Santa Makes A Return To Phoenixville And Beyond

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Santa Claus will be back in the borough of Phoenixville this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year.

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic left them empty.

Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

This season, Santa is back, but children and parents are still asked to wear masks in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as Chester County is still in the medium category.

The lastest symptoms include a bad cold and sore throat.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person.

In Phoenixville, kids have several options:

• Phoenixville Fire Department: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at 150 Paradise St. The event includes games, raffles, baked goods and more. Activities are free with a donation of an unwrapped, new toy to be donated to children who are in the hospital for Christmas.
• Wayne Business Association: annual tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in downtown Wayne. The festivities include carriage rides, crafts, carolers and, topped off with the arrival of Santa.
• King of Prussia Plaza: visits with Santa outside Nordstrom noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday Dec. 9.
• Santa’s Express Train: A 75-minute train ride through the country. The train leaves 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 3, 10, 11, 17,18, at Market Street Station, 230 E. Market St., West Chester. Cost: adults $30, children $25 and toddlers $10. More information is available here.
• West Chester Christmas Parade: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 Market Street to Gay Street
• Dicken’s Village at Macy’s Center City Store: Philadelphia, from Sunday t0 Saturday, Dec., 23 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Reservations are available here.
• Breakfast with Santa: Neiman Marcus, King of Prussia Mall, 160 Gulph Road, 9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, Reservations required and are available here.