'A Very Furry Christmas' Kicks Off Sesame Place Holiday Season

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —Santa Claus is coming to town on Saturday and he will get to hang out with Elmo, Big Bird, and the Sesame Street gang.

Sesame Place Philadelphia kicks off its annual holiday celebration, "A Very Furry Christmas," with the arrival Santa Claus on Saturday at the Middletown Township amusement park.

Santa Claus will appear at the 1-2-3 Christmas Tree to illuminate the millions of twinkling lights around the park for the first time this holiday season.

Visitors can also meet Santa Claus at Santa’s Furry Workshop, an interactive walk-through experience, throughout the day. Saint Nick will also be available at Santa’s Christmas Dine, where people can eat with Santa and Sesame Street characters.

In addition to Santa’s Grand Illumination, visitors can watch shows like Elmo’s Christmas Wish, A Very Merry Sesame Street Sing-Along, the Furry Friends Holiday Dance Party, and the 1-2-3 Christmas Tree Light Show.

The park will introduce new "magical snowfall moments" on the Sesame Street Neighborhood throughout the day, creating a winter environment to meet characters, explore the Merry Marketplace, and toast S’mores.

The Christmas wonderland will feature millions of twinkling lights, including all-new Christmas-themed lighting and music at the 123 Playground.

"A Very Furry Christmas" will include several holiday events including:

• Santa’s Grand Illumination, Saturday.
• Santa’s ‘Twas The Night Celebration, Dec. 24: Visitors can gather at the Sesame Street Neighborhood for a Christmas Eve send-off for Santa Claus.
• Hanukkah Celebration, Dec. 26 – Jan. 1, 2025: Visitors can celebrate the Festival of Lights with Sesame Place’s Hanukkah Celebration. It includes a Menorah Lighting Ceremony, Hanukkah Storytime with Baby Bear, the Hanukkah activity station, and Meet & Greets with Baby Bear throughout the day.
• Kwanzaa Celebration, Dec. 26 – Jan. 1, 2025: Each night of Kwanzaa, visitors can join characters for Sesame Place’s Kwanzaa Celebration, including a Kinara Lighting Ceremony and an African Dance Group Performance.
• New Year’s Eve Fireworks, Dec. 31: Sesame Place Philadelphia will ring in 2025 with its “C…is for Celebrate!” New Year’s Eve Fireworks on Tuesday, Dec. Visitors can celebrate with Count von Count at The Count’s Countdown to New Year’s Celebration Dine at Dine with Elmo & Friends, available from Dec. 26-31.

(Meagan Passaro)