Menu
Friends of Wanamaker Organ
Celebrating the Heritage of a National Historic Landmark Pipe Organ
  • Home
  • Music & Visiting
    • DAILY CONCERTS
    • SPECIAL CONCERTS
    • CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW
    • WANAMAKER ORGAN TOURS
    • BROADCASTS
    • NEWS STORIES
    • THE FRIENDS WURLITZER
    • DIRECTIONS TO MACY’S
  • History & Specs
    • RESTORATION OVERVIEW
    • ABOUT THE ORGAN
    • THE STOPLIST
    • STORE LORE
    • WANAMAKER ORGANISTS
    • JOHN WANAMAKER
    • RODMAN WANAMAKER
    • GEORGE ASHDOWN AUDSLEY
    • LISTENER GUIDE / MUSIC SAMPLES
    • THE ONGOING RESTORATION
  • Join Us!
    • ABOUT THE FRIENDS
    • JOIN OUR RANKS!
    • RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
    • SAMPLE OUR NEWSLETTER
    • RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER
    • MAKE A DONATION
    • SPONSOR A PROJECT
    • NAMED GIFTS
    • MAKE A BEQUEST
  • Contact Us
  • WEB STORE
    • CDs and DVDs
    • BOOKS & GIFTS
    • CAFEPRESS STORE
    • MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
    • TOURS / JOIN THE FRIENDS
    • CHRISTMAS
    • MAKE A DONATION
    • CONCERT TICKETS
Close Menu
Christmas Buttton

More Store and Light Show Handy Tips

  • MEALS, LODGING, NEARBY ATTRACTIONS, TIPS AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION IS HERE.
  • Covered parking is available under the Wanamaker Building, but additional options are here.
  • Read the fascinating story of Bert Medland, father of the Magic Christmas Tree here.
  • An annotated bibliography by Adrianna Riccioni tracing the history of the Light Show is here.
  • Our Philadelphia Visitors Guide is here.
  • Escalators are located at both ends of the Grand Court. The Information Desk is on the Main Floor, Market Street. 
     

    Elevators are also at the Market Street side of the Store. The Executive Offices are on the Third Floor, Market Street.

     
    Restrooms are on the Third Floor, Central, at 13th Street.
  • A story on Macy’s windows is here.
  • An amusing retrospective on the Philadelphia Yuletide scene is found at this site.
  • A fun Wanamaker Organ and Light Show overview is HERE.
  • A 2015 Action News piece on the Light Show and Wanamaker Organ is HERE.
  • Further information on the LIGHT SHOW is HERE.
  • A YouTube of the 2015 Christmas in the Grand Tradition concert is HERE.
  • Read an insightful 2015 overview of the Light Show HERE
  • A blog site showing behind-the-scenes Light Show views is HERE.
  • Nearby attractions include the Reading Terminal Market food court, the Christmas Village outdoor shops at City Hall and the light show in the Comcast Building.

The Daily Organ Concert schedule is here. Noon Wanamaker Organ concerts generally start after the Light Show runs its course, and feature the finale of the show played on the Organ. Taped recordings of the organ conclude other finales.

Take a look at the new Friends of the Wanamaker Organ film intended as an orientation for store visitors. Simply click on the box at right.

  
 

Light Show Music

Greg Sonsini has compiled a list of music used in the Light Show. To access it, please CLICK HERE. Scott Barber believes the “Deck the Halls” used in the old Light Show was actually performed by the Boston Pops.

Help is requested in finding the musical artists of those works not yet identified. E-mail us at execdirec@wanamakerorgan.com if you can add details.

The Dickens Christmas Village re-creates the England of Victorian times as it recounts the immortal story of Scrooge and his miraculous transformation. Timothy D. Hufnagle has ID’d the music in the Dickens Christmas Village as Celtic Harp music played by Sylvia Woods, from her “3 Harps For Christmas, Vol. 2” CD. 
You may preview it HERE.
 
Please use the handy link below to go to our Membership Renewal page. Help us keep the Wanamaker Organ singing for many Yuletides ahead! Be a part of our musical mission!

Visit Our Christmas Store!

The information on this website is provided as a courtesy
by the Friends of Wanamaker Organ.
Persons traveling a great distance
may wish to call ahead to verify details.

A History of the Light Show and
Macy’s Revitalization of a
Great Philadelphia Tradition

The following features trace the history of the Macy’s Light Show from its earliest days at the John Wanamaker department store in the 1950s to the present. Each year brings new improvements to the show, with an abiding respect for tradition.

Macy’s “Millennium” Makeover Historic Tours

Related Posts

Wanamaker-Organ-Case-with-Giant-Candles-in-Color-Christmas

Christmas

Light Show Evolution—with Christmas Display Review

Lord-&-Taylor-Christmas-Light-Show

Christmas

The Holiday Light Show

High-Voltage

Christmas

Macy’s “Millennium” Makeover

Friends of Wanamaker Organ

The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, Inc.
630 Hidden Valley Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406-1712
(484) 684-7250
execdirec@wanamakerorgan.com

© Friends of Wanamaker Organ 2023