Across the state, Pennsylvania transforms into a holiday wonderland this time of year. From free holiday light shows to markets featuring local artists and the annual “It’s a Wonderful Life” festival, there’s something that will make these dark winter days brighter for everyone. 

Holiday lights 

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family that won’t break the bank, head to Philadelphia’s Franklin Square for the free Electrical Spectacle Light Show. From Nov. 20 through Feb. 28, the shows will feature hundreds of thousands of holiday lights that dance alongside festive music. Through Jan. 4, the light shows run every half hour from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. From Jan. 8 through Feb. 28, the shows will take place every half hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays. Once you’re done taking in the lights, you can check out the Chilly Philly mini golf, street curling and cocktails at Frosty’s Fireside Winter Pop-Up Bar in Franklin Square.

For other holiday spectacles in Philadelphia, head to the elaborate holiday presentations that adorn the 1600 block of South 13th Street for the Miracle on South 13th Street Holiday Light Display, the holiday tree and thousands of lights that fill Penn’s Landing for the annual RiverRink Winterfest, the Festival of Trees and the thousands of lights that illuminate a 30-foot-tall German Christmas pyramid at LOVE Park, and the annual Wanamaker Light Show.

Those on the western side of the state can hop in their car and drive to Clinton Community Park in the Pittsburgh suburbs for the annual one-mile-long light display. Admission is $10 per car, cash only, and includes a one-mile driving route through a sea of holiday lights. 

If you want more walking and less driving for your holiday fun, head to the array of decorations and lights displays filling downtown Pittsburgh. There, you can buy presents from local vendors at the holiday market in the Cultural District, see the 65-foot-tall PPG Place Christmas tree, go ice skating, and walk the “Aurora” light show in Mellon Square.

On the northwest side of the state, the annual Presque Isle Lights features a free driving tour of holiday lights set up through a portion of Presque Isle State Park in Erie. The event will be open Fridays through Sundays from Dec. 5 through Dec. 28. The lights turn on at dusk and park gates close at 9 p.m. Hot chocolate will be available for purchase on Friday and Saturday evenings at the 4th bayside parking area. While the event is free, donations are accepted and support the Presque Isle Partnership, which provides a range of services at the park, including accessibility upgrades, educational programs and other special events. Donations can be made at the Cookhouse pavilion parking lot.

Longwood Gardens in suburban Philadelphia is a holiday favorite in Pennsylvania, with the 1,100-acre area transforming into a landscape filled with a half-million twinkling lights, indoor Christmas tree displays, miniature trains, carolers, and more. “A Longwood Christmas” will run through Jan. 11.

Kwanzaa celebrations

Pennsylvania is home to Kwanzaa celebrations across the commonwealth. Kwanzaa celebrates African American culture from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. 

Prior to the official holiday, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh will host a Holiday Community Day that includes Kwanzaa programming on Friday, Dec. 13. The event will include a holiday marketplace with local vendors, live music and dance performances, and more. It will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Free Library’s Parkway Central location in Philadelphia will host a free two-day Kwanzaa celebration on Friday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Dec. 27. Multicultural groups from around the city will perform dance and music and share the history of the holiday.

The Mercer Museum in Doylestown will host its annual Kwanzaa celebration from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26. There will be music, vendors, children’s activities and programming, and an educational presentation from the museum’s cultural educator, Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell. Admission is free. 

Hanukkah events

There are many ways to celebrate Hanukkah, Judaism’s eight-day “festival of lights,” in Pennsylvania this year. 

In Philadelphia, there’s a Hanukkah Makers Market at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History on Nov. 30, the Old City menorah lighting on Dec. 14, and the Hanukkah candle lighting at Manayunk’s Main Street on Dec. 18.

Sesame Place will host Hanukkah celebrations from Dec. 19 through Dec. 22. 

Pittsburgh’s Chabad of the South Hills will hold its annual Chanukah Festival from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 14. There will be a menorah lighting, latkes, music, doughnuts, and more.

It’s a Wonderful Life Festival 

Jimmy Stewart, the star of the classic 1946 movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and the small town in western Pennsylvania annually pays homage to the actor with the “It’s a Wonderful Life Festival.” The festival, which runs through Dec. 20, includes a downtown decked out in holiday lights, carolers, a self-guided holiday sweets tours, “It’s a Wonderful Life”-themed Christmas trees at the Jimmy Stewart Museum, and more.

Dickens of a Christmas 

Wellsboro in north central Pennsylvania will host its 41st annual Dickens of a Christmas event on Saturday, Dec. 6. The small town’s Main Street and surrounding side streets will transform into an early Victorian marketplace featuring food and craft vendors, strolling musicians, dancers, and street corner thespians. Bring a candle and join the crowd for a Peace Walk from Packer Park at 5 p.m. The walk will go to the community Christmas tree lighting and caroling at 5:30 p.m.

Holiday markets 

If you’re looking to support local artists, head to one of the many holiday markets happening throughout Pennsylvania this season. 

The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market returns this year to Dilworth Park on the west side of City Hall, where a large variety of local artisans, designers, crafters, jewelers, and others will sell handmade goods and gifts through Jan. 1. 

Just feet from the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market is Christmas Village in LOVE Park and around City Hall. Styled after a European holiday market, Christmas Village features 120 rustic wooden cottages where vendors sell goods from around the world. In addition to shopping, there’s a carousel and ferris wheel, wine and spirits tastings, Santa visits, and holiday greenery workshops, among other events. Christmas Village will be open through Dec. 24.

In Bethlehem, the Christkindlmarkt is one of the most-attended holiday markets in the country, according to its website. Through Dec. 21, the 33-year-old market features handmade gifts from national and local artisans, ice skating, and a variety of holiday-themed events.

Head to the Christmas Market at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard in York County’s Hellam on Dec. 6 through Dec. 7. More than 75 local vendors will sell handmade gifts at the market where you can sip on hot mulled cider and wine by a fire pit, enjoy live entertainment and meet alpacas.