All photos by Alexis Strizziere and Cheryl Tranchitella
“You hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling, ding-ding ding-a-ling too.” It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the city of Philadelphia. This Christmas season the city of brotherly love has once again opened its arms to welcome the spirit of good ol’ Saint Nick. Lining the streets of Broad and Market are the dazzling and festive traditional Christmas time attractions that have graced the city dating back 50 years.
The yearly Philadelphia Holiday Festival begins with the tree lighting at City Hall courtyard on Nov. 28 and continues through New Year’s Day ending with the annual Mummers Day Parade on Market Street. The tree, which can be seen from the west side of City Hall, was illuminated after a countdown by Mayor John Street and Count von Count from Sesame Street. This tradition, which begun some 50 years ago, is the center of the holiday attractions based in the Center City area.
Since 1956, the Wanamaker Building owned by John Wanamaker began its historically known holiday light show in its Grand Court. Devised by Frederick Yost, the beautiful Grand Court displays have become one of Philadelphia’s most popular traditions. Now 45 years later the building houses Lord & Taylor Department store, which has continued the Yuletide tradition. This magnificent light show made up of 100,000 light bulbs consists of snowflakes, trains, snowmen, toy soldiers, Santa, ballerinas, and Sugar Plum Fairies and is accompanied by the largest pipe organ in the world.
Better known as the Grand Court Organ, it was purchased in 1909 by Wanamaker to provide entertainment for the shoppers in his Philadelphia department store. Designed by famous organ architect George Ashdown Audsley, the organ was used to celebrate the opening of Lord & Taylor in 1997. The Grand Court Organ is the first pipe organ to be declared a national historic landmark and was granted this status in 1980.
The Lord & Taylor Christmas Light Show 2001 can be viewed every hour on the hour, while the store is open through New Year’s Day located at 1300 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa.
The second of Philadelphia’s largest traditional Christmas attractions is located five blocks down at Strawbridge and Clothier on Market Street Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Originated in 1893 and has become a Christmas tradition at the department store for the past 17 years. “A Christmas Carol” is brought to life by store employees dressed in colonial attire as you walk you through the village telling the world famous story and the history behind it. The exhibit consists of authentic furniture, dolls and items that date back to the original time of Charles Dickens. Tickets are complementary of the store. This tour started on Nov. 23 and is open until Dec. 31 during store hours.
With its easy-to-follow classic story line, this charming holiday ballet occurring once a year is a holiday favorite for many. The Nutcracker performed at the Academy of Music on 1420 Locust St., Philadelphia Pa, runs from Friday Dec. 14 through Sunday Dec. 23. Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet is the Christmas adventure of a young girl and the nutcracker doll she adores. Nominated by the city as a Best Traditional Holiday Event, this culmination of completely orchestrated musical tunes is performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet and contains the famous “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” Ticket costs run from $17- $ 90.
For a breath of fresh city air, Philadelphia offers countless Christmas tours in and
around the city. Christmas Tours of Historic Houses takes visitors around historic Fairmount Park and Germantown houses decorated in their finest holiday garb. The Colonial mansions twinkle with lights, wreaths, holly and fruit arrangements. Tours begin midmonth and continue through the holiday season. For details call 215-787-5449.
Elfreth’s Alley, located between Front, 2nd, Arch, and Race Streets, runs its annual Elfreth’s Alley Christmas Open House. The local community opens their homes to the public for holiday tours. For details call 215-574-0560.
Right in the area on the 2700 block of South Colorado Street, an extremely unusual Christmas experience can be seen. Some 40 homeowners’ decorate their houses with interconnected strands of holiday lights. This extraordinary sight begins right after Thanksgiving and continues through the holiday season.
For a twist of the traditional American Christmas, venture out to the Lucia Fest. This Swedish pageant is held by candlelight at the American Swedish Historical Museum located on 1900 Pattison Ave. in South Philadelphia. For details call 215-389-1776.
Venturing out past the city limits one can be oohed and aahed at the Christmas extravaganza located at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square Pa. A continuously repeating five-minute fountain show set to the likes of Holiday music is surrounding by some 400, 000 lights and thousands of poinsettias both indoor and outdoor. Stepping inside to a heated Conservatory there is a winter floral wonderland created by both professional florists and gardening students. Longwood Gardens also consists of everything from color lighted draped pine trees to their traditionally known green lawns accented by red amaryllis and white lilies. This holiday tradition for viewers all across the world can be viewed now until the end of December.
For all of you window shoppers the stores on Market and Broad Streets offer a plethora of holiday eye candy in their stores’ front windows to enjoy. The most affordable way to enjoy this holiday season and get some gift ideas can be found in and around Center City.
