Kathy’s COVID-Safe Holiday Activities for 2020
Kathy’s Holiday Activities 2020
A note from Kathy: The holiday season should be filled with joy and happiness for you and for your children! I love everything that this season brings to our life. There have been some changes in the way these activities will be executed but nothing (not even COVID) is going to stop Kathy’s Holiday Activities. This year’s holiday list consists of a lot of brand new activities, virtual options, social distancing, masks, and more hand sanitizer than you can imagine. Please follow along on my 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
1) Winter on Broad Street: A Holiday Light Spectacular
This dazzling new outdoor holiday light attraction in the Wells Fargo Parking lot is fantastic! It allows visitors to stroll through a winter wonderland of lights, shop a marketplace and snack on some treats (adult treats too)! This illuminated wonderland includes 193 larger-than-life light displays with more than a half-million light bulbs. A 25-foot reindeer, 12-foot snowflake and 45 uniquely decorated displays is just a glimpse of what you’ll experience on Broad Street. In addition to the bright festive lights, you will be able to enjoy a variety of concession goodies, make your own ornament and write a letter to Santa. Plus, the Mistletoe Marketplace gives you the opportunity for some holiday shopping, which includes exclusive Philadelphia sports teams’ holiday merchandise only available at the marketplace. And Parking is FREE! Link.
2) Virtual Santa Visit
This year you can schedule a virtual visit with Santa. JingleRing.com is offering 10 minute one-on-one personalized meetings with the real Santa, Live from the North Pole. We are positive he’s the real Santa because he knew all about my son, how well he’s adjusted to hybrid learning and asked about our 2 cats that he left under the tree 3 years ago. At the end of the virtual visit, you’ll receive a sharable video and a group photo with Santa. Mrs. Claus is very busy taking care of the Elves and Reindeer but can join in on the visit if you request her ahead of time. The visits start at $34.95 and are filling up fast! Check back as more slots are being added soon. Link.
3) Light up the Vines
The 7 wineries of the Bucks County Wine Trail will illuminate for the first ever Light Up The Vines. The lighting of the vineyards kick off on Saturday December 5th at 5pm. Each winery, decorated in festive lights, will offer a variety of different options and of course delicious wines! Food trucks, live music, and fire pits are what you can expect. Details on what each winery is offering for the kickoff event can be found on their website. Reservations are not required (unless you are a party of 6 or more) but fire pits are on a first-come first-serve basis. Space is limited at each winery to allow for adequate social distancing. The vines will be lit and the wineries will be open on weekends through Jan 2nd. Link.
4) Maria’s Mom’s Italian Cookie Cupboard Bake Camp
The Santa Bake Camps at Maria’s Mom’s is a popularactivity for the kids and parents! Due to COVID, the shop took their program, packed it inside a box & will “zoom” it your way for an online baking class this holiday season. Santa joins Maria in helping instruct the class, although he’s much better at eating the treats than decorating them. This year’s theme is Charlie Brown Christmas giving participants the opportunity to decorate Snoopy’s doghouse. They’re also offering a “Make It & Bake It” box. The box is an at-home baking kit that includes all of the ingredients you’ll need to bake a shortbread Charlie Brown Cookie Tree and Christmas lights and cocoa snowballs. Both kits need to be picked up at their Marlton, NJ bakery. Link.
5) Silly Spoons Holiday Baking Classes
If you have a little chef or a young baker you’re going to love this kid’s culinary experience. Some of the holiday themed classes are for both a child & parent and others are just for the kids. The Newtown based cooking school for kids is offering weekend classes that will teach your child how to make desserts from scratch; Reindeer Brownie Bites, Snowman Cupcakes, and how to design your own Gingerbread houses. Every class includes a custom made kid friendly recipe page, edible take away, and a chef hat. Young chefs utilize a variety of kitchen tools, ingredients, and techniques that build confidence and encourage creativity and fun in the kitchen! Space is limited and reservations are required. Link.
