Father Winter can no longer continue his important weather work and as he retires,he leaves a magical young boy, Jack, to carry on his winter responsibilities. At the North Pole on top of Ice Mountain, a spirited group of winter animals discover Jack and take him in. They soon realize he is not like other children and that he has some very special icy abilities. They bring him to Christmastown, a special place just outside the North Pole,where Santa makes his very first Christmas stop. Jack makes a new friend and experiences the town in holiday hysterics over the Christmas rush and an ever-growing heat wave caused by Father Winter.s absence. As Christmas Eve arrives and the town prepares for the annual Christmastown Festival, Jack eventually discovers and accepts his talents, learns about tolerance, friendship, and how everyone is unique. In doing so, he also saves Christmas!
Santa's Arrival & Festival of Lights on Friday November 25th
Enjoy the anticipation of Santa's arrival with a concert from Makin Music at 5pm. Phillie Phanatic will entertain the crowd from 5-6pm. Santa arrives by fire engine at 6pm promptly so don't be late! Watch as he lights up the beautiful shopping district of Media.
It's also the official opening of Santa's Village at the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union
with furnishings crafted by hand by members of the Wyeth family,
plus O-gauge model trains on 2,000 feet of track!
The Brandywine River Museum is all dolled up for the holidays with a "step-in" dollhouse whose rooms are filled with exquisite hand-crafted furnishings, a large display of rare antique dolls, its popular O-gauge model train display covering 2,000 feet of track, and thousands of whimsical "critter" ornaments made from natural materials, all on view from November 25 through January 8.
This year is the debut of Ann Wyeth McCoy's dollhouse, measuring 8 x 10 feet and standing 9 ½ feet high. While the dollhouse is large enough for two adults to step inside, the rooms and furnishings are sized for dolls measuring 16 to 24 inches. Because of space limitations, visitors will see the facade of the dollhouse, surrounded by re-creations of its rooms, filled with Mrs. McCoy's antique dolls and hundreds of miniature furnishings.
A Brandywine Christmas also features thousands of adorable "critters," created from natural materials by Conservancy volunteers, on view throughout the museum. Critter ornaments may be purchased at the Museum's Annual Critter Sale on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Following the sale, critters can be purchased in the Museum Shop. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Volunteers' Art Purchase Fund, which has added more than 200 paintings, drawings and prints to the Museum's holdings since 1975.
Christmas at the Brandywine River Museum also includes a spectacular O-gauge train display, which fills an entire gallery. As many as five of the 150 locomotives and 300 freight cars in the collection run simultaneously on more than 2,000 feet of track, winding past a village, stone quarry, oil refinery, mountains, a Herr Foods plant and running waterfall, as Santa and his sleigh fly overhead. A "rail cam," mounted on a snowplow, gives visitors a view from the perspective of a miniature locomotive driver.
The Museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Christmas Day, and with extended hours until 6:00 p.m. December 26 through 30.
Due to the large number of visitors during the busy holiday season, the Museum regrets that it cannot accommodate baby strollers.
This heartwarming attraction includes a delightful ride on one of their sound equipped hay wagons, through the rolling hills of Arasapha Farm, which has been transformed into a winter wonderland filled with huge light displays, decorated trees and buildings, bridges and brooks. Come face to face with real, live Reindeer and see a beautifully animated Santa’s workshop. The hayride last about 20 minutes and is choreographed with all the favorite songs of the season. After the hay ride, relax by our bonfires or warm up with a cup of cocoa. This all new holiday hayride is perfect for all ages. Have your picture taken with Santa, and get an up close look at our famous live nativity scene that features real animals and actors.
DATES OF OPERATION: Nov 25,26,27 December 2,3,4,9,10,11,16th thur 23rd