Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in West Chester for 2026, and here is what he found: 10 family events. The magic runs from November 27 (Art Workshop: Nutcracker Painting) through December 28, with Uptown Studio Annual Holiday Cheer Concert (from December 4), Irving Berlin's White Christmas (from December 5) and Screen to Stage: A Holiday Dance Celebration (December 12) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Pennsylvania Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in West Chester
- 10 Christmas events for kids in West Chester
- Also on the list: 9 Christmas shows and 1 craft workshop
- Season: November 27 (Art Workshop: Nutcracker Painting) to December 28 (How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000))
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
What are you looking for?
All 10 events
Nothing matches yet. Try another kind of event, or .
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 9 more West Chester events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in West Chester.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in West Chester before they fill up.
- Start your magical Christmas season now Every event appears the moment you enter your email.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Waiting inside
- 9 Shows
- 1 Crafts
Enter your email and all will appear instantly.
The Christmas magic awaits
Enter your email to get Christmas event notifications all season long and unlock the details on 9 Christmas events in West Chester.
- New events in West Chester every week
- Exclusive access to free events
- Your magical Christmas season starts now
- Christmas Eve Express and free advent calendar
- One-tap add to calendar
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in West Chester
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday crafts
Art Workshop: Nutcracker Painting
- When: Fri November 27 (11 am to 12:30 pm) and Fri November 27 (12:30 to 2 pm), 2026 (Two sessions on Black Friday; register for one.)
- Where: Design Life Kids, 1502 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $30 per registration
- Ages: All ages welcome; drop-off for ages 7 and up
Expand to see the parent tip
Each participant gets a 14-inch wooden nutcracker to paint and decorate however they like, with every supply laid on by the shop. Adults are welcome to paint too, and children aged 7 and up can be dropped off at no extra charge while parents go elsewhere.
The workshop is on Friday, November 27, 2026, with a choice of two sessions: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. It costs $30, and one registration covers one nutcracker. Bookings are made on the shop's website and all sales are final.
Parent tip: Drop-off starts at age 7, so plan to stay and help if your child is younger. Sales are final and each registration covers a single nutcracker, so book one per painter and be sure of your Black Friday plans before you pay.
- Host
- Design Life Kids (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Design Life Kids, 1502 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 9 more West Chester events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in West Chester.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in West Chester before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 9 Shows
- 1 Crafts
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in West Chester every week.
Holiday show
Uptown Studio Annual Holiday Cheer Concert
- When: Fri December 4 (5 pm) and Sat December 5 (1 pm), 2026 (Two performances, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.)
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $28 adults, $25 students; members $23 and $20
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
The young singers of Uptown Studio take the stage for their yearly holiday concert, mixing traditional Christmas songs with newer seasonal numbers and some pop and R&B. Four groups perform: The Uptown Singers, The Singing Artists, The Singing Academy and the youngest of all, the Broadway Kiddos.
There are two performances, Friday, December 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 5 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for students, or $23 and $20 for Uptown members, with fees included. Uptown notes that the Friday concert finishes in good time for the West Chester Christmas Parade at 7:00 p.m.
Parent tip: If you want to pair the concert with the parade, choose Friday at 5:00 p.m. and stay downtown afterward. For little ones who fade by evening, the Saturday 1:00 p.m. show is the calmer choice.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
- When: Sat December 5 (7:30 to 9:45 pm), Sun December 6 (3:30 to 5:45 pm), Fri December 11 (7:30 to 9:45 pm), Sat December 12 (7:30 to 9:45 pm), Sun December 13 (3:30 to 5:45 pm), Fri December 18 (7:30 to 9:45 pm), Sat December 19 (7:30 to 9:45 pm), Sun December 20 (3:30 to 5:45 pm), Sat December 26 (7:30 to 9:45 pm) and Sun December 27 (3:30 to 5:45 pm), 2026 (Ten performances from December 5 to 27: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. About 2 hours 15 minutes including intermission. Sunday, December 6 is Community Day.)
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $46 to $61 (members $41 to $56); Community Day on December 6 is $28
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Revival Productions stages the Broadway musical about two former Army friends, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who join a pair of singing sisters at a snowy inn in Vermont. The score is all Irving Berlin, including Blue Skies, I Love a Piano, How Deep Is the Ocean and the title song, with large dance numbers throughout.
