Where to see Christmas lights in Philadelphia

While our dream of a white Christmas may not come true this year, we can still enjoy the inflatable snowmen, prancing reindeer and icicle lights decorating homes, shops, streets and parks all over the city.Whether you like it classy or over-the-top, check out these top spots for holiday décor.

Miracle on South 13th Street

Does anyone get more into the Christmas spirit than the people who live on the 1600 block of South 13th? Almost every single house on the South Philly strip, set between Tasker and Morris, goes all out with lights, Santas, sleighs, reindeer, North Poles and more, earning this block a place on more than one list of best neighborhood decorations in the country.

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Twinkling white lights

We’ve ben gifted with a rare combination this year: The oversized Christmas tree in Rittenhouse Square complemented by hundreds of festive white globes hanging from trees throughout the park, plus weather that lets us kick back on a bench in the evening and comfortably take it all in. Nearby, still in the Rittenhouse neighborhood, check out quiet Addison Street — the trees lining the narrow street are always strung with lights, but they’ve been recently redone and feel just madefor the holidays.

Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle

Ben Franklin would be proud of the holiday festival in his namesake square at Sixth and Race streets, which includes nightly light shows running every 30 minutes between 4:30 and 8 p.m. The lights—all 50,000 of them —are choreographed to seasonal tunes. Before the show, take a spin on the carousel, warm up with a cocoa at the pop-upBen’s Bites & Brew, or browse the holiday market.

Holidays on the Hill

Quaint Chestnut Hill keeps it classic with strings of white lights, garlands and Victorian-style carolers. Every Wednesday night in December is “Stag and Doe Night,” with shops staying open until 9 p.m. and visits from Santa. On Sundays, Santa brings along his elves.