End the year on a positive note! Enjoy beautiful light shows, festive decorations and jolly December cheer. Come together with your community to decorate wreathes, illuminate your town’s trees, and tasty local Holiday treats (all while social distancing!)
Check out our guide below for details on this weekend’s must-see events around the County. Stay up-to-date on what’s coming up next week with our Upcoming Events calendar.
Friday, December 4
North Pole Express Train
All aboard the North Pole Express! Join Mr. and Mrs. Claus as you depart from New Hope Station for a North Pole Express train ride in a vintage diesel locomotive through historic Bucks County. Listen to roaming Christmas carolers, sip warm cocoa and enjoy freshly baked cookies.
When: Nov. 21 -- Dec. 26
Where: New Hope Railroad
Cost: Adult/$55.99, Child/$45.99, Infant/$14.99
Amazing Christmas Village
It’s never too early to start Christmas shopping! Head to Bensalem to check out this brand new European-style outdoor market. The market offers everything you need to get in the spirit from shopping to specialized food vendors to festive entertainment. While you are there, make sure to check out the Amazing Christmas Tree tent to pick up a fresh cut tree and Christmas flowers.
When: Through December 24
Where: 4201 Neshaminy Blvd, Bensalem, PA 19020
Cost: Free to attend
Grand Opening – Holiday Market at The Farm
Come celebrate the first ever Holiday Market at The Farm! The market will be serving Grab & Go Baked Goods, Farm Blend Speakeasy coffee and hot chocolate for the kids. You will be able to walk around the Farm, sit by the fire, listen to Christmas Music, see the Holiday trim & twinkle lights all while shopping for some great local gifts. They will also be featuring Gourmet Gift Baskets, DIY Gingerbread Houses and more, along with handmade items from local crafters. Handmade signs, watercolor cards & stationary, jewelry, candles, fresh & dried wreaths and more! In addition, Anna Claire Photography will be hosting Mini Sessions at The Farm! There will be a wide variety of Christmas Photo Scenes to capture all of your family memories.
When: Dec. 4 – 5; Dec. 11 – 12; Dec. 18 – 19
Where: The Farm Bakery
Cost: Free to attend
Winter Wonderland: Fonthill Castle Daily One-Hour Guided Tours
Immerse yourself in history and Christmas all at once. The Fonthill Castle will showcase Henry Mercer’s home decked out for the holidays while sharing the history of Mercer and the construction of this unbelievable property.
When: November 20 -- January 3, everyday 10 a.m – 5 p.m.
Where: Fonthill Castle
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Gingerbread Competition & Display
The Gingerbread Competition & Display is a feast for the eyes with creative and whimsical entries in several categories: Traditional, Authentic Reproduction, 3-D, Movie or TV Set, Student, Kids Only and more. The Gingerbread entries will be on exhibit in the Village Gazebo during shopping hours.
When: Through January 9, Display Times Vary
Where: Peddler's Village
Cost: Free to attend
DIY Vintage Style Christmas Wreath
Design a beautiful unbreakable wreath in any color combination! If you choose, you can bring your own ornaments to add to the wreath. This is a fun project that allows you to decompress and bond with friends and family. All materials and instruction included, but please bring your own beverages.
When: December 4, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Where: Old Nursery Farm, 91 Rogers Road, Furlong, PA 18925
Cost: $50
Saturday, December 5
25th Annual Holiday Light Show
Experience the magic of more than 3 million lights illuminating acres of farmland at Shady Brook Farm’s Holiday Light Show! Encounter whimsical displays and familiar characters as you drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride (weather permitting). Warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and cook up s’mores at a toasty bonfire.
When: Through January 10, 5 - 10 p.m.
Where: Shady Brook Farm
Cost: $35/carload
Bucks County Wine Trail: Light Up the Vines
Join the seven wineries of the Bucks County Wine Trail for the first annual Light Up the Vines Holiday Illumination! Come, see the beauty of the holiday season in our beautifully lit vineyards. The wineries will begin turning on lights at 5 p.m. on Dec. 5 and will stay open later that evening to allow guests time to enjoy a night of merrymaking. Travelers near and far can ring in the holiday season with festive lights in the vineyards, along with mulled wines, food trucks, fire pits, holiday music and more during the kickoff lighting on Dec. 5 (festivities vary by winery).
