When Center City dresses up for the holidays, everything sparkles. There’s so much to do and so many ways to celebrate the season all throughout downtown Philadelphia. Festive holiday planters line the streets as epic light displays dazzle you day into the night, including the nostalgic tradition of Macy’s Light Show, Dicken’s Village and the Deck the Hall Light Show projected on the west façade of historic City Hall.  

Additional winter attractions include Dilworth Park’s Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and the Wintergarden, where visitors of all ages can warm up by toasty firepits, shine under the glow of twinkling lights and shop for locally-sourced gifts. 

World-class dining, performing arts, museums and unique retail offerings are just some of the many amenities to explore while visiting during the holiday season. Center City is the complete package, all tied up with a bow. A great big vibrant holiday experience unlike any other in the region. 

Plan the perfect holiday excursion

Make your own Center City holiday itinerary

This time of year, there’s no better place to shop, dine and get your jingle on than Center City Philadelphia. These five unique neighborhoods are passageways to one-of-a-kind holiday experiences that surround you with the sights and sounds of the season. 

Rittenhouse Row

A five-star destination in Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Row offers Center City’s best luxury shopping, dining and galleries. Be enchanted by the twinkling orbs that dangle from treetops in Rittenhouse Square, shop well-known, national brands for on-trend fashion or create a vintage charm bracelet in a treasured local boutique. See and be seen while sipping on the Square in elegant outdoor “chalets.”

Location: Walnut Street, west of Broad Street

Attractions:
• Rittenhouse Square Tree and Menorah
• The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music

Midtown Village

Looking for gifts and goodies you can only find in Center City? Midtown Village is home to an eclectic mix of independently owned and operated restaurants and boutiques unique to Center City Philadelphia. Find handcrafted soaps and artisanal chocolates made on-site and shop for Philly-centric gifts and apparel. Sip sophisticated cocktails in a funky seasonal hot-spot or enjoy a cold beer at the city’s oldest tavern.

Location: Walnut Street to Sansom Street, east of Broad Street

Attractions:
• Macy’s Light Show and Dickens Village

Jewelers’ Row 

Explore the cobblestone streets of America’s oldest diamond district — which has so much more than just jewelry! After you shop for dazzling gemstones, enjoy a holiday-themed boozy milkshake, attend a show at the Walnut Street Theater and soak in the glow of picturesque holiday décor. 

Location: Walnut to Market Street, east of Broad Street

Attractions:
• Holiday Lights on Sansom Street

Market East

It’s simple, with more than 1 million square feet of new retail, including big box names you know and love, and independent boutiques, the Market East neighborhood is a holiday haven. Shop ‘til you drop, grab selfies in front of the enormous glowing ornaments at the Fashion District, grab a bite at the historic Reading Terminal Market and explore this gateway to a variety of restaurants, museums and more.

Location: Everything east of Market Street to Independence Hall

Attractions:
•The Fashion District
• Reading Terminal Market
• Lit Brothers Building Holiday Lights
• Snow Walk on East Market 

West Market Parkway District

Home to the Shops at Liberty Place and a host of new restaurants, retailers and attractions, including the Parkway Museums, LOVE Park and Dilworth Park, winter experiences are front and center. Stroll through the Wintergarden at Dilworth Park where playful reindeer topiaries sparkle under twinkling lights, ice skate at the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and wander through the wooden booths at Christmas Village before settling in with a warm drink in front of City Hall’s massive Holiday Tree. 

Location: The west side of Market Street

Attractions:
• Comcast Holiday Spectacular
• Christmas Village
• Winter at Dilworth Park
• City Hall Holiday Tree

How do you holiday?

To make the most of the holidays and all that Center City has to offer, it’s a good idea to visit the Center City District holiday website, where you can plan your own holiday itinerary. 

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