Pennsylvania: Home to Hallmark-Worthy Holiday Towns

What do Hallmark Christmas movies and Pennsylvania have in common? The answer is cozy, picturesque towns that offer plenty of fun festivities, seasonal décor and holiday cheer. Here are just a few places in Pennsylvania known for their Hallmark-movie-levels of festiveness. 

1. Jim Thorpe 

During its annual Olde Time Christmas, downtown Jim Thorpe is decked in Victorian style, with special events held on the weekends, a tree lighting ceremony, strolling carolers and musicians, holiday shopping, horse and carriage rides and more, including plenty of free family activities. Visitors can also take a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, where they can meet Santa and take in the scenery of the area. 

2. Wellsboro 

Wellsboro is a great place for visitors looking to step into a Hallmark movie. With its gas lamp-lined Main Street and its charming downtown, it offers a very picturesque visit. Each year, Wellsboro holds its Dickens of a Christmas , when downtown traffic ceases, transforming into a Victorian marketplace with craft and food vendors, costumed performers, a tree lighting and more. 

3. Canonsburg 

Canonsburg takes pride in its Old Fashioned Christmas, a weekend event that annually draws over 30,000 visitors. The weekend offers a Christmas market of over 60 vendors, a tree lighting with Santa and friends, a food court, games, live reindeer, crafts and more. 

4. Rockhill 

The Rockhill Trolley Museum features a nostalgic trolley ride through a winter wonderland, as well as Santa’s Workshop weekends. Santa also visits the East Broad Top Railroad with a historic train ride during Christmas in Coal Country, where you can take a one-hour train ride out of Orbisonia Station and meet Santa, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies and view the holiday lights along the way. 

5. New Hope 

The holiday season in New Hope features beautifully decorated 18^th-century-style buildings and Peddler’s Village, an enchanted village with 65 specialty shops, restaurants, a 1920s carousel, a country inn and more. Also in New Hope, visitors can drive or ride a wagon through the Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show, which displays more than three million lights.  

6. Bethlehem 

Historic Bethlehem is decked out in twinkling lights during the holiday season, offering festive horse-drawn carriage rides and Christkindlmarkt, an event featuring handmade crafts, performed Christmas music, Santa visits, food, drinks and other holiday fun. 

7. Kennett Square 

In Kennett Square, Longwood Gardens is peak-festive each year, embracing the holiday spirit through illuminated trees, glowing orbs, a tunnel of lights, botanical blooms, sparkly garlands, lit treehouses and more. Longwood Gardens also puts on Open Air Theatre Fountain Shows, which include 750 jets and fountains that come alive to the sound of music. 

8. Conneaut Lake 

The Conneaut Lake Trees of Light project illuminates the lake and surrounding area with lit flagpole trees each year. Visitors can board the Barbara J Cruise to enjoy the lights on the water while taking a ride around the lake.