The Christmas Village Ferris Wheel at City Hall Opens This Weekend

There’s a ferris wheel at City Hall! | Photo courtesy of Christmas Village in Philadelphia

The time for holiday cheer is here, and it’s arrived in the form of a Ferris wheel you can ride (this weekend!) at City Hall.

The ride, which we told you about last week, will open to the public on Saturday for a special preview weekend — as will the rest of Philly’s beloved Christmas Village, located at LOVE Park, Dilworth Park, and (new this year) the north apron of City Hall.

The 65-foot ride was installed on Wednesday, along with the Christmas Village carousel, which has returned to the City Hall courtyard once more. Philly’s holiday tree, a 55-foot white fir, also arrived earlier this week.

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Officials will hold a tree-lighting ceremony on December 4th. Visit Philly has details on that and plenty of other local tree lightings.

Christmas Village will be bigger than ever this year and, in addition to the Ferris wheel, get a brand-new holiday train. The train will also be located on the north apron of City Hall. Tickets for the Ferris wheel are $4 each. Rides on the family-friendly holiday train will be $3.

You’ll be able to visit Christmas Village for preview weekend this Saturday and Sunday, but after that, the market will close temporarily and reopen on Thanksgiving Day. From then on, you’ll be able to visit daily through Christmas Eve.

Christmas Village hours will be Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Day hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Christmas Eve hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can ride the Ferris wheel, holiday train and carousel during those times.

We’ve got a giant guide to Christmas Village, including food and shopping, right here. Get yourself prepared for the winter wonderland — and all the cheese sandwiches and mulled wine — and then go forth!