Skip to content

The 2024 Edition returns Black Friday November 29, 2024

Here are last year’s hours: The Light Show ran daily at the following times: • Mon.-Sat. | 10:30 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm & 6 pm

• Sun. | 12 pm, 2 pm & 4 pm

The 28,750-pipe Wanamaker Organ—the world’s largest playing pipe organ—is featured with the noon and 6 pm showings (except Sundays).
Store attractions may be enjoyed virtually year-round here!
 
Dickens Christmas Village, detailing the timeless redemption story of stone-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge, is open this year (2023) by advance reservation from 11/24 (Black Friday) to 12/31. Official information and a reservation form is here is HERE. Starting 11/19 you can make a reservation at least five days in advance. Please note that Santa’s last day is 12/24 as he has a big day ahead of him that night. The Dickens Village attraction may be enjoyed virtually clicking the icon above! If you visit during a slow time, it is always worth asking at the door if you can be admitted to this attraction.
macy’s spectacular market street windows

Beautiful windows and holiday music grace the bustling Market Street street scene outside the Store. These attractions have historically been put together under the supervision of Manuel Urquizo, Macy’s Director of Campaigns and Windows, and built by Square One Design. They were styled and lit by Macy’s Center City Visual Merchandising, and are definitely worth a detour! The 2023 windows are on display from Wed. November 15 through New Year’s Day 2024.

 

Macy’s is located inside The Wanamaker Building at 13th & Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Basic store Information is at 215-241-9000. There is parking underneath the Store, with lot street entrances on Juniper and on 13th Streets. 

 

PLANNING A LIGHT SHOW TRIP?  BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FOR  HELPFUL INFORMATION!

The Light Show itself lasts about eleven minutes. Buying Wanamaker Organ items from the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ webstore helps support the Organ as you fulfill your holiday gift list. Just click on the link below! Immediate Direct Shipping!

The Macy’s presentations are the grandest of Philadelphia traditions, and many customers’ Yule celebrations would not be complete without taking in the Delaware Valley spectacle.Macy’s beautiful Market Street Windows, created by the Parade Studio, are also a special attraction. 

At the Dickens Christmas Village (Third Floor, Market Street) there is also a concession for photos with Santa (open through Christmas Eve) and a Christmas gift shop (“Holiday Lane”) nearby. Macy’s now hosts a Toys “R” Us secion on the Third Floor (13th Street Side) as well. Public bathrooms are located there. If there is not a bathroom attendant, the punch code to get in the bathrooms may be obtained at the Executive Offices, just off the Elevators on Floor 3 at Market. There is covered public parking under the Wanamaker Building, with a stairway and elevators leading to Street Level, with two entrances along the Juniper Street side of the lot. Enter the garage from Juniper Street (off City Hall Square) or from 13th Street headed north.

THE WANAMAKER ORGAN is used for the finale of any noon Light Shows (except Sundays), and at the end of any 6 pm Light Shows. Recorded Wanamaker Organ finales conclude the show at all other times.

 

The Wanamaker Organ is played daily (except Sundays) at noon and 5:30 pm. Note: this is the regular year-round schedule.  
In years when Macy’s schedules the Wanamaker Organ with the Light Show, it features the Grand Finale (“Deck the Halls”) of the Light Show, then the daily recital continues. Other Light Show endings feature a taped finale by the Wanamaker Organ. All Organ recitals are 45 minutes long. The majestic Wanamaker Organ is the largest playing pipe organ in the world and has 28,750 pipes. Through the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ and Macy’s, several million dollars have been invested in the Organ’s matchless sound during an active, ongoing restoration.
VIEW THE original Light Show HERE and see a vintage TV segment with organ HERE.
Watch a YouTube video on the Eighth Floor John Wanamaker Toy Department Monorail and other Department Stores with Monorails HERE
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN for Exciting Light Show History Features and Photos!
CHECK OUT our  Yuletide webstore!
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Wanamaker Organ Alert

Christmas Eve day and New Year’s Eve day the second of the Wanamaker Organ daily concerts are generally cancelled due to potential curtailed store hours and to accommodate the personal needs of the Organ staff.  Again, the Organ is not played on Sundays.