PHILADELPHIA, PA — Swedish Christmas traditions, handmade Scandinavian gifts, festive music and candlelit Lucia processions will bring a taste of Nordic holiday celebrations to South Philadelphia when the American Swedish Historical Museum hosts its annual Lucia & Christmas Market on Dec. 5-6.
The two-day celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the museum in FDR Park, 1900 Pattison Avenue, combining an outdoor Swedish Christmas market with traditional performances, seasonal foods and opportunities to explore Scandinavian history and culture.
At the heart of the event is a Julmarknad, the Swedish tradition of a Christmas market, featuring vendors selling handcrafted gifts, holiday decorations, Nordic-inspired artwork and specialty foods inside a heated tent.
Visitors can browse handmade ceramics, wooden utensils, macramé ornaments, wreaths, Dala horses, books, jewelry and other distinctive gifts from local artisans.
Among the participating vendors are Creative Cousins, Imagine Toy Design, Katie Rowe Creations, Midnight Birch Studio, Pickells and Posies, Wooden Oneders and Erin Mattson Macramé & Fiber Arts.
Additional vendors include Marilyn Bruff, Ducks-N-Stuff and Jorgen Flood, offering everything from handcrafted accessories and artwork to books and decorative items.
Shoppers can also explore Mormor’s Attic, a secondhand sale featuring gifts and holiday decorations, or purchase freshly baked treats from the SWEA Philadelphia bakery.
The Swedish Christmas Café will serve lunch foods and sweets, while other market offerings include Scandinavian cheeses, herring, cookies and traditional baking staples.
Folk duo Last Chance will provide live holiday music throughout the celebration, adding to the atmosphere of the seasonal market.
A Swedish Holiday Tradition Comes to Life
One of the weekend’s highlights will be the museum’s Lucia children’s program, performed twice daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The performances feature Swedish songs and dances presented by children dressed as traditional Christmas characters, including tomtar, or gnomes, pepparkakor, or gingerbread cookies, folk dancers, star boys and Lucia with her attendants.
The celebration draws on Sweden’s St. Lucia Day tradition, observed annually on Dec. 13 as a festival of light during the darkest weeks of winter.
Public Lucia processions became popular in Sweden during the early 20th century, with a notable tradition beginning in Stockholm in 1927 when a newspaper selected an official Lucia.
At the American Swedish Historical Museum, Lucia celebrations have been part of the institution’s holiday programming since the 1930s.
The performances offer families an opportunity to experience a cultural tradition that combines music, costume, dance and the symbolism of bringing light into the winter season.
Explore a Century of Scandinavian History
Admission to the Christmas market also includes access to the museum’s regular galleries and two special exhibitions commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Visitors can explore From Taste to Tech: 100 Years of Nordic Innovation & Impact and A Century in the Making: 100 Years of ASHM, which examine Scandinavian contributions and the museum’s history.
Built in 1926 during Philadelphia’s Sesquicentennial celebration, the American Swedish Historical Museum features a dozen galleries exploring Scandinavian influences in America.
Its collections and exhibitions cover subjects including the New Sweden Colony, women’s history, scientific innovations and Nordic folk art.
The holiday market provides an opportunity to experience those exhibits alongside the festive traditions that remain an important part of Swedish cultural life.
Event Details
- What: Lucia & Christmas Market, featuring a Swedish Christmas market, Scandinavian foods, handmade gifts, live music, children’s Lucia performances and museum exhibitions.
- When: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
- Lucia Performances: 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
- Where: American Swedish Historical Museum, FDR Park, 1900 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia, PA.
- Cost/Tickets: $8 for museum members, $10 for nonmembers and $5 for children ages 5-12. Tickets are available online or at the gate.
- Parking: Free parking is available.
- Public Transportation: The Broad Street Line’s NRG/Pattison Avenue station and SEPTA Route 4 bus stop are within walking distance. SEPTA Route 17 also serves the museum area.
- More Info: https://www.americanswedish.org/events/lucia-christmas-market-8
The Lucia & Christmas Market offers families an opportunity to experience Swedish holiday customs while shopping for distinctive gifts and enjoying traditional foods and performances. With its combination of cultural activities, children’s entertainment and museum exhibitions, the weekend celebration brings generations of Scandinavian traditions together in the heart of South Philadelphia.
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