Delaware has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Yuletide at Winterthur in Winterthur on November 21 to Holidays at Hagley in Wilmington, which runs through January 3. Every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Delaware for 2026, in Wilmington and Dover
- First: Yuletide at Winterthur, Winterthur, November 21. Runs latest: Yuletide at Winterthur, Winterthur, through January 3
- Every event here charges admission or a ticket; check each host
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Delaware Christmas train rides page.
Delaware Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 5 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Wilmington and Dover
- Season
- November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Free events
- 0
- Kinds of events
- holiday lights, holiday crafts, tree lighting and holiday story time
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each Delaware Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Yuletide at Winterthur in Winterthur on November 21; the last runs to January 3. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Yuletide at WinterthurWinterthur · Nov 21 to Jan 3
- Holidays at HagleyWilmington · Nov 27 to Jan 3
- Capital Holiday CelebrationDover · Dec 3
- Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating)Dover · Dec 4 to Dec 18
- Santa at HagleyWilmington · Dec 5
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Delaware? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Wilmington
3 confirmed events for kids in Wilmington, including nearby Winterthur, soonest first.
Winterthur: Yuletide at Winterthur
Holiday lightsWinterthur Museum, Garden & Library · Winterthur
- Host
- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735 (near Wilmington)
- When
- Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027 (Tuesday to Sunday; Holiday Nights until 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays from Nov 27; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day), 10 am to 5 pm
- Cost
- Included with admission; reservations strongly recommended
- Ages
- All ages
- Sign-up
- Recommended
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Yuletide at Winterthur fills the former du Pont home with holiday decor, including a gingerbread version of the house on Christmas Eve, an Enchanted Woods tree and a Nutcracker ballet tree. Kids tend to love the 18-room dollhouse, decorated for the season.
An ongoing card workshop lets visitors make a holiday card and have it mailed with a Winterthur postmark, and a Lionel Standard Gauge toy train display runs December 19 and 20 from 10 am to 5 pm. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, with Holiday Nights until 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays starting November 27. Most activities are included with admission. Winterthur is at 5105 Kennett Pike and is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Parent tip: Reserve ahead at my.winterthur.org or 800.448.3883. Plan for December 19 or 20 if your child loves trains.
See dates and details from Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (opens in a new tab)Wilmington: Holidays at Hagley
Holiday craftsHagley Museum and Library · Wilmington
- Host
- Hagley Museum and Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Hagley Museum, Workers' Hill, 200 Hagley Creek Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807
- When
- Friday, November 27, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027 (closes 2 pm Dec 24, closed Dec 25), 10 am to 4 pm
- Cost
- Included with admission; kids 14 and under free
- Ages
- Kids 14 and under free
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holidays at Hagley brings Victorian era Christmas customs to the museum's historic Workers' Hill village. Families can take holiday tours, join festive programs and try hands-on activities, including making Victorian Christmas cards and ornaments to take home.
Gingerbread cookies are baked on a wood-burning stove, and some days add science themed programs, such as Science Saturday: Frosty Forces on December 12. Hours are 10 am to 4 pm, with an early 2 pm close on December 24 and no hours on December 25. It is included with admission, and children 14 and under are free. Hagley is at 200 Hagley Creek Road in Wilmington, and it is open on New Year's week.
Parent tip: Pair a visit with Santa at Hagley on December 5 or the Frosty Forces science day on December 12.
See dates and details from Hagley Museum and Library (opens in a new tab)Wilmington: Santa at Hagley
Santa visitHagley Museum and Library · Wilmington
- Host
- Hagley Museum and Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Hagley Museum, Visitor Center, 200 Hagley Creek Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 am to 2 pm
- Cost
- Included with admission; free for kids 14 and under and members
- Ages
- Kids 14 and under free
- Sign-up
- Recommended
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa comes to Hagley Museum on Saturday, December 5, from 11 am to 2 pm. Families meet him at the Visitor Center and take their own pictures with Santa in front of a holiday scene, so bring a phone or camera.
The visit is included with general admission, and admission is free for children 14 and under and for Hagley members. Advance tickets are available through the museum. The same day falls during Holidays at Hagley, so families can also explore the Victorian Christmas activities on Workers' Hill. Hagley is at 200 Hagley Creek Road in Wilmington, and the visit runs for three hours.
Parent tip: Bring your own camera or phone for the Santa photo. Kids 14 and under get in free.
See dates and details from Hagley Museum and Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Dover
2 confirmed events for kids in Dover, soonest first.
Dover: Capital Holiday Celebration
Tree lightingCity of Dover and Dover Public Library · Dover
- Host
- City of Dover and Dover Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Dover City Hall, Loockerman Plaza, and Dover Public Library, Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE
- When
- Thursday, December 3, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
- Cost
- Free crafts, hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Capital Holiday Celebration opens the season in downtown Dover with an evening of activities around City Hall on Loockerman Plaza and the Dover Public Library. The library hosts holiday crafts for kids and dance performances in its Reading Garden, and the evening builds to the annual tree lighting ceremony. Last year's timeline also included free hot chocolate and cookies, Nutcracker dance demonstrations, carolers, a living nativity at Wesley Church, and Santa arriving by fire truck before settling into his house by the library.
