NEWTOWN, PA – There’s plenty to do in Newtown to get the winter vacation season off to a good start.
Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, overlap this year, with Hanukkah occurring December 18-26. Christmas, of course, falls on December 25, but you don’t have to wait to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
Tree and menorah lighting in Newtown are:
- Newtown Tree Lighting, Friday, December 2, from 6 p.m. at the Newtown Fire Association, Liberty Street and Washington Avenue. The special evening includes the lighting of the town tree and the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa Claus is expected to appear around 7pm. The event is sponsored by the Newtown Experience Group.
- The Bucks County Jewish community will celebrate the second night of Hanukkah Monday, December 19 from 5-6 p.m. at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley. The public is welcome to enjoy crafts, candlelight, music and donuts. The event is jointly sponsored by Bucks County Kehillah and Shady Brook Farm of the Jewish Federation.
Christmas parades – often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands – are a holiday tradition both nationally and locally.
Click here to find out where to visit Santa Claus
- NBA/McCaffrey’s Newtown Holiday Parade, Sunday, December 4th. The parade begins at 2:00 p.m. at the Stocking Works on South State Street and ends at Durham Road and Sycamore Street. The parade announcers are located at Goodnoe Corner next to the Green Parrot. The parade is presented by the Newtown Business Association.
Other holiday events not to be missed in Newtown include a cottage tour, chili lunch and holiday bazaar.
- The Newtown Historic Association’s Holiday House Tour returns for the 59th year on Saturday, December 3 from 10am-4pm. The self-guided walking tour will open six private residences and six public buildings. Cost: $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State Street, and online at www.newtownhistoric.org/housetour. On the day of the tour, tickets can be purchased at the Half-Moon Inn, 105 Court Street and The Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown.
- Newtown Presbyterian Church will host its annual Chili Lunch on Saturday, December 3 from 11:30 am to 2:30 am. Lunch includes chili (vegetarian meat), salad, cornbread, drink and dessert (eat in or take away). Cost: adults $14 and children $5. Tickets will be available at the door. The church is also giving away a chance to win a handmade star pattern quilt.
- A Christmas Charity Bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 3 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 100 Washington Ave, Newtown. There will be a soup dinner, silent auction, raffle baskets, bake table, white elephant sale, vendors and fellowship. Proceeds benefit local charities.
Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some that can be caught in Pennsylvania are:
- Shady Brook Holiday Light Show, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, is open every evening until January 8th. The spectacular Holiday Light Show features more than three million lights illuminating acres of farmland. Encounter quirky displays and familiar characters as you cruise through in the comfort of your own car, or enjoy the show on an open-top wagon ride.
- Allentown is celebrating the 26th anniversary of its spectacular Parkway lights in grand style through December 31 (excluding December 25). The more than a mile long drive-through light show features hundreds of thousands of brilliant lights and dazzling animated displays set to the holiday favorite music.
- More than five million twinkling lights will shine in Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane on select nights through January 1st. Enjoy family-friendly rides, thrilling roller coasters, Santa and his reindeer, shopping galore at Hersheypark Supply Co. and HP Collections stores, hot chocolate and other sweet treats.
Here you can buy freshly cut trees in the Newtown area