There is no shortage of fun things to do during the holiday season, and South Central PA is a great place to celebrate. But finding out what to do, when to do it, and where can be difficult — and that’s where we come in! We’ve got all the information you need to know to make the holidays filled with magical and fun.
Cumberland County
- A Very Electric Christmas: Lightwire Theatre presents a new tradition beginning November 26th at 7:30pm. Fun for all ages, and with the holiday music you love, you’ll see dancing toy soldiers, caroling worms, performing poinsettia, and more, all using electroluminescent artistry in the dark theatre.
- Carlisle Making Spirits Bright Holiday Parade: December 1st at 7:00pm, Carlisle will celebrate the holidays with a parade through downtown.
- Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas: The country superstar is stopping by the Luhrs Center in Shippensburg on December 2nd at 8:00pm. This is the 12th year McBride has gone on tour to celebrate the holiday season.
- Harry Connick, Jr.’s The Happy Elf: Running December 2nd through the 17th, see the story of Eubie the Elf, who wants to spread Christmas joy throughout the town of Bluesville at this family-friendly show at The Playhouse at Allenberry.
- Holly Jolly Jubilee: Downtown Carlisle hosts the Holly Jolly Jubilee on December 3rd at 3:00pm. The annual tree lighting will take place, and there will be tons of activities for kids — horse and carriage rides, face painting, balloon animals, caroling, and of course, Santa!
- Shippensburg Christmas Parade: December 3rd at 6:00pm, the parade will begin at N. Fayette Street, continue north for several blocks to Prince Street, and end with the tree lighting. This year’s theme is “A Country Christmas,” and will include marching bands, boy and girl scout troupes, local businesses, and Santa himself.
- Santa’s Workshop: December 10th, head to the Stuart Community Center to participate in Santa’s Workshop! Make crafts, decorate sugar cookies, write a letter to Santa, and then give it to him in person in a great holiday experience!
- 2nd Annual Holiday Gala: The Cumberland County Historical Society is hosting their annual gala on December 10th, from 6:00pm – 9:30pm. The gala will include live music, a dance floor, an open bar, catered food, auctions, and more!
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis: December 11th at 7:30pm, the Luhrs Center will host a tradition that has thrilled families over the holidays for 35 years! Dazzling effects and seasonal music, as well as the Mannheim Steamroller, are sure to thrill everyone.
- Christmas Caroling Tour: On December 17th at 7:00pm, stop by Old Courthouse Square to walk the streets of downtown Carlisle. Participants will hear traditions and history, go caroling, and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies!
- The Uptown Band’s Christmas Extravaganza: December 23rd at 7:00pm, head to the West Shore Theatre to hear an amazing show filled with live music, including holiday hits to get you ready for the season.
Dauphin County
- Cargill Holiday Parade in Downtown Harrisburg. The parade is on November 19th at 10:00am, with decorated floats, marching bands, dance teams, balloons, and an appearance from Santa! Afterwards, you can get FREE hot chocolate and cookies in Strawberry Square, and take some time to meet Santa himself!
- The Hershey Story: Little Elves Workshop: Have some holiday fun at the Little Elves Workshop at the Hershey Story! Dates run from November 19th through December 31st. Make some homemade ornaments, take adorable holiday photos, and play with vintage toys!
- Pennsylvania Christmas & Gift Show: Running from November 30th through December 4th at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, enjoy the performances on the entertainment stage, get some Christmas shopping done at one of 500 specialty shoppes, stroll Christmas tree lane, have a girls’ night out, walk a winter wonderland, see a pet fashion show, and more — all at one of the largest holiday shows in the country!
- The Gaither Vocal Band: Christmas 2022: December 1st at 7:00pm at the Giant Center, the Gaither Vocal Band will celebrate the best in Christian music, playing Gospel music and Christmas classics .
- FOR KING + COUNTRY: A Drummer Boy Christmas: December 3rd at the Giant Center, don’t miss this holiday spectacular, with brothers Joel and Luke playing Christmas classics you know and love, and new hits you won’t forget!
