The Christmas Village in Philadelphia
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Discover why visiting the Christmas Village in Philadelphia is the next best thing to visiting a Christmas market in Europe.
In a perfect world, we would be in Europe right now where we could easily enjoy the best of the holiday season. Due to current geographical limitations, we are satisfying our European holiday craving in the city of brotherly love.
Christmas Village
Philadelphia’s Christmas Village is an oasis in LOVE Park, right in the heart of center city Philadelphia.
It’s just almost like being at a German Christmas market without the long plane ride.
See what it’s like to visit an actual German Christmas Market.
The village sprouts at Thanksgiving and stays rooted until the end of the holiday season. Like clockwork every year, little shacks temporarily house over sixty local and international vendors, and sparkly lights abound.
Of course, there’s great shopping at the Christmas Village. Santa is there to meet, greet and take photos with kids of all ages. Musicians play festive holiday songs for everybody to enjoy. That’s all well and good, but it’s no surprise that we went for the savory food and festive desserts.
Discover great Christmas desserts around the world.
Food at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia
When you go to any Christmas market, you can’t help but expect seasonal European food. Philadelphia’s Christmas Village doesn’t disappoint, with plenty of European foods, both sweet and savory.
It’s all here from raclette cheese from Switzerland to Döner Kebaps from Germany (via Turkey) to crepes from France and even to strudel from Austria.
The different foods happily co-exist at the market, and their tempting aromas pleasantly drift through the chilly air.
Based on the queues, we’re not the only people who are enjoying the food at the Christmas market.
Although its fun to sample different things from around the world, the options at this market aren’t just European.
Local vendors are well represented with treats like eggnog macarons, bacon jam, artisan chocolate and mulled wine to feed the hungry crowds.
Over half a million people visit Philadelphia’s Christmas Village each holiday season. In our opinion, it’s worth a visit.
Go for the shopping. Stay for the food and drinks.
The Christmas Village in Philadelphia is an annual event. Check the official Christmas Village website for dates, location, hours of operation, vendors and special food events.
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I visited the Christmas Village on Monday and absolutely loved it. Such a great alternative if you can’t fly to Germany for the markets there. Interesting, I was talking to the manager of the market, who is from Germany, and he told me that doner was actually invented by in Berlin by a Turkish immigrant. That’s why it’s a staple at the markets, though in a slightly different form.
Wow!! Never been to States, I love this, would really want to try that bacon jam!
I love this market! Just the John & Kira chocolates are a total draw!!! Everything else is a bonus. Thanks for writing about this.
This is my kind of fun. The Food, the Lights, the Music and the way you describe the experience makes me want to travel to Philadelphia.
Wow, that looks like so much fun! This is the first year that my city (Minneapolis) has done a holiday market, so ours is much smaller. Hopefully we will get doners in the future–I fell in love with them when I studied in Berlin and eating one always takes me right back to Germany.
I never knew that Philadelphia had Christmas Markets. I lived in Maryland for years and this would have been an easy drive up.
Wow I love Christmas Markets, the lights food just completes the cool atmosphere 🙂
I love Christmas markets they’re so festive and the food delightful! I just went to one in Toronto and had a blast!
Christmas lights & food… what better!?!?
This sounds so fun! It made me very hungry! Except for maybe the bacon jam.
My husband goes to Philly all the time and says how wonderful it is there. I am going to have to talk him into taking me there soon!
You should definitely tag along soon. You will really enjoy the city and all the great food here.
This looks like so much fun!! Wish it wasn’t so far from us!
looks like such a fun place! Love anything Christmas!
oh gosh that looks amazing and sounds delicious, makes me hungry!
Oh my gosh, all that food is making me so hungry! Which is impressive because I have a cold and nothing sounds good, lol. I love events like that at Christmas!
YUM! never knew there was a such thing as bacon spread. I wonder if they sell that here in WPB FL? I love all the foods you posted.
We miss out on all these fun Christmas festivals and markets here in the Southern Hemisphere. Makes me miss my days in the UK where I could visit any of Europes markets for a weekend. Will have to add markets in the US to my list from someday as this one looks like great fun!
I love Christmas and discovering what our city (Austin) has to offer for the holiday celebrations. Looks like ya’ll had a blast.
You take great pictures, that food is making me SO HUNGRY! 🙂 What a fun event!!
Wow! That sounds like so much fun and the sandwich you showed looks so incredibly yummy!! I wish we had something like that here.
Oh wow!! How awesome!! I’m a sucker for Christmas stuff like this!! I have to keep this in mind for the future!
Haven’t made it to a European Christmas Market yet but I like your idea of taking that longing local. Great pictures.
Awww how beautiful and festive!! I would love to go to a market like this! The food looks awesome, love the variety.
I really need to get down to Philly soon to visit you guys – this market looks wonderful. Christmas season truly is the most wonderful time of the year 😀
Yes! You really should visit us soon.
I would have expected a Christmas Market in the US to look so different from those of Europe, but strangely, they arent all that far apart! The essential bit being, both capture the spirit!
Philadelphia’s Christmas Village was modeled after the German Christmas markets, and the planners have really captured the look and spirit.
First of all– LOVE the name LOVE Park! I’ve only visited Philadelphia once, but really did enjoy every moment. This Christmas market looks fantastic, and the food looks yummy. Definitely has that Christmas magic!
This christmas village looks like great fun! I am really getting hungry here looking at all your beautiful food pictures! Those Macarons….mmm..look delicious!
mmm so much tasty food! Looks amazing!
Ah, we all love a good Christmas market. Nothing can get us in the mood more than this.
It looks as though Philly has a great one on offer here. Is that real snow too?
I must admit that I’ve yet to visit a Christmas market in the US but have tasted a fabulous one in Hamburg, Germany.
The most famous Christmas village we have in Portugal is in Obidos (a medieval city a couple of hours from Lisbon, on the west coast) and it’s all about chocolate and Ginjinha and of course kids and lights and all. But I haven’t seen many other more though. I have my eye on those egg nog macarons though 😀
The market looks great and the food tasty! If only Christmas markets weren´t that crowded….
I love Christmas markets, one of my favorite ways to celebrate the season.
I love Christmas markets! There is always this warm and cosy feeling to them isnt there.
You would love the Christmas Village in Philadelphia. It has that warm and cosy feeling that you love.
I would love to visit this market! And, for some reason, now I am hungry and thirsty! 😉 Thanks for the info; this gives me another reason to want to visit Philadelphia.
As an Austrian I can tell that the Christmas village in Philadelphia looks kind of the Christmas markets here in Austria. So you don´t have to but should/could visit ours in Europe too.
It´s interesting how many European food they offer here. Even Döner. 😀
If you like real Austrian apple strudel I´ll have a recipe for you from my granny:
It´s delicious.
We love authentic apple strudel. Thanks for sharing your family recipe!
I love Christmas Villages! So much to see and do.
As with most everyone (except for the random scrooges out there) I have an obsession with Christmas markets. The food is always so good and I love the Christmas cheer! I wish I had time for a trip to Philly to check it out!
How cute are those Philly Love mugs! Love how so many cities in the USA are upping their Christmas market game!
It love Christmas markets, this one looks great! That mug is super cute, did you buy it? 😀
The mulled wine came in the mug, so it was ours to keep.
I have always wanted to go to Europe during the Christmas holidays but it looks like this could be one of the next best things if I couldn’t make it to Europe during the holidays.
Great pictures, thanks for sharing!