The show runs December 5 to 27, 2026, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:30 p.m. Non-member tickets are $51 for adults and $46 for students in standard seats, or $61 and $56 in premium seats, and members pay $5 less. The Sunday, December 6 Community Day performance has $28 tickets and open captioning.
Parent tip: At about two and a quarter hours with an intermission, the 7:30 p.m. shows end near 9:45 p.m., so the 3:30 p.m. Sunday matinees are the better fit for children. The December 6 Community Day matinee is also the lowest priced performance.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
The Polar Express
- When: Monday, December 7, 2026, 7 to 8:40 pm (Film screening. The lounge bar opens at 6:00 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:00 p.m.)
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $7 per ticket
- Ages: Rated G
Expand to see the parent tip
Uptown shows the animated film The Polar Express on its big screen. Based on the Chris Van Allsburg picture book and featuring Tom Hanks, it follows a boy with doubts about Santa who climbs aboard a mysterious train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
The screening is on Monday, December 7, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. The film is rated G and runs 1 hour 40 minutes. Tickets are $7 with fees included, and the theater's lounge bar opens at 6:00 p.m. for anyone arriving early.
Parent tip: With a 7:00 p.m. start and a 100 minute running time, the film lets out around 8:40 p.m. on a school night. That is fine for older children but late for preschoolers, so plan an early dinner and a quick exit.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
- When: Thursday, December 10, 2026, 10 to 11:26 am (Weekday morning film screening.)
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $5 per ticket
- Ages: Rated PG
Expand to see the parent tip
This is a morning screening of the 2018 animated Grinch from Illumination, with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the grump who dresses as Santa to steal Whoville's Christmas. Uptown is presenting it together with The Nest West Chester, a local space for mothers and children.
It screens on Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. The film is rated PG and lasts 1 hour 26 minutes. Tickets cost $5 with fees included and are sold through Uptown.
Parent tip: A 10:00 a.m. Thursday start suits families with children who are not yet in school. At under an hour and a half, it is a manageable first trip to a theater for a toddler or preschooler.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
Screen to Stage: A Holiday Dance Celebration
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2:30 pm
- Where: Stetson Middle School, 1060 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Tickets sold online; no price listed on the ticket page
Expand to see the parent tip
West Chester Dance Works presents its holiday dance show under the title Screen to Stage. The studio's ticket page gives the title, date and place but no program details, so ask the studio if you want to know which pieces are being danced.
The performance is on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. at Stetson Middle School on Wilmington Pike. Tickets are sold through the studio's online ticket page, which does not show prices or a running time up front.
Parent tip: The ticket page does not give a running time, so check with the studio before bringing very young children. A 2:30 p.m. Saturday start is otherwise an easy slot for families.
- Host
- West Chester Dance Works (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Stetson Middle School, 1060 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
Cartoon Christmas Trio
- When: Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 6:30 pm
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $36; $31 for members
Expand to see the parent tip
A jazz trio of piano, double bass and drums plays the music from classic animated Christmas specials, above all Vince Guaraldi's score for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Formed in 1995 and now in its 31st season, the trio is joined here by young singers from the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and baritone Grant Youngblood.
The concert is on Tuesday, December 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $36, or $31 for Uptown members, with fees included.
Parent tip: The 6:30 p.m. start is an hour earlier than Uptown's other December concerts listed here, which helps on a school night. Children who know the Charlie Brown special will recognize the tunes, so watching it at home first makes the evening more fun.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
A Crooner's Christmas
- When: Thursday, December 17, 2026, 7:30 pm
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $51; $46 for members
Expand to see the parent tip
Singer Ace Mangano fronts the Hollywood Regency Big Band in a concert of mid-century Christmas standards. The set list draws on songs linked with Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and Perry Como, from slow ballads to swing numbers.
The concert is on Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost $51, or $46 for members, with fees included.