6) Colebrookdale Railroad
Each year I choose a different holiday train ride. This year we’re headed to Boyertown to hop aboard one of the Colebrookdale’s Holiday Excursions. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the excursions have been reimagined to be both socially distanced and kid approved. We’ll be riding Santa’s Polar Bear Express this year for a magical adventure into Christmas past. It’s a beautiful train journey which includes hot chocolate, cookies, favorite carols, a gift for every child and an opportunity for the kids to give their Christmas letter to Santa. The railroad also offers a “Twas’ The Night Before Christmas” train ride and a Snowflake Special ride through the Secret Valley. The holiday excursions begin November 20th and run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with December 20th being the final day. The Snowflake Special Excursion runs twice daily from December 26th and concluding on December 31st. Link.
7) Diggerland Holiday Light Show
Diggerland in West Berlin, NJ is having their first ever Holidig drive-thru light show. Beginning on November 18th and running most evenings through January 3rd from 5:30p-9:30p you can drive the mile length course. Hundreds of thousands of lights and holiday displays will decorate the construction theme park. Plus, you can enjoy tasty treats and hot chocolate at the Forklift Cafe! Admission is $29.95 per vehicle. Link.
8) Succulent Christmas Tree Workshop
The latest holiday trend to go viral is the Succulent Christmas Tree. I sent a picture to Terrarium Therapy after doing some fall classes with them and asked if this was a possibility for a winter class. Sure enough, the plant workshop company did a little research and is now offering in-person and virtual Succulent Christmas Tree workshops. All of their holiday workshops will be held at local breweries, wineries, and restaurants. If you choose the virtual option, you’ll receive a package in the mail with all of the items needed: a cone base, floral wire, decorative bells, preserved moss and a beautiful assortment of succulents. You’ll take part in the zoom class and follow along with step-by-step instructions from one of their plant specialists and workshop hosts. There are two sizes to choose from, 8” tree for $75 or 11” tree for $95. These workshops are a safe and fun way to gather with your loved ones this holiday season, as kits can be shipped anywhere in the US. Terrarium Therapy offers a variety of workshops this holiday season and year-round that will help grow your creativity and bury your stress. Link.
9) Winter in Wilmington Light Show
The Grand, a non-profit arts organization, is creating a drive-thru light show on Wilmington’s Riverfront. Animated displays, interactive music and holiday cheer is what you can expect to experience during this electric trail. It’s $25 per vehicle and tickets must be purchased ahead of time. This is a shorter drive-thru light show and only takes about 8 to 10 minutes. Link.
10) Shop local and outdoors for the Holidays!
Bundling up to shop handmade one of a kind gifts at an outdoor holiday market screams it’s the most wonderful time of the year for me. There are a number of marketplaces set up for the 2020 season.
- Chestnut Hill Stag & Doe Nights – One of the prettiest small neighborhoods in our city is especially gorgeous during the holiday season. Chestnut Hill lines Germantown Ave and cross streets with beautiful holiday lights and decorations. The annual Stag & Doe Nights will be every Wednesday in December. The evening event features extended store hours, holiday specials, make your own ornament at AR Workshop and horse-drawn carriage rides. You may also catch a glimpse of Santa or a performance from a brass quartet. Chestnut Hill is also the home of the popular Bredenbeck’s Bakery that is offering many famous (and some infamous) holiday treats.
- Amazing Christmas Village – This is the first year for this traditional European-style outdoor market where you can shop, eat and be merry at the Neshaminy Square Shopping Center (4201 Bensalem Blvd, Bensalem, PA). They kicked off the holiday season with a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Friday November 27th. Vendors are selling various items including holiday decorations, toys, home décor and jewelry. While you enjoy some of your favorite holiday songs, you can pick out a fresh cut Christmas tree and Christmas flowers.
- Christmas Village in Philadelphia – The authentic open-air German-style Christmas Market at LOVE Park and City Hall, will again return for the 2020 holiday season with a new socially distanced layout. This year’s outdoor shopping area will be set up with a one-way system around the outer limits of LOVE Park and masks are required at all times.