Chestnutlights.com ~ FREE Light Display in Downingtown (West Bradford Township)

Have you heard about the fabulous personal light display in the Chestnut Ridge neighborhood in Downingtown? It is quite the sight to see. Pack up the family and plan a visit tonight. For more information visit www.chestnutlights.com. Don’t forget to like them on Facebook too for nighty weather updates. 

• 2012
• 50,000 animated lights total (12,000+ LEDs)
• 100+ curtain strobe lights
• 3 miles of extension cords
• 448 individually computer controlled LOR Channels
• 2 Light Flurries
• 1 Century Tree
• 2 Spiral Trees
• 62 Mini Trees
• 4 weeks setup time for hardware and lights
• 30 hours of programming/re-sequencing
• 300 amps dedicated power
• 75 US dollars additional December electric bill
• 91.5 low power FM broadcast (Ramsey FM30B)
• 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm Su-Th, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm F-Sa from December 10th through January 1st
• Surveillance Cameras

Address: 1422 Stockton Road, Romansville, PA 19320 (West Bradford)

Display hours are 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm Friday-Saturday from December 10th through January 1st (off during heavy rain or snow). Please tune your radio to Chestnut Radio 91.5 FM to listen to the music that goes along with the dancing lights.

Basic rules while enjoying the display:

1. Please be considerate of our neighbors, give them the right of way, and do not block their driveways.
2. Please watch out for children and be considerate of other visitors.
3. Please keep your radio at a reasonable volume in your vehicle.
4. Please stay off of lawns and do not litter.
5. Please turn off your headlights, but leave your parking lights on.
6. During heavy traffic, please keep right and pull as far up as possible, so that traffic can get by.

Your Guide to All Things Holiday in and around Chester County

Chesco Moms Guide to festive light displays in Chester County and nearby areas.

FREE or Really Inexpensive Photos with Santa

Breakfast with Santa in Chester County

Holiday Tea at The Radnor Hotel

Celebrate the Holidays in Southern Chester County

Malvern – Victorian Christmas

Holiday Parades in Chester County

Celebrate The Holidays in Wayne

Meet Live Reindeer at Waterloo Gardens

Narberth Dickens Festival

Who wants to see some Holiday Lights? Chesco Moms Guide to festive light displays in Chester County and nearby areas.

Macy’s Annual Light Display, Philadelphia
The Macy’s 2010 Christmas Light Show runs hourly from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve day 10am to 8pm. The Dickens Village (Floor 3) is open continuously during the same period from 10am to 7pm. The Wanamaker Organ concerts begin at the end of a Light Show. Click here for more information.

Longwood Gardens -Let your imagination embark on a magical journey through a Christmas wonderland at Longwood. Twenty indoor “rooms” and acres of outdoor gardens feature dazzling floral displays.make the holidays shine like never before. Imagine half a million brilliant lights strung with over 39 miles of cord. Lit trees the soar 75 feet, and dancing fountains that reach the sky. A 4.5-acre heated indoor Conservatory, featuring a giant Art Nouveau tapestry made from pink poinsettias and ferns, and the richest floral displays imaginable. A Longwood Christmas is a celebration months in the making—with hundreds of amaryllis, cyclamen, narcissus and literally thousands of poinsettias. And if all of the must-sees aren’t enough, they’ ve got plenty of must-hears, too—with special performances throughout the holidays. For more information and event schedules click here.

