Some towns decorate for Christmas. Lititz glows. Candles flicker at the band shell, carols drift through Lititz Springs Park, a trolley full of bundled-up families’ rolls past twenty-plus light displays, and one house on Laurel Avenue puts on a light show so good that Santa himself shows up in the window. A Lititz Christmas feels like the holiday movie version of small-town America, except it’s real and most of it is free.
This guide covers everything for the 2026 season: Christmas in the Park and the community tree lighting, the Christmas Trolley Tour, Laurel Avenue Lights and the self-guided light tour, holiday shopping downtown, and tips to make the most of your visit.
Lititz Christmas Events 2026 at a Glance
| Event | When | Where | Cost |
| Christmas in the Park & tree lighting | Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 6:30–7:30 PM (rain date Dec 5) | Band shell, Lititz Springs Park | Free (donations welcome) |
| Christmas Trolley Tour | Two Saturdays in mid-December, tours at 5, 6, 7 & 8 PM (2025 schedule) | Boards next to the park’s train station | $18 adult / $9 child (2025) |
| Laurel Avenue Lights show | Nightly in season, from 5 PM | Laurel Avenue, Lititz | Free |
| Self-guided Christmas light tour | Evenings all season | 21+ displays around town | Free (paper map) |
| Holiday shopping downtown | All season | Main & Broad Streets | Free to browse |
Dates for the trolley tour are based on the 2025 season. Check the Lititz Springs Park Christmas page for 2026 updates.
Christmas in the Park Lititz: The Tree Lighting
Christmas in the Park Lititz is the official kickoff to the season, and it’s the event locals plan their December around. On Friday, December 4, 2026, at 6:30 PM, the community gathers at the band shell inside Lititz Springs Park for an hour of music, candlelight, and holiday cheer.
What Happens at Christmas in the Park
- Holiday performances: The Warwick High School music department and a local dance company take the band shell stage.
- Community carol sing: Everyone sings together, and candles are lit across the crowd. It’s the most beautiful moment of the night.
- Special guests: Some very jolly elves make an appearance, and in past years Santa and Mrs. Claus have stopped by too.
- Tree lighting: The program builds to the countdown and lighting of the Community Christmas Tree on stage.
Food trucks are on site, and restrooms are available. The event is free, and donations go toward the upkeep of Lititz Springs Park. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the rain date is Saturday, December 5, 2026.
Tip: Arrive by 6 PM to get a good view of the stage, and dress warmly. It’s outdoors, and December nights in Lititz get cold once the sun goes down.
The Lititz Christmas Trolley Tour
If you want to see the lights without driving, the Christmas Trolley Tour is the coziest way to do it. The guided ride visits more than 21 holiday light displays around town, and ticket sales support Lititz Springs Park.
| Detail | 2025 Info (watch for 2026 updates) |
| Tour days | Two Saturdays (Dec 13 and Dec 20 in 2025) |
| Departures | On the hour at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 PM |
| Tickets | $18 per adult, $9 per child |
| Where to buy | In person only, at the Lititz Springs Park Welcome Center |
| Payment | Cash or check only |
| Sales start | Early December (Dec 6 in 2025) |
| Seats | 24 per tour; every rider, adult or child, needs a seat |
| Boarding | Next to the train station at Lititz Springs Park |
Tickets can be bought ahead or on tour day until they sell out, and with only 24 seats per departure, they go fast. Give yourself extra time to park before your tour.
Laurel Avenue Lights and the Self-Guided Light Tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? Grab a free paper map and drive (or walk) the self-guided light tour. Maps are available at Laurel Avenue Lights, the Lititz Springs Park Welcome Center, and Bomberger’s.
Laurel Avenue Lights Show
- Start here: Laurel Avenue Lights is the starting point of the self-guided tour.
- Showtime: The show starts every night at 5:00 PM sharp. Be there right at the start if you want to see Santa appear in the window.
- Hours: Runs until 10:00 PM, and until 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Sound: Tune your car radio to 88.3 FM to hear the music synced to the lights.
- More synced shows: The displays on General Sutter and at 504 E. New Street also broadcast on 88.3 FM.
Be a good guest: These are private homes. Keep headlights low, don’t block driveways, and keep noise down later in the evening.
Lititz at Christmas: Shopping, Sweets, and Strolling
Seeing Lititz at Christmas means spending time downtown, where Main and Broad Streets are dressed up for the season.
- Shop local: Downtown boutiques, galleries, and specialty stores make holiday gift shopping easy. Browse the Lititz shopping directory.
- Edible gifts: Pick up Wilbur Buds at the Wilbur Chocolate store or a bag of pretzels from Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Both make great stocking stuffers.
- Warm up with dinner: Pair your light tour with a meal downtown. See the Lititz dining guide.
- Decorate Lititz: In December, the town’s homes and storefronts dress up for the season, which makes an evening stroll downtown worth it on its own.
- Check the calendar: Concerts, storytimes, and pop-up holiday events fill the Venture Lititz event calendar all month.
A Perfect Lititz PA Christmas Day: Sample Itinerary
Want to fit the best of a Lititz PA Christmas into one day? Try this plan for a December Saturday:
| Time | Plan |
| 11:00 AM | Stop at the Welcome Center in Lititz Springs Park; buy trolley tickets and grab a light-tour map |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch downtown |
| 1:00 PM | Holiday shopping on Main and Broad, plus Wilbur Chocolate and Sturgis |
| 3:30 PM | Walk Lititz Springs Park as the light fades |
| 5:00 PM | Trolley Tour, or catch the Laurel Avenue Lights show at 5 sharp to see Santa |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner downtown, then drive the rest of the self-guided light tour |
Practical Tips for Visiting
- Welcome Center hours: Monday to Saturday 10 AM–4 PM, Sunday 12–3 PM. Call (717) 626-8981 with questions.
- Bring cash: Trolley tickets are cash or check only.
- Dress in layers: Christmas in the Park and the light shows are all outdoors.
- Park early: Christmas in the Park and trolley nights draw crowds, so give yourself time to find parking.
- Stay over: The Wilbur Hotel, Lititz Springs Inn & Spa, and The Alden House are walking distance from the park. Book early for December weekends.
FAQ: Lititz Christmas
When is Christmas in the Park Lititz 2026?
Friday, December 4, 2026, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at the band shell in Lititz Springs Park. The rain date is Saturday, December 5.
Is Christmas in the Park free?
Yes. It’s free for the community, and donations toward the upkeep of Lititz Springs Park are welcome.
What are the best Lititz Christmas events?
Christmas in the Park and the community tree lighting, the Christmas Trolley Tour, Laurel Avenue Lights, and the self-guided tour of 21+ light displays.
How do I get tickets for the Lititz Christmas Trolley Tour?
Tickets are sold in person at the Lititz Springs Park Welcome Center, cash or check only. In 2025 they were $18 for adults and $9 for kids, with sales starting in early December.
What time does Laurel Avenue Lights start?
The show starts at 5:00 PM sharp every night and runs until 10 PM (11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays). Tune to 88.3 FM for the music.
Is Lititz at Christmas good for kids?
Very. Kids love the elves and tree lighting at Christmas in the Park, spotting Santa in the Laurel Avenue window, and riding the trolley past the lights.
Final Thoughts
A Lititz Christmas is about small moments: a candle passed hand to hand during a carol, a trolley full of families gasping at a lit-up house, and Santa waving from a window on Laurel Avenue. Mark December 4 for Christmas in the Park, pick up your trolley tickets early, and give yourself an evening to wander. You’ll see why so many families make Lititz part of their holiday tradition.
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