Holiday Kickoff: Winter Festivities

Picture of group of people huddled around a fire pit roasting marshmallows at the Nickle Plate Christmas Village s'more station! The holiday countdown is on: it’s time to fa-la-la-la-la the heck out of the Susquehanna River Valley. Fortunately, the region has festive activities overflowing with feel-good holiday vibes: tree lightings, drive through holiday light displays, holiday-themed shops, late night shopping events (with childcare!), holiday festivals, and hometown parades, to name a few.

Extra bonus: many of these events are low-cost (pack as many people into your car as possible for the drive through holiday light displays!) – we recognize that everyone is pinching pennies this time of year.

Drive Through Holiday Light Displays

Personally, it doesn’t feel like the holidays without a trip to Knoebels for Joy Through the Grove or Little Mexico Campground for Valley of Lights for their epic holiday light displays. The best part? They can both be enjoyed from the warmth of your car.

Here are some insider tips for each:

Knoebels: Joy Through the Grove

Open from November 28 through December 31 (Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), entry fees vary based on the day of the week. Monday through Thursday it’s $20 and Friday through Sunday it’s $25.

Pro tip: pack as many people into your vehicle as you can for this one, because it’s the same price. Please note that any day of the week, 9+ passenger vehicles cost $40 and buses and motorcoaches are not permitted.

This jaw-dropping light experience operates rain or shine, and truthfully, going on a rainy or snowy night can be a real treat – expect shorter lines AND the displays look really lovely as they glisten.

The drive through display is about one and a half miles long. The total amount of time driving through the display depends on the crowds and rate of speed, but you can plan on 30 minutes. There are several pull-offs along the route if you need them.

Picture of kids sitting with Santa & Cosmo at a Nickle Plate Bar & Grill Christmas Village event. A fun, free add-on: Download the Sunbury Broadcasting app to enjoy a custom Knoebels music station designed just for your journey.

Traveling with kids? Take note: not surprisingly, Knoebels offers a variety of yummy (and glitzy) add-ons at the gate, so prepare yourself accordingly. Hot chocolate in souvenir mugs, kettle corn, caramel popcorn, fudge samplers, Bavarian nuts, chocolate covered pretzels, cotton candy, hot dogs (Monday-Wednesday), and misfit munch are all for sale and widely promoted as soon as you enter the wait line. They also have novelties like light up bulb necklaces and tree wands, magic glasses and other tchotchkes. These items can quickly add up to 20 bucks or more, so consider packing a few of your own goodies and buying just one item to stay on budget.

Knoebels offers several promo nights:

On Monday, December 1 and 8, receive a travel mug with hot cocoa for just $5.
On Tuesday, December 2 and 9 get a free $5 book of ride tickets.
On Wednesday, December 3 and 10, pick up a hot dog for just $1 while supplies last.
On Thursday, December 4 and 11, get a free Christmas Village s'mores kit.

Picture of Christmas Village at Nickle Plate Bar & Grill near Knoebels Amusement Resort and the Joy through the Grove Christmas lights drive through. After the light display, don’t forget to stop by Christmas Village at Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Course to snap a photo with Santa, find your perfect Christmas tree, explore the Christmas gift shop, and indulge in festive treats like s’mores.

If you’re traveling with small kiddos, know that Knoebels offers portable toilets within the main parking lot, but once you travel beyond the admissions building, you cannot exit your vehicle, including to access restrooms. At the end of the experience they have a convenience area where guests can use portable toilets and prepare for highway travel, and rebuckle the kiddos.

Little Mexico Campground: Valley of Lights

Open from November 28 through December 31 (closed Christmas Day), entry is $15 for cars, trucks, SUVs and vans seating up to 7 people and $20 for vans, SUVs and buses that seat 8-15 people. Note: this festive event is CASH ONLY, so plan ahead. Mondays are $5 off, which is a sweet bonus.

While the holiday light display is smaller than Knoebels, Little Mexico Campground offers a wonderful experience with a charming down home, family feel. The setting for the light show can’t be beat – it’s located along a quaint stretch of Penns Creek, right along the campground. There’s also a fun photo op at the end where you can get out of your car, snap a quick picture, and get back in your car. Picture of snowy scene at the Valley of Lights drive through at Little Mexico Campground.

