Manayunk is going big this holiday season – from a lights competition to trolley rides, fun runs, meet & greets, and more.
Philadelphia, PA – Let it snow, let it snow, Philly! Manayunk Development Corporation presents Holidays in Manayunk, featuring six weeks of festivities that have you thinking you stepped right into a Hallmark movie. Starting on November 19, Manayunk kicks off the season with their Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring live performances along with SNOW on Main Street, a giant twinkling tree, glow gi veaways, hot cocoa, and Santa himself at a meet & greet and photo-op in front of the tree! Manayunk Gets Lit lights up Main Street as 40+ businesses compete to see who has the most bling on the block. Get Lit weekends start December 4th and run Friday and Saturday nights through December 19. Each weekend will feature all the twinkling lights, food and drink deals, shopping specials, singalongs and the return of the complimentary Manayunk Jolly Trolley! Take in the lights and get ready to shop, dine, and be merry as you ride down Main Street in the Jolly Trolley that will stop along Main Street at your favorite businesses.
New this year are the Santa Merry Meet & Greets located at 106 Grape Street on Fridays and Saturdays during the holiday season. Meet & Greet with the big man himself and get the perfect photo op at no cost. Certain dates will be considered Santa Paws, for the perfect photo op of your beloved pets with Santa. While visiting, shop small and shop local and support dozens of small businesses throughout the charming Philadelphia neighborhood that are offering deals, events, and features for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Returning in 2026 is the popular Manayunk Small Business Saturday Passport, where you can shop your way to exclusive gi veaways and prizes. Shoppers will receive a Small Business Saturday Passport, where they will earn stickers from different stores, restaurants, and businesses for purchase. With six stickers, shoppers will win certificates from Main Street businesses and be entered into a larger giveaway. While visiting Manayunk, stop at one of Philadelphia’s top Christmas Pop-up Bars.
Taqueria Amor transforms itself into a full holiday pop-up for the seventh year in a row – with thousands of lights and decorations outside, and a head-to-toe make-over inside that will be sure to fill you with festive joy. Look for over-the-top decorations, holiday movie clips and projections, special holiday dishes, theme cocktails, photo-ops, and more. Bring fear into your holiday cheer with Lincoln Mill Haunted House’s Twisted Christmas on Friday, December 11th, Saturday, December 12th, & Saturday, December 19th. The holiday attraction will be decked out with lights, tinsel, and ornaments, along with plenty of scare actors. On Saturday, December 12th, come dressed in your holiday finest for the 11th Annual Rudolph Run. Starting at Philadelphia Runner at 8:30 am, race organizers will be collecting donations/canned goods to benefit North Light Community Center.
At 9:00 am, the race will start off at Manayunk Canal View Park. While visiting, help families in need all season long by donating to Operation Santa. Donations can be dropped off at 106 Grape Street. Pick an item off the gift tree to donate. New this year, Manayunk will be hosting ‘12 Days of Christmas’ from December 7 – 18. This will include daily Instagram giv eaways with prizes from Manayunk restaurants, stores, and specialty businesses. Back again this year in celebration of the Festival of Lights is Manayunk’s Hanukkah candle lighting with Mt Airy Chabad and giving away treats and gelt in the Manayunk Welcome Center during the Festival of Lights on December 10. For more about these and many other happenings for Holidays in Manayunk, visit manayunk.com/mnyk-events/holidays-in-manayunk/
“Every holiday season, we take pride in showcasing the true heart of our district – our vibrant local businesses and the incredible community that supports them,” says Carla Ferro, Events Manager at the Manayunk Development Corporation. “Thanks to the collaboration between residents, local shops, and visitors, Main Street transforms into a festive, one-of-a-kind experience that feels straight out of a holiday movie. Snow is in the forecast, Philly! We hope you are ready!”
MANAYUNK TREE LIGHTING
Thursday, November 19, 2026
Kick off the season with the annual tree lighting at Canal View Park (4418 Main Street). Expect live performances, festive music, special guests, glow g iveaways, and photo ops with Santa.
Manayunk lights up for the holidays on Thursday, November 19, 2026, starting at 5:30 pm with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Canal View Park (4418 Main Street). The night will host special guests and live performances, plus a surprise visit from Santa Claus! There will be tons of family fun with letters to Santa, hot cocoa, North Pole Elves, and a Santa meet & greet in front of the tree. There’s a good chance Santa will be bringing some magical North Pole snow, too, so get ready for a Manayunk winter wonderland! And word is Santa is also a big Eagles fan and, in what may become a Manayunk tradition, will lead an Eagles cheer! November 19th also marks the official launch of the Annual Manayunk Gets Lit Decorating Competition between 40+ businesses in the district.
Tree Lighting Schedule
5:30pm – Bach to Rock Wayne (Student performances)
6:50pm – The City Belles
6:00pm – Santa Arrives
6:10pm – John Viscardi & Lady Alma
6:35pm – Ghostlight Players
7:00pm – Tree lighting & Manayunk Gets Lit Kick Off!
MANAYUNK GETS LIT DECORATING COMPETITION
Starts Thursday, November 19, 2026 through Christmas
GET LIT WEEKENDS & JOLLY TROLLEY – December 4 – December 19
Fridays and Saturdays in December, Main Street comes alive with festive singalongs, merchant deals, and complimentary rides on the Jolly Trolley.
Fridays & Saturdays: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
The trolley stops at many key businesses along Main Street so riders can hop on/off.
TROPICAL CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR HANG TEN RUDOLPH
Taqueria Amor – Hang Ten Rudolph Tropical Christmas
4410 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
Taqueria Amor is back for its 7th festive season starting Thursday, November 19th, with this year’s tropical Christmas theme called “Hang Ten Rudolph”. Cheers to the start of the jolliest time of year with themed cocktails and Tiki inspired dishes! Christmas lights adorn the outside and inside of the cozy space. Once you are settled into your seat, enjoy classic holiday movie clips on the projector show. Spend the season eating and drinking with those you bring your holiday amor!
For menu and more information: www.taqueriaamor.com
OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
Starts Friday, November 20, 2026
Launching on November 20th is Operation Santa Claus, a collaborative program between the Manayunk Development Corporation and North Light Community Center that will support local families in .need this holiday season. Residents and visitors can stop by the Welcome Center at 106 Grape Street to pick a gift item from the holiday tree to donate to a North Light Family.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SPECIALS AND SHOPPING PASSPORT
Shop small and shop local at over 50 small businesses in Manayunk! Find something for everyone on your list as the neighborhood kicks off the holiday season with Small Business Saturday happening all day on November 28th. Back by popular demand is the Manayunk Shop Small Passport, where visitors can shop their way to various prizes and surprises. Leading up to November 28th and day-of, shoppers will be able to pick up a passport from the Manayunk Welcome Center (106 Grape Street) or in one of the participating businesses. Day-of only, shoppers can earn stickers from different stores, restaurants, studios, cafes, and businesses with purchase. With six stickers, shoppers will be able to redeem their prize from the Manayunk Welcome Center and be entered into a larger gi veaway.
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