Christmas Events for Kids in York, PA (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 4 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in York, PA for 2026, and here is what he found: 7 family events, 1 of them free. The magic runs from November 23 (A Motown Christmas) through December 22, with The Polar Express Story Time (December 5) 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 York

  • 7 Christmas events for kids in York
  • 1 free event, including Christmas Tree Clay Pot Craft
  • Also on the list: 1 Christmas show, 5 story times and 1 craft workshop
  • Season: November 23 (A Motown Christmas) to December 22 (Christmas Tree Clay Pot Craft)
  • Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10

Free Christmas events for kids in York

Holiday craftsFree

Christmas Tree Clay Pot Craft

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Kids and teens paint a miniature clay pot and turn it into an ornament to hang on the Christmas tree at home. The library supplies everything needed, and the session is held in the Community Room at Red Land Community Library in Etters, York County.

The craft is on Tuesday, December 22, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 70 Newberry Commons, Etters. It is for ages 6 to 18 and registration is required through the library's event page, which stays open until 5:30 p.m. that day. The listing shows no charge.

Parent tip: Paint is involved, so send kids in clothes that can take a splash. With the program only three days before Christmas, register well ahead instead of relying on the same-day cutoff.

Host
York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)
Address
Red Land Community Library, Community Room (Etters), 70 Newberry Commons, York, PA 17319 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 6 more York events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 5 Story time
  • 4 Trains
  • 2 Breakfast and treats
  • 1 Shows
  • 1 Free

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in York

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Holiday show

A Motown Christmas

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The Motortown All-Stars, a group made up of past and present members of The Miracles and The Contours, pair Motown hits with familiar Christmas songs on the Strand Theatre stage. Expect close harmonies and synchronized dance steps in the classic Motown style, with songs made famous by The Temptations, the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye alongside the carols.

The show is on Monday, November 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Strand Theatre at the Appell Center. Tickets start at $60 and are sold through the Appell Center, which bills it as a show for the whole family.

Parent tip: This is a full evening concert that starts at 7:00 p.m. on a school night, so it suits older children who can stay up and enjoy singing along. At $60 and up per seat, it is one to save for kids who already love music.

Host
Appell Center for the Performing Arts (opens in a new tab)
Address
Strand Theatre, Appell Center for the Performing Arts, 50 N George St, York, PA 17401 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Appell Center for the Performing Arts (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday story time

The Polar Express Storytelling Event

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Storyteller Beth Rebert performs The Polar Express in the Friendship Room at Village Library in Jacobus, York County. Children are invited to come in pajamas and settle in while she brings the train ride to the North Pole to life.

The program is on Monday, November 30, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at Village Library, 35-C North Main Street, Jacobus. The library lists it for preschool and school-age children through grade 5. The page does not mention a fee or registration.

Parent tip: At 45 minutes on a weekday morning, this is the shortest of the county's Polar Express tellings and a good fit for preschoolers. Dress them in pajamas at home so you can walk straight in.

Host
York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)
Address
Village Library, Friendship Room (Jacobus), 35-C North Main Street, York, PA 17407 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday story time

Polar Express with Beth Rebert

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Beth Rebert brings her telling of The Polar Express to Glatfelter Memorial Library in Spring Grove, York County. Kids can wear their pajamas and listen as the story of the Christmas Eve train plays out.

It takes place on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 101 Glenview Road, Spring Grove. All ages are welcome and there is no need to register. An adult has to stay with each child, and the library asks visitors not to wear fragrances.

Parent tip: No sign-up is required, so this is the easy choice if you missed the ticket pickup for the Hanover evenings. The library does not allow drop-offs, so plan to sit with your child for the full hour.

Host
York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)
Address
Glatfelter Memorial Library (Spring Grove), 101 Glenview Road, York, PA 17362 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday story time

The Polar Express Story Time

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Beth Rebert of Fun-In-It Storytelling gives a special performance of Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express at the Glen Rock library in York County. Pajamas are welcome, and the library notes that food will be served.

The story time is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to noon at 32 Main Street, Glen Rock. The library says this program is popular and asks families to be seated before it begins. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The page does not mention a fee or registration.

Parent tip: This is the only weekend telling on the list and the library warns that it fills up, so get there early enough to find seats together. If your child has a food allergy, call the library at (717) 235-1127 beforehand, since food is served.

Host
York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)
Address
Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock, 32 Main St, York, PA 17327 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday story time

Fun-In-It Storytelling: The Polar Express

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Guthrie Memorial Library in Hanover stages an evening Polar Express with storyteller Beth Rebert, complete with golden tickets like the ones in the book. Children come in pajamas for the story, and cookies and hot chocolate are served once it ends.

