Holiday Magic and Festive Light Displays
If visiting during the holiday season (mid-November through January), Bucks County offers some of the most spectacular festive events in the region:
- Peddler’s Village Grand Illumination & Gingerbread: The village lights up its brick paths with over a million twinkling lights starting in mid-November. It also hosts the annual Gingerbread Competition and Display—a beloved tradition since 1984, featuring over 100 creative entries. The village is an essential stop for holiday shopping, featuring over 65 local specialty shops.
- Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show: This massive, festive event in Yardley features a two-mile drive-through or open-air wagon ride past more than four million lights illuminating the farm. Visitors can complete the experience by bundling up and enjoying S'mores by a fire pit.
- Holiday Rail Excursions: The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad offers festive trips like the North Pole Express and Santa's Steam Train Ride. Guests can sip hot chocolate and enjoy cookies while singing carols aboard a vintage diesel or steam locomotive.
Historic Towns and Outdoor Adventures
Beyond the holiday glamour, Bucks County’s historic towns and preserves offer quiet winter retreats.
- Historic New Hope and Lambertville: The picturesque riverfront town of New Hope is the perfect starting point for any trip, known for its quaint, artsy vibe, shops, and restaurants like the Buttonwood Grill. Just across the Delaware River in New Jersey, Lambertville offers an equally beautiful and cozy ambiance, perfect for a peaceful day of exploring.
- Delaware River Crossing Park: For history lovers, the 500-acre Delaware River Crossing Park preserves the site of George Washington's famous river crossing in 1776. The park features restored 18th-century buildings and Revolutionary War gravesites, offering a chance to walk through history on a crisp winter day.
- Heritage and Nature: Organizations like the Heritage Conservancy and the Bucks County Audubon Society offer various winter activities, including bird walks and educational programs that celebrate the region's natural beauty and wildlife.
Unique Architectural and Cultural Gems
Bucks County is home to some truly unique man-made attractions that thrive in the winter:
- Fonthill Castle: This stunning National Historic Landmark in Doylestown, built between 1908 and 1912 by Henry Chapman Mercer, is an architectural marvel. It is a one-of-a-kind structure constructed entirely of poured, reinforced concrete and features an eccentric interior with 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and over 200 windows. Its walls and ceilings are embedded with thousands of Mercer's renowned hand-crafted ceramic tiles.
- Mercer Museum: Located nearby, the Mercer Museum houses over 50,000 artifacts of pre-Industrial American life, offering a unique look at tools and trades before the age of mass production.
- Wine and Ale Trails: The Bucks County Wine Trail features numerous vineyards and wineries perfect for cozy indoor tastings, while the Bucks County Ale Trail provides plenty of opportunities to sample local winter brews.
From the enchanting spectacle of holiday lights to the quiet grandeur of a historic castle, Bucks County provides a comprehensive and beautiful winter getaway.