Parent tip: This is an evening big band concert rather than a children's show, with a 7:30 p.m. start on a school night. It suits older kids and teens who enjoy the classic Christmas records, or a night out with grandparents.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
The Nutcracker
- When: Fri December 18 (6 pm), Sat December 19 (11 am), Sat December 19 (4 pm), Sun December 20 (11 am) and Sun December 20 (4 pm), 2026 (Five public performances over three days. A 10:00 a.m. show on Friday, December 18 is reserved for student and senior groups; public tickets for it may be released closer to the date.)
- Where: Asplundh Hall, West Chester University, 700 S High St, West Chester, PA 19382 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $30, $40 or $50 depending on section
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Brandywine Ballet dances its yearly Nutcracker to Tchaikovsky's score at Asplundh Hall on the West Chester University campus. Clara and her Uncle Drosselmeyer face the Mouse King, pass through a forest of dancing snowflakes and reach the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy presents a parade of sweet-themed dances.
Public performances are Friday, December 18, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20 at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Seats are $50 in Section A, $40 in Section B and $30 in Section C. A Friday 10:00 a.m. show is set aside for student and senior groups.
Parent tip: The 11:00 a.m. weekend shows are the easiest for small children, before afternoon tiredness sets in. The ballet notes that its Friday morning group performance has sold out three years running, so do not count on public seats appearing for that one.
- Host
- Brandywine Ballet (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Asplundh Hall, West Chester University, 700 S High St, West Chester, PA 19382 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- When: Monday, December 28, 2026, 7 to 8:44 pm (Film screening.)
- Where: Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $7 per ticket
- Ages: Rated PG
Expand to see the parent tip
Uptown screens the live-action Grinch from 2000, with Jim Carrey as the green recluse of Mount Crumpit who disguises himself as Santa to strip Whoville of its presents and decorations. Meeting kind Cindy Lou Who, played by Taylor Momsen, starts to change his mind about the holiday.
The film shows on Monday, December 28, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. It is rated PG and runs 1 hour 44 minutes. Tickets are $7 with fees included.
Parent tip: The film ends at about 8:45 p.m., so plan for a late night. The live-action Grinch is rated PG and can look scarier to small children than the cartoon versions, so it suits school-age kids best.
- Host
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New West Chester events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in West Chester daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in West Chester.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Pennsylvania Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each West Chester Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Art Workshop: Nutcracker Painting in West Chester on November 27; the last runs to December 28. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Art Workshop: Nutcracker PaintingWest Chester · Nov 27
- Uptown Studio Annual Holiday Cheer ConcertWest Chester · Dec 4 to Dec 5
- Irving Berlin's White ChristmasWest Chester · Dec 5 to Dec 27
- The Polar ExpressWest Chester · Dec 7
- Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)West Chester · Dec 10
- Screen to Stage: A Holiday Dance CelebrationWest Chester · Dec 12
- Cartoon Christmas TrioWest Chester · Dec 15
- A Crooner's ChristmasWest Chester · Dec 17
- The NutcrackerWest Chester · Dec 18 to Dec 20
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)West Chester · Dec 28
Looking further afield? Our Pennsylvania Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Malvern, Kennett Square, Wayne and King of Prussia. 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 ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in West Chester
In the 1940s, Santa's helper in West Chester was a local plasterer named Warren Mercer, who each November put on the red suit and climbed a fire truck ladder into the toy floor of Mosteller's Department Store. His suit and the letters children wrote to him are now kept at the Chester County History Center. Today the season opens with a tree lighting at the old county courthouse and a parade after dark.
How West Chester celebrates
Christmas arrived slowly here. Pennsylvania began as a Quaker colony, and County Lines Magazine notes that Chester County took up holiday festivities later than Philadelphia or Lancaster. By the 1920s, Mosteller's Department Store was turning its third floor into Santa's Toyland, and West Chester University first presented its Holiday Program in 1921. The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce started the Christmas parade in 1979, and it now follows a tree lighting at the Historic Chester County Courthouse on a Friday evening in early December. Brandywine Ballet has danced The Nutcracker every season since 1985, and a downtown Christkindlmarkt has joined the calendar more recently.