The library lists the event for all ages, which makes it an easy outing for families with kids of any age. Part of the evening is outdoors around the plaza and part is inside the library, so dress for the weather. Crafts and treats were offered while supplies last, so arriving near the 5 pm start gives kids the best chance at both.
Parent tip: Arrive close to 5 pm, since crafts, hot chocolate and cookies are offered while supplies last. Bring a letter for Santa: the library has a mailbox for Santa's mail.
See dates and details from City of Dover and Dover Public Library (opens in a new tab)Dover: Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating)
Holiday story timeKent County Public Library · Dover
- Host
- Kent County Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Kent County Public Library, Atrium, 497 S. Red Haven Ln., Dover, DE 19901
- When
- Fri December 4, Fri December 11 and Fri December 18, 2026, 10 to 11 am
- Cost
- Check the host's page
- Ages
- Ages 6 and under with an adult
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Kent County Public Library in Dover runs a Friday morning preschool story time, and the December sessions carry a holiday decorating theme. Each hour includes stories, songs, crafts and more, held in the library's Atrium from 10 to 11 am on three Fridays in December.
The program is meant for preschoolers ages 6 and under along with their adults, so it suits babies, toddlers and young children who are comfortable in a group setting. A parent or other responsible adult must stay in the library, including during programs, for any child under 16. The listing does not mention registration for families, but groups of five or more are asked to give advance notice. With three dates to choose from, it is an easy indoor activity to fit around a busy December.
Parent tip: An adult must stay with children throughout the program. Groups of five or more should let the library know in advance.
See dates and details from Kent County Public Library (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in New Jersey, Christmas events for kids in Maryland and Christmas events for kids in Washington, DC list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonDelaware Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Delaware in 2026?
We confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Delaware for 2026 on each host’s own page: Yuletide at Winterthur in Winterthur (November 21), Holidays at Hagley in Wilmington (November 27), Capital Holiday Celebration in Dover (December 3), Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating) in Dover (December 4) and Santa at Hagley in Wilmington (December 5). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Wilmington, Delaware?
For families in and around Wilmington, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Yuletide at Winterthur (in Winterthur, Tue to Sun, Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027; Fri and Sat until 8 pm from Nov 27, included with admission; reservations strongly recommended); Holidays at Hagley (Daily, Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, 10 am to 4 pm, included with admission; kids 14 and under free); Santa at Hagley (Sat, Dec 5, 11 am to 2 pm, included with admission; free for kids 14 and under and members). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Wilmington section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Dover, Delaware?
For families in and around Dover, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Capital Holiday Celebration (Thu, Dec 3, 5 to 8 pm, free crafts, hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last); Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating) (Fridays, Dec 4, 11 and 18, 10 to 11 am, see the host for cost). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Dover section of this page.
Where can kids see Santa in Delaware this December?
Santa appears at Capital Holiday Celebration in Dover (December 3) and Santa at Hagley in Wilmington (December 5). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Delaware?
Holiday story times on this page: Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating) in Dover. Library story times are usually free; story times with a meal or show are ticketed.
Which Delaware Christmas events are best for toddlers?
These are aimed at babies, toddlers and preschoolers: Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating) in Dover (Ages 6 and under with an adult).
Are there kids' Christmas events in Delaware on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes: Yuletide at Winterthur in Winterthur (through January 3) and Holidays at Hagley in Wilmington (through January 3).
How much is Yuletide at Winterthur in Winterthur?
Included with admission; reservations strongly recommended. Yuletide at Winterthur is on Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027 (Tuesday to Sunday; Holiday Nights until 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays from Nov 27; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day), 10 am to 5 pm at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Holidays at Hagley in Wilmington?
Included with admission; kids 14 and under free. Holidays at Hagley is on Friday, November 27, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027 (closes 2 pm Dec 24, closed Dec 25), 10 am to 4 pm at Hagley Museum, Workers' Hill. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Capital Holiday Celebration in Dover?
Free crafts, hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last. Capital Holiday Celebration is on Thursday, December 3, 2026, 5 to 8 pm at Dover City Hall, Loockerman Plaza, and Dover Public Library. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
When is Preschool Story Time (Holiday decorating) in Dover in 2026?
Fri December 4, Fri December 11 and Fri December 18, 2026, 10 to 11 am, at Kent County Public Library, Atrium. The host has not posted a price on its page, so check there before you go.
How much is Santa at Hagley in Wilmington?
Included with admission; free for kids 14 and under and members. Santa at Hagley is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 am to 2 pm at Hagley Museum, Visitor Center. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Delaware?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Delaware Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
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