Koziar’s Christmas Village, Berks County – my husband is from Berks County and grew up visitng Koziar’s Christmas Village. The first time we took my daughter there my husband ran around the property trying to recreate all of his childhood memories and photos. He had me take pictures of him where his mom took pictures of him at 2 years old and now him at 30 with a baby. I have seriously never seen so many lights in one place. Clark Griswold would give Koziar’s and A++ for effort of the light display. This is a walk thru display so bundle up. There is a consession stand that sells delicious hot chocolate. When you are driving to Koziar’s on Christmas Village Road and come to the top of the hill and look down on the light display you will smile feel like a little kid again. It truly is a sight to see!
Prices: 5 and under FREE! Kids 6-12 – $6, Adults – $8
Hours: M-F 6:00-9:00, Sat & Sun. 5:00-9:30PM
Dates of Operation: 11/26- 1/2/2011

Christmas on Candy Lane, Hershey – This is one of my very favorite holiday traditions. My family has made the trip to Hershey for this drive thru the Sweet Lights display for the past few years. We love it! We bundle up and go to the park too. Some of the rides in the park are open, there are live reindeer to visit with and there is a great show at the Chevy Music Box Theatre, great for all ages –Home Sweet Home for Christmas. There are great over night stay and spa (I love a spa – and I am a big fan of the Spa at The Hotel Hershey) deals throughout December at Hershey Lodge and The Hotel Hershey.

Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster County -Celebrate the holidays at Dutch Winter Wonderland! Rides, games, food and special entertainment. Don”t miss the Dutch Winter Wonderland Royal Light Show! The Royal Light Show features thousands of twinkling lights dancing to your favorite holiday tunes.
Event Dates: 11/20/2010 – 12/30/2010
Event Time(s): Saturdays: 3-9 p.m. Sundays: 3-8 p.m. Plus, Friday, November 26 & Monday, December 27-Thursday, December 30: 5-9 p.m.

Holiday Hayride at Arasapha Farms – This heartwarming attraction includes a delightful ride on a sound equipped hay wagon, through the rolling hills of Arasapha Farm, which has been transformed into a winter wonderland filled with huge light displays, decorated trees and buildings, bridges and brooks. Come face to face with real, live Reindeer and see a beautifully animated Santa’s workshop. The hayride last about 20 minutes and is choreographed with all the favorite songs of the season. After the hay ride, relax by the bonfire or warm up with a cup of cocoa. This all new holiday hayride is perfect for all ages. Have your picture taken with Santa, and get an up close look at the famous live nativity scene that features real animals and actors. Choose from hundreds of beautiful, fresh cut Christmas Trees that include Douglas Fir, Concolor, and the ever favorite Fraser Fir. Deliveries available. There are also wreaths and trimmings available for purchase.
Dates of Operation:
Nov 26,27,28, Dec 3-4, 10-12, 17-23
Times: 6:00pm-9:00pm
weather permitting.

Herr’s Snack Foods in Nottingham, PA until January 1. Just drive through and admire the lights!
http://www.herrs.com/
514 East Christine Road
Nottingham, PA 19362-9734

Light Show at the historic Wanamaker Building (FREE Admission)

The Holiday Light Show at the historic Wanamaker Building (Macy’s in Center City) is up and delighting visitors young and old. The display will run through New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2009.

Shows begin on the hour. Store hours vary by day during the holiday season. Call store directly for exact info: (215) 241-9000.

The Wanamaker Building

1300 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

The Experience
A perfect family outing, the Holiday Light Show and Organ Concert at Macy’s is a Philadelphia tradition that dates back half a century.

The famous Center City store — housed in the historic Wanamaker Building — has snowflakes, ballerinas and reindeer floating beyond the four-story-high velvet curtain of the Grand Court atrium.

During the light show, more than 100,000 bright, energy-efficient LED lights combine to create fantastic holiday images. The lighting display is accompanied by festive music from the world-renowned Wanamaker Grand Organ.

Academy Award-winner Julie Andrews narrated last year’s Holiday Light Show.

Dickens Village
Visit Dickens Village on the third floor of Macy’s, where Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol comes to life with more than 100 fully animated figures reenacting 26of the story’s most memorable moments.

The BEST part of this family outing is that it is FREE! Click here for more information.

Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show

We received an email about the Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, PA. I have never been to Shady Brook Farm before and had to look up the website for more information . It looks like a really fun place! From what I can tell it is just a few minutes away from Sesame Place.

