Center City Philadelphia Getting Into Holiday Spirit

PHILADELPHIA — Center City Philadelphia is getting into the winter and holiday spirit by bringing back favorite attractions.

The Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn is open now, and the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink will open Friday right at City Hall.

Then, the open air German market Christmas Village will open Thanksgiving Day and stay open through Christmas Eve. The village will open for a preview weekend Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 21.

The Wintergarden will be open through April 3 and feature foraging reindeer collecting seeds, nuts and pods while the Spirit of the Wintergarden stands tall over the area. The mycologist Reindeer can be seen collecting mushrooms, and the winter reindeer will be dressed up and ready for a day of sledding and winter fun. These playful centerpieces are accompanied by seasonal foliage and a massive arbor, plus plenty of seating and a Chaddsford Winery kiosk opening on Friday.

Learn more about the Wintergarden here.

The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink will open for the season with timed, 90-minute skating sessions at noon on Friday, following a ribbon cutting ceremony complete with skating fairies, a stilt walker and snow flurries.

In the evening, seasonal food and drinks will be offered in the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin.

"Woodland Winter at the Rink" opening weekend will continue on Saturday with an ice carving demonstration, crafts for children and a woodland scavenger hunt. A fairy will also stop by to perform a bubble magic show in the Wintergarden.

Get tickets for the rink and learn more here.

As for the Christmas Village, the 14th season will feature tens of thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations, live music, and multiple children’s activities.

Guests will find a double-tier Christmas Village Carousel, Ferris wheel, a kids train, European foods and drinks, wine and spirit tasting events, and of course international and local gifts and decorations.

More than 110 international and local merchants and artists are set to sell gifts in decorated tents and wooden houses throughout Philadelphia’s LOVE Park and around City Hall.

Learn more about the Christmas Village here.