Where to see Christmas lights in Philadelphia

Cruise down the 1600 block of 13th Street, where every house, tree, and telephone pole is strung up with lights in a dazzling display of community spirit. This is a beloved local tradition that’s as South Philly as an Angelo’s cheesesteak but decidedly much better for you. Eager residents begin decking their halls months in advance of the light show’s late-November start date, and switch on the displays every evening until New Year’s. It’s a heart-warming, only-in-Philly kind of experience—and it’s extra AF.

For a truly local holiday light experience that has been going on for more than 50 years, hit up the 2700 block of Smedley Street, deep in South Philly. Take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane to check out the neighboring displays of glittering snowmen, twinkling window panes, and larger-than-life Santas. The displays along the grassy central promenade steal the show, complete with Santa’s sleigh ready for takeoff.

Sure, it’s going to be crowded. But there’s a reason why: this is the area’s quintessential Christmas Village. More than a million lights illuminate the buildings, trees, and brick pathways that wind through more than 65 artisan galleries, candy shops, and toy stores. There’s also a gingerbread display and competition with more than 100 entries. The magic begins every day at dusk. It’s enough to make you feel like you’ve just landed at the North Pole—or the set of a Hallmark movie.

Housed in Macy’s stately Grand Court, this Philly tradition uses more than 100,000 LED lights to project snowflakes, sugar plum fairies, ballerinas, and reindeer across a four-story-high velvet curtain. The show runs several times throughout the day, accompanied by music from the historic Wanamaker Grand Organ.

In a homage worthy of its namesake, Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle Light Show boasts hundreds of thousands of LED lights synchronized to a holiday music soundtrack that is sure to give you all the festive feels. New this year, that playlist includes "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by The Philly Specials, featuring Philadelphia Eagles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata and former Eagle Jason Kelce. The display’s centerpiece is a 12-foot-tall kite—a nod to the experiment Benjamin Franklin allegedly performed there. A holiday market, beer garden and seasonal treats will be available during the festival, so make sure you stay awhile.

Holiday lights get a luxe upgrade at Longwood Gardens with the opening of Longwood Reimagined. New spaces include the sprawling West Conservatory, where you’ll find greenery of all kinds adorned with twinkling lights, crystal ornaments and candied cranberries. Outside, there’s a similarly grand outfit featuring colorfully lit fountains that “dance” to holiday music and a half-million more lights bedecking the miles of grounds around the gardens (with carolers strolling around to boot).

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The animals may be sleeping, but you sure won’t be. The Philadelphia Zoo comes alive for the holidays with more than a million lights across 16 different zones, each with a unique and Instagrammable theme. Take a ride on a “Septa” holiday express train through a canopy of 200,000 lights or gawk at the 22-foot tall tree that is covered in 4,000 butterflies. Other must-see attractions include a 100-foot-long jungle tunnel and a shimmering vine wall that features 20,000 lights. 

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More than 50 locally owned small businesses on Manayunk’s Main St. go all out with holiday decorations, displays, and lights in a contest open for voting from the public. The result is more than 80,000 lights that turn the already charming street into a glittering holiday fest worthy of the time you’ll spend looking for a parking spot. The best way to take it all on is to hop on the free Jolly Trolley and cruise from one twinkling end to the other. 

Inspired by the cranky Christmas-loving Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, a West Chester family begins installing their holiday lights in September and works every weekend until Thanksgiving to achieve a holiday spectacle that could probably be seen from the moon. Multiple Christmas trees, stars, arches and snowmen adorn the property, which is also decked out in over 140,000 LED lights. While you’re there, tune your car’s radio to 87.9 to get the low-down on the high-key display.

Shelve your Grinch-y feelings toward the ubiquitous cable company for 15 minutes and let yourself revel in this incredible LED light display. Set against a giant “video experience wall” in the Comcast Center lobby, the presentation features clips from the Pennsylvania Ballet’s Nutcracker performance, festive sing-alongs and animated sleigh rides across the Philadelphia skyline. New this year, check out a free cinematic experience at the adjacent Universal Sphere,  starring characters from DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek.