Santa Returns To West Chester And Beyond

WEST CHESTER, PA — Santa Claus will be back in the borough of West Chester 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.

In the West Chester area, children have several options to meet Santa:

• Lighting up West Chester: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. The official lighting of West Chester's 26-foot tall Christmas tree at the Historic Courthouse followed up with a visit from Santa.
• Phoenixville Fire Department: Santa visit from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at 150 Paradise St.
• 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.
• Dicken’s Village at Macy’s Center City Store: Philadelphia, from Sunday, Nov. 27 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.