Christmas, Hanukkah Events Near Lower Moreland: Light Displays & More

LOWER MORELAND, PA — There is no shortage of things to do in or near Lower Moreland to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree and menorah lightings are just a couple of ways to welcome in the holiday season, and some of those events are taking place right here in Montgomery County:

Wild Lights at the Elmwood Park Zoo, now through Dec. 30, Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown. During the walkthrough, guests can check out animal-inspired light displays and live entertainment.

Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular by Dietz & Watson, now through Dec. 31, The Fairgrounds at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. The event features huge light sculptures and displays powered by more than 1.2 million lights. A skating rink will be a new addition to the festivities this year.

Miracle of Lights: Hanukkah Laser Show With Old York Road Kehillah, Dec. 17 at the Beth Sholom Congregation synagogue in Elkins Park. The laser show that will be presented will help to usher in the holiday season and is being geared to visitors of all ages.

Carnival of Lights, now through Jan. 1 in Pottstown. The western Montgomery County borough will have more than 250,000 lights in sync to your favorite Christmas songs, as well as holiday amusement rights, pictures with Santa Claus and more.

Lansdale Tree Lighting, Dec. 2, Railroad Plaza, 200 E. Main Street, Lansdale. The annual event will feature a tree lighting ceremony, holiday music performed by the North Penn High School Chorus, and an appearance by St. Nick himself.

Menorah Lighting, Dec. 18, Railroad Plaza, 200 E. Main Street, Lansdale. The Horns of Hanukkah will be playing during this year's event.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland; and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in Montgomery County may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big.

While there aren't too many parades in Montgomery County, one parade you might want to catch is the Ambler Holiday Parade, running Dec. 3 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The parade route begins at the Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, 411 Susquehanna Road, Ambler.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story mentioned the defunct Target Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, which no longer takes place.