Holidays Are all About Tradition in Philadelphia

Philly's Annual Happenings Make The Season Special

PHILADELPHIA, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- People come to Philadelphia year
after year to create new holiday memories with the help of the region's
time-tested traditions. Parents who remember standing in awe of the Enchanted
Colonial Village at Lit Brother's department store can take another peek
inside the busy bakery, the bustling village store and the seven other
restored scenes with their own children at the brand-new Please Touch
Museum(R).
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation suggests some other
ways to get into the holiday spirit in Philly. Here's how:
All About Christmas:
-- At Peddler's Village, gingerbread home builders compete for cash prizes
for the Gingerbread House Competition and Display (November 21, 2008 -
January 8, 2009); Santa switches on the Christmas lights during the
much-anticipated Grand Illumination Celebration (November 21); and the man in
red makes a grand appearance on a horse-drawn carriage for the annual
Christmas Festival (December 6 - 7). Route 263 & Street Road, Lahaska,
(215) 794-4000, http://www.peddlersvillage.com
-- The holidays go red, white and green at Longwood Gardens during A
Longwood Gardens Christmas, November 27, 2008-January 11, 2009. Hundreds of
thousands of lights, strolling carolers, daily concerts and ice skating
performances brighten the gardens' vast grounds. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett
Square, (610) 388-1000, http://www.longwoodgardens.org
-- The annual Holiday Light Show at Macy's, formerly Wanamaker's, has been
a Philadelphia tradition since 1956. Brighter than ever since a 2007 update
with LED lighting, the show will expand to include a new Magic Christmas Tree
with LED lights for 2008. Julie Andrews narrates the show, which runs daily,
on the hour, from November 28 through December 31, 2008. 1300 Market Street,
(215) 241-9000
-- Celebrating its first holiday season in its new Memorial Hall location,
Please Touch Museum(R) presents the Enchanted Colonial Village, November 28,
2008 - January 1, 2009. This year marks the first time Please Touch can
showcase all nine of the remaining scenes, along with their moving figures and
mechanical displays, found in Lit Brother's department store from 1962 through
1975. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 963-0667,
http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
Other Seasonal Celebrations:
-- On December 20, 2008, visitors to The African American Museum in
Philadelphia can explore the meaning of Kwanzaa during the Sharing the
Heritage Annual Holiday and Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, featuring tours,
performances and a screening of the film The Black Candle: The Story of
Kwanzaa. From December 26-28, 2008, the museum presents Celebrate Kwanzaa,
complete with storytelling, face painting and lessons about the holiday. 701
Arch Street, (215) 574-0380, http://www.aampmuseum.org
-- On December 25, 2008, the holiday spirit goes beyond Christmas at the
National Museum of American Jewish History, which presents its annual Being
Jewish at Christmas program, featuring music, refreshments and children's
activities. 55 N. 5th Street, (215) 923-3811, http://www.nmajh.org
Ring in the New Year:
-- For a Philadelphia experience that's as traditional as cheesesteaks, a
pilgrimage to the world-famous Mummers Parade on New Year's Day is a must.
Mummers are a tradition that began with ancient Roman laborers who spent one
gift-giving day a year marching festively through the streets. The
Philadelphia manifestation, dating back to 1901, is a lively parade of
costumed men who practice all year to strut and play music up Broad Street.
The parade begins at 9:00 a.m. and is followed by a ticketed competition at
the Pennsylvania Convention Center. 12th & Arch Streets,
http://www.mummers.com; ticket locations posted at
http://www.phila.gov/recreation/mummers/mummers_parade.html
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes
Philadelphia and The Countryside(R) a premier destination through marketing
and image building that increases business and promotes the region's vitality.
For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit
http://www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in
Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.
SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

Cara Schneider of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation,
+1-215-599-0789, cara@gptmc.com