- Kwanzaa Celebration: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writers Workshop and Life Esteem, Inc. are teaming up to present the United Today/Stronger Tomorrow Kwanzaa Celebration! Held on November 10th from 10:00am through 5:00pm at John Harris High School, this FREE event will include tons of entertainment! Offerings include a Toys for Tots giveaway, an ABW Productions Fashion Show, the Dwennimmen African Dance Community, music by DJ Bryant Dupree, and more.
- George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker: The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet presents everyone’s favorite Christmas classic. Running December 10th and 11th at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, and December 17th and 18th at the Hershey Theatre, this is a holiday tradition you won’t want to miss!
- Holiday Open House: Tour the governor’s residence in Harrisburg on December 11th from 1:00pm through 6:00pm, and see the beautiful holiday decor! The event will include entertainment, hot chocolate, and cookies.
- Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular! 2022 Tour: December 20th at the Giant Center, see a capella superstars Pentatonix, as well as Season 21 winners of “The Voice,” Girl Named Tom. The tour also doubles as the debut for their newest holiday album, “Holidays Around The World.”
- Twelfth Annual Holiday Movie Extravaganza: Come to the Hershey Public Library on December 21st at 6:30pm in your PJs for a viewing of “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks with them.
- 2022 Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: This incredible holiday show comes to Hershey on December 21 at the Giant Center, with two shows at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.
- Elf Learn-To-Skate and Santa Social: On Friday, December 23rd, Santa’s elves will descend on the Giant Center in Hershey from 5:30 to 6:30 pm to help you learn how to skate! But it gets better: at 6:30, Santa himself will arrive with warm chocolate cookies and hot chocolate to meet kids and hear last-minute wish lists.
- Popcorn Hat Players Present: Countdown to Noon: On December 31 at the Whitaker Center’s Sunoco Theatre, join the Popcorn Hat Players for their 30th annual New Year’s Eve Party. Doors open at 10:30am, with the show starting at 11:00am. Kids will get to count down to noon to welcome the new year instead of midnight!
READ: Christmas Tree Farms in South Central Pennsylvania
Lancaster Country
- Home for the Holidays: The American Music Theatre is presenting an all-new Christmas show. Running from November 8th through December 30th, the show takes you through different experiences — families together at the holidays, Santa’s Candy Factory, and a “midnight” candlelight service. There are also tons of great photo ops with the beautiful decor, and the show is great for all ages!
- Root’s 18th Annual Christmas Show: November 19, stop by Root’s Country Market & Auction for their annual Christmas show. Catch up on holiday shopping, listen to music, visit with Santa — and it’s not only family-friendly, it’s dog-friendly, too!
- Hometown Holiday Market: On November 19th, the Wyndham Lancaster will transform into a Winter Wonderland, with visits and photo ops available not only with Santa and Mrs. Claus, but Elsa, too! There will also be live music and carolers, and you can get holiday shopping done with tons of local businesses.
- Christmas at Clipper Magazine Stadium: The 5th annual Christmas Spirit Light Show and Christmas Tree Lane is back, starting November 25th and running through December 31st. Start by driving through a mile-long Christmas light display, all in harmony with Christmas music you can listen to as you go. Finish inside the stadium, where you can vote for your favorite Christmas tree, visit with Santa, listen to Christmas carols, and enjoy festive food and drinks!
- The Santa Express at Stone Gables Estate: There will be a magical experience at Stone Gables Estate, running from November 25th to December 23rd. The Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad will feature holiday songs you can sing along to, a surprise visit from Santa — with each child getting a treat! — and a visit to Santa’s Toy Shop in the Engine House, which will be decorated for Christmas.
- 2022 Christmas Light Drive-Thru at Stone Gable Estate: This incredible Christmas light experience is available November 25th through December 30th. Within the comfort of your car, drive through three miles of over 800,000 Christmas lights, including a life-sized Nativity scene, and a visit from Santa and his elves!
- Illumination: An Immersive Holiday Concert: From December 2nd through the 17th, the Prime Theatre is hosting a new immersive experience, with music in a theatre-in-the-round, while surrounded by hundreds of candles.
