Pennsylvania’s most magical winter festivals
From winter festivals in the snow to magical holiday celebrations, here are the Pennsylvania festivals you shouldn’t miss this winter.
Pennsylvania is home to dozens of holiday festivals in December and winter celebrations in January and February—so whether you’re in a small town or the big city, there’s a celebration nearby to make the season feel special. As December’s holiday festivities and Christmas markets melt into January and February’s snowy weekends and ice-sculpting fun, there are plenty of ways to fill your calendar all winter long. Read on for some of our favorite experiences that will keep your spirits bright, even as the temperatures drop.
Christkindlmarkt–Bethlehem (Northampton County)
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Nov. 30, 2025; Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Dec. 21, 2025
Known as “Christmas City,” of course Bethlehem goes all out for the holiday and winter season with its Christkindlmarkt, the open-air holiday market inspired by traditional German Christmas markets. But with its festival-like atmosphere, the event is much more than a market. This year, ArtsQuest, the nonprofit that hosts Christkindlmarkt, is adding even more activities with a new “Winter Wonderland” space. In addition to shopping from the dozens of market vendors, festival visitors can participate in a host of other seasonal activities, including glass blowing, woodworking, and even quirky new events like holiday-themed speed dating.
It’s a Wonderful Life Festival–Indiana (Indiana County)
Dates: Nov. 21, 2025, then each Saturday through Dec. 20, 2025
The Western Pennsylvania town of Indiana is proud of its legacy as the birthplace of legendary Hollywood actor Jimmy Stewart, and that’s more than clear each year during the holiday season’s It’s a Wonderful Life Festival. The festival celebrates the famous Christmas movie starring Stewart and transforms Indiana into a real-life Bedford Springs (the charming town in the film) with vintage decorations, live performances, appearances from Santa, hot cocoa and other libations, and much more. Plus, the Jimmy Stewart Museum hosts (indispensable) showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest–Philadelphia
Dates: Nov. 28, 2025, through March 1, 2026
Starting the day after Thanksgiving and running through the beginning of March, Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest brings wintry magic to the waterfront all season long. Revelers are treated to a beautiful view of the Delaware River under the glow of thousands of twinkling lights, and they can enjoy boardwalk games, ice skating, the warmth of firepits, and cozy cabins for rent.
Olde Time Christmas Festival–Jim Thorpe (Carbon County)
Dates: Dec. 5-7, Dec. 13-14, and Dec. 20-21, 2025
The Pocono Mountains’ Jim Thorpe celebrates a traditional Christmas with its Olde Time Christmas festival, held on December weekends up until Christmas. The town is covered with Victorian decorations as it hosts a holiday market with gift and food vendors, live music (including carolers), and fun seasonal activities like a gingerbread house contest. You can also take an old-timey train ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, which will be running scenic holiday trains, including the Santa Claus Special (featuring the man himself), during the season.
A Gettysburg Christmas Festival–Gettysburg (Adams County)
Dates: Dec. 5-7, 2025
Historic Gettysburg hosts a Christmas festival that transports visitors to the holiday season circa 1863—when the country was in the midst of the Civil War—while also celebrating a modern Christmas. A Gettysburg Christmas Festival includes streets decked out in traditional Christmas decorations and activities such as living history talks alongside a carol singalong accompanied by tuba, and a gingerbread creation contest and auction. Many more activities are planned, from human foosball (really) to a live demonstration of ice carving.
Dickens of a Christmas–Wellsboro (Tioga County)
Date: Dec. 6, 2025
Wellsboro celebrates an old-fashioned Christmas during its Dickens of a Christmas festival, where community members don Victorian-era garb to sing Christmas carols and do some last-minute holiday shopping. Wellsboro’s Main Street is already picturesque, but the festival transforms the downtown strip—with its real gas lamps—into a spirited holiday celebration with more than 120 vendors selling art, gifts, and food. Don’t forget to catch a showing of “A Christmas Carol” at the local theater.
Winter Ice House Festival–Conneaut Lake (Crawford County)
Date: Dec. 6, 2025
Northwestern Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake celebrates the season—and its ice harvesting industry heritage—with its annual Winter Ice House Festival. Downtown comes alive with festive and intricate ice sculptures while indoor entertainment, including live music, gives visitors a reprieve from the cold. The festival will also have horse-drawn carriage rides for the family, raffles for great prizes, and activities for kids, like face painting.
Kwanzaa Celebration at the Penn Museum– Philadelphia
Date: Dec. 29, 2025
This year, celebrate Kwanzaa, the weeklong holiday honoring African American heritage and culture, held annually from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. On Dec. 29, Philadelphia’s Afro Culture Preservation Council hosts its 42nd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration at the Penn Museum, recognizing the seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). The celebration will include drumming, dancing, and storytelling performances, children’s activities, and a vendor market featuring Black artisans.
State Park Winter Festivals
Dates: Various dates in January and February 2026
Numerous state parks throughout the commonwealth host midwinter festivals that encourage residents to get outdoors and enjoy the activities you can only do in the cold, such as snowshoeing, ice skating, and sledding. Most winter festivals take place in January or February, which are usually the best months for winter sports. Here are three examples of Pennsylvania State Parks that usually host winter festivals—but several more parks will host cold-weather bashes early next year, so be sure to check the event calendar of the state park nearest you.
- Pymatuning State Park (Crawford and Mercer Counties): Last winter, the park’s February “Winter Fun Day” was dedicated to snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, kids’ crafts, and a polar plunge.
- Moraine State Park (Butler County): On January 31, 2026, Moraine State Park’s Winterfest aims to prove that cold weather shouldn’t impact your outdoor fun with guided hikes, live music, disc golf, chainsaw carving demonstrations, and much more.
- Black Moshannon State Park (Centre County): January’s “Fun in the Snow at Black Mo” has Black Moshannon State Park hosting opportunities for snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, ice bowling, curling, ice mini golf, winter wildlife hikes, and more!
Fire and Ice Festival–Lititz (Lancaster County)
Dates: Feb. 13-22, 2026
The small town of Lititz presents two extremes each winter at its Fire and Ice Festival, where visitors can enjoy an exciting fire show in addition to spectacular ice sculptures that glitter throughout the downtown area. The festival also hosts children’s activities and plenty of food vendors.
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