When: through January 2
Where: Bucks County Wine Trail Wineries
Cost: Free to attend
Perkasie’s 111th Virtual Tree Lighting
2020 marks the 111th year of Perkasie’s Tree Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony began in 1909 and is officially the oldest community tree lighting ceremony in the United States. The ceremony has changed shape and even location over its many years and 2020 will see another change in the way that Perkasie celebrates our annual Tree Lighting. Traditional and time-honored elements of Perkasie’s historic ceremony will be recorded and broadcast during the monthly news magazine video show, “Perkasie LIVE.” Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in a community-wide outdoor decorating contest, then head out to light decorations together, as a community, at 8 p.m. on Saturday December 5th.
When: December 5, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: https://vimeo.com/event/92129
Cost: Free to attend
After Hours “Holiday Edition”
Crossing Vineyard will be extending their hours til 9 p.m. every Saturday in December! Enjoy live music, sip on festive holiday drinks, and snack on yummy bites all in their heated outdoor tent.
When: every Saturday in December, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Crossing Vineyards and Winery
Cost: Free to attend
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol, but unlike any other you’ve ever experienced! The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge has been given new life thanks to the haunting vision of one of Broadway’s most imaginative directors, Michael Arden and the Tony-winning virtuoso, Jefferson Mays, starring in 50 roles of a lifetime. Staged exclusively for this production and captured live with breathtaking clarity, this must-watch streaming event conjures the powerful spirits of Christmas and brings all the magic of live theatre home for the holidays.
When: through January 3
Where: Bucks County Playhouse
Cost: $50
Annual Holiday Small Works Show
Support your favorite local artists at the annual show. With so many different artists and creative techniques, you are bound to found the perfect piece for you or to gift to a loved one! If you can’t make it in person, you can view the show virtually on their website.
When: Through December 30
Where: Canal Frame – Crafts Gallery
Cost: Free to attend
Christmas in Doylestown… Re-Imagined
Taking a driving or walking tour to enjoy the exterior decorations of Doylestown borough homes. Once you have checked them all out, vote for your favorite. Follow Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church for updates on the rankings.
When: December 4 — December 13, 5 – 9 p.m.
Where: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 84 E. Oakland Ave., Doylestown, PA 18901
Cost: Free to attend
Sunday, December 6
42nd Annual Holiday Festival of Trees
Each year, the rooms of the Pearl S. Buck House in Perkasie come to life with the incredible glow of holiday decor. Tickets are required for the tours, which showcase trees and vignettes designed by local artists, decorators and community groups.
When: Daily until December 30.
Where: Pearl S. Buck House & Historic Site
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Grinchmas Food Truck Fest & Holiday House
Visit the Bolton Mansion for some holiday fun for the whole family! Santa and The Grinch will be here both days! Enjoy Story Time with Santa, photos with Santa and The Grinch, food trucks, children's activities, vendors/crafters and more on the property outside! The event will feature different activities, food trucks and vendors on each day. Take a tour of the beautifully decorated first floor of the mansion and see open hearth cooking for just $5 per person.
When: December 5 & 6, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Historic Bolton Mansion
Cost: Free to attend
A Very Furry Christmas
Visit for a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street® friends. The park is transformed into a one-of-a-kind Christmas wonderland with millions of twinkling lights and festive decorations all around.
When: November 21 – January3
Where: Sesame Place® Philadelphia
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Family Mystery Walking Tours: Elf on the Stealth
Santa’s elves have been watching your family all year long. Now it is finally time for them to start revealing themselves. Unfortunately, one very special elf named Shelfie is missing and we need your help to find him. Join Mrs. Claus at the North Pole for this walking tour and help solve the mystery of the missing Elf on the Shelf!
When: through January 10
Where: Cock ‘n Bull
Cost: $25
Bucks County: Wish You Were Here Small Works Exhibition and Sale
The Arts & Cultural Council of Bucks County presents an invitation to "Wish You Were Here: A Small Works Exhibition and Sale." All images in this show are postcard size, 5" by 7", and represent iconic cultural, historical, and natural landmarks in Bucks County. Support your local artists and purchase a unique piece of Bucks County art piece for someone special, or just stop in to admire the exhibit.
When: through January 31
Where: Arts & Cultural Council of Bucks County
Cost: Free to attend
