Philadelphia’s Christmas market started in 2008, when a German-born organiser decided the city needed a market like the ones at home. The Christmas Village now fills LOVE Park and the courtyard of City Hall with wooden huts every winter.
Around it, Center City does the season properly: an ice rink at Dilworth Park, light shows, and a historic food market a few blocks away where Philadelphia does its Christmas shopping.
Here is what to see, when it opens in 2026, what to eat and drink, and how to plan the trip with friends.
What are the best Christmas markets in Philadelphia?
| Market | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Village | LOVE Park and City Hall, Center City | The German-style market in the heart of the city |
| Dilworth Park | West side of City Hall | An ice rink and lights beside City Hall |
| Reading Terminal Market | Arch and 12th Street, Center City | Not a Christmas market: the city’s historic food hall |
LOVE Park and City Hall, Center City
Christmas Village
Wooden huts fill LOVE Park, by the famous LOVE sculpture, and spill into the courtyard of City Hall, selling ornaments, crafts, German food and Glühwein.
It is free to enter, and prettiest after dark, when City Hall is lit up behind the huts.
Good to know: Weekday afternoons are calmer; weekend evenings are busiest.
West side of City Hall
Dilworth Park
On the other side of City Hall, Dilworth Park turns into a winter park with an ice rink, lights and food, a few steps from the market.
Arch and 12th Street, Center City
Reading Terminal Market
A historic indoor market a few blocks from City Hall, packed with food stalls, bakeries and local producers. The place for lunch, and for Christmas food shopping.
When are the Philadelphia Christmas markets open in 2026?
The Christmas Village usually opens just before Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas Eve. Thanksgiving is November 26 in 2026.
Dilworth Park’s winter season usually runs from November into the new year. Check each site for the exact dates and hours.
What should you eat and drink at the Philadelphia Christmas markets?
- Bratwurst: German sausages off the grill, with mustard and sauerkraut.
- Glühwein: German mulled wine, the market’s Christmas drink.
- Lebkuchen and stollen: German gingerbread and Christmas bread, from the bakery huts.
- Soft pretzels: Philadelphia’s own snack, long before the market arrived.
- Roast pork sandwich: With provolone and greens, at Reading Terminal Market: the sandwich locals argue is better than the cheesesteak.
How do you plan a Christmas market trip to Philadelphia?
Two days covers the market and the city: Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the Art Museum steps, and Reading Terminal Market.
Stay in Center City, and walk: the market, City Hall and Reading Terminal are all within a few blocks.
Make it a two-city trip: New York is about an hour and a half by train, and Washington about two hours.
Why go to the Philadelphia Christmas markets with friends?
The Christmas Village is an easy group day: Glühwein and bratwurst at the huts, lunch at Reading Terminal, and skating at Dilworth Park after dark.
In SwipeSights, everyone swipes on real places in Philadelphia, from the market to the bar for afterwards, and the group’s picks become a day-by-day plan.
Plan Philadelphia at Christmas together
Start a trip, invite your friends, and let the group’s picks become a day-by-day plan.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the Philadelphia Christmas Village in 2026?
It usually opens just before Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas Eve, in LOVE Park and the City Hall courtyard.
Is the Philadelphia Christmas Village free?
Yes, entry is free. You pay for food, drinks and gifts.
Where is the Christmas market in Philadelphia?
In LOVE Park and the courtyard of City Hall in Center City, next to Dilworth Park.
What should I eat at the Philadelphia Christmas Village?
Bratwurst, Glühwein, gingerbread and stollen at the market, then a roast pork sandwich at Reading Terminal Market nearby.
Can you combine Philadelphia and New York at Christmas?
Yes. They are about an hour and a half apart by train, so a few days in each is easy.
SwipeSights: plan the whole group trip together.
