One week, folks. If you had any hopes of slowing down and really enjoying this holiday season, time is running out.

But don't panic.

Plan.

Whether you have a family with young kids or teens, are empty-nesters, just-starting-outers or anything else on the social spectrum, Lancaster County has a place for you to celebrate the season.

The area is brimming with holiday events this final week before the big day, and many of the festivities overflow into the week between Christmas and New Year's.

We'll pick out some highlights to share, but be sure to check out the Holiday listings in Entertainment Lancaster for more options and all the details.

 

If you've got young kids, your prime destination has to be Dutch Winter Wonderland. The popular theme park gets decked out for the season and features rides, games, light shows, visits with Santa, storytelling, a Polar Playground and a Royal Light Show. (www.dutchwonderland.com).

And of course you can't mention Dutch Winter Wonderland without including its big brother, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. A bit further to travel, but well worth the trip as the park becomes a holiday village offering rides, entertainment and a light show synced to music. (www.christmasinhershey.com).

 

What youngster wouldn't love to be the little boy in the movie "The Polar Express"? While Strasburg Rail Road's Santa trains aren't quite the same thing, they do offer a magical journey for those with a child's imagination. Santa visits each boy and girl, plus strolling musicians put riders in the holiday spirit. (www.strasburgrailroad.com).

 

Children as young as 2 can enjoy a live theater experience at the Hole in the Wall Puppet Theatre's production of "Cinderella's Christmas." The popular show requires reservations. Call 394-8398 or visit www.holeinthewallpuppets.com.

 

Lights...cameras...action! Bring your cameras and get ready to ooh and ahh. Hershey Sweet Lights is a holiday drive-through spectacular with more than two miles of lighted animated displays. (www.christmasinhershey.com).

 

Here in Lancaster, the Conestoga House, 1608 Marietta Ave., is an annual favorite. Folks can check out more than 10,000 lights and see angels, stars, nutcrackers and more on the mansion's two acres. And it's free!

 

Longwood Gardens has to win the award for holiday wow factor. The annual Christmas display includes half a million lights, music, dancing fountains, thousands of poinsettias, fabulous bedecked trees and so much more. And it's even open Christmas Day!! (www.longwoodgardens.org).

 

If you're looking for a little Christmas nostalgia — you're on the right track in Lancaster County.

This time of year, a bounty of model train displays open their doors for visitors.

All Aboard Railroad, at 1952 Landis Valley Road, is perhaps the king with an 800-plus square foot display of American Flyer Trains. Call 392-1568.

There are other train displays at the Elizabethtown Public Library (www.etownpubliclibrary.org); Garden Spot Village in New Holland (355-6000); Second floor of Citizens Bank in Penn Square; in the basement of 11 South State Street, (rear), Ephrata; at 230 S. Charlotte St, Manheim; and at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society, 21 N. Second St., Columbia (368-4100).

In Harrisburg, the Whitaker Center's Harsco Science Center hosts a big Trains and Trees display (www.whitakercenter.org). And you can find "Tuckerville USA" tucked away at the AACA Museum in Hershey (www.aacamuseum.org).

 

No matter what age you — or your kids — are, a visit to Kitchen Kettle Village tonight or Saturday is sure to bring a holiday smile. Simply Old Fashioned Friday Nights and Holly Days (Saturdays) feature strolling entertainment, hot beverages, special holiday themed events and seasonal decorations. And admission is free. But hurry, they continue only through Saturday. (www.kitchenkettle.com).

 

If the village of Intercourse is too far, drive to downtown Lancaster, where the city is celebrating the season with strolling entertainers, horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa and more. Downtown Lancaster for the Holidays continues through Sunday. (www.lancastercityevents.com).

 

Now that the stage is set for Santa's big scene, maybe you can take time to visit some local stages that are offering their theatrical nods to the holidays.

Freedom Chapel Dinner Theatre invites patrons to experience Christmas with the King family in "Amish Family Christmas" continuing through Wednesday. (www.freedomchapeldinnerthea...).

Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" is a tradition at Seventh Sister, which annually offers pay-what-you-will admission. (www.seventhsister.com).

More Dickens can be found at Mount Hope during the interactive "A Dickens of a Christmas." (www.parenfaire.com).

The American Music Theatre serves up a Broadway style holiday in "The 2009 Christmas Show." (www.amtchristmas.com).

If you like your holiday on the slapstick side, you'll want to visit the Rainbow Dinner Theatre for "Peace, Love and My Mother-in-Law" (www.rainbowdinnertheatre.com).

You can have a "Holly Jolly Christmas" at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (www.dutchapple.com) and experience the "Miracle of Christmas" at the Millennium Theatre (www.sight-sound.com).

And "Nutcrackers"! The famous holiday ballet graces a variety of stages in some form or another over the next week or so.

COBALT performs at Hempfield High School. The Central Pa. Youth Ballet is at the Hershey Theatre.

Berks Ballet Theatre dances at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. And the Fulton Family Series presents an all new musical adaptation with performances through the end of the year.

 

And holiday seekers: don't forget the Christmas headquarters of Lancaster County — and maybe the world (OK, next to the North Pole).

The National Christmas Center is a must-see attraction for anyone, young, old or in between, who loves, hates or is indifferent to this time of the year.

If Scrooge himself were to walk in the front door, by the time he left he'd be buying a holiday goose for everyone.

Visit www.nationalchristmascenter....

And have a Merry Christmas! blog comments powered by Disqus