Ten Fun & Spirited Gettysburg Holiday Activities
Published November 26, 2019
Savor A Festive Season In Gettysburg
A Gettysburg Holiday Guide from the Gettysburg Hotel
This time of year is filled with the hustle and bustle of both long to-do lists and long shopping lists. So don’t forget to take the time to press pause and embrace the season. If you’re looking to savor this festive season and find a sure-fire way to get into the holiday spirit, look no further than an escape to Gettysburg with our curated list of Ten Fun & Spirited Gettysburg Holiday Activities.
Naturally, you want to take full advantage of this season by doing as many holiday activities as possible. If you’re looking for some new traditions, or just want to freshen up your old ones, read further for a Holiday Bucket List sure to make this season the most wonderful time of the year!
- Visit with Santa
There will be Santa sightings all over Gettysburg this holiday season. He might be hanging in Santa’s Shanty on One Lincoln Square, doing last-minute shopping at the Outlet Shoppes, or sharing breakfast with you in the Grand Ballroom at the Gettysburg Hotel. So, if you’re looking for the perfect family photo for your Christmas card, grab your wish list and plan a visit with Old St. Nick before he heads north.
- Watch Your Favorite Christmas Movies
There’s something magical about enjoying a classic film during the holidays. Looking for a unique way to watch your seasonal film favorites? Enjoy a full day of classic movies at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater during the Holiday Film Fest on Saturday, December 7. Four holiday classics will be shown on Majestic’s big screen for all to enjoy.
- A Christmas Tree
Decorating the perfect tree is the ideal time to bring the family together. Though artificial trees can make the process easier, there is something truly special about that fresh pine smell. If you’ve decided to go for a fresh-cut Christmas tree this year, Adams County is an ideal place to pick a fresh Christmas tree to take home. The countryside is brimming with evergreen tree farms, many of which offer special holiday events, wagon rides, and cut-your-own Christmas tree experiences.
- Go Skiing
Looking for some outdoor fun this season? Take a snow day and learn how to ski. Liberty Mountain Resort is perfect for new and seasoned skiers to get into the snow and make holiday memories. The laidback attitude at this resort makes for a fun day on the slopes with skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or snow tubing.
- Eat Holiday Cookies
Peanut-butter blossoms! Sugar Cookies! Gingerbread men! There are just too many tasty holiday cookies from which to choose. Whether you bake them, buy them, or exchange them, it isn’t the holidays until you’ve eaten your fair share of holiday cookies. Ever wonder what kind of wine pairs well with your holiday cookies? Head to the Adams County Winery on December 14 between 12 pm and 5 pm to find out!
- Give Back
Show your family’s giving spirit this holiday by shopping for a toy or two to give to Toys for Tots or another local toy drive. Go through the toy box with your children and find (gently used) toys they’re willing to part with for the cause. Want to take your goodwill toward men a step further? Try volunteering. There are countless opportunities throughout the holiday season to give back, from serving meals to collecting winter coats for kids. Choose an activity perfect for the family — It will brighten your holiday and someone else’s too.
- A Christmas Carol
This holiday classic sparks joy for all. The story of Scrooge being visited by three spirits: past, present, and future, and changing his entire outlook on Christmas. Whether you read the Charles Dickens classic, watch a motion picture film from the comfort of your home, or catch a performance live at the Majestic Theater, this feel-good Dickens story brings good humor and holiday spirit to the whole family.
- Go Christmas Caroling
Bundle up and walk through your neighborhood, offering cheerful music and warm smiles to anyone listening. Or take your show on the road and sing at a nursing home, school, local store, or anywhere else you’d like to go. No matter what, a few hours of caroling will be sure to lift the spirits of many. At the end of your brisk evening, stop by Starbucks at the Gettysburg Hotel and enjoy one of your favorite classic holiday drinks.
- Holiday Shopping
Gettysburg is known for its year-round shopping destinations, but this time of year makes it even more special. Just two miles south of Lincoln Square, visit the Outlet Shoppes with access to more than 70 stores. You’re sure to find something for everyone on your list. Stop by the Outlet Shoppes to enjoy free carriage rides along quaint Main Street adorned with thousands of lights on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 pm to 8 pm!
- Planning for New Year’s Eve
It’s the biggest night of the year. Ring in 2020 at the Gettysburg Hotel, enjoy overnight accommodations for two, a five-course dinner, and ballroom festivities. And, let’s not forget the fireworks! With the hotel’s ideal location as the backdrop to the festivities on Lincoln Square, you’ll be at the center of it all.
You’ve spent weeks counting down the days until it becomes socially acceptable to join in the holiday fun. Now that your favorite time of the year has finally arrived, make the most of it. If you’ve got the holiday spirit in your heart, and this Holiday Bucket List as a guide, you can’t go wrong.
We’re wishing you the happiest Holiday Season ever!
