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Christmas with kids in Scranton
In Scranton, the Christmas season begins with a tower and a parade. For decades the tall radio tower on the Times building has been lit on the night before Thanksgiving, and a Santa Parade, a park full of lights and a few train traditions are part of the season.
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The Santa Parade
When: Sat, Nov 21, 9:15 am to about noon
Where: Downtown Scranton (Biden Street and Franklin Avenue to Courthouse Square), Scranton
Cost: Free
The story of Christmas in Scranton
How Scranton celebrates
Scranton's season starts on Thanksgiving Eve, when the 296-foot tower on top of the Times building in downtown Scranton is lit. The tower was first lit in the 1960s, and it stays lit every night through the holidays. The Santa Parade comes first, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and has been held since 1993. It starts at Biden Street and Franklin Avenue and ends at Courthouse Square, with Santa and North Pole characters, floats, twirlers, dancers and marching bands. Since 2004 families have also driven through the Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park.
Christmas last year in Scranton
In 2025 the Santa Parade brought nearly 1,500 marchers and more than 100 vehicles through the streets of downtown Scranton, with music, floats and Santa himself. At Nay Aug Park the Holiday Light Spectacular ran from November 24, 2025 to January 7, 2026, open nightly from 5 to 9 pm. The free drive-through route is about 0.8 miles long with more than 100 light displays, including Santa and his reindeer, toy soldiers, the 12 Days of Christmas and the Electric City sign. Horse-drawn carriage rides ran on select nights, and Santa visited on select weekends.
Fun facts about Christmas in Scranton
Scranton's Christmas tower is 296 feet tall, and in a recent year hundreds of people gathered at its lighting, with more than a dozen food, drink and gift vendors. The Nay Aug light show ends its run on January 7, which the event page labels Russian Christmas. Scranton's Christmas also runs on rails: on one 2026 date, Santa travels by train from Carbondale to Steamtown National Historic Site, stopping at six stations along the way. Electric City Trolley Museum even lets visitors vote for a Christmas tree decorated by Lackawanna County students.
Trains and Christmas in Scranton
Scranton is a railroad town, and Christmas here often arrives on rails. In the 2026 season Santa Train: Christmas in a Small Town Celebration brings Santa by train from Carbondale to Steamtown National Historic Site, stopping at six stations along the way. Steamtown sits in a real Scranton railyard with a working roundhouse and turntable. Next door, Electric City Trolley Museum runs Santa on the Trolley excursions on December weekends, with carols and a visit with Santa. A volunteer group founded in 1973 preserves the former DL&W depots at Moscow.
- Steamtown National Historic Site: A National Park site in a real Scranton railyard, with a working roundhouse and turntable and cars kids can walk through.
- Electric City Trolley Museum: A trolley museum on the Steamtown grounds, where vintage trolleys and a restored mill building tell the story of the Laurel Line.
- Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society: A volunteer group that preserves the former DL&W depots at Moscow, a good stop for families curious about local rail history.
Traditions today
- WEJL Tower Lighting Celebration: On Thanksgiving Eve the 296-foot tower on the Times building is lit, with entertainment, Santa, vendors and fireworks.
- The Santa Parade: A downtown parade of floats, bands, dancers and Santa on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, held since 1993.
- Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park: A free drive-through light show with more than 100 displays, running every year since 2004.
- Santa on the Trolley: Weekend trolley rides at the Electric City Trolley Museum with carols and a visit with Santa.
- Santa Train from Carbondale: Santa rides by train from Carbondale to Steamtown, stopping at six stations along the way.
- Free Nutcracker ballet: Ballet Theatre of Scranton gives free Nutcracker performances at The Theater at North in late November.
A fact for kids
Scranton lights up a tower that is 296 feet tall, higher than a 25-story building. It has been shining at Christmas since the 1960s.
Questions about Christmas in Scranton
What is the biggest Christmas kickoff in Scranton?
The WEJL Tower Lighting on Thanksgiving Eve is the traditional kickoff, followed by the Santa Parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The 296-foot tower on the Times building is lit that night and stays lit every night through the holidays. Entertainment, vendors and fireworks fill downtown.
How tall is the Christmas tower in Scranton?
The tower stands 296 feet tall on top of the Times building in downtown Scranton. It is covered in colored lights, with one report counting nearly 500 lights and another more than 400 bulbs lit during the ceremony. The exact count depends on the report, so treat it as roughly 400 to 500.
When was the Scranton tower first lit for Christmas?
The tower was first lit in the 1960s, according to a 2024 report on the lighting. It has been an annual tradition ever since, held on the night before Thanksgiving. The exact first year was not stated in the report, so we describe it only as the 1960s.
When is the Scranton Santa Parade?
The Santa Parade is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving. In 2026 that is Saturday, November 21, from 9:15 am to about noon in downtown Scranton. It is free to watch. For this year's details, see our Scranton Christmas events guide on this page.
