Enjoy the magic of the 2019 holiday season in and around the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area with your family. Various events happening over the region throughout the next few weeks are sure to help you get into the holiday spirit. There’s something for every age and interest, from holiday shows to festivals, shopping and more. Here’s just a sampling of what our area has to offer this holiday season.
November 22 – January 2
Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park, Scranton– 5 PM to 9 PM – A beautiful annual tradition for many area families, take a drive through Nay Aug Park and enjoy this free holiday light display presented by the City of Scranton. Over 100 holiday light displays depicting the scenes of the season illuminate Nay Aug Park. Located at 1900 Mulberry Street, Scranton.
November 23
City of Wilkes-Barre Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting – Festivities begin at 11:30 AM at Barnes & Noble Wilkes-Kings with “Frosty the Snowman” themed activities, crafts, and storytime. At 2 PM, the fun moves to Public Square with a Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long. Join us for the parade, which begins at 3 PM at the intersection of South St. & South Main St. It ends on Public Square. Immediately following the parade, the tree lighting ceremony will be held on Public Square. There will be free hot chocolate and choir music.
The Santa Parade in Downtown Scranton – There’s no shortage of Santa Parades today. Santa Claus comes to downtown Scranton and he’s bringing impressive floats, balloons, marching bands and more. The parade starts at 9:15 AM.
November 22– December 15 (Sundays)
Cinders, S’mores & Hot Chocolate, The Lands at Hillside Farms– 1 PM to 3 PM – Kick back with your children and enjoy Hillside’s famous hot chocolate milk, s’ mores and holiday music. Visit the animals while you’re there.
November 30
Old Fashioned Holiday Market on Public Square, Wilkes-Barre– 11 AM to 7 PM – Sure to be fun for the whole family, the event includes live music, food, arts, crafts and more. Kids can visit with Santa from 12-3 PM. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available from 2 PM to 7 PM for a cost of $5 per person. Proceeds will benefit Cori’s Place. A live nativity will also be on display featuring Moving Rivers Ministries and animals form The Lands at Hillside Farms from 3-7 PM. There will be live entertainment throughout the day. This happens again on December 6.
Polar Express Holiday Showing, R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 – 10 AM – Free holiday screening of the timeless classic, POLAR EXPRESS, starring Tom Hanks. Enjoy this adventure that follows a doubting young boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole. Start, or continue, the tradition of seeing this film on the big screen with your entire family.
December 2019
Holiday shows & movies at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre include December 4 – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, December 5 – A Christmas Carol, December 7 the NEPA Philharmonic holiday show, December 12 – Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical, Dec 17 – Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker and Dec 20 – It’s a Wonderful Life.
December 7
23rd Annual Santa Train. Santa Train is a unique Northeastern Pennsylvania Christmas celebration that brings Santa to Carbondale, Archbald, Jessup, Olyphant, Dickson City, and Steamtown NHS.
December 6 & 7
Christmas in Our Hometown, Tunkhannock – Small town charm and holiday spirit will greet you. A tree lighting, beautifully decorated street lamps, horse and wagon rides, trolley rides, living windows, vendors, activities at the Dietrich Theater, a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus and much more.
December 7
Dallas Township Old Fashion Tree Lighting, Back Mountain Little League Lot, 5 PM-8 PM – The fun family evening featuring a tree lighting, Santa visit, caroling, children’s activities, hot chocolate, food trucks, vendors and more.
December 7 & 8
NEPA Philharmonic Holiday Pops Concert
Ring in the holidays with the NEPA Philharmonic on Saturday, December 7 at the FM Kirby Center or Sunday, December 8 at Lackawanna College.
December 8, 14 & 15
The North Pole Limited Santa Train Ride. Join Santa on a magical steam train adventure. Ride behind a steam locomotive on an hour-long round trip to the North Pole from Steamtown National Historic Site. Ticket sales will support the Iron Horse Society.
December 14
Free film showing of “The Muppet Christmas Carol”, Scranton Cultural Center – 11 AM. Your kids are sure to love this funny and touching holiday film presented as part of the Masonic Temple’s Times-Tribune Children’s Series.
Scranton Civic Ballet presents The Nutcracker Ballet at the Scranton Cultural Center – 2 PM. See link for ticket prices and details.
December 14 & 15
Tunkhannock Santa Train Rides departing from Riverside Park.
December 17
It’s a Wonderful Life, Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock– 2 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM – Free showings of the classic holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Sponsored by Ace-Robbins. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Enjoy area holiday entertainment with your entire family
We hope you have an opportunity to enjoy some of the events on our holiday happenings list. Be sure to share this blog with your friends, so they can take advantage of some of these events and free family fun as well. Choice One Community Credit Union wishes you and yours a happy holiday season.