It’s time for Kathy’s Holiday Activities!

Author Marisa Magnatta

November 25th, 2019 7:13 AM

She made her list and checked it twice!

Out with the pumpkins, scarecrows and ghost tours and in with the glitter, Santa and holiday train displays! Some may think Christmas comes too early; it’s never too early for the joy and happiness that Holiday Activities bring to my family!

This year, we’re stepping out of our comfort zone by trying all new festive activities!  Whether it’s the Grinch, Santa or his Reindeer we’ll stop and take a photo.  Holiday lights, workshops & wine, train rides, and community celebrations will all be part of making lasting memories.  Please follow our holiday journey on social media @kathyromano11.  And, take me along with you and your family by tagging me in your holiday activities. Use the hashtags #kathysholidayactivities & #kathysactivities

Kathy Romano’s Holiday Activities 2019

1) Froehlich’s Farm

• Experience the magic of the holidays

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  Froehlich’s Farm in Doylestown has a number of holiday themed activities scheduled for the season. You can take your kids to visit the holiday petting zoo, sit on Santa’s lap, take photos with real live reindeer or try to change The Grinch’s mind about Christmas! Different events are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays at the farm.

Check their calendar and make reservations when needed.  froehlichsfarm.com 

2) The Storybook Santa Experience

• By Jules Portrait in Haddonfield

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  Parents want their kids to smile so they can get the perfect picture with Santa, kids want to talk to Santa to make sure he’s clear on what to put under the tree on Christmas Eve and Santa wants to check his notes to determine if you should be on the naughty or nice list.  Jules Portrait in Haddonfield offers all of this in one 45 minute session.  Your kids will spend 30 minutes with Santa in 4 different scenes: talking to Santa in front of the Christmas tree backdrop, making cookies with Santa, helping Santa in the toy shop, and saying good night to Santa before he leaves.  It's suggested that you dress your children in their favorite holiday pajamas to give a more traditional look to the storybook she creates for your family.  With the purchase of the specialized photoshoot you will receive a 10x10 velvet personalized storybook album with 20-30 professional photos of your children with Santa.  Additional specialized items, prints and holiday cards are available as well.

This is the real Santa so when he’s talking to your kids he will bring up the good and the bad things from throughout the year.  julesportrait.com

Have you heard the new jingle? Kyle McCarty nails it again!

3) Luminature by the Philadelphia Zoo

• Philadelphia’s newest winter light experience!

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  The Philadelphia Zoo is unveiling a magical holiday light experience.  Beginning on November 20th, the zoo will transform into a seasonal light and music experience. More than 600,000 lights will create 12 experiences that include hundreds of penguins, a 21-foot tall snake, giant cat eyes and a 25-foot tree made entirely of lit flamingo lawn ornaments.  Seasonal fare, strolling performers, hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages promise to spark the holiday spirit.

The winter wonderland light experience runs through January 5th.  phillyzooluminature.org

4)  Board & Brush

• Perfect for a girls’ night out with a few bottles of wine!

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  This DIY wood sign workshop is year-round, but has amazing pick-your-own holiday projects. You can choose from a holiday sign, tray, candle trivet, greenery centerpiece box, door hanger and more. Distressing, sanding, staining, hammering and personalizing your very own project are all part of the hands-on experience. There are a number of locations (I visited the Blue Bell location) that have workshops every week. They do offer an occasional class for kids but most are designed for adults.

Find a local Board & Brush Creative Studio near you. Pictured above: Board & Brush, Blue Bell

5) North Pole Express on the Black River & Western Railroad 

• Departs from the Flemington, NJ train station

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  It's this year’s choice for a holiday train ride! You’ll join Santa and his elves on the iconic steam locomotive to enjoy complimentary cookies, hot chocolate, a sleigh bell gift and lots of entertainment! Great photo opportunities include inside Santa's sleigh, in front of a 14-foot Christmas tree, and a photo booth. New this year is a First Class experience, where guests will get to skip the line, enjoy complimentary refreshments served at their table onboard the train, and get VIP treatment from Santa, along with more goodies! Trains depart the Flemington Station at select times weekends, November 23 through December 28.

