Originally posted by The Burlington County Times
It’s getting close to being “the most wonderful time of the year”.
You may not be ready to trim your tree just yet or maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas.
Even if you don’t, there are still plenty of things to do in South Jersey and across the bridge in Philadelphia this time of year for your enjoyment.
Here are 12 area things to do during the holidays:
Dickens Festival, Medford
Main Street Medford will come alive on Dec. 3 from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Dickens Festival.
There will be food, holiday carolers, magic, comedy, juggling, artisans, and hot chocolate in the family-friendly rain-or-shine event.
Main Street will be transformed into a “quaint winter wonderland.”
The event, which normally attracts about 10,000 people, is free.
Go: Main Street Medford; https://medfordbusiness.org/events/dickens/
WheatonArts Annual Holiday Studio Sale, Millville
For you shoppers out there, the annual Holiday Studio Sale runs through Dec. 4. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Participants can explore original works of pottery and glass art at discounted prices.
Pottery includes works by senior resident potter Terry Plasket and the WheatonArts’ team of associate potters, Samantha Bartlett, Tessa Carlton, Clint Hunter, Amy Peseller, and Phyllis Seidner.
The sale features the glass art of Melanie and David Leppla, and unique works by the WheatonArts Staff Glass Artists.
Admission is free to the holiday sale, which is located inside the WheatonArts Event Center.
Visitors can create personalized gift tags at the art activity table.
Go: 1000 Village Drive, Millville, 856-825-6800; wheatonarts.org/
The Cooks Tour of Moorestown, Moorestown
The popular holiday event will return on Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Guests will be able to tour four featured homes, all beautifully decorated for the holiday season.
Tickets can be purchased for $25 online through Ticket Leap, or in person at participating stores:
Carl’s Shoes, Community House of Moorestown, Flagg’s Garden Center, Moorestown Hardware, Navy Blue Home and Gifts, Ralph’s Market, Ramblewood Garden Center, Mt. Laurel.
Tickets may be purchased the day of the event at the Community House of Moorestown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Moorestown Hardware from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The tour is presented by Virtua Memorial Auxiliaries.
Go: givetovirtua.org/partner-with-us/community-partners/cooks-tour-of-moorestown/
Winterfest, historic Smithville Park, Eastampton
On Dec. 10 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., visitors will witness wandering carolers dressed in Victorian attire, a Victorian Santa, an elf hunt in the mansion maze, ice carvers, ice skating, bonfire and s’mores, a carousel, live entertainment, a holiday marketplace with artists and artisan vendors, a blacksmith demo, food trucks, mansion and village tours, art exhibits and more.
Go: 803 Smithville Road, Eastampton, 609-265-5858; co.nj.us/1988/Winterfest
Mount Holly Holiday House Tour, Mount Holly
The tour takes place on Dec. 10 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Twelve beautifully decorated, privately-owned historical homes and five public places are part of the tour.
The cost is $15 per ticket (in advance) or $20 per ticket at the door (cash only the night of the event). Tickets are available online at EventBrite.
Tickets can also be purchased from these three Mount Holly restaurants: Teddies of Mount Holly, 44 White Street; Robin’s Nest Restaurant, 2 Washington Street and The Local Eatery & Pub, 64 High Street.
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Tickets are non-refundable.
Go: mainstreetmountholly.org/holiday-house-tour.html
Christmas Village, Philadelphia
This authentic, German Christmas market has been popping up at Love Park and City Hall for some years now.
It runs through Dec. 24 and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There are vendors, food and beverages, rides, including a double-decker carousel, tastings, activities, appearances by Phil the Reindeer and much more.
Go: 1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard; philachristmas.com/
Night of Lights at Creamy Acres, Mullica Hill
This scenic drive-thru event has a holiday light display and Christmas music.
Participants can bundle themselves up and take a hayride through the display, which runs through Dec. 24.
Those that drive through it in their vehicles can tune to a special station and listen to favorite Christmas songs.
Midway through there are firepits, food trucks and well as a photo opportunity with Santa and Christmas characters. There is also a Christmas store.
The cost is $35 per vehicle.
