Bux-Mont Holiday Guide

Nov. 30

Holiday Magic - Stroll the streets of downtown Doylestown Borough, listening to carolers. Keep your eyes open for Frosty and Rudolph as the boutiques and shops stay open late to help you pick out that perfect gift.

Free parking and shuttle service from the Bucks County Parking Garage. Hours: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. State & Main streets, Doylestown.

Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival in Newtown - Holiday festivities kick off with a tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Join the crowd at the Newtown firehouse to watch the lights go on. After the tree is lit, the Santa House will open. Children can meet Santa and have their picture taken. There is no charge to meet Santa but donations are accepted.

Dec. 1

Santa's Arrival and Country Christmas Village - Bring your cameras to get pictures with Santa at the Bucks County Antique Village. Stroll through a Christmas village and enjoy entertainment by the Unami Middle School band and the Central Bucks South High School choir.

Event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Skyline Drive and Rt. 202. Free admission. Click here for more details.

Santa Paws Pet Photos - This furry portrait session is a fundraiser for the Bucks County Housing Group. Donate $10 to have your pet's photo taken with Santa Claus - cats and dogs only, please. For an additional $5 donation, the digital file will be emailed after the event.

Donations of cat and dog food for the Doylestown Food Pantry also will be accepted. Sponsored by Doylestown Veterinary Hospital and Holiday House Pet Resort.  Hours: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Location: Pet Valu, 464 N. Main St., Doylestown (Doylestown Shopping Center)

Santa Paws Pet Photos - The big man in red will return to Life on the Leash on Saturday for portrait sessions with dogs of all shapes and sizes. Hosted by the Friends of the Doylestown Dog Park, the event is a fundraiser for the newly opened park on Almshouse Road in Doylestown Township.

Reservations were taken but walk-ins also will be accepted. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa’s Great Candy Cane Hunt - Children ages 3 to 7 are invited to Santa’s annual Newtown Township Candy Cane hunt, which starts at 11 a.m. at Roberts Ridge Park. Children will be separated into two ages groups and Santa will officially start the candy cane hunt.

After the hunt, there will be holiday refreshments and special prizes. Parents must accompany children. Space is limited, pre-registration is required. Call 215-968-2800 ext 239.

Holiday House Tour in Newtown Borough - Now in its 50th consecutive year, this house tour is a Newtown tradition and a festive start to the holiday season.  

Visitors can enjoy Newtown on foot for an up-close look at the interiors of five private homes and several public buildings, all dressed for the holidays. Tour hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Newtown Book & Record, 120 S. State Street and online at the Newtown Historic Association’s website.  On the day of the tour, tickets are available at the Half-Moon Inn on Court Street and Centre Avenue and the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street. 

Dec. 1 & 2

Peddler's Village Christmas Festival - Santa arrives in a parade on Saturday to kick off this annual holiday celebration at one of Bucks County's premiere visitors' destinations.

Santa will be available for weekend visits with children through Dec. 23. Sip on hot mulled cider while you stroll through the beautifully decorated, Victorian-style, village. Enjoy live entertainment and shopping and don't miss the gingerbread competition. Entries are displayed throughout the holiday season in the Village Gazebo.

Free admission and parking. Hours: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 8 pm; Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click here for more details.

Dec. 2

Newtown Holiday Parade - The largest holiday parade in Bucks County begins at 2 p.m. Now in its 8th year, the 2012 parade will feature about 1,200 participants - high school marching bands, Mummers, horse-drawn carriages, floats, antique cars, color guard, fire trucks, Santa and much more.

The parade will begin on South State Street at the Stocking Works building and continue north on State Street, turn left onto Washington Ave, then right onto Sycamore Street and come to an end at the Durham Road (at the Green Parrot).

Dec. 6

Project Blue Light Tree Lighting - Members of the Feasterville Business Association and community leaders will light a tree with blue lights to honor all fallen police officers throughout the holiday season. The tree lighting will be held Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Lower Southampton Library.

Dec. 7 & 8

Christmas in Doylestown Holiday House Tour and Boutique - This annual event sponsored by Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church raises money to fund local charities. The church has donated more than $80,000 over the years to the Bucks County Housing Group to benefit the Doylestown Homeless Shelter.

This year, four borough homes will be decorated inside and out for the house tour. The church's Paxson Hall will be transformed into a festive holiday boutique, with baked goods, custom greens, gifts for the holiday, the Christmas Attic, raffles & refreshments, and more.

Click here to purchase tour tickets.

Dec. 8 & 12

Book & Bedtime with Mrs. Claus - Children ages 2 to 12 can wear their PJ's and bring a favorite bedtime pal to the Northampton Library for a visit with Mrs. Claus who will read a special bedtime story and describe how toys are made in Santa's workshop. A "special guest" might make an appearance. Tickets are $10 or $12 for the event which is from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Click here to register. Space is limited.

Dec. 9, 15 & 16

The Nutcracker - You don't have to travel far to see Tchaikovsky's lavish ballet. The Doylestown-based Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania returns to Central Bucks High School South with its production of the classic holiday story.

Click here to buy tickets.

Dec. 11

Holiday Open House at the Mercer Museum - Delight in the sounds, scents, and scenes of the holidays at the Mercer’s traditional Holiday Open House. The festivities kick-off with a musical parade escorting St. Nick to the museum’s Log House.

In the Log House, Santa spends the evening listening to children’s wishes and gifting keepsake ornaments. Sip hot cider, sing along with carolers, listen to musical performances, wish your troubles away with the "burning of the greens," and make a simple ornament to help adorn one of the holiday trees featured in the upcoming exhibit, Under the Tree: A Century of Holiday Trees and Toys.

Free Admission. Open House runs 7 to 9 p.m.

Holiday Open House at the Michener Museum - Cross the street from the Mercer to an evening of holiday festivities at the James A. Michener Art Museum's annual Holiday Open House.

Enjoy performances inspired by the holiday season presented by area performing groups. For family fun, stop by for games, discovery boxes, books and art inspired activities in the Family Education Center.

Free Admission. Open House runs 7 to 9 p.m.

Dec. 15

Santa Flies Into the Doylestown Airport - Imagine the amazement on your kids' faces when Santa steps off a real airplane with presents just for them. The folks at the Doylestown Airport can make that dream come true.

Drop off SMALL, wrapped gifts marked with the child's first and last name and phone number at the airport from Monday Dec. 10 to Friday, Dec. 14 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gifts MUST be smaller that 12" x 12" x 12" and weigh 5 lbs or less. Please help Santa's sleigh accommodate as many gifts as possible.

Then head to the airport on Saturday, Dec. 15 with your kids. Santa is scheduled to land at 10 a.m.

Do you know of another great holiday event that should be on this list? Post details in the comments.