Kathy Romano’s 2017 Holiday Activities List
Welcome to Kathy Romano’s list of activities for the 2017 Holiday Season. Check back frequently for photo additions as she completes activities with her friends and family and join in the fun by tagging your own photos with #kathysholidayactivities
Cut your own Christmas Tree
This was a first for us this year. There are tree farms all over the Delaware Valley that supply you with a saw and allow you to cut down your own Christmas Tree!
- Montgomery County – We went to a beautiful small family owned farm in Collegeville, Pa. The Corkum Farm staff was friendly, helpful and full of holiday spirit! Make sure you check out Thomas the turkey while you’re there. He’s very vocal and fun to watch! The kids love him!
- Bucks County & New Jersey –Willard Family Christmas Trees has 4 locations, 2 in Bucks County and 2 in New Jersey. They have almost every type of tree to choose from. I visited their Carousel Village location in Newtown, Pa. If you happen to run into the retired Math teacher who helps run the farm and is such a joy make sure you tell him I said hello!
- Delaware County –Linvilla Orchards offers all CYO trees at $69.99. Their supply consists mostly of 6’-10’ Douglass fir.
- Chester County –Tricolor Tree Farm in West Chester, Pa. They have Douglas fir, blue spruce, hemlock and white pine trees to choose from. They also offer hot chocolate and weekend hayrides.
Franklin Square Holiday Festival
There are a number of great displays throughout the year at Franklin Square and the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show doesn’t disappoint! More than 50,000 lights, festive music, a winter beer garden, and different sub-themes each Friday night are what you can expect this season!
New York City
If you’re headed into NYC to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center you may want to stop by Rolf’s German Restaurant which is located in the city’s Gramercy Park Neighborhood. This restaurant is filled and I mean FILLED with $60,000 worth of decorations which includes 15,000 ornaments and 100,000 lights. But don’t worry, if the wait is too long the decor is up until May! Also, the Rockefeller tree will be lit until January 7th.
Sesame Place Very Furry Christmas
Sesame does a great job all year round! For their Very Furry Christmas you’ll find characters everywhere, holiday scenes, gingerbread cookies and more! 
They’ve updated their character experience this year. Not only do you get to see all the Sesame characters dressed in their holiday outfits and Santa but they added an entire Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer section that includes the Abominable Snowman, Rudolph and Clarice! There is also a beautiful light display below the large Sesame Place sign at the entrance of the park that makes for a great photo. The holiday themed character parade and shows are entertaining as usual.
Photo Credit: Sesame Place
ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
An indoor winter wonderland of 2 million pounds of hand carved ice sculptures and ice slides which includes Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster and more. 
Our favorite part is the ice slide! The attraction concludes with a breathtaking Nativity scene carved from crystal ice. The exhibit is kept at 9 degrees but with the jackets they supply you don’t really feel that cold. Just make sure you wear a hat, gloves and boots! There are great overnight stay packages at the Gaylord National Resort. So, if you can, extend your stay and enjoy the Washington DC area hotel that is transformed into a winter wonderland! New this year is Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast and a spectacular live atrium show, JOY. There is also a Build-A-Bear Workshop, Scavenger Hunt, Gingerbread Decorating Corner, nightly indoor snowfall and of course the gorgeous light show inside the hotel. As if that’s not enough, you can walk to the little town for some dinner and shopping! It’s all part of Christmas on the Potomac at Gaylord National Resort!
Photo Credit: Gaylord National Resort
Holiday Garden Railway
If your kids like trains, you have to visit this outdoor display at the Morris Arboretum! They are open during the day, but we love the “Friday Night Lights” display. The train display is brightly lit, and involves fast moving trains above and below you! As an added bonus, they have different performances each weekend to add to the experience. Be sure to leave time for the kids to play on the rope climb and bird’s nest. Dress warm because you’ll be there for a little while.
Hershey Park Christmas CandyLane & Hershey Sweet Lights
Hershey Park is so much fun even when its cold! There are holiday coaster rides and light displays. You can meet Santa and 9 live reindeer, including Rudolph! Top it all off with the 2-mile Holiday drive-thru light display through the woods!
If you’re staying the night, the renovated Hershey 
Waterworks at theHershey Lodge is so much fun for the kids! Caution: Although they begin checkin at 4pm, your room is not guaranteed until 6pm. While you wait let the kids swim! And parents, the bartender at the pool makes a delicious margarita! Oh and our Elf jumped in our overnight bag and appeared in the hotel room!
LEGOLAND
Philadelphia- “Holiday Bricktacular,” is a special seasonal programming and holiday themed attractions included in the price of admission on weekends. Kids can build a LEGO ornament and help decorate the holiday tree! Plus a special North Pole Workshop, snowmen builds and of course a LEGO Santa are all part of this holiday activity. You’re encouraged to wear your favorite ugly sweaters. Stop by the hot cocoa and cookie station in then Coffee Shop & Cafe.
Longwood Gardens
– A Longwood Christmas has one of the greatest light displays in Pennsylvania. Over 500,000 lights sparkle in the trees as the colored fountains burst into the air while seasonal music plays outside. Inside thousands of poinsettias, extravagant Christmas trees and gorgeous flowers decorate the heated four-acre Conservatory. While you’re out that way checkout Kennett Square’s holiday events. They have a number of activities and events throughout the holiday season. The one that caught my attention was the Holiday Horse Drawn Carriage Ride.
Cherry Hill Mall’s Santa Experience
This year’s journey is a tribute to A Christmas Story! On your walk to see Santa, you’ll find yourself in Ralphie Parker’s living room with the infamous leg lamp. After the kids tell Santa what they want under the tree this year, they can ride down the red twisty slide!
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More of Kathy’s Favorite Holiday Activities:
DIY holiday pictures with Kara Raudenbush Photography
Shadybrook Farm holiday drive-thru light show
Brunch with Santa and the Reindeer at Elmwood Park Zoo
Storybook Land Christmas
Herr’s Snack Factory Holiday Light Display
Photo Credit: Herr’s Snack Factory
Holiday Train Rides:
- North Pole Express on the New Hope Railroad
- West Chester Railroad Santa Express
- Cape May Seashore Lines Santa Express
- Wilmington & Western Railroad Holiday Lights Express
- Christmas at Strasburg Railroad
Photo Credit: Strasburg Railroad
Elaborate Residential light displays:
- West Chester Griswolds
- Light up a Life Christmas Display – Ambler, PA
- The Drelick’s Christmas Lights – Lansdale, PA
- The 25th and final season of That’s a lot of Lights – Levittown, PA
- Miracle on South 13th Street Holiday light Display – South Philly
- The Faucher Family Christmas House – Red Lion Road New Castle, DE
- Candy Cane Lane – Garth Road Oreland, PA