Go: Creamy Acres Farm, 448 Lincoln Mill Road, 856-223-1669; creamyacres.com/seasonal-events/#nightoflights
Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular, Oaks, Pennsylvania
The massive, immersive experience, which features over 1.2 million lights, runs through Dec. 31 at the Fairgrounds at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
The event allows visitors to stroll through the one-of-a-kind winter wonderland of lights, shopping, and dining.
Visitors will witness new experiences, including an 8,000 square food ice-skating rink with real ice, a two-lane 162-foot ice slide, an expanded vendor village, a brand-new layout, and more. Tinseltown will also bring back special events like Waggin’ Wednesdays and Gritty Claus Nights.
This year, Tinseltown will feature professional choirs during Fa La La La La Fridays with Carolers. Also, new this year is Tinseltown’s light-up dance floor.
Tickets start at $19.99 for adults and $14.99 for children under 13 – admission is free for children four and under.
Go: 100 Station Avenue, Oaks, Pa.; phillyexpocenter.com/events/tinseltown-holiday-spectacular-2/
South Jersey Holiday Light Show, Bridgeport Speedway, Swedesboro
The South Jersey Holiday Light Show runs through Dec. 31 on select dates.
A mile of dancing light displays will be viewed from the comfort of your vehicle. By tuning the radio to the station provided, families will enjoy a synchronized marriage of sights and sounds as the characters animate in time with music.
Advance tickets are $25 per carload with a reservation or $62.50 for unlimited visits. Tickets may be purchased at the gate, although availability is not guaranteed.
A full show schedule and tickets are available online.
Go: 83 Flood Gate Road; HolidayLightShow.com
HoliDIG light show, Diggerland USA, West Berlin
Diggerland USA is all fancied up with Christmas lights through Jan. 1. This one-mile, drive-thru will have construction vehicles all blinged out with lights, holiday displays, tunnels and the Diggerland radio station will fill your car with holiday spirit.
Visitors can enter anytime between 5:30 and 9 p.m. A ticket, which costs $34.95, is valid for one vehicle entry and is not valid for general admission to Diggerland. Tickets are non-refundable.
Go: 100 Pinedge Dr., diggerlandusa.com/holiday-light-show/
Holiday Light Show, Shady Brook Farms, Yardley, Pennsylvania
Shady Brook Farm’s Holiday Light Show features more than 3 million lights illuminating acres of farmland.
You will encounter whimsical displays and familiar characters as you drive through in your own car or on an open-air tractor-drawn wagon ride.
The show goes through Jan. 6. Attendees can tune their radio to 90.7 FM to listen to holiday favorites as they make their way through the light show. The hours are Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Big stageSouth Jersey children’s choir singing at Radio City’s famed Christmas show in NYC
Prices: car/minivan/pickup truck – $40 online, $50 at the gate. Mini bus/limo – $75; bus – $150.
Go: 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, Pa. (use Morrisville for GPS); shadybrookfarm.com/pages/holiday-light-show
Vintner Wonderland, Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City
Take a ride down to get in ice skating, shopping at The Shops at Vintner Village, stories with Santa, holiday-themed tractor rides, Festival of Trees benefiting Faces 4 Autism, craft workshops, live entertainment, wine and dine and more.
The Renault family is supporting Faces 4 Autism. Team members will decorate holiday trees that will be displayed on the property and will be auctioned off at the Festival of Trees Gala on December 8.
The Village and ice rink are open Fridays through Sundays through Feb. 26 with ice rink sessions weather dependent. Family 4-packs, season passes, along with resort packages and detailed hours of operations are on sale now.
There are firepits, igloos, and cabin cabanas available for rent.
Go: 72 Bremen Avenue; renaultwinery.com/vintner-wonderland/
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, Philadelphia
Winterfest has been a Philly tradition for 29 seasons along the Delaware Riverfront.
Visitors experience thousands of sparking lights in a winter wonderland with great views of the Delaware River.
There are cozy, warm cabins, a firepit station, boardwalk rides and games, food and hot beverages, a signature holiday tree and the star of the show, the ice skating at an NHL-sized rink.
Winterfest, which runs through March 5, is free to enter. Amenities such as ice skating and cabin and firepit experiences can be reserved in advance. Skate admission is $5, skate rental is $12.
Go: 101 South Columbus Boulevard; https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/blue-cross-riverrink-winterfest
