It wouldn’t be the holidays in Philadelphia without the Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village.
When the Macy’s Department store closed its doors at 1300 Market St. earlier this year, the famous show and walk-through holiday tradition also seemed to be on the chopping block.
Thousands of people in the region shared their memories of the Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village, inspiring a growing coalition of partners to bring them back.
The Philadelphia Visitor Center, in close partnership with Wanamaker Building owner TF Cornerstone and a network of civic partners, came together to steward the future of the cherished experiences, which have drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors each holiday season and defined Philadelphia’s holiday spirit since the 1950s.
“This holiday season will be a homecoming for the Light Show, thanks to the more than a thousand Philadelphians who came together and decided these traditions were important for our city,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, president & CEO, Philadelphia Visitor Center. “Thanks to the generosity of our partners, sponsors, and neighbors, Philadelphians will once again be able to gather inside the Grand Court, hear the Wanamaker Organ, and watch the lights dance to life. We’re proud to open the amazing Wanamaker Building to all to create the next generation of holiday memories.”
The Wanamaker Light Show, presented in the Grand Court of the Wanamaker Building, will be offered starting on Nov. 28 for free to the public throughout the season. The Light Show features thousands of LED lights synchronized to holiday music and narration, accompanied during select shows by the Wanamaker Organ, performed live by Grand Court Organist Peter Richard Conte and his talented assistant organists.
“The Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village aren’t just holiday displays, they’re icons of Pennsylvania tourism and the heart of Philadelphia’s Christmas season,” said Anne Ryan, deputy secretary of tourism, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. “For generations, families have come from across the Commonwealth and beyond to see the lights dance and the story come alive. They’ve drawn millions of visitors, filled our hotels and restaurants, and become a tradition passed down like an heirloom—one that reminds us every year why Philadelphia shines brightest at Christmas.”
The light show will run every hour on the half-hour Tuesday through Sunday until Dec. 11 starting at 12:30 p.m. The last show will be at 5:30 p.m.
From Dec. 12 to 23, it will run Monday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. On Christmas Eve, the final shows will run noon to 4 p.m.
Dickens Village, the immersive walk-through experience inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” will reopen on the third floor of the Wanamaker Building. The Dickens Village experience will once again conclude with the opportunity to share Christmas wishes and take photos with Santa Claus.
Free timed tickets will be available at www.phlvisitorcenter.com/savethelightshow beginning at midnight on Nov. 24.
In partnership with Philadelphia’s Christmas Village, a new indoor holiday market will debut inside the Wanamaker Building Grand Court from Nov. 28 through Christmas Eve. The curated market complements The Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village, featuring artisan gifts, handmade goods, and festive finds in a warm, holiday setting.
“When we heard about the Philadelphia Visitor Center’s initiative to bring the Light Show back, we didn’t think twice, we were happy to be part of this effort. Artists, designers, and crafters will fill the space with life beyond Light Show hours and offer unique gifts and art in a heated space of traditional Philadelphia Holiday enjoyment,” said Dr. Thomas Bauer, Organizer of Christmas Village in Philadelphia.