If you’re obsessed with Christmas and dream of living out your own holiday Hallmark movie, these Pennsylvania towns are your premiere destination.

Pennsylvania is loaded with charming towns that become magical at Christmastime. Although they don’t have as much glitz and glam as some of the bigger cities, they do have a cozy, rustic charm that one can only find in a small town.

From holiday light displays to open-air markets, tree lightings to train rides, when you visit one of these towns, you’ll be sure to find something that will fill you with holiday cheer.

If you love Hallmark movies at Christmastime, Canonsburg is the small town for you.

Established in 2018, Canonsburg’s Old Fashioned Christmas received an overwhelmingly positive review from all those in attendance and was even filmed by the Hallmark Channel themselves. The Hallmark association was so impressed by this display that they’ve sponsored the event and donated a Colorado Fir to the town of Canonsburg every year since. 

If you visit this adorable town, be sure to arrive in time for the Official Hallmark Community tree lighting ceremony held at the Canonsburg Borough Building and stay for the Christmas Parade. From sleigh rides to an ice skating rink, a meet and greet with Santa Claus to an open-air arts and crafts market, the Old Fashioned Christmas celebration is bursting with holiday cheer.

And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Grinch as he sneaks and slinks around the town!

If you want to see the biggest and best Christmas displays in Pennsylvania, be sure to make a trip to Bernville. This sleepy little town of fewer than 1,000 residents is home to Koziar’s Christmas Village, one of the most magical Christmas towns in the world.

This display got its start in 1948 when creator William M. Koziar began decorating his house with unusual Christmas decorations to thrill the townspeople of Bernville. His home was soon dubbed “The Christmas House” as he continued to add to his display by adorning the lake, trees, fences, and buildings on his property with beautiful Christmas lights.

In 2022, Koziar’s Christmas Village celebrated its 75th anniversary and has been featured on The Today Show. It’s also won countless awards, including the Best Outdoor Christmas Display in the World from Display World magazine.

This self-guided, walk-through light display is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers and is open rain or shine from the first weekend in November through New Year’s Day. They’re open every holiday during the season, so you could even start a family tradition of visiting this magical village on Christmas Day.

A visit to historical Gettysburg is like stepping back in time, and the annual Gettysburg Christmas Festival is a charming way to take in all the historic beauty.

Some seasonal events include visits with Santa and his reindeer and free horse-drawn carriage rides. They also close down the roads to a large section of town so visitors can stroll about, taking in the festivities and shopping. 

No trip to Gettysburg would be complete without visiting the Shriver House museum, and during the Christmas Festival, you’ll get to see how folks celebrated Christmas in the 1860s. The lovely gingerbread houses at the Adams County Art Council are also a sight to see. If you go to see the display, be sure to stay and enjoy the bake sale, silent auction, and children’s activities. 

Gettysburg is also well-known for its ghost tours, and Christmastime is no exception.

If you like family-friendly spookiness, you can attend the Scary Ghost Stories & Tales of the Glory event, where you’ll meet the ghost of Jennie Wade’s mother. She’ll take you back to the Christmas of 1863 when she was still mourning the death of her beloved daughter and reminisce about Jennie’s life and tragic death.

If thrills and chills are more your speed, you will surely love the Dark Side of Christmas event. This event is held in the back of the Haunted Orphanage and features stories about Christmas villains like Krampus and Belsnickel, as well as other terrifying Christmas tales from around the world.

Jim Thorpe is a unique town that blends the beauty and charm of a European village with all the excitement of mountain sports activities. It was once the second most popular tourist destination in the United States, so the town is no stranger to visitors.

Given all this, there’s certainly nowhere like Jim Thorpe at Christmastime.

The Olde Time Christmas Event features horse and carriage rides, a gingerbread house display, a Christmas tree contest, crafts for the kids, photos with Santa, and so much more.

Perhaps one of the most magical activities of the entire event is the Santa Train. This 70-minute train ride takes riders across 16 miles of winter wonderland and, as the name implies, includes a visit with Santa Claus himself. 

Christmas in Coal Country is a unique experience like no other.

ChristmasVille in Rockhill was inspired by Vernon Grant, a children’s illustrator and the creator of Rice Krispie mascots, Snap, Crackle, and Pop. With this creative mind behind it, it’s no surprise that a visit to ChristmasVille is like stepping inside your favorite Christmas storybook. 

This event features Dickensian carolers, ornament decorating, cookies and cocoa with Santa, a gingerbread scavenger hunt at the local library, a parade, candle-making, and so much more. They also have free amusement rides and inflatables for the whole family to enjoy. 

Train enthusiasts of all ages will fall in love with Santa’s trolley, a one-day event sponsored by the Rockhill Trolley Museum. Passengers will enjoy riding on a heated, antique trolley out to the Blacklog Station, where Santa will greet each and every child on his own special trolley.

