There are a plethora of Christmas attractions in Pennsylvania, but most open after Thanksgiving, so where are you supposed to visit if you want some early season holiday cheer?
Fortunately, some of the best Christmas attractions in Pennsylvania open well before Thanksgiving.
This list is going to focus on those that open more than a week before Thanksgivings, so while a lot of places open the weekend before Turkey Day, I opted not to include them on this particular list. Of course, you can find out about many of them in my articles about the best drive-through Christmas displays in PA and the best walk-through Christmas displays in PA.
Anyway, if you are looking for some early holiday cheer, here are some great spots you won’t want to miss.
Kraynak’s Christmas Display
Kraynak’s is a home and garden store in Hermitage, PA that happens to put together one of the best store Christmas displays that you’ll find in PA.
What makes this spot especially unique is that it is set up by early September. That makes it the first seasonal holiday attraction to open anywhere in PA, and a great spot for those wanting some early season cheer.
Kraynak’s Christmas display is located along a 300-foot-long hallway and features a variety of vignettes with great music, motion, and more. The display changes every year, but is always a joy to see.
Koziar’s Christmas Village
Koziar’s Christmas Village is not only one of the first holiday-season attractions of the year, it’s also one of my favorites of the entire season.
Koziar’s opens their Berks County display on the first Saturday of November each year. The millions of lights on this farm attract a ton of visitors each year. However, if you visit early in the season, you’ll not only get some festive cheer, but you’ll also get to experience the peacefulness of the season as well.
Peddler’s Village Christmas Lights
Peddler’s Village is a charming shopping center in Bucks County between Doylestown and New Hope. And, every year in mid-November, they light up more than a million twinkling lights to celebrate the holiday season.
Yes, this is a shopping center, but the lights here are really well done. In fact, this is one of my favorite free Christmas light displays in PA. You can also experience live entertainment, see some incredible gingerbread houses, and more.
So, head out for some shopping, a bite to eat, and enjoy the beauty of these great holiday lights.
Holiday Lights at Kennywood Amusement Park
Every holiday season, Kennywood Amusement Park in Pittsburgh comes to life with their Holiday Lights event, which opens in mid-November.
During Holiday Lights, visitors can enjoy more than three million lights, visit with Santa, enjoy delicious treats, see a great light show, and more. There will also be more than two dozen rides open, including three roller coasters, so you can get some thrills while enjoying the festive cheer.
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Speaking of amusement parks, Hersheypark will also be open well before Thanksgiving for some festive fun at Christmas Candylane.
There are more than five million lights on display here, more than just about any other Christmas attraction in PA, some of which are set to dance during the regular light shows. You’ll also be able to ride a large selection of the park’s rides, including some of its most popular roller coasters.
Of course, there will also be great food, live entertainment, and more.
Byers’ Choice Museum
The Byers’ Choice Museum is the only Christmas attraction on this list that’s open year round, but that’s because it’s not like any of the other places on this list.
At the Byers’ Choice Museum in Bucks County, you’ll be able to see a really fun museum with dioramas highlighting many of their famous Byers’ Carolers. You can also peer onto the factory floor and see these iconic holiday decorations being made.
Of course, you can also buy a great selection of Christmas decorations here as well.
Holiday Lights on the Lake
If you’re looking for some early season cheer in the middle of the state, Holiday Lights on the Lake is a great choice.
Held annually at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Holiday Lights on the Lake is a fabulous drive-through attraction with hundreds of thousands of beautiful lights, and many unique displays to see. I especially enjoyed how some of the park’s ride structures are unitized to create some fun and whimsical displays.
During your visit, you can also hop out and check out Santa’s Village, which features food, a cool model railroad, and visits with the Big Man himself.
Christmas City Stroll
There are a lot of great Christmas attractions in Bethlehem, PA, but one of my favorites is the Christmas City Stroll.
The Christmas City Stroll is a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage downtown area of Bethlehem led by costumed guides. They take you around to various parts of the city and offer information about the founding of Christmas City USA and the holiday traditions of the Moravians.
If you love history and the holidays, this is something you want to miss.
Overly’s Country Christmas
Overly’s Country Christmas is one of the most popular holiday attractions in the Laurel Highlands and opens for the season in mid-November.
Overly’s features both a drive-through and a walk-through holiday display, and while it’s not as large as some other attractions, there’s a lot to see and do here, especially if visiting with younger kids, including visits with Santa, fire pits, shopping, model trains, and more.
If you want to see some early season lights in southwestern PA, this is a great choice.
Hershey Sweet Lights
Hershey Sweet Lights is one of the largest drive-through light displays in PA and opens to the public in mid-November each year.
Located behind the Hotel Hershey, Hershey Sweet Lights features over 2 million lights scattered amongst more than 600 different displays. Displays here range from traditional to whimsical, including some of the most popular Hersheypark rides made of lights.
Winter Light Spectacular Lehigh Valley Zoo
There are several holiday attractions at zoos in Pennsylvania, but the Winter Light Spectacular at the Lehigh Valley Zoo is one of the best. Plus, it opens in mid-November, making it perfect for those looking for some early season festiveness.
During this event, more than a million twinkling lights can be found in the zoo, along with fire pits, visits with Santa and princesses, delicious food, and much more.
What are your favorite holiday attractions that open before Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more things to do? Check out the best things to do in PA in November, the most Christmasy Towns in PA, and my favorite Pennsylvania State Parks.
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