Holiday Light Show: Experience the magic of millions of lights illuminating acres of farmland during the Holiday Light Show! Whimsical holiday displays and familiar characters. Drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on a moonlit hayride.

Hours:

Drive-thru open Nov. 25, 2009 through Jan. 10, 2010 from Dusk to 10 PM.

Hayride open select dates from 6 to 8 PM.

Holiday Light Show benefits the Salvation Army & the MS Society.

Admission:

Drive-thru – $20/carload (Sun. – Thurs.) & $25/carload (Fri. & Sat.)
Hayride – $10/person
Season Pass – $60 (pre-purchased)
$50/Bus, $30/Mini-Bus, $25/Commercial Van

Click here for a $5 off – weekday coupon

Santa’s Village and North Pole Adventure

Kids of all ages will delight in this walk down a lane of holiday fun where they will encounter Enchanted Gifts, Santa’s Elves, and much more! They have a huge selection of Christmas trees, wreaths, swags, and pine roping…not to mention spectacular holiday decorations and all the trimmings for your tree!

Santa’s Village Hours: (photos with Santa)Mon. – Thurs. from 5 to 9 PMFri. – 5 to 10 PM

Sat. – Noon to 10 PM Sun. – Noon to 9 PM

North Pole Adventure Hours: Mon. to Sat. – 7 AM to 6 PM Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM

Koziar’s Christmas Village, Bernville (Berks County)

Last year I discovered Koziar’s Christmas Village in Bernville, PA and decided that it needed to become part of our Christmas traditions.

My husband cringes a bit about the whole tradition thing. He doesn’t get the glow of joy as the kids and I discuss the story of every ornament on the Christmas Tree. He doesn’t get all teary at the thought of reading all of the Christmas books. He couldn’t care less if we made gingerbread houses.

But he did like the Christmas Village. Or else he is humoring me. Either way, we are going back!

My “discovery” of Koziar’s was apparently a little late in the game. Many people from Chester County have been there and enjoyed it. Bernville is outside of Reading, near the airport, and on our inaugural trip last year it took about an hour to get there from our place in Chester Springs.

They are open from 6-9 Monday – Friday and 5-9:30 on the weekends. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for kids under 12.

The vast majority of the displays are outdoors, so last year, when the temps were around freezing, it was pretty nippy out there. Luckily there are a few places to duck into, get some hot chocolate or hot apple cider, and warm up before you go back for more. Hopefully this year it will be a little less frostbite inducing.

It is difficult to fully convey what there is to see. Lots and lots of lights. Lots and lots of characters – from the Peanuts, to the Flintstones, to Sesame Street – the whole gang is there on what look to be hand-painted displays. There is a path to follow that meanders through all of the displays. Music is playing.

It’s kind of like walking through the Christmas light display of the tackiest neighbors EVER. But in a completely awesome sort of way.

There are little tableaus (I think that is the appropriate word) of toy shops and candy shops and other Christmas Scenes. Some were mildly disturbing, but most were cute. Sprout proclaimed a number of things – especially those with moving dolls – to be “creeeeepy”. Luckily she also ooohhhed and aaaahhhed and WOWed about many more things!

Rudolf and Frosty were hanging around for pictures, resulting in a perfect Christmas Card worthy photo op.

There are also two impressive train set-ups, one outdoors and one indoors. The indoor one was huge and, you know, indoors – which was a plus at the point last year where I could no longer feel my toes.

Named one of the top ten attractions in PA as well as the Best Outdoor Christmas Display in the World (!), the kids proclaimed it to be “Awesome” – even Sprout, who I was told might be too old to appreciate the kitchy nature of the whole scene.

Last year Tater said we should go back next year and the next year and the next year.
So we will. And you should too!

Kristen is a new contributor at Chester County Moms. She lives in Chester Springs with her husband, daughter, Sprout (10); son, Tater (7); and two dogs. Be sure to read more about Kristen’s exploits as she attempts to keep her kids busy and entertained at http://www.thefunmommies.com/