How long has the Scranton Santa Parade been held?
The Santa Parade has been held every year since 1993. It starts at Biden Street and Franklin Avenue and ends at Courthouse Square on Adams Avenue. It is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which makes it one of the first signs of the Christmas season in the city.
What is in the Scranton Santa Parade?
The parade has Santa and North Pole characters, floats, twirlers, dancers and marching bands. It travels from Biden Street and Franklin Avenue to Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. Kids can look for the floats and listen for the bands, and Santa himself comes along at the end of the line.
What happened at the Scranton Santa Parade last year?
In 2025 the parade drew nearly 1,500 marchers and more than 100 vehicles, with music, floats and Santa. The marchers and vehicles moved through the streets of downtown Scranton. The report did not give a count of spectators, so we cannot say how many people watched.
Where can kids watch the Santa Parade in Scranton?
The parade runs through downtown Scranton from Biden Street and Franklin Avenue to Courthouse Square on Adams Avenue. Street parking is limited, but five Central Parking garages are near the route. Our Scranton Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's details.
What is the Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park?
It is a free drive-through light show in Scranton's Nay Aug Park, held every year since 2004. The route is about 0.8 miles with more than 100 displays, including Santa and his reindeer, toy soldiers, the 12 Days of Christmas and the Electric City sign.
When did the Nay Aug Park lights start?
The Holiday Light Spectacular has run annually since 2004. The event page calls it a family tradition. Visitors drive a route of about 0.8 miles past more than 100 displays, and admission is free. Our Scranton Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates.
What happened at Nay Aug Park last Christmas?
The 2025 run lasted from November 24, 2025 to January 7, 2026, open nightly from 5 to 9 pm. Admission and parking were free. Santa visited on select weekends, and horse-drawn carriage rides by Brookvalley Farm ran on select nights on a first-come basis.
Why does the Nay Aug light show end on January 7?
The event page labels January 7 as Russian Christmas, which is when Orthodox Christians celebrate. The Nay Aug display stays up well past January 1, which gives families extra weeks to visit. The light show opened in late November in 2025, so it runs for roughly six weeks, with Santa on select weekends.
Is there a free way to see Christmas lights in Scranton?
Yes. The Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park has free admission and free parking inside the park, and donations are appreciated. Walking is allowed but discouraged because of traffic. Our Scranton Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates.
How do I explain the tower lighting to a toddler?
Tell them that on the night before Thanksgiving, the whole city waits for one very tall tower to turn on its Christmas lights. It is like turning on a giant nightlight for Scranton. Add Santa, music and fireworks, and kids quickly understand it means Christmas is coming.
Does Santa come to the Scranton tower lighting?
Yes. A news report on the tower lighting said entertainment starts at 4 pm and Santa attends, with vendors and crafts. A live broadcast began at 6 pm, and fireworks went off over the city. The lighting takes place on Thanksgiving Eve.
Are there Nutcracker shows for kids in Scranton?
Yes. In 2026, Ballet Theatre of Scranton gives free Nutcracker performances at The Theater at North, November 27 to 29. NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet comes to the Scranton Cultural Center on December 2, and ticketed Scranton Civic Ballet Company shows are December 11 and 12.
What is the Santa Train in Scranton?
The Santa Train: Christmas in a Small Town Celebration is a 2026 event on December 5. Santa travels by train from Carbondale to Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, stopping at six stations along the way. Check our Scranton Christmas events guide on this page for details.
Where can kids see trains near Scranton at Christmas?
Steamtown National Historic Site sits in a real Scranton railyard with a working roundhouse and turntable, and it is the Santa Train's final stop. Electric City Trolley Museum is on the same grounds. The Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society preserves the DL&W depots at Moscow.
What is Santa on the Trolley in Scranton?
Santa on the Trolley is a 45-minute round-trip ride from the Electric City Trolley Museum, with carols and a visit with Santa. In 2026 it runs on weekends from November 28 to December 20. Reservations are required, so plan ahead and check the listing for current availability.
What else can kids see at the trolley museum at Christmas?
At Electric City Trolley Museum, visitors can vote for a Christmas tree decorated by Lackawanna County school students. The museum, on the Steamtown grounds, also tells the story of the Laurel Line trolleys. It is an easy add-on for families who are already visiting Steamtown or riding Santa on the Trolley.
Sources
- The Santa Parade, Visit Lackawanna County
- Lackawanna County Holiday Bucket List, Visit Lackawanna County
- Santa comes to town for annual parade in Scranton, Columbia Scanner
- Region's tallest Christmas tree lit for the holiday season in Scranton, Columbia Scanner
- Scranton Times tower lighting tradition continues for holiday season, WNEP
- Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park, Visit Lackawanna County
- Steamtown National Historic Site, Rally Takes the Train
- Electric City Trolley Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Rally Takes the Train
- Santa on the Trolley Rides, Visit Lackawanna County