Photo from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
If you are looking for the best places to take your loved ones to get in the holiday spirits, look no further. Get your coat, fill a mug with hot chocolate, and get ready to make your spirits bright.
Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden
50 minutes from Beaver
Pittsburgh’s family holiday tradition at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is bigger, brighter, and more breathtaking than ever this year, featuring the return of the Winter Light Garden! Explore over 10 acres of gardens and lights featuring a Tree Carousel, more than 1,600 poinsettias, dazzling displays of trees and topiaries and so much more. The flower show and light garden runs November 18, 2022 – January 8, 2023, varying hours. For full details, visit phipps.conservatory.org.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
40 minutes from Beaver
At the Cooper’s Lake Campground (Butler County), this light show is over 2 miles long and features custom made light displays that dance in perfect synchronization to music you can play on the radio in your car. You can also visit Santa’s Village to take photos with Santa, write a letter to the North Pole, and enjoy food trucks. Visit this holiday light attraction November 18, 2022 – January 1, 2023. Open Monday-Friday 6:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 6:00-10:00 p.m. or later—including holidays. Visit shadrackchristmas.com/pittsburgh-butler-co-pa for more information.
Kennywood Holiday Lights
1 hour from Beaver
Pittsburgh’s traditional amusement park gets all decked out to celebrate the holiday season. Experience the wonder of nearly two million twinkling lights, Pennsylvania’s tallest Christmas tree, choreographed light shows, musical performances, magic shows, the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® television classic in 4D, and much more. Check out kennywood.com/holidaylights to learn more.
A Christmas Story House
1 hour 50 minutes from Beaver
The home of the Ralphie Parker and his family in the 1983 classic Christmas movie A Christmas Story is located within a two hour’s drive of Beaver in Cleveland, Ohio. It has been restored to its movie splendor and visitors are welcome to tour it year-round! A Christmas Story Museum is open across the street from the home and it features original props, costumes, memorabilia, and rare behind-the-scenes photos from the film. You can also stay overnight in the Bumpus House next door which was the fictional home to Ralphie’s neighbors. Visit achristmasstoryhouse.com for more information.
North Pole Adventure Train Ride
Less than 2 hours from Beaver
Departing from Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Akron, OH, climb aboard for the journey of a lifetime. Enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, and festivities while your train navigates the sweeping curves of the Cuyahoga Valley on a journey to the North Pole to hand deliver letters to Santa! Tickets for these rides sell out quickly. Try your luck at getting them for this season or save this idea for next year! Learn more at cvsr.org/npa-info.
Oglebay Festival of Lights Sounds of the Season
1 hour 15 minutes from Beaver
The Festival of Lights is identified as one of the top light displays in the United States by countless travel companies and national publications, the Festival of Lights features three hundred acres of twinkling lights over a six-mile drive. The dazzling display includes 90 lighted attractions boasting more than one million energy- efficient LED lights. The Festival of Lights runs November 10, 2022 through January 8, 2023. Visit oglebay.com/lights for more information.
The Peoples Gas Holiday Market – Downtown Pittsburgh
50 minutes from Beaver
Browse through outdoor wooden chalets brimming with unique gifts and holiday experiences filled with international flair and local charm. Enjoy live music as you stroll through an illuminated Market Square and visit Santa himself! The holiday market opens on Friday, November 18, 2022, and remains open until December 23, 2022. Visit downtownpittsburghholidays.com/holiday-market to learn more.
The UPMC Rink at PPG Place
50 minutes from Beaver
After you visit The Peoples Gas Holiday Market, take a few steps over to the UPMC Rink at PPG place to enjoy the fun holiday tradition of ice skating. Since 2001, the rink and large Christmas tree in the center of it has been a staple attraction in downtown Pittsburgh during the holiday season.
The Pittsburgh’s Crèche
45 minutes from Beaver
Venture to the U.S. Steel Tower and visits Pittsburgh’s Crèche, the world’s only approved replica of the Vatican’s Nativity Scene. Each year an estimated 250,000 people stop to visit the life-like replicas and manger scene. The annual dedication of The Pittsburgh’s Crèche opens on Pittsburgh’s annual Light Up Night (November 19, 2022) and remains open through Epiphany in early January 2023. Details can be found at pittsburghfoundation.org/creche.
The Nutcracker with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
50 minutes from Beaver
Join Marie, her Nutcracker prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy on a journey into the Land of Enchantment at
the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh. Five fanciful scenes, more than 150 unique costumes and Tchaikovsky’s enduring score make The Nutcracker a can’t-miss holiday tradition. Shows will take place December 10 – December 29, 2022. Buy tickets at pbt.culturaldistrict.org.
