The 9 Most-Christmassy Places in PA Road Trip

A road trip to the nine most Christmassy places in Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking for directions to the 9 most-Christmassy places in PA, you’re in the right place!

Indiana, PA is the home of Jimmy Stewart and the Christmas Tree Capital of the World.
Indiana, PA is the hometown of Jimmy Stewart and is also the Christmas Tree Capital of the World.

What follows is a road trip that visits nine PA destinations where the Christmas spirit runs strong, year after year.

A road trip to nine of the most Christmassy places to visit in Pennsylvania.
A road trip to nine of the most Christmassy places to visit in Pennsylvania.

I’ve even included a downloadable route map to help you navigate between all of these festive holiday destinations.



Simply click on the blue text links in the descriptions that follow to view more information about each of the 9 Christmassy destinations.

Inflatable Elephant and Santa outside Mister Eds Elephant Emporium and Candy Store near Gettysburg Pennsylvania.
Inflatable elephant and Santa outside Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium.

1. Bethlehem, PA

What better place to start a road trip to the most-Christmassy places in PA than in “Christmas City USA“, home to the first documented decorated Christmas tree in America and seemingly one Christmas celebration after another from late November through December.

Bethlehem PA was home to the first documented decorated Christmas tree in America and became known as Christmas City USA in 1937.
Bethlehem, PA was home to the first documented decorated Christmas tree in America and became known as “Christmas City USA” in 1937.

2. Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show in Yardley

The Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show is a drive-through attraction featuring more than three million lights illuminating acres of farmland.

The Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show in Yardley, PA.
The Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show in Yardley.

3. The Christmas Haus in New Oxford

The Christmas Haus in New Oxford features 3 buildings packed floor to ceiling with some of the most beautiful German-made Christmas ornaments and decorations you’ve ever laid eyes on!

The Christmas Haus features 3 buildings filled floor to ceiling with Christmas items made in Germany.
The Christmas Haus features 3 buildings filled floor to ceiling with Christmas items made in Germany.

Laid out to resemble a German village, you could literally spend hours here browsing/shopping the vast array of “Made in Germany” Christmas items.

The Christmas Haus along the Lincoln Highway in New Oxford Pennsylvania.
The Christmas Haus along the Lincoln Highway in New Oxford.

As a big fan of “The Office”, I was happy to see that even Krampus (precursor to Belsnickel) was well represented at The Christmas Haus!

Krampus figurine at the Christmas Haus in New Oxford Pennsylvania.
Krampus figurine at the Christmas Haus.

4. Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium

Already one of the Gettysburg area’s most unique attractions and favorite candy stores, Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium is the perfect place to shop for Christmas stocking-stuffers.

Miss Ele decorated for Christmas outside Mister Eds Elephant Emporium and Candy Store in Adams County PA.
Miss Ele decorated for Christmas at Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium.

Located just outside of Gettysburg, Mister Ed’s features a dizzying array of elephant figurines, circus souvenirs, toys, statues, and artwork, as well as over a thousand kinds of candy!

Mister Eds Elephant Emporium and Candy store is decorated for Christmas inside and out.
Mister Ed’s Elephant Emporium and Candy store is decorated for Christmas inside and out.

5. Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland near Slippery Rock

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland is a drive-through Christmas lights attraction that promises to be bigger and better than ever in their new location at Cooper’s Lake event venue near Slippery Rock.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland near Slippery Rock Pennsylvania.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland near Slippery Rock.

6. The Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana County

The Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana County preserves the legacy of Indiana, Pennsylvania’s favorite son – actor

Entrance to the JImmy Stewart Museum on the third floor of the Indiana Public Library.
Entrance to the Jimmy Stewart Museum ion downtown Indiana, PA.

Although he appeared in 80 feature films over his long and distinguished acting career, Jimmy Stewart is perhaps best known for his role as George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life”, widely considered one of the most classic Christmas movies of all time!

"It's A Wonderful Life" memorabilia displayed in downtown Indiana, PA.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” memorabilia displayed in downtown Indiana, PA.

7. The Tallest Santa in Pennsylvania in Phillipsburg

For a few weeks every year, Philipsburg in Centre County is home to the tallest Santa display in Pennsylvania!

The tallest Santa in Pennsylvania is 37 feet tall in honor of the Philipsburg High School Class of 1937.
The “Phillipsburg Santa” is 37 feet tall in honor of the Philipsburg High School Class of 1937.

Standing 37.5 feet tall, with a bag of toys nearly 20 feet tall, “Phillipsburg Santa” has earned his hometown a spot as one of the most Christmassy places in PA!

The tallest Santa in PA display was created by Phillipsburg artist Bill Adams as part of an American Legion project.
The tallest Santa in PA display was created by Phillipsburg artist Bill Adams as part of an American Legion project.

8. The Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show in Harrisburg

The Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg is one of the largest Christmas shows in the United States!

The Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show starts November 30th at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
Scenes from the Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show

The 2022 Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show takes place Wednesday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday, Dec. 4 from 10 am to 5 pm.

The Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show is great for people who are are shopping for gifts, looking for holiday ideas, or simply want to enjoy some Christmas-themed fun.
The Pennsylvania Christmas and Gift Show is a great event for people who are are shopping for gifts, looking for holiday ideas, or simply want to enjoy some Christmas-themed fun.

9. Koziar’s Christmas Village in Bernville

Koziar’s Christmas Village has grown into a mammoth seasonal attraction, and is celebrating it’s 75th season in 2022.

Koziar's Christmas Village Christmas lights display as viewed from above.
Koziar’s Christmas Village Christmas lights display as viewed from above.

The Best Christmas Lights in PA Road Trip provides driving directions to 9 of PA’s best Christmas light displays, from all across the Keystone State.

Directions to the best Christmas light displays in Pennsylvania.

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Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and creator of the PA Bucket List travel blog.