Philadelphia's holiday season draws on one of America's oldest Christmas traditions, the Wanamaker organ Christmas show (now part of Macy's), and on the colonial-era geography of Independence Hall and Old City. The combination of historic neighborhoods and a strong department-store tradition gives the city a distinct holiday identity.

• Macy's Christmas Light Show: Performed inside the former John Wanamaker department store building, the show features the world's largest fully functioning pipe organ in a holiday production running since 1956.
• Christmas Village at LOVE Park: The open-air German-style market in front of City Hall is one of the East Coast's most authentic Christkindlmarkt-style installations.
• Longwood Gardens: The former DuPont estate west of the city stages one of America's most elaborate holiday botanical displays.
• Italian Market and Reading Terminal: The 9th Street Italian Market and the historic Reading Terminal Market are the city's distinctive holiday food shopping districts, with DiBruno Bros., Termini Bros. cannoli, and the Amish stands at Reading Terminal supplying Christmas tables across the region.