Local backyard tourist Johanna Kodlick said, “They give out candy canes at the entrance and there’s a radio station for music to go with the lights. Some years they have a little shed where they sell hot cocoa and baked goods and have crafts for little kids.”

Crafts are $5 per kit, letters to Santa are $5, and prices vary at the Snack Shack.

Another unique add-on? On Thursdays and Sundays until Christmas Day, they offer a haywagon ride for just $5 per person (kids 2 and under are free).

Kodlick said, “It looks so lovely as you approach and are leaving the campground with the Christmas lights aglow and the little bridge that crosses the creek.”

Snap some pics and tag us on social media @SusquehannaRiverValley or #ExploreSRV.

Tree Lightings and Late Night Shopping Events

Most towns in the Susquehanna River Valley offer holiday tree lightings, typically in the first few days following Thanksgiving or in the first week of December.

Some downtowns, like Lewisburg, also offer a Late Shoppers Night (Dec. 5) in conjunction with the tree lighting. This year, the Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority (BVRA) will host a Parents Night Out, so plan to drop the kiddos off at their gymnastics space and enjoy kid-free shopping from 6-8:30 pm for $20. Pre registration is required.

BVRA typically offers this Parents Night Out opportunity twice a month, on the second and fourth Saturdays, from 6-8:30 pm. This is for ages 3 (or potty trained) and up and is $20 per child. Upcoming dates are Saturday, November 22, December 13 and 20. Again, pre registration is required.

Pictures with the 2025 Tree Lightings & Late Night Shopping Dates listed.

Holiday-Themed Shops

If you missed the last blog post, let’s take a few moments to revisit Kohl’s Stony Hill Tree Farm and their amazing Christmas Shoppe! Imagine 100,000 ornaments in one place, plus 600 vintage Christmas tree stands, and you’ll get a glimpse of what Kohls has to offer. In fact, the tree stands collection is even recognized by Guinness Book of World Records! In addition to ornaments of every theme, the Shoppe also has lights, stockings, nutcrackers, magnets, tree skirts, table top figurines, sleigh bells, wall hangings, and on and on.

As an active and thriving tree farm, Kohl’s has the freshest trees in a variety of types, or you can choose and cut your own tree. They boast 30,000 trees on their farm including trees ranging from 4 feet to 10 feet tall in four popular species: Douglas Fir, Concolor (my favorite – they smell like citrus!), Frasier Fir, and Blue Spruce.

Tip: wear appropriate shoes and dress accordingly if you’re going to trek through the tree farm in search of your own Clark Griswold-worthy evergreen. And don’t forget a saw!

Kohl’s also has fresh evergreen wreaths and swags that are ideal for front doors and cemetery plots, plus fresh garland that’s perfect for outdoor fences.

Picture of the Ponduce Farms Logo surrounded by holiday items you can get at their shop. Ponduce Farms in Catawissa also offer freshly cut Christmas trees, or choose and cut your own Christmas trees, in a variety of types, shapes, and sizes. They also have the most beautiful handmade wreaths in every color palette and style. While you’re there, stop by the market/bakery to pick up a freshly baked pie, cookies, or another decadent treat. Their cheesecake and other homemade cakes are worth the trip by themselves!

Winter Carriage Ride at Green's Fruit Farm Green’s Fruit Farm in Elysburg offers winter carriage rides the entire month of December on Saturdays. Imagine sleigh bells jingling as you ride a carriage along an orchard trail snuggled under blankets with a cup of hot cider or hot cocoa. Cozy winter vibes? Check!

Horse Wagon Rides are available every hour from 10 am-4 pm on Saturdays and rides last roughly 35 minutes. Reservations are required for the carriage rides. Call Sara at 570-485-3086 to make a reservation. Pricing for Carriage Rides is $15/adult, $12/child under 12, and FREE for kids 2 and under on a lap.

Holiday Festivals and Hometown Parades