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The Logan Hotel || Charlann Farms || Rose Tree Park || Historic Downtown West Chester || DuPont Hotel || Holiday Workshops || Christmas House KOP || Schellville in Rehoboth || Holiday Cupcakes || Portable North Pole
Welcome to the 2022 edition of Kathy’s Holiday Activities
Some may think Christmas comes too early, but for me, it’s never too early for the joy that Holiday Activities bring! That’s why I share this list with you each year. I hope that my review, these helpful hints and the coupon codes help to make it a bit easier for you to enjoy the season! This year’s list consists of all brand-new adventures from Philadelphia to the Delaware Beaches and has everything from luxury excursions to DIY activities.
Please follow my holiday journey on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok – @kathyromano11 – and take me with you and your family by tagging me in your holiday activities. Use the hashtags #kathysholidayactivities and #kathysactivities.
Thank you for Acme Markets for sponsoring Kathy’s Holiday Activities List 2022!
Personal Meet & Greet With Santa on The Parkway
The Logan Hotel is offering a Holiday Magic experience on December 11th. The event is a one-of-kind that gives families a unique and personal way to visit with Santa! The activity offers welcome drinks for the parents (YAY!!!!), complimentary valet parking (double YAY!!!!), and 20 minutes of individual time in Santa’s Workshop with him and Mrs. Claus (don’t worry, Santa gets a list of who is attending ahead of time so he can refresh his memory of what your children want for Christmas). You’ll also get 5 to 15 digital professional photographs and a take-home box of Christmas cookies and decorating kit. The event takes place in the Holiday Lodge Suite. And if you’re looking for a little staycation, you can also book the Logan Holiday Lodge Suite, which is one of the best rooms available in the hotel and is decorated for the holidays. From bedding and your own Christmas tree to views of the Ben Franklin Parkway and a full course dinner and holiday treats served right in your room, you can relax in elegance this holiday season. The room also includes a pool table, dining room and a comfortable living room to relax with the family and watch a holiday movie. On the 9th floor of the building, you’ll find the pop-up Alpine Heights at the Assembly Rooftop Lounge! It’s a gorgeous winter-focused ski lodge with festive cocktails and comfort food. [Photos from Kathy’s visit to The Logan]
Promo: The Holiday Lodge Suite is being offered at a 50% discount than the normal price of the room.
BucksCo Farm with Shopping, Crafts, Activities and Santa
Charlann Farms in Yardley Bucks County, for the first time this year, is transforming into a Holiday barn, featuring fresh-cut Christmas trees, wreaths, pine roping, unique gifts made by local vendors and drive-in holiday movies. Beginning Friday, November 25th and continuing each weekend in December, a different holiday movie will be featured. Cars line up in the pasture and visitors are invited to set up tailgate style or watch the movie from inside their car. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time. You can also get a Christmas tree, your holiday photos and holiday gifts wrapped while you’re at the farm. Charlann Farms has pre-cut trees to choose from and a vintage red truck set up as an outdoor photo backdrop, which is available for families to take their own holiday photos. Be sure to reserve a 15-minute timeslot before you head to the farm. Santa will be visiting every weekend from now until December 18th. Special photo packages will be available on those days. As part of the farm’s tradition, Santa will arrive on a tractor on Saturday, December 3rd & Sunday, December 4th at 12pm. This is a free event and families can take their own photos from noon to 3pm, and then Santa will be available for photo packages from 3pm to 6pm. And there’s more!!!! Santa’s reindeer will be visiting on Sunday, December 18th from 2pm to 6pm. You do need to reserve tickets for this day. Plus, for a fee, if you bring your gifts to Charlann Farms they will wrap them for you. [How pretty is this farm?!]
Helpful Hint: Don’t wait to reserve your reindeer tickets or buy your drive-in movie tickets! They both sell out quickly.
Coupon Code: Mention Kathy’s Holiday Activities and get 15% off at the farm.
Delco's Festival of Lights & Holiday Village
Rose Tree Park sparkles again for its annual Festival of Lights display. Dozens of illuminated trees create a joyful holiday spirit as you stroll through the picturesque park. For the 2nd year, the park is creating the Delco Holiday Village, which consists of local merchants and food trucks. On Friday, December 2nd, Santa Claus and the Springton Lake Select Choir will be in attendance to celebrate the opening of the 2022 Festival of Lights at 5pm. The Holiday Village will then be open on December 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th. The walk-through holiday light display is open every night of the week from 5pm-10pm until Jan 1st.
Helpful hint: Media is a beautiful town to shop and dine during the holiday season. Try the blood orange margarita with a sugar rim at La Catrina!
Holiday Weekends in West Chester
Historic Downtown West Chester transforms into a dazzling wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends. It’s one of my favorite towns, not only because I’m a WCU graduate, but because of how stunningly beautiful the town is. You can sip, shop, dine and enjoy holiday festivities every weekend through New Year’s. The town has 6 full weekends for you to enjoy with Santa, free outdoor holiday concerts, carolers, a professional gingerbread house competition and much more. Make sure you leave plenty of time for holiday shopping in West Chester’s one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques. On Friday, December 2nd, the West Chester Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting is back! It kicks off at 6:30pm with the official lighting of West Chester’s spectacular 26-foot-tall Christmas Tree on the lawn of the Courthouse. The parade starts at 7pm with the arrival of Santa in the most unique display yet. I spoke to Santa a few days ago and he told me it involves a zipline! After taking a 2-year hiatus due to COVID, this year’s parade will run a little more than an hour.
