Dates: Fridays, Nov. 27 – Dec. 18, 2026 | 6 PM
Make your holiday season extra special with a festive dinner buffet at the Kling House Restaurant in Kitchen Kettle Village! Enjoy a delicious Lancaster County-inspired meal, followed by holiday storytelling and photo opportunities with Mrs. Claus and Yummie, the Village's gingerbread man mascot.
Reservations required. Tickets are $34.99 for adults and $21.99 for children ages 1 – 10.
Dates: Nov. 27 – 28, Dec. 5, 12 & 19, 2026 | 8:30 AM & 9:45 AM Reservations
Celebrate the holidays with a festive breakfast buffet at the Kling House Restaurant, followed by Christmas caroling with Santa and his Holiday Elf throughout Kitchen Kettle Village! Kids can decorate gingerbread cookies, write letters to Santa, and complete a holiday scavenger hunt to collect goodies. Don't forget your camera for photos with Santa!
Reservations required. Tickets are $25.99 for adults and $17.99 for children ages 1 – 10.
Dates: Nov. 28 – 29, Dec. 5 – 6 & 12 – 13, 2026
Enjoy a festive farm-to-fork breakfast buffet at Barnyard Kingdom, complete with a special visit and photos with Santa! After breakfast, keep the holiday fun going with outdoor farm activities and a stroll through the fresh-cut Christmas trees.
Reservations required. Be sure to select your preferred date and time when purchasing tickets online. If no dates or times are available to select, your reservation is not confirmed. Check back later for availability
Date: December 13, 2026 | 11 AM – 4 PM
Celebrate the season with Santa, sweet treats, and festive family fun at the Turkey Hill Experience! Enjoy a holiday storytime with Santa, decorate a holiday craft, create holiday cards, sample Mrs. Claus' cookies and milk, and enjoy plenty of Turkey Hill ice cream, including a holiday themed Taste Lab.
Reservations required. These tickets are for Ice Cream with Santa Only.
Date: 2026 date not yet announced
2026 event details coming soon. Visit Spooky Nook Sports for updates.
Dates: Nov. 21 – Dec, 24, 2026 | Select dates and times
Experience the magic of Christmas aboard a historic steam train at Strasburg Rail Road! Choose from several festive experiences, each offering its own holiday traditions:
Dates: Nov. 20 – Dec. 23, 2026 | Select dates and times
Celebrate the season aboard the festively decorated Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad at Stone Gables Estate! Choose from two magical Christmas train experiences, both featuring holiday music, a visit from Santa, and a stop at his Toy Shop!
Dates: Nov. 28 – 29, Dec. 5 – 6, 12 – 13 & 19 – 20, 2026 | 1 PM
Take a festive train ride through the scenic Swatara Creek Valley with a special visit from Santa! Children ages 11 and under will receive a gift from Santa, and hot chocolate and snacks will be available for purchase.
Reservations required. Advance tickets are recommended.
Dates: Nov. 28 – 29, Dec. 5 – 6, 12 – 13 & 19 – 20, 2026 | 5 PM & Dec 18 | 6 PM
All aboard for a magical nighttime journey to the North Pole! Enjoy a Christmas train ride as the conductor shares a festive holiday story. Santa will join passengers for the return trip, bringing a special gift for children ages 11 and under.
Reservations required. Hot chocolate and snacks will be available for purchase.
Dates: Dec. 5 – 6, Dec. 11 – 13, Dec. 18 – 20, & Dec. 22 - 23, 2026 | Various Departure Times
Celebrate the season aboard the Santa Express at Northern Central Railway! Travel from the historic New Freedom Train Station to Glen Rock with Santa, who will visit with children and bring a special gift for those on the nice list. After your ride, enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and a cookie, explore the model train room, and soak up the holiday atmosphere.
Reservations recommended. Check the railroad's holiday schedule for available departures.
Why stop at just one visit with Santa? Turn your family outing into a holiday getaway with twinkling light displays, Christmas train rides, festive performances, and plenty of small town charm throughout Lancaster County.
Explore our Lancaster Holiday Weekend Itinerary for more ideas, and find the perfect festive place to stay to make the most of your visit.
Dates: Dec. 4 – 23, 2026 | 5:30 – 9 PM Sunday – Thursday; 5:30 – 10 PM Friday – Saturday
Celebrate the season at Penn Medicine Park, home of the Lancaster Stormers! Enjoy free photos with Santa, meet holiday characters, and stroll through Christmas Tree Lane, featuring beautifully decorated trees throughout the ballpark. Kids and adults can also enjoy the new Ride and Slide attractions, including a winter maze, inflatable mountain, and giant snow slide.
Santa photos are free. Ride and Slide passes are available for $20 per person. Santa visits take place December 4 – 23 only, although the ballpark's holiday festivities continue through December 24.