6)  The Gypsy Wonderland

• December 15th in Conshohocken

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  The Gypsy Saloon Wonderland is a holiday Sunday Funday. The West Conshohocken restaurant has teamed up with the Elmwood Park Zoo and will offer photos with Santa, his real Reindeer and Snowy Owls. Plus, complimentary hot chocolate, cookies, treats and activities for the kids will be available inside a tent set up behind the restaurant. There will be plenty for the adults as well, including live music, drink specials and dinner inside Gypsy. This festive activity takes place on Sunday December 15th from 4:30p-8:30p.

7) Brandywine Christmas at the Brandywine River Museum of Art

• All aboard for a lifetime of memories!

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  The magic of the holiday season for train lovers return November 29th through January 5th. The model train display has an array of both toy and scale model trains that run on 2,000 feet of track. In addition to the expansive model train display, there is a wide selection of holiday events and programs for the whole family including a pajama night, breakfast with trains, a relaxed stroller tour, a sensory-friendly train morning and more. This year, there is also a special exhibition featuring a selection of three beloved fairy tales and their evolution through time and different cultures and towering trees decorated with whimsical Critter ornaments. If you want to make it a full day, the museum is not far from Longwood Gardens. And we know how amazing that is during the holidays!

8) Dickens Festival

The Dickens Festival in Medford, NJ and it’s Saturday December 7th from 4:30pm-9pm. Take a step back in time for a festive experience! Medford, New Jersey magically lights up and comes alive as a Christmas wonderland. It’s a perfect event for the entire family.  Holiday Carolers, live presentations and vendors will line Main street.  Great food and hot chocolate will be available along the way.  Keep an eye out because Santa might be there, too!

Another Dickens Festival will take place in Narberth, PA on Sunday December 8th from 12pm-4pm.  The streets of downtown Narberth are transformed into 1840’s London, as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and all the characters from A Christmas Carol roam the streets for an afternoon. Horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday crafts, carolers, performances, shopping and a free Dickens-themed scavenger hunt for children between 1pm-3pm.

9) Christmas in Wayne

• Friday, December 6th – Sunday, December 8th

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  An entire weekend filled with activities and a fantastic way to start your holiday shopping. New this year, there will be Holiday sidewalk shopping with the wide array of shops along North Wayne Ave and East Lancaster Ave the whole weekend; Friday December 6th through Sunday December 8th. On Friday, from 5:30pm – 8pm, there will be festive caroling along North Wayne Avenue, complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides along South Wayne & Runnymede Avenues and face painting & ornament decorating at the Radnor Fire House. The magical evening culminates with an exhilarating countdown of the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Wayne Train Station and Santa’s Arrival on a Radnor fire truck. On Saturday, the morning kicks off with the Radnor Memorial Library Elves for the Shelves 5K at 8am. At 10am, Santa’s parade will travel down East Lancaster Ave with the Radnor High School marching band. The parade concludes at the Wayne Hotel where children can meet with and take photos with Santa. While you wait to see Santa, cookies and hot chocolate will be available on the veranda at the hotel. The jolly guy will be there until 11:30am. On Sunday, shopping continues and merchants & restaurants display their elaborate decorations for the Windows of Wayne.

Side note: Free parking in Wayne all Saturdays and Sundays in December.  waynechristmas.com

10) The Comcast Holiday Spectacular 

• The festive visual display is a free experience to all visitors.

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  On Thanksgiving morning, the show will debut at 10am along with a live performance by the Pennsylvania Ballet. The 15 minute show runs every day from 10am - 6pm and starts every hour except at 5pm on weekdays. The last show is at 4pm on New Year’s Day. Santa will make appearances on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 4pm. All the holiday activities take place in the Comcast Center Lobby located at 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Looking for more? Check out Kathy’s 2018 and 2017 Holiday Activities Lists.

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Author Marisa Magnatta

Category:

• 93.3 WMMR
• Human Interest
• Local News

Tags:

Holiday Activities,Kathy's Activities,Santa