Christmas last year in West Chester
The 2025 parade and tree lighting took place on Friday, December 5, with the tree lit at 6:30 p.m. and the parade at 7:00 p.m.; organizers expected nearly 26,000 spectators. A new 28-foot tree with 150 branches and 20,000 lights made its debut on the courthouse lawn, only the second artificial tree in the borough's history. A first-ever combined West Chester Area School District marching band won the high school band competition, Lasko Products took the commercial float award and Westminster Presbyterian Church the nonprofit award. The 6th annual Christkindlmarkt followed on Saturday, December 13, with more than 100 vendors.
Fun facts about Christmas in West Chester
The parade covers about one mile through the historic district. In 2014, shopping channel QVC, which is headquartered in West Chester, broadcast the parade for a second year running, and public radio reported that USA Today had named it one of the 10 best places to see Santa. About 100,000 lights decorate the downtown blocks during Lights Up Holiday Weekends. The previous artificial tree at the courthouse was bought in 2006.
Traditions today
- West Chester Christmas Parade: Presented by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce since 1979, the Friday night parade brings marching bands, floats and Santa through the historic district.
- Courthouse tree lighting: The tree on the lawn of the Historic Chester County Courthouse is lit at 6:30 p.m., half an hour before the parade steps off.
- Lights Up Holiday Weekends: From Black Friday into early January, downtown blocks sponsored by local businesses are strung with about 100,000 lights.
- Christkindlmarkt: A one-day outdoor market on the historic streets, held for the sixth time in December 2025 with more than 100 vendors of handcrafted goods.
- Santa's Express: The West Chester Railroad runs a 75-minute round trip from Market Street Station to Glen Mills with Santa visiting every passenger on board.
- West Chester University Holiday Program: The university's music school has presented this concert since 1921, with the 105th edition set for December 5, 2026.
A fact for kids
In December 1877 a West Chester sweetshop run by Lydia Ann Pyle, known as the queen of confections, advertised more than a thousand pounds of candy toys. They were shaped like ribbons, insects and trains.
Questions about Christmas in West Chester
When did the West Chester Christmas Parade start?
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce started the parade in 1979 and has presented it ever since. A public radio story counted the 2014 edition as the 35th. It is held on a Friday evening in early December and follows a route of about one mile through the historic district.
When is the West Chester Christmas Parade in 2026?
It is set for Friday, December 4, 2026. The tree lighting begins at 6:30 p.m. on the High Street steps of the Historic Chester County Courthouse, and the parade starts at 7:00 p.m. and should finish around 8:30 p.m. It is free, needs no tickets and goes ahead rain or shine.
How many people come to the West Chester Christmas Parade?
The Chamber says about 20,000 people of all ages attend each year, and it expected nearly 26,000 in 2025. In 2024 the lineup included more than 3,000 participants and 87 parade elements. A 2014 report said the parade had grown from a crowd of roughly 500 about nine years earlier.
Where is West Chester's Christmas tree?
It stands on the lawn of the Historic Chester County Courthouse on High Street. The current tree, new in 2025, is about 28 feet tall with 150 branches and 20,000 white LED lights. It is only the second artificial tree in the borough's history; the earlier one was bought in 2006.
Has the West Chester parade been shown on television?
Yes. In 2014 the shopping channel QVC, which has its headquarters in West Chester, broadcast the parade live for the second year and planned to air an edited version on Christmas Day. The channel built a set downtown near the historic courthouse and bank buildings for its hosts.
How did early West Chester celebrate Christmas?
Quietly. Pennsylvania was founded as a Quaker colony, and Quakers did not mark Christmas with gifts. County Lines Magazine writes that in the late 1700s and early 1800s there were no decorated trees or piles of toys, and that Chester County adopted Christmas festivities more slowly than Philadelphia and Lancaster did.
Who was Lydia Ann Pyle?
She ran a well known sweetshop on West Gay Street in West Chester in the 1800s and was called the queen of confections. By December 1877 her shop advertised over a thousand pounds of candy toys. She also sold exotic fruit packed as gifts and gave bread to people in need.
Where did West Chester children meet Santa in the past?
At Mosteller's Department Store. From the 1920s its third floor became Santa's Toyland, where children queued to share their wishes. By the 1940s a local plasterer, Warren Mercer, played Santa's helper and climbed a fire truck ladder to reach it. A 1949 photograph shows Mosteller's own Christmas parade.