Date: December 12, 2026 | 12 – 4 PM & Santa photos from 1 – 3 PM
Make your family Christmas photo extra memorable with Santa and his adorable baby goat helpers at The Amish Farm and House! Pose for photos in Santa's sleigh, enjoy time on the farm, and bring along pets for the festivities.
Reservations recommended. Admission is by donation, with a suggested contribution of $5 per person or $15 per family. Monetary donations will be used to purchase items for Toys for Tots and Factory Ministries. They are also accepting new unwrapped toys to be donated to Toys for Tots as well as canned goods for Factory Ministries.
Dates: Select dates Nov, 14, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
Step into a winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights, festive entertainment, family-friendly rides, and holiday magic at Dutch Wonderland! Celebrate the season throughout the park and enjoy opportunities to see Santa during the Christmas season.
Admission required. Check the park's calendar for operating dates, tickets, and Santa experiences.
Explore Dutch Winter Wonderland
Date: December 12, 2026 | 10 AM – 3 PM
Celebrate the season with a full day of festive family fun at Bird-in-Hand Christmas Village! Meet Santa, play mini golf, cuddle with baby goats in their holiday PJs, and enjoy an old fashioned hayride. Kids can also decorate Christmas cookies, enjoy face painting, and explore holiday crafts while the whole family enjoys live music, hot chocolate, and seasonal treats.
Admission: Some activities have an additional fee, including baby goat cuddles ($5) and cookie decorating ($6).
Date: November 27, 2026 | 5 – 8 PM
Kick off the holiday season in downtown Lancaster with the Mayor's Tree Lighting at Penn Square! Watch Santa arrive on a fire truck, enjoy live holiday entertainment, and gather for the countdown as the city's Christmas tree lights up the square. Lancaster Central Market will also be open late for the festivities.
Dates: Dec. 4, 5, 12, & 19, 2026 | Times vary
Santa Claus is coming to downtown Lancaster! Bring your little ones and their Christmas wish lists for a festive visit with Santa at Ewell Plaza or the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Make a day of it by exploring the city's holiday decorations, shops, and seasonal festivities.
2026 schedule coming soon. Check the event website for updated dates, times, and locations.
Date: November 28, 2026
Experience small town holiday magic at New Holland's annual Christmas on Main celebration! Enjoy festive activities, a holiday market, live entertainment, and a Christmas tree lighting. Santa will also make a special arrival, with opportunities for family photos.
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 28 – Dec. 19, 2026 | Fridays 5:30 – 7:30 PM; Saturdays 10 AM – 1 PM
Visit Santa at his festive house in downtown Ephrata! Bring the family to share Christmas wish lists, capture holiday photos, and enjoy a cherished small town tradition. Santa's House is located inside the Welcome Center at 16 E. Main Street.
Dates: Nov. 21 – 25, Nov. 27 – Dec. 24, 2026 | Select times
Capture a special holiday memory with Santa at Park City Center! Bring the family for traditional Santa photos during your holiday shopping trip, with opportunities to reserve your visit in advance.
Reservations recommended. Walk-ins are welcome, subject to availability.
Holidays in Small Towns of Lancaster County, PA
Discover Lancaster's guide to Lancaster County's charming small towns helps you uncover the local traditions, seasonal magic, and holiday spirit that make the region a…
Lancaster County Christmas & Holiday Events
The holiday season in Lancaster County is full of themed attractions and fun events for young or old to enjoy.
Top Holiday Light Shows in Lancaster, PA
Drive, walk, or zipline through the most dazzling holiday light displays in and around Lancaster County, PA! From immersive 3‑mile LED drives to festive stadium…
Things to do with Kids during the Holidays in Lancaster, PA
Experience the holiday spirit with these kid friendly events and adventures!
Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve & Day in Lancaster, PA
Enjoy a holiday meal at one of these great restaurants!
Top Holiday Light Shows in Lancaster, PA
Drive, walk, or zipline through the most dazzling holiday light displays in and around Lancaster County, PA! From…
Things to do with Kids during the Holidays in Lancaster, PA
Experience the holiday spirit with these kid friendly events and adventures!
Celebrate the Holidays at Dutch Winter Wonderland
Make lasting family memories at Dutch Winter Wonderland, an award-winning holiday attraction in Lancaster, PA.
301 Linden St Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512 (717) 684-0134
2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim, Pennsylvania 17545 (717) 945-7087
301 Gap Rd Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 1-800-514-3849
1 Hollinger Lane Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania 17022 (717) 902-9791
136 Brown Street Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057 (717) 944-4435
2 West Main Street New Freedom, Pennsylvania 17349 (717) 942-2370
2395 Covered Bridge Drive Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602 (717) 394-6185
2249 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602 (717) 291-1888
2727 Old Philadelphia Pike Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania 17505 (717) 768-8271
38 Penn Square Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603 (717) 735-3138
16 E. Main St. Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522 (717) 721-6196
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