Tree lighting ceremonies and holiday parades are often a warm start to the Christmas celebrations in Lancaster County towns—celebrated with friends and family, and looked forward to by many residents either on the evening of Black Friday or the first weekend in December.
Here’s a list and map of Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies and Holiday Parades local to Lancaster County, and then another list of some popular and unique tree lightings in surrounding counties. Enjoy!
Lancaster County
- Elizabethtown Holiday Parade :: An “Old Fashioned Christmas” themed parade up Market Street, Elizabethtown. Enjoy the fun and tradition!!
- Lancaster City Tree Lighting & Meet Santa :: Kick off the holidays in Lancaster City with the annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting and Tuba Christmas! Join Mayor Sorace for her first Tree Lighting November 23rd at 6pm in Penn Square. EVENT SCHEDULE: Lancaster Central Market open (5-8pm), Santa Claus arrival and lighting of the Christmas tree (6pm), Tuba Christmas (8pm). Event is FREE.
- Santa’s Arrival & Tree Lighting at Ephrata :: Friday, November 23, 2018 from 5:30-8:00 PM. The Ephrata tradition of Santa’s arrival and tree lighting continues. Many families look forward to this special evening and making precious memories each year. We will also welcome the Belsnickel. You won’t want to miss it! Enjoy a Laser Light Show • Santa’s House • Horse Drawn Wagon Rides • Toyland • Barrel Train • Food Trucks • Vendors • Cookies • and more!
- Mount Joy Tree Lighting :: December 01, 2018 (4-7pm). Probably the most popular event in Mount Joy all year long! Enjoy the crisp weather, and start the holiday celebrations with live music, food vendors, business and organization vendors, choirs and Santa.
- Marietta Christmas Tree Lighting :: November 25, 2018 (7-9pm). FREE event. Santa is to leave the firehouse at 6:00 pm in the Gator, escorted by the firetrucks for his ride around town. He is expected to arrive back at the Old Town Hall at 7:00 pm to light the Community Tree, followed by music & singing. From there, he will go to the Union Meeting House to greet the kids & give them a treat.
- Lititz Tree Lighting :: November 30 (6:30 pm – 7:30 pm). Christmas in the Park at Lititz Springs Park. Carol Singing and lighting of the Community Christmas Tree.
- Manheim Tree Lighting :: This year the Manheim Lions Club will be sponsoring the 18th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Market Square in Manheim on Dec. 1 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The rain/snow date is Dec 2. This year’s festivities will include performances from Cricket’s Performing Arts, Manheim Central Middle School choral group Meistersingers, and the Manheim Brass Band. There will be caroling and visits with jolly St Nick. Residents and visitors will be able to win a chance to “flip the switch” to illuminate the lights on the Christmas tree. This year, the Christmas tree lights will be synchronized to music, thanks to Stray Lighting and Production Services, Lititz.
- New Holland Christmas on Main :: An old-fashioned community event that celebrates the joy and spirit of the Christmas season. Come out and enjoy a wide variety of activities, food vendors, music, prizes, and much more! All events and activities are FREE and open to the public. Free parking is also available.
And Beyond
- Hershey Holiday Celebration :: Downtown Hershey is ready to kick off the holidays, and you’re invited! On Friday, December 7, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, the Downtown Hershey Association will host Downtown Hershey’s Holiday Celebration in ChocolateTown Square. This exciting event is fun for all ages, and offers a wide array of activities and entertainment for the community. New this year, turn in your Holiday Celebration ticket for a chance to win one of several items donated by Downtown Hershey businesses.
- Coopersburg Tree Lighting :: Come out for children activities, food, pictures with Santa and more – there is something for everyone! FREE to attend, but we are asking you to bring either an unwrapped new toy or non-perishable food items which will be donated to some of our local community organizations in need.
- Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting :: Enjoy the official kick off to the holiday season in Kennett Square with the Holiday Light Parade and Tree Lighting. Enjoy lighted tractors & fire trucks, dance performances, the KHS Marching Band and a very special appearance of Santa & Mrs. Claus. Parade starts at 6:15pm with a dance performance from Longwood Dance Studio. Anchor Life + Fitness will have face painting and hot cocoa.
- Light Up York Tree Lighting :: Saturday, December 1. Spend the day in downtown York enjoying a variety of FREE family-friendly activities. Highlights include a scavenger hunt (with prizes!) in multiple locations (12 noon to 5 p.m.), workshops, and tours, hands-on art activities, face painting, balloon twists (12 noon to 4 p.m.), Gingerbread-themed Escape Room at the Rex/Laurel Fire Co. (12 noon to 4 p.m.), live reindeer available for photos in first block of East Market Street (3 to 5 p.m.), pony rides and photos with Curious Little Playhouse in first block of East Market Street (ends 7 p.m.), and the lighting of the York City Christmas Tree (ceremony begins 5 p.m.). Events are FREE and open to the public thanks to our generous sponsors.
- Christmas Parade & Meet Santa (Hanover) :: Come kick off the holiday season with us in downtown at our annual Christmas parade on Friday, November 23rd! Santa will make his arrival to Hanover during the Christmas Parade starting at 9 AM.
- Tree Lighting (Hanover) :: November 24, 2018 from 6-7pm. Light up downtown Hanover with the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and celebration! Filled with carolers, cocoa and cheer come downtown and join the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Hanover as they light the Christmas Tree for the season.
- Hanover Christmas Parade :: November 30, 2018 (7-9pm). The F&M Trust Carlisle Christmas Parade will host over 50 parade units of floats, youth groups, marchers, dancers, and marching bands, and corporate units. The fun will start before the parade as costumed characters make appearances along the parade route. Santa’s elves, Rudolph, the Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman will interact with guests. There will be photo opportunities with the characters both before and after the parade.
- West Reading Tree Lighting :: Join us at Delaney Circle for our 90th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony! The tradition began in 1928 when the first tree lighting was held in front of Borough Hall with a few Council Members present. Little did our forefathers know they launched what became a tree lighting tradition. The tree lighting ceremony was moved to Delaney Circle in the 1990’s where we can celebrate the night air with music, dancing and warm wishes.
- Boiling Springs Tree Lighting :: December 8th, at Allenberry Resort as part of 24 Days of Christmas! Bring your little ones to our Crockett Room from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. to get a vintage photo with Santa ($15) to keep forever, in front of a festively decorated backdrop. Afterward, treat your family to dinner at The Barn Restaurant, where you’ll be granted a free dessert per every entree ordered (minimum 2 entrees)! At 6:30 p.m., join us at the front of Fairfield Hall for our inaugural Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, and be eternally a part of our holiday history. Warm up with a hot chocolate, coffee, or tea from the Breeches Bakery & Cafe, or a seasonal cocktail from our cash bar while you enjoy the tree-lighting, a live piano performance from concert pianist, Amanda Spuler, and a harmonious choir performance to wrap the night’s events up.
- New Oxford Tree Lighting :: Continuing a tradition started in 1922, the 2018 Old Fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting will be held in the circle on Saturday, November 24 at 5 p.m. Come out for free hot chocolate, cookies, Christmas carols and Santa!
- Mechanicsburg Tree Lighting :: Friday, November 23, 5:15pm. Starts with caroling around the tree, and then the tree lighting at 5:30pm. There will also be live music, refreshments, balloon-twisting, visit with Santa, model train exhibit and a visit with Mrs. Claus. FREE parking.
Enjoy the start of the holiday season! And when you’re ready to get your own tree and light it, be sure to check out our post on where to buy affordable Christmas trees on a budget in Lancaster County. You might also be interested in Lancaster County experience gift ideas and Christmas Light Shows in Lancaster County.
If you’re looking for some fun things to do with your kids this holiday season be sure to check out the Choo Choo Barn’s Holiday Train Display and Frysville Farms.
