cheap light cities anywhere.
Is there a drive-through Christmas light display near Philadelphia?
Yes, Shady Brook Farm in Yardley runs the area's biggest drive-through, with three million lights across its farmland about 45 minutes from Center City. It is open nightly from late November through early January, rain or shine, and online tickets are cheaper than the gate price.
Is Longwood Gardens worth the drive at Christmas?
If you have one splurge night, this is the one. A Longwood Christmas is among the best horticultural holiday displays in the country, with an illuminated outdoor landscape and a Conservatory full of themed floral trees. Book timed tickets early; prime December evenings sell out weeks ahead.
How long does the Miracle on South 13th Street take to see?
The display itself is one dense block between Tasker and Morris Streets, so you can see it in 15 to 20 minutes. Most people linger longer, and it pairs well with dinner on nearby East Passyunk Avenue, one of the city's best restaurant rows.

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