Christmas is a busy season, even more hectic if you have children. There’s choir performances and plays, family gatherings and Christmas parties. Often, it’s easy to get swept away in our full schedule that we forget how precious this Christmas season is.
Make Christmas memories the best way: by taking time to enjoy this season with your children while they’re still young. Who knows? You might catch a hold of that childlike wonder too!
Here are some of the most family-friendly activities in Lancaster County, perfect for memory-making adventures:
1- Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound Theatres
The little town of Bethlehem awaits you, bustling with camels, horses, donkeys and villagers. Savor the sounds of shepherds and angels declaring, “The Savior is born!” as you engage in the greatest birth in history!
Dates: November 7, 2015-January 2, 2016
Tip: Read the Bible story beforehand and let your children act out their interpretation of Jesus’ birth! Bring out the costumes and props for an laughter-inducing time!
2- A Christmas Carol at The Fulton
Enjoy this timeless Charles Dickens’ classic brought to stage at The Fulton!
Complete with a Victorian setting, pop culture references, and a holiday sing-a-long, this charming production will inspire both self-contemplation and holiday cheer!
Dates: November 28-December 26.
3- Dutch Winter Wonderland at Dutch Wonderland
Join the Christmas festivities by enjoying the themed rides and sharing your wish list with Santa while you feast on tasty holiday treats! Watch the enchanting Royal Light Show as sparkling lights dance to cherished holiday tunes.
Dates: Open throughout November-December. Check out their calendar for more details
Tip: Make this trip a party. Invite your friends and their children for a delightful time of socializing and fun!
4- A Night Before Christmas Train at Strasburg Rail Road
Board Strasburg Rail Road for an enchanting train ride. Munch on freshly baked cookies and milk while a reader dressed in Victorian garb reads the traditional poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” 
Back at the station, children can listen to holiday classics in a heated stationary caboose.
Dates: November 27, December 4, 11, 18 with boarding at 6:30 p.m.
5- A Pennsylvania German Christmas at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Embrace Lancaster County’s humble roots with a wagon ride, touring the decorated historic buildings of Landis Valley.
Around a toasty bonfire, sing Christmas carols with the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir. Afterwards, enjoy some cookies and hot cider at the Yellow Barn.
Dates: December 11; 6:30-8 p.m.
Tip: Dress for the cold. By December, temperatures will be low so make sure to layer-up!
6- National Christmas Center Family Attraction and Museum
Explore the Christmases past with this unforgettable holiday experience. Discover the origins of Pennsylvania Christmas traditions and immerse yourself in the life-sized scenes of the first Christmas and Nativity. Complete with a large Christmas tree, Toyland and more!
Dates: Open 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check their website for extended holiday hours.
For most children, Christmas is a time of wonder and joy. Tap into that childlike delight and indulge in some fun activities that your children will remember and talk about for years to come!
Even if you don’t go out to events or activities, enjoy this time of love and laughter for all it’s worth!
