As the holiday season descends upon Bucks County parents everywhere face the familiar challenge: how to keep the kids entertained during the long winter break. Fear not! Our charming county offers plenty of activities to ward off cabin fever and create lasting memories. We have a wide variety of entertainment for your calendar to keep your family from cabin fever so grab your winter gear and let’s get going with our Bucks County Winter Break Survival Guide!

Local Tips for Parents

1. Plan Ahead: Many venues offer winter break programs, but they fill up quickly. Book your spots early.
2. Mix It Up: Alternate between active days and quieter activities to prevent burnout (yours and theirs).
3. Weather Watch: Keep an eye on forecasts and have backup plans ready. A snow day can quickly derail outdoor plans.
4. Local Libraries: Don’t forget our excellent Bucks County Free Library System. Each branch offers winter break programming, from storytimes to craft workshops.

Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm

November 23 – January 5th, 5-9PM 

Shady Brook Farm offers multiple options for your needs. Cozy up with your family and friends this winter break on an open air, tractor-drawn wagon ride, or view the Light Show from the comfort of your own vehicle (Tune your radio to 90.7FM and enjoy festive tunes as you drive through!). Admission is open every evening. Both private and public open-air wagon rides also take you through the lights where you can stop in Santa’s Village, stroll through Candy Cane Lane, and warm up with a cider and s’mores at the campfire. Children under 2 years are free. Tickets are best purchased online here.   

Sesame Place: A Very Furry Christmas  

November 16 – January 5th 

A Very Furry Christmas Celebration at Sesame Place® invites you to witness your favorite friends come to life! Also offered is a  1-2-3 Christmas Tree show,  a 30-foot fully-illuminated pixel-based tree, that will project festive animated images accompanied by holiday music. Photo-ops with Santa are available as well as visiting the ALL-NEW Christmas Family Fun Zone. Don’t miss the fantastic Sesame Street Christmas Parade with festive floats decorated for the celebration and a show-stopping performance that will have everyone getting merry and having lots of holiday fun this winter break.

Byers Choice Factory

Open Year Round, Monday – Saturday: 10am to 5pm, Sunday: Noon to 5pm

If you want to switch it up, learn about Bucks County’s beloved Doll Carolers in Chalfont PA. Though their Visitor Center and Christmas Museum are open year-round, winter break makes for the perfect time to visit. Start with a short film about our company’s history inside a Victorian theater. Next walk down a cobblestone street scene straight out of Dickens’ London and peer through the windows of shops and homes filled with Christmas displays. Then onto the museum with hundreds of Carolers and Kindles on display in heartwarming vignettes, as well as depictions of Christmas traditions from around the world.

Holiday Movie Screening – Newtown Theatre

December 21st-24th

If you’re a movie-goer and want to relive the magic with your kids of seeing The Polar Express on the big screen, Newtown Theatre has you covered! This year, you have four opportunities to board the Polar Express: Saturday, December 21 at 9:00 AM, Sunday, December 22 at 9:00 AM, Monday, December 23 at 9:00 AM, and Tuesday, December 24 at 9:00 AM. Admission is $5 per person.

72nd Annual Christmas Day Crossing Reenactment

Sunday, December 8th and Wednesday December 25th at 1 pm

Gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of George Washington’s 1776 Christmas night river crossing. Reenactors in Continental military dress listen to an inspiring speech by General Washington before rowing across the river in replica Durham boats. Witness a memorable experience that is unique to our area. The actual crossing begins at about 1 PM and visitors can stroll along the walking bridge and enjoy the colonial houses set around the battleground. Admission is free! 

New Hope Railroad Presents: Santa’s North Pole Express Train

November 23 through December 30, Recurring daily

All aboard! Your family will join Santa and Mrs. Claus at New Hope Station for a North Pole Express Train through the historic Bucks County countryside on the way to the North Pole. Roaming musicians invite you to sing along to their Christmas carols accompanied with  warm cocoa plus a freshly baked cookie. Each child receives their own keepsake of a sleigh bell from Santa himself. You are encouraged to come in your comfiest pajamas for the full experience. 

Bucks County Children’s Museum 

Open Daily, 10 am -4 pm

Also located in New Hope, this hands-on museum keeps young minds engaged with interactive exhibits about local history, science, and culture. The “Factory Works” exhibit, where kids can design and test their own flying machines, is particularly popular during school breaks.

Peddler’s Village

November 16th -Jan 5th 

Peddler’s Village truly has something for everyone. The annual holiday lights display is spectacular. Shoppers will enjoy the Gingerbread House Display and the friendly competition amongst locals. The shop directory is vast as you circle the outdoor grounds with plenty of eateries. Kids will love playing at Giggleberry Fair and lunch at Painted Pony Cafe which also is available for private parties and birthdays. Beer and wine are available for adults to enjoy as well. 

The Lahaska Bookshop toes the line at the edge of the Village and Doylestown and offers childrens books, toys and games if you’re stumped on gift ideas. Older children may enjoy creating terrariums across the street at Greenology Organics with the option to book a private date night or party for Mom and Dad to relax after the craziness of the holidays. 

Remember, winter break doesn’t have to be about surviving—it can be about thriving. Bucks County offers enough activities to create an enriching holiday season that both parents and kids will remember fondly.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Sesame Place