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Find Santa in York, Harrisburg, Lancaster


Even though the weather hasn’t yet made it feel like Christmas, Santa Claus and his helpers are everywhere collecting last minute wishes and spreading good cheer.

The southcentral Pennsylvania region is filled with opportunities to see Santa, but we’ve made it easy by marking down the days until Christmas with one location per day.

Saturday Dec. 12: Santa makes a joyous Christmas morning for billions of children across the world, and, to do that, he needs some good transportation. While it might not be the quickest way, children and their parents alike can take a 45-minute train ride with Santa in Lancaster County on the Santa’s Paradise Express on the Strasburg Rail Road.

Where: 301 Gap Road, Ronks, PA 17572
Schedule: Every Saturday with train rides every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then hourly until 5 p.m. The ticket window opens at 10 a.m.
Price: Prices are at five levels ranging from $30 for the President Car to $17 for adults, $11 for children 3-11 and $3 for any younger children in the Coach Car.
More information: 1-866-9666 or StrasburgRailRoad.com

Sunday Dec. 13: Residents of southern York County can stop into Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market for more than produce this and the following Sunday. Bring your own camera to capture your children’s moment with Santa at the Orchard View Cottage next to the market.

Where: 8892 Susquehanna Trail South, Loganville, PA 17342
Schedule: Each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information: (717) 428-2036 or Brownsorchards.com

Monday Dec. 14: Breakfast with Santa for Dinner at Brown’s Orchards & Farm Markets. Reservations required. It runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and costs $15 per person.

Tuesday Dec. 15:  Santa's Cabin in Hanover's Center Square is celebrating its 78th year in downtown Hanover. Santa will be in house from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday until Christmas.

Wednesday Dec. 16: Bass Pro Shops at the Harrisburg Mall at 3501 Paxton St. allows for a free 4 by 6 inch photo with Santa. Hours through Dec. 21 are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays; Dec. 22 through 24: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24.

Thursday Dec. 17: Santa will be in Red Lion in his Shanty along Boundary Avenue at the entrance to Fairmount Park from 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday Dec. 18: Visit Santa at Manchester’s Ace Hardware at 4335 N. George St. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., get your picture taken, make a craft and grab a snack.

Saturday Dec. 19: See Santa and his reindeer at “A Very Dairy Christmas,” Perrydell Farm and Dairy’s Christmas event at 90 Indian Rock Dam Road in York Township.

Sunday Dec. 20: Get your picture taken from 1:30 to 3 p.m. with live reindeer and Santa at Stauffers Garden Centers, 3949 Carlisle Road in Dover Township.

Monday Dec. 21: Santa will be taking a break from toy making while you do some last-minute shopping at the York Galleria. His hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. He’ll be there Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday Dec. 22: Donald Webb, of 305 Chestnut Hill Road in York Twp., continues his elaborate light display in honor of the death of his son, Seth, to continue to bring joy to people.

Wednesday Dec. 23: York County government isn’t immune from the Christmas spirit and its Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights continues to bring a holiday show and a visit from Santa every week day of the year in its half-mile walking trail through holiday scenes made of 600,000 lights.

Where: Rocky Ridge Park, 3699 Deininger Rd.
When: 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays, opens one hour earlier on weekends. While closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, this runs through Dec. 31.
Price: Ranges from $6 to $8 and is free for children younger than 4-years-old.
More information: 717-840-7443 or YorkCountyPA.gov/parks-recreation/

Thursday Dec. 24: Do some good the day before Christmas at the 13th Annual A Christmas Smile, founded by Jeff Crouse, a server and bartender at York’s Coomb’s Tavern. This Christmas party and buffet gives meals and gifts to those in need. It runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge No. 213 at 223 N. George St., York. “Through donations, people in need leave the event with a gift bag filled with items including blankets, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, personal hygiene items and gift cards for shopping,” according to the Facebook event invitation.