What is Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester?
It is the downtown lighting program that surrounds the parade, named for its sponsor, Chester County Hospital. About 100,000 lights go up on blocks sponsored by local businesses. In the 2025 season it ran from Black Friday, November 28, to January 4, with carolers in Victorian dress strolling on weekends.
Does West Chester have a Christmas market?
Yes, the Christkindlmarkt. The sixth annual market was held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the borough's historic streets, with more than 100 vendors of handcrafted and locally designed goods. It is presented by the West Chester Downtown Foundation.
Is there a Christmas train in West Chester?
Yes. The West Chester Railroad runs Santa's Express from Market Street Station to Glen Mills and back, a 75-minute round trip on which Santa visits each passenger. Local news lists 11 operating dates for 2026, from November 21 to December 20. A separate Christmas Tree Train carries families to a tree farm.
What is the oldest holiday concert in West Chester?
Among the events found for this page, the longest running is West Chester University's Holiday Program, first presented in 1921. The Wells School of Music stages the 105th edition on Saturday, December 5, 2026. Brandywine Ballet's Nutcracker is another long runner, danced every holiday season since 1985.
Sources
- West Chester Christmas Parade to Attract Nearly 26,000 Spectators, MyChesCo
- West Chester Borough Prepares for Christkindlmarkt and More This Weekend, MyChesCo
- Applications Now Open for 2026 West Chester Christmas Parade Inspired By America250, MyChesCo
- West Chester Christmas Parade Returns With More Bands and Holiday Magic, MyChesCo
- All-Star Lineup for West Chester Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting During Borough's 225th Anniversary Year This Friday, MyChesCo
- Reinvigorated West Chester Christmas parade gets TLC from QVC, WHYY
- Brandywine Stories: Christmas Past in Chester County, County Lines Magazine
- The 2025 West Chester Holiday Event Guide, Hello, West Chester
- West Chester University Celebrates 105 Years of Holiday Music, MyChesCo
- Santa's Express Brings Holiday Magic to West Chester Railroad, MyChesCo
- Santa's Express, West Chester Railroad
- Christmas Tree Train, West Chester Railroad
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Pennsylvania city.
West Chester Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for young kids in West Chester?
For the youngest, start with the morning screening of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018) at Uptown on Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., which runs under an hour and a half. The Uptown Studio Holiday Cheer Concert on December 4 and 5 features child performers, and the nutcracker painting workshop at Design Life Kids is on November 27.
Are there free or low cost holiday events for kids in West Chester?
None of the events listed here is described as free by its organizer. The lowest prices are the Uptown film screenings: $5 for The Grinch (2018) on December 10, 2026, and $7 each for The Polar Express on December 7 and How the Grinch Stole Christmas on December 28. White Christmas has a $28 Community Day on December 6.
Where can kids see Santa in West Chester?
None of these listings is a sit-down Santa visit, but Uptown's concert page points families to the West Chester Christmas Parade on Friday, December 4, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. It describes floats, marching bands and a visit from Santa Claus in downtown West Chester, straight after the 5:00 p.m. Holiday Cheer Concert.
What holiday shows are on in West Chester this season?
Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center has Irving Berlin's White Christmas from December 5 to 27, 2026, the Cartoon Christmas Trio on December 15 and A Crooner's Christmas on December 17. Brandywine Ballet dances The Nutcracker at Asplundh Hall from December 18 to 20, and West Chester Dance Works presents Screen to Stage on December 12.
Which West Chester Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?
All of them. The nutcracker painting workshop on November 27, 2026 needs a $30 registration for one of two sessions. Uptown's concerts, musical and films are ticketed, as is Brandywine Ballet's Nutcracker, where seats are $30 to $50 by section. Screen to Stage tickets are sold through the dance studio's online ticket page.
Can we see a holiday show and the Christmas parade on the same night?
Yes. Uptown says its Holiday Cheer Concert on Friday, December 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ends with plenty of time to reach the West Chester Christmas Parade, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The Uptown Studio also has a float in the parade, so the young singers' families can cheer it on.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near West Chester?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Pennsylvania Christmas train rides guide. This West Chester guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows 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 10, 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.