Dozens more weekend activities are listed on the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce’s website at gwcc.org.
Helpful Hint: My favorite West Chester restaurant is Meatball U and it’s not because my cousin Dan owns the restaurant. It’s because the meatballs are delicious!!! Mention Cousin Kathy Romano for a free dessert with your purchase. [Kathy’s Ma & the meatballs!]
Winter fun in Wilmington
DuPont Hotel is unveiling their après-ski inspired seasonal pop-up, the Chalet Du Pont. The week-long activity (November 30 – December 7) will feature a variety of events and offerings including: Brunch with Santa; Lunch and Dinner reservations with curated holiday menus; a Festive Afternoon Tea and Cocktail Experiences, where guests can enjoy the cozy winter wonderland. You can book a reservation on the hotel’s website but they are also taking walk-ups. To coincide with the opening of Chalet Du Pont, Hotel Du Pont is participating in the “Spread the Warmth” campaign in conjunction with the Police Athletic League of Wilmington (PALW), and will be accepting donations of new (unwrapped) hats, mittens/gloves and socks at the chalet all week, encouraging visitors to donate for the more than 160 children PALW provides safe haven for each day. [Apres-Ski with Kathy]
Helpful Hint: If you bring a hat, gloves, scarf, or socks donation you’ll receive a free drink!
Photo credit: Christina Vance with DLS Creative
Holiday Craft & Snack Workshops
Three Sister Co., a chic farm-style home accent shop located in Phoenixville, is hosting a number of different holiday themed workshops. Throughout the month of December, you can choose from Cookie Decorating, Holiday Charcuterie Board, Succulent Christmas tree and Eucalyptus Wreath workshops! All classes are BYOB and great for a girls’ day out. The store is open to shop their beautiful décor before and after the workshops.
Coupon code: Kathy10 for 10% off your entire purchase in-store or online November 27th through December 24th.
Walk Thru Christmas Experience
Christmas House KOP is a new indoor holiday spectacular. You can get some shopping and a holiday activity done in one visit. The walk-thru Christmas experience is right inside the King of Prussia Mall, in the former JC Penny location. The fully-immersive Christmas tour consists of individually-themed rooms such as the “Christmas Story Café,” an “Elf Room” and a “Snow Room” where I had a snowball fight with my son. Christmas House will bring guests through holidays of yesteryear and today, with imagery depicting various Christmas settings, ranging from the North Pole and Santa’s Workshop, to sets designed to replicate iconic scenes from holiday films. You can reserve tickets ahead of time but walk ups are also welcome. Shopping, dinner and a holiday activity all in one place! Plus, this is a great activity to do if it’s too cold or raining. Weather won’t stop my holiday activities!!! [Walk thru with Kathy]
Coupon Code: Use Kathy10 for discounted admission.
Helpful Hint: The dining experience at BarTaco is not like a traditional restaurant. You order at your own pace and through your phone. It’s another great place for margaritas. All juices are squeezed fresh behind the bar!
Enchanted Experience at the DE Beaches
If you’re headed to your beach house or you feel like taking a trip to the Delaware beaches this holiday season, there is a great holiday activity for you to check out. The Schellville Enchanted Winter Celebration is an extravagant holiday village set up behind the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth Beach. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the first 4 weeks, then everyday from December 19th through December 31st (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), the winter wonderland is open for families to enjoy. The village has grown over the years and now includes everything from train rides and ice skating to snow zones and a beer garden. It’s a night of shopping, play and lots of holiday cheer. There are 18 miniature houses full of decorations, toys and activities. Santa will be there every night, but heads back to the North Pole after December 23rd. Grab a hot chocolate and enjoy live music on the snowflake stage each night. Most of the activities are completely free!
Helpful Hint: From 2pm to 4:30pm most activities will be closed, but you can still enjoy the Christmas village of little play houses, game room, stroll through the maze, Kudos bus & believe-o-meter and the expanded snow zone. The village fully opens at 5pm.
Holiday Cupcakes are trending this season!
Paddy Cakes Bake Shop is teaming up with the Cardinal Hollow Winery for a Holiday Cupcake and Wine Pairing at the Lansdale winery. On Sunday December 11th at 2pm, you’ll be able to taste 6 different cupcakes and pair them with 6 different wines. To book a seat go to Paddy Cakes Bake Shop Facebook page and follow the link.
Studio 918 in Conshohocken is having a cupcake decorating workshop hosted by A Whisk Worth Tasting. Ages 7+ can decorate 6 cupcakes and enjoy a hot cocoa bar in the new studio space that opened just a few weeks ago. All materials needed to decorate the cupcakes will be provided. In addition, 918 Studio is also offering a 45-minute all-inclusive Santa experience that includes a professional mini photo shoot, hot cocoa bar, and ornament decorating for the whole family on December 10th and a wreath decorating workshop on December 11th.
Helpful Hint: The studio will be transformed into a winter wonderland with areas staged to take your own photos.
