PHILADELPHIA, PA — Christmas Village in Philadelphia will extend its 2026 season through Dec. 27 for the first time, adding two days of post-Christmas shopping and entertainment as the annual holiday market returns to LOVE Park and City Hall with expanded programming, cultural celebrations and live performances.
Presented by Bank of America, the market will begin with a preview weekend Nov. 21-22 before officially opening Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. The season will run through Dec. 27, with closures Nov. 23-25 and Christmas Day.
The extended schedule will give vendors additional selling opportunities after Christmas while allowing visitors to attend a new Homecoming Weekend featuring activities aimed at residents and families gathering for the holidays.
The market will occupy LOVE Park, City Hall’s courtyard and the North Broad Street area, alongside the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market, a Ferris wheel and other seasonal attractions.
Organizers have scheduled themed weekends, German cultural programming, concerts, children’s activities and food and beverage tastings throughout the season.
The market’s annual Christkind Ceremony and Pyramid Lighting will take place Sunday, Nov. 29, beginning at 2 p.m.
The traditional German Christkind will arrive at LOVE Park, deliver a ceremonial prologue in English at 2:30 p.m. and illuminate the market’s 30-foot Christmas Pyramid, decorated with more than 3,000 lights, at 3 p.m.
The ceremony will conclude with an opportunity for visitors to meet the Christkind and take photographs.
German American Weekend will follow Dec. 5-6 in partnership with the German Consulate General in New York, featuring traditional music, dance, food and cultural activities.
Saturday’s entertainment will include Not Another Oompah Band at noon, G.T.V. Almrausch at 1 p.m., the United German Hungarians Club at 2 p.m. and Auerhahn Schuhplattler Verein at 3 p.m.
The weekend will also feature German-style food and beverages, including bratwurst and Kölsch beer brewed by Philadelphia-based Brewery Techne.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, St. Nikolaus will appear at the main stage for a children’s storytime from 2 to 2:30 p.m., followed by photographs and a meet-and-greet featuring stockings filled with holiday treats.
The German Games will take place that afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m., with competitions in beer stein holding, bratwurst eating and the Bavarian Cowbell Challenge.
Participants will compete for Christmas Village prizes, and advance registration is not required.
Family Weekend, scheduled for Dec. 12-13, will include activities for children and a tree-decorating competition organized with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
The Girl Scouts event will run Sunday, Dec. 13, from noon to 2 p.m., allowing children to create decorations for small Christmas trees.
Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite decorated tree, with the winner scheduled to be announced at 4 p.m.
A Letters to Santa activity will also feature holiday postcards that children can write or decorate with assistance from Miss Philadelphia titleholders.
The market’s Homecoming Weekend will take place Dec. 26-27, extending operations beyond the traditional Christmas holiday.
On Saturday, Dec. 26, the Home for the Holidays program will feature hometown trivia from 5 to 6 p.m. and karaoke from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Christmas Village stage near the Alm beer garden.
Visitors wearing college hoodies, jerseys or other university apparel can receive complimentary hot chocolate at the information booth between 5 and 7 p.m.
Live entertainment will remain a central part of the market’s programming, with performances scheduled at the main stage inside the Alm throughout the season.
Among the featured performers are the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus on Nov. 28 from 5 to 6 p.m. and Temple University’s Pitch, Please on Dec. 10 from 7 to 8 p.m.
BC Discoveries Dance & Theatre Arts Co. will perform Dec. 13 from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by Cherry Hill High School East’s The Bells of East and Voce on Dec. 17 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Not Another Oompah Band will also perform Dec. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. as part of German American Weekend.
The entertainment schedule includes performances by choirs, bands, singer-songwriters and other artists, with additional programming expected throughout the market’s run.
Christmas Village will also continue its partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia through a seasonal Wish Wall fundraiser.
Beginning Nov. 21, visitors can make donations in exchange for wooden star- or heart-shaped ornaments, personalize them with written wishes and add them to the display at LOVE Park.
Proceeds from the initiative will benefit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Educational programming will return Dec. 1-22 with Live History Lessons examining the origins and development of European Christmas markets.
The guided programs will include a market tour, scavenger hunt, storytelling, traditional German lunch, dessert and an interactive quiz.
Sessions will be offered Tuesday through Friday beginning at noon, with admission priced at $10 per participant and up to two chaperones included at no additional charge.
Schools, senior residences and other groups can inquire about participation by emailing event@philachristmas.com.
The Free Library of Philadelphia will partner with Christmas Village on weekly holiday storytimes Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the main stage.
The market will also feature wine tastings with Pennsylvania-based Mazza Wines on Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 5 to 8 p.m.
New cocktail tastings with Boardroom Spirits are scheduled for Dec. 9 and 16 during the same evening hours. Each date will include five 30-minute tasting sessions featuring locally produced spirits.
Tickets for the tastings will be available through philachristmas.com.
Additional family attractions will include the Ferris wheel, a double-decker carousel and a children’s train presented by SEPTA.
Phil the Reindeer, the market’s mascot, will make his first appearance Nov. 21 and return on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. for complimentary photographs.
Preview Weekend will also include the Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia’s 2026 Red Kettle Kickoff campaign on Saturday, Nov. 21.
Christmas Village received recognition in USA TODAY’s 10Best holiday market rankings in 2025 and has been nominated again for 2026.
The event is organized in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.
Regular market hours will be noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Christmas Eve hours will be noon to 5 p.m. The market will reopen Dec. 26 from noon to 9 p.m. and conclude Dec. 27 with hours from noon to 8 p.m.
Additional event schedules, performance information and ticket details are available at www.philachristmas.com.
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