It runs on two evenings, Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the John and Joan Bare Center at 2 Library Place, Hanover. Seats are reserved by picking up a golden ticket in the Children's Library starting Monday, November 23, and everyone attending needs one, adults included.

Parent tip: Tickets have to be collected in person at the Children's Library from November 23, so go early that week and count every adult and child in your group. Hanover is not in the City of York, so check the drive time for a school night.

Host
York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)
Address
Guthrie Memorial Library, John and Joan Bare Center (Hanover), 2 Library Place, York, PA 17331 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday story time

Story Time with Mrs. Claus

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Mrs. Claus leads a story time of books, songs and play at Collinsville Community Library in Brogue, York County. It is set up for the very youngest listeners, so babies and toddlers are free to wiggle and wander while grown-ups sing along.

The program is on Monday, December 21, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 2632 Delta Road, Brogue. The description aims it at ages 0 to 2 and says no registration is required, while the listing's age groups also include preschool and school-age children. Caregivers stay and take part.

Parent tip: This one is paced for babies and toddlers, so nobody will mind if your little one cannot sit still. Expect to join in the songs yourself, since the library asks caregivers to participate.

Host
York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)
Address
Collinsville Community Library (Brogue), 2632 Delta Road, York, PA 17309 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom York County Libraries (opens in a new tab)

New York events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in York daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in York.

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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 York Christmas event for kids happens

The first is A Motown Christmas in York on November 23; the last runs to December 22. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

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 Brogue, New Cumberland, Lancaster, PA and Camp Hill. 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.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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 Amazon (opens in a new tab)

2026 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 York

Every summer the City of York goes looking for its Christmas tree in someone's yard. The call is for a spruce more than 30 feet tall, which crews cut down, haul through town and stand in Continental Square for the Light Up York ceremony.

How York celebrates

York's season opens downtown with Light Up York, when the community tree in Continental Square, at Market and George streets, is lit on the First Friday of December. The tree is donated each year by a local property owner. The city's 2019 program also lit a menorah and ran from noon into the evening with Santa photos at Martin Library, live reindeer and a model railroad display; the city says the full-day format dates to 2017. Outside downtown, York County Parks has run Christmas Magic, a walk-through light trail at Rocky Ridge County Park, since 1984. In 2024 the ballpark added Bright Nights, a display of more than 3 million lights.

Christmas last year in York

The 2025 tree came from Donal and Sallie Reigart of Springettsbury Township. Crews cut it at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12 and carried it 3.1 miles to Continental Square, where it arrived around 9 a.m. Light Up York followed on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted families at Martin Library from 5:00 p.m., a holiday book was read on the main stage at 5:30, a Hanukkah presentation came at 5:55, and the tree was lit at 6:25 p.m., with family karaoke afterward.

Fun facts about Christmas in York

Christmas Magic began in 1984 with about 10,000 lights and has grown to roughly 600,000 along a half-mile wooded trail. The 2024 community tree traveled nearly 10 miles from Seven Valleys to Continental Square, a trip of about 20 minutes. Bright Nights put a 40-foot tree on the infield at WellSpan Park. During Light Up York, the York County History Center has offered tours of its Colonial Complex on 18th and early 19th century customs, including the Belsnickel.

Traditions today

  • Light Up York: The city lights its community Christmas tree in Continental Square on the First Friday of December, with Santa, music and food vendors.
  • The donated community tree: Each year a York County property owner donates a tall spruce, and residents are invited to watch it arrive in the square in mid-November.
  • Santa at Martin Library: Santa has greeted children at Martin Library during Light Up York, joined by Mrs. Claus in 2025.
  • Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge: York County Parks strings about 600,000 lights along a half-mile walking trail at Rocky Ridge County Park, a tradition begun in 1984.
  • Bright Nights at WellSpan Park: Starting in 2024, York's ballpark has hosted a walk-through display of more than 3 million lights with a tall tree on the infield.
  • Colonial Complex holiday tours: The York County History Center has opened its Colonial Complex on West Market Street for tours about early Pennsylvania holiday customs such as the Belsnickel.

A fact for kids

York's Christmas tree starts out growing in a neighbor's yard. In 2025 it was cut down at 7:15 in the morning and standing in the middle of downtown by about 9 o'clock.

Questions about Christmas in York

Where is York's community Christmas tree?

It stands in Continental Square, where Market and George streets cross in downtown York. The tree goes up in mid-November and is decorated for the lighting ceremony at Light Up York. The city has invited residents to come to the square early in the morning to watch it arrive.

When is Light Up York in 2026?