- Christmas on Main: The 15th Annual Christmas on Main in New Holland kicks off on December 3rd. Enjoy activities, food vendors, refreshments, music, carriage rides, a visit from Santa, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and more — and all for free!
- Christmas with the Conductor: Get your golden ticket ready for Christmas with the Conductor at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg! On December 3rd and December 10th, kids will be welcomed aboard onto one of the historic trains, and hear a holiday story. They’ll also get to meet Santa, decorate their own gingerbread cookie, and send a telegram to the North Pole!
- The New Holland Band’s 11th Annual Holiday Pops Concert: On December 9th at 6:30pm, The New Holland Band’s 11th Annual Holiday Pops Concert will be held at the at the Palm Court of the DoubleTree Resort. The show will include their signature a “Festival Fanfare for Christmas,” as well as some amazing new surprises!
- Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour: December 9th from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, you can tour the 1792 Johannes Mueller House by candlelight, and learn how Christmas was celebrated centuries ago. Donations benefit the Lititz Historical Foundation.
- Mars Wrigley Presents Holiday Parade: The annual Elizabethtown parade is on December 10 at 4:00pm, starting on Market Street. This year’s theme is Rock’in the Holidays!
- A Christmas Carol: The Ware Center again presents Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” on December 15th, with doors opening at 6:30pm. The show is presented by Servant Stage, which has a goal of making exceptional performances accessible, so tickets are pay-what-you-can.
Lebanon County
- 2022 Holiday Tree Lighting: November 18 at 6:00pm, Mrs. Claus will visit at 9th and Cumberland Streets for the annual Christmas Tree lighting. But don’t worry — Santa will be stopping by soon!
- 46th Annual Holiday Parade: The annual parade in Lebanon will take place on November 19th from 10:00am – 12:00pm, with ABC27 News Anchors Alicia Richards and Valerie Pritchett as emcees. Santa will also make an appearance all the way from the North Pole!
- Jonestown Christmas Tree Lighting: On November 25th at 6:00pm, there will be crafts, music, food, and fun, all before Santa shows up to light the tree at 6:30pm! After the tree lighting, Santa will be available to visit with kids and take pictures, with hot chocolate available.
- Christmas at the Expo: November 25th – 27th, stop by the Lebanon Valley Expo and Fairgrounds for Lebanon Valley’s largest holiday shopping event! There will also be live music, free photos with Santa, kids activities, and more.
- Myerstown Holiday Parade: On November 26th at 3:30pm, kick off the holiday season with the annual community parade!
- Kerzenlicht Nacht: November 26th at 6:30pm, stop by the Isaac Meier Homestead after the Myerstown Holiday Parade for a candlelit evening. Admission is free, and you’ll receive cookies and hot cider while learning about our local history.
- Campbelltown’s 4th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting: Come to the tree lighting on November 27th at 3:00pm where there will be fun for the whole family! There will be food trucks, music, vendors, games for kids to play, Santa, and more!
- Carriage Rides: On December 2nd and December 9th, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, enjoy carriage rides in Lebanon at the Farmer’s Market!
- Palmyra Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: On December 3rd at 5:00pm, the parade begins on Main Street. Immediately after, head to the Turner Museum for hot chocolate, cookies, carols, and Santa!
York County
- Debby Boone’s White Christmas: December 9th at 7:30pm, join Grammy-award winner Debby Boone at the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center for a concert with songs from her Christmas albums, as well as other classic favorites.
- Christmas in the Grove: Stop by Fawn Grove on November 19th for a day of holiday fun! The Annual Firehouse Christmas at Citizen’s Vol. Fire Company will kick off the day, and it will end with a Christmas tree lighting, as well as a visit from Santa.
- Holiday Pops Spectacular: The York Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will present the Holiday Pops Spectacular on November 26th, at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. This annual show is full of yuletide cheer, including a Holly Jolly Sing-Along!
- 2022 Light Up York: On December 2nd at 4:00, the annual Christmas tree will be lit up in Continental Square for everyone to enjoy.