Though many of the event’s activities are geared toward children, ChristmasVille also has some exciting activities just for adults. From holiday-themed paint-and-sip workshops to rum and bourbon tasting to a black-tie ball, everyone is sure to find something to get them into the holiday spirit.

With a nickname like “the Christmas Tree Capital of the World,” it should come as no surprise that the town of Indiana, Pennsylvania, pulls out all the stops when it comes to its “It’s a Wonderful Life Christmas Festival.”

Some of the activities include the Light Up the Night annual Christmas tree lighting and holiday parade, marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate, and visits with Santa in the park.

Indiana is also the birthplace of actor Jimmy Stewart, one of the stars of the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” During the festival, the Jimmy Stewart Museum has back-to-back showings of the making of It’s a Wonderful Life and the movie itself, as well as an “It’s a Wonderful Life” and festival of trees exhibit, included free with admission.

If you’re looking for a sweet treat for the holidays, look no further than Hershey for your perfect Christmas getaway.

Of course, the most notable thing to do in Hershey at Christmastime is to visit Hersheypark’s Candy Cane Lane. During this holiday event, the park has select rides open and decks its halls with more than 5 million Christmas lights.

Each night, their famous light show, NOEL, wows guests with more than 250,000 lights twinkling in time to classic holiday songs. Santa and his reindeer also make an appearance at the park, and the Boardwalk transforms into TREEville, where over a dozen trees tell stories.

If an amusement park isn’t your style, rest assured that you’ll still find something to enjoy in the sweetest place on earth.

From a Christmas Tree Showcase inside the Conservatory at the Hershey Gardens, to a drive through 2 miles of lighted displays at the Hershey Sweet Lights, to taking in a Christmas show at the Hershey theater, this charming town has something for everyone during the holiday season.

Christmas is a special time in the town of Kennett Square.

They kick off the holiday season with their annual light parade on Black Friday, which includes a DJ playing Christmas favorites, dancers, lighted floats, and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus when they light the town Christmas tree.

At the beginning of December, they have a Holiday Village Market at The Creamery. This open-air market features food trucks, local artisans, ice sculptures, craft workshops, live music, and story time with Santa. 

Of course, no trip to Kennett Square over the holidays would be complete without a visit to Longwood Gardens, where you can enjoy A Longwood Christmas. During this event, the grounds of Longwood Garden transform into a winter wonderland adorned with over half a million twinkling Christmas lights. 

If you dream of walking in a winter wonderland, you must experience the town of Ligioner at Christmastime. Locals say it’s like stepping into your own Hallmark movie.

Their first event, Light Up Ligioner, occurs at the end of November. On this day, one lucky child chosen through a raffle gets to push a button that lights the town Christmas tree in the center of the bandstand. It also turns on sparkling Christmas lights all over the town. This event also features a Christmas parade with music from local high school bands and, of course, an appearance from Santa Claus.

Other Christmas activities include a gingerbread house contest, an ice festival, and Santa’s Mailbox, where children can mail their Christmas wish lists straight to the North Pole. Santa will even write them back as long as they put a return address on their letter!

If you love all things evergreen, be sure to stop by the Ligioner Town Hall Community Room to tour the Festival of Lights, which features a collection of brightly lit Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands.

Nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, the town of Strasburg has been a Christmas destination for visitors near and far for decades.

Strasburg is home to the Sight & Sound Theatre, so if you love a good Christmas play, you won’t want to miss their Miracle of Christmas show. 

Strasburg truly is a one-of-a-kind experience during the holidays, especially for train enthusiasts. During the month of December, both the Railroad Musem of Pennsylvania and the National Toy Train Museum feature Christmas-themed model train displays.

Of course, no visit to Strasburg would be complete without a visit to the Strasburg Railroad. Over the holiday season, they offer four Christmas-themed train rides.

The first Christmas train experience is the Santa Claus limited ride. It’s just like their usual 45-minute trip on a steam train, but Santa rides along with the other passengers.

Next is the Santa’s Paradise Express, a 60-year tradition at the Strasburg Railroad. Santa gives each child a gift during this ride, and there are carolers and musicians aboard the train. First-class passengers even receive a complimentary cookie and hot cocoa.

The third experience is a special Night Before Christmas train ride. Santa doesn’t ride this train, but each guest gets milk and cookies, and each train car has a professional performer reading The Night Before Christmas.

The last Christmas train ride is a Christmas Tree Train. This train travels to Leaman Place Grove, where guests can choose a pre-cut Christmas tree and have it delivered to the train station.

“Christmas City, USA”

“The Town That Saved Christmas”

Christmas Village

…

Holiday Lights on the Lake

Peddler’s Village

International Christmas Towns

Looking to travel abroad?