The City of York has said its 2026 tree will be lit on Friday, December 4, as part of Light Up York. That fits the pattern of holding the ceremony on First Friday in December, as in 2024 on December 6 and 2025 on December 5. Times for 2026 were not in the announcement.

Where does York's Christmas tree come from?

A local property owner donates it. In 2025 the tree came from Donal and Sallie Reigart of Springettsbury Township, and in 2024 from Lori Floyd of Seven Valleys. The city's 2019 Light Up York page credits Robin Hildebrand with donating the 2018 tree and Kinsley Construction with removing and delivering it.

How does York choose its Christmas tree?

The city puts out a public call. In June 2026 it asked for a spruce more than 30 feet tall to stand in Continental Square and said the tree would be removed at no cost to the owner. Residents with a candidate were asked to phone the city with their details.

What happened at Light Up York in 2025?

It ran on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Continental Square. Food trucks and vendors opened at 5:00, Santa and Mrs. Claus were at Martin Library, and the stage held a holiday book reading and a Hanukkah presentation before the tree lighting at 6:25 p.m.

When did Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge begin?

Christmas Magic started in 1984. According to York County Parks staff interviewed on The Spark, it began during an energy crunch that was limiting holiday decorating, and the county commissioners and parks department launched a display of about 10,000 lights. It has since grown to about 600,000.

What is Christmas Magic like for families?

Visitors walk a half-mile trail through the woods at Rocky Ridge County Park, passing lights and holiday scenes. York County Parks runs it, and staff and volunteers spend about a year planning each season, changing the themes while reusing many of the same props. It has been closed on December 24 and 25.

What is Bright Nights in York?

Bright Nights is a holiday light walk at WellSpan Park, York's ballpark. Downtown Inc announced it as a new event for 2024, with more than 3 million lights, a route that crosses the playing field, a 40-foot tree on the infield, and visits from Santa on many nights.

Has Light Up York always been an evening event?

No. The city's 2019 page describes a noon to 7:00 p.m. day with a 5:00 p.m. lighting, and says the expansion to a full day in 2017 was funded by the Cultural Alliance of York County. The 2025 edition was an evening event from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Does York mark Hanukkah at its tree lighting?

Yes. The 2019 Light Up York ceremony lit both the city Christmas tree and a Chanukah menorah in Continental Square. In 2025 the main stage schedule included a Hanukkah presentation at 5:55 p.m., half an hour before the tree was lit.

Sources

  1. "Light up York" to Illuminate Continental Square with Holiday Traditions, Family Fun, and Community Celebration, City of York
  2. Light Up York, City of York
  3. City of York Begins Searching for Its 2026 Christmas Tree, City of York
  4. York Community Christmas Tree Arrives, City of York
  5. York City celebrates arrival of community Christmas Tree, WHTM abc27 via Yahoo News
  6. 41 Seasons of Christmas Magic in York County, The Spark
  7. Downtown York's Holiday Season Gets 3 Million Times Brighter, Downtown Inc
  8. Light Up Night, York County History Center

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.

York Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids around York to start with?

The Polar Express tellings by storyteller Beth Rebert are a good place to begin. York County Libraries hosts them in Jacobus on November 30, Spring Grove on December 1, Glen Rock on December 5, and Hanover on December 14 and 15, 2026. Children are invited to wear pajamas to each one.

Which York-area holiday events need tickets or sign-up?

A Motown Christmas at the Appell Center on November 23, 2026 is a ticketed concert. The Hanover Polar Express evenings on December 14 and 15 need a golden ticket for each person, available from November 23. The Christmas Tree Clay Pot Craft in Etters on December 22 requires registration.

Are there free Christmas events for kids near York?

The Christmas Tree Clay Pot Craft at Red Land Community Library on December 22, 2026 is listed at no charge, with supplies provided and registration required. The other library story times do not list a price on their pages, and the Spring Grove and Brogue programs need no registration.

Is there a holiday show in downtown York for families?

Yes. A Motown Christmas plays the Strand Theatre at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, November 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The Motortown All-Stars mix Motown hits with Christmas favorites. Tickets start at $60, and the venue describes it as a family-oriented show.

Where can very young children enjoy a Christmas story time?

Story Time with Mrs. Claus at Collinsville Community Library in Brogue on Monday, December 21, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. is aimed at babies and toddlers up to age 2. Moving around is fine, caregivers sing along, and no registration is required.

Are the library events in the City of York itself?

No. The six York County Libraries programs listed here are at branches in Jacobus, Spring Grove, Glen Rock, Hanover, Brogue and Etters, all in York County outside the city. A Motown Christmas on November 23, 2026 is the one event downtown, at 50 North George Street.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids near York?

Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Pennsylvania Christmas train rides guide. This York 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.

Kelsey Cecil
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