Christmas Village Is Back, Now at City Hall with a Carousel in Courtyard

Christmas Village presented by NRG has returned to Philadelphia for the 2016 holiday season at an exciting new location CITY HALL!

(Top of page is North)

Philadelphia’s largest holiday attraction will this year transform Philadelphia’s City Hall (1400 JFK Blvd.) into a traditional, open-air German Christmas Market, open daily between Thursday, November 24, 2016 and Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2016. PLUS TODAY on Black Friday, November 25, Christmas Village in Philadelphia invites you to head out of the office and skip the malls for a special free lunch concert from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. This year, the German Christmas market welcomes local favorite singer and songwriter Jennifer Logue on stage.

All of your favorite shops are back

As well as those cute little mugs for your wine

Daily market hours are Friday through Saturday 11:00am to 8:00pm, and Sunday through Thursday 11:00am to 7:00pm. Thanksgiving Day hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm, Black Friday hours are 9:00am to 8:00pm and Christmas Eve hours are 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Christmas Village in Philadelphia’s Grand Opening Ceremony is Sunday this year (Sunday, November 27) from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Invite your family and friends to come sing along to holiday selections by the Camden Catholic High School Band and Clearview Regional High School Choir. Meet the original Christkind from Nuremberg after she officially opens the market by reciting her traditional prologue. Take photos with her as she does her traditional walk of the market. In Germany, she is the person that brings the Christmas gifts to the kids, and she won’t be coming to the City of Brotherly Love empty handed! With our new location at City Hall this year, watch for a special surprise during the Opening Ceremony!

Music schedule on the main stage at the City Hall North Apron:

* Monday through Thursday – 4:00pm to 7:00pm
* Fridays – 12:00pm to 1:00pm and 4:00 to 8:00pm
* Saturdays – 12:00pm to 8:00pm
* Sundays – 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Selected early announced performances include:

* Saturday, December 3 – St. Thomas Gospel Choir from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
* Sunday, December 4 – New Spirit of Penn (Gospel Choir of the Penn University) from 4:00pm to 5:00pm
* Wednesday, December 7 – Slante (Irish Band during Ho Ho Happy Hour) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
* Saturday, December 10 – Donauschwalben from 2:00pm to 3:00pm
* Saturday, December 10 – German Hungarian Schuhplattler Group from 3:00pm to 4:00 pm
* Saturday, December 11 – GTV Almrausch from 3:00pm to 4:00pm
* Wednesday, December 14 –The Mixed People Band (during Ho Ho Happy Hour) from 5:00pm to 7:00om

Children and families from around the region are invited to join Christmas Village in Philadelphia’s second Lantern Parade on Wednesday, November 30, starting at 5:15pm. Meet outside in front of the Christmas Village’s main stage on City Hall’s Northern Apron and join the festive procession with your homemade and decorated lanterns (battery please, no flame). Children’s carolers from Walnut Street Theatre will accompany the parade around City Hall with a stunt at the big Christmas tree on Dilworth Plaza. The highlight of the night will a stage performance by the Philly POPS Festival Brass at the market’s main stage as the grand finale. Here, the quintet will perform holiday favorites and set the perfect backdrop for a joint performance with all participants. Once the parade has ended, all participants are invited to enjoy a sweet treat together.

NRG will host their Gingerbread House Decorating Contest again on Friday, December 9 at 1:00pm with members of the press competing on behalf of four local non-profits. In the evening, after the contest winner has been chosen, NRG also brings an official Eagles Player to Christmas Village in Philadelphia for a photo and autograph session at 6:00pm.

Santa will be visiting on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and offers family photos inside his hut. There will also be other family fun like story-telling, caricature artists, face painters, music and more. Schedule will vary by weekend and day.
The new kids’ corner will be open Saturdays 11:00am to 8:00pm and Sundays from 11:00am to 7:00pm.
This year, a traditional carousel can be found inside the Courtyard which adds to the atmosphere of an authentic Christmas Village. Tickets will be available at the market for a small price.

New Pet Photos with Santa
Woof woof! New for the season, bring your pup down for pet photos with Santa during every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during regular market hours.

Christmas Village in Philadelphia is made up of more than 80 booths and a big vendor tent, much like those found in traditional Christmas Villages in Germany. Within this village, you’ll find a wide variety of seasonal goods and gifts that you won’t find in any common shopping mall. Aside from our American vendors, we have German and international vendors selling Christmas decorations from genuine Erzgebirge, nativity sets, glass ornaments in assorted sites, toys, jewelry and so much more.

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