CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IN PHILADELPHIA RETURN TO LOVE PARK AND CITY HALL WITH A 2020 SOCIALLY DISTANCED LAYOUT

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

Christmas Village in Philadelphia, the authentic open-air German-style Christmas Market at LOVE Park and City Hall, will again return for the 2020 holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Now with a new socially distanced layout, reduced vendor capacity, new safety protocols, and a new separated food area.

For this year, Christmas Village in Philadelphia will see many changes with the health and safety of visitors, tourists, vendors and staff in mind.  Masks and social distancing will be required. Visitors are encouraged to not only wear their masks, follow social distance guidelines, and keep in direction with the new layout, but everyone who visits is asked to join together and ensure their partner, spouse, children, family and friends also do the same and follow the new protocols. 

In accordance with all city and statewide guidelines, Christmas Village in Philadelphia will be set up in a socially distanced and safe way featuring only half the amount of vendors. This year, visitors can still enjoy their favorite European dishes including Bratwurst, Raclette Cheese and Schnitzel, in a fenced-off and crowd-controlled outdoor food court with spacing between tables.

The outdoor shopping area will be set up with a one-way system around the outer limits of LOVE Park for a linear and spaced walking concept allowing proper social distancing. All vendors will be ten feet apart from each other at minimum. Vendors around the outer perimeter will also all face outward toward the street. Waiting areas for access to the food court and shopping will all be socially distanced.

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“After a very challenging year, we are excited to bring back a safe and socially distanced version of Christmas Village in Philadelphia without losing the charm of a traditional European Christmas market,” says Christmas Village President Thomas Bauer. “We are extremely thankful to the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Philadelphia Health Department for their support and guidance to give Philadelphians something positive to look forward to during the holiday season and to bring back a piece of normalcy in 2020.”

Bauer added, “With the changes this year, and with safety as our top priority, we strongly encourage weekday visits this year. With many people working from home and having flexible schedules, we want to remind everyone that we are open seven days a week and there are less crowds Mondays to Thursdays. We are also open during the day time hours during the week, and Christmas Village is a great spot to visit for lunch as well! No matter when you visit, we want to remind everyone to wear their masks and stay at least ‘one Christmas tree length’ (six feet) away from all other guests! Santa will indeed be watching – and the rules will be enforced.”

Dates 2020:
Preview Weekend: November 21 – 22, 2020
First Day: November 26, 2020
Last Day: December 24, 2020

2019 Christmas Village Post

Christmas Village in Philadelphia will again transform LOVE Park (15th and JFK Boulevard) into a traditional, open-air German Christmas Market. Returning for its 12th season, Christmas Village is back again from Thanksgiving Day and will run through Christmas Eve, with a Preview Weekend on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, 2019.

Follow the smell of German gingerbread and Swiss Raclette cheese to Philadelphia’s largest holiday attraction! Look for the 27-foot-tall walk-through holiday gift box The Present illuminating the center of LOVE Park. Enjoy holiday sights and sounds with tens of thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations, live music, and multiple children’s activities. Come ready to shop for high-quality, international and local gifts and decorations. Warm up with a glass of warm mulled wine or hot cocoa while enjoying European foods and drinks. Watch for the return of themed weekends like the German American Weekend and exclusive wine and beer tastings.

An open-air outdoor seating area (The Alm), expanded food offerings, and even more decorations are waiting to bring you the best Christmas feeling ever. Plus, Santa always has a surprise up his sleeve – stay tuned for new additions. In partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Christmas Village will turn LOVE Park into a Holiday wonderland where everyone can feel the joy of Christmas. Admission is always free, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go.

Since debuting in 2008, Christmas Village in Philadelphia has grown into one of the region’s largest and most unique holiday destinations – and one of the largest and most celebrated authentic German Christmas markets in all of America.

Spread some holiday cheer by following @philachristmas on Twitter and Instagram, liking Christmas Village on Facebook and visiting www.philachristmas.com.

CHECK OUT TINSEL & TINE’S COVERAGE FROM LAST YEAR