With the UK high streets becoming increasingly busy with shoppers on the hunt for the perfect gift, now is the time to escape the Christmas chaos with a well-timed winter shopping break to Philadelphia.

The city of Philadelphia is offering a festive selection of shopping experiences for travellers this winter, including browsing the outdoor market stalls at the 10^th annual Christmas Village in the recently re-opened LOVE Park and tax-free shopping at the festively decorated Macy’s. Or travellers looking for carols, cocoa and roasted chestnuts on fairy-lit streets can explore the quaint neighbourhood of Chestnut Hill, which will host lively Stag and Doe Shopping Nights throughout December.

Alongside tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes, Philadelphia is also consistently citied as one of the most walkable cities in the US – the perfect combination for a stress-free shopping break. The city is renowned for its excellent shopping districts, including the centrally-located Rittenhouse Row which is brimming with independent shops and national retailers alike. Travellers looking to find a one-off gift for a loved one back home can also find a great selection of vintage and thrifted items in the various boutiques located in the Old City of Philadelphia and those eager to ‘shop until they drop’ should head to the nearby King of Prussia Shopping Center or the Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Celebrates The Christmas Village’s 10^th Anniversary at LOVE Park
Following an official opening ceremony by the Christkind from Nuremberg on Thanksgiving (23^rd November), the city’s recently renovated LOVE Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland with the return of the 10^th annual Christmas Village. Inspired by the traditional German Christmas markets, Philadelphia’s very own open-air Christmas Village will play host to more than 80 vendors from across the world until Christmas Eve. From the wooden booths, local and international merchants will sell traditional gifts and treats, including ornaments, toys, jewellery and artwork. Following a browse of the stalls, holidaymakers are invited to warm up with a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate under twinkling lights, while enjoying the festively-themed and mouth-watering food. Admission to the Christmas Village in Philadelphia is free, with food, drink and shopping available to purchase. For more information, visit www.philachristmas.com.

Enjoy the Christmas Light Show and Tax-Free Shopping at Macy’s
Dating back more than half a century, the Christmas Light Show and Wanamaker Organ Concert at Philadelphia’s Market Street Macy’s is not to be missed during a family break in the city. During the show, 10,000 LED lights will create falling snowflakes, dancing ballerinas and reindeer against a four-storey-high velvet curtain in the store’s atrium, all to a soundtrack provided by the largest playable instrument in the world, the Wanamaker Organ. After the show, bargain-hunters can enjoy over 157,000 square feet of shopping space, take a stroll through the store’s wonderland of holiday window displays, or head to the third floor to explore the Dickens Village, which will include over 100 animated figures re-enacting 26 of A Christmas Carol’s most memorable moments. The Christmas Light Show and the Macy’s Dickens Village will run from 24 November – 31 December, excluding Christmas Day. For more information and for store opening hours, visit www.visitmacysusa.com/philadelphia.

Stag and Doe Shopping Nights in Chestnut Hill
Each Wednesday throughout December, Philadelphia’s charming north-western neighbourhood of Chestnut Hill will celebrate the season with Stag and Doe Shopping Nights, one of the areas oldest and most loved holiday traditions. Located just 25 minutes from Center City, travellers visiting the historic district of Chestnut Hill can enjoy extended opening hours of many stores on the festively decorated and tree-lined streets of Germantown Avenue, with many hosting holiday sales and promotions. Along with a chance to purchase unique gifts for loved ones back home, the nights will also provide revellers with live entertainment, seasonal treats, dazzling lights and carollers. For more information on Christmas events in Chestnut Hill, visit www.chestnuthillpa.com/events/holidays-hill-2017.

A package for a last-minute shopping break to Philadelphia includes:

Four-Night Package To Philadelphia From £843 Per Person
America As You Like it is offering a four-night package to Philadelphia from £843 per person. Package includes direct return flights from London Heathrow to Philadelphia with Virgin Atlantic and four nights’ accommodation at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District. Price is based on selected departure dates in December 2017 and is based on two people sharing. For more information or to book, call 020 8742 8299 or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com.

For more information on Philadelphia, visit the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website, www.discoverPHL.co.uk

-ENDS-

Photo Captions (From Left to Right):
Image 1: The Christmas Village at LOVE Park. Image courtesy of Christmas Village and Russ Brown Photography.
Image 2: Macy’s in Center City, which is located in the historical Wannamaker Building, is decorated for the holiday season. Image courtesy of Jim McWilliams for PHLCVB
Image 3: Chestnut Hill will celebrate the season with Stag and Doe Shopping Nights. Image courtesy of Darryl Moran for Chestnut Hill Business District.

For Further Press Information, please contact:

Greg Evans – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07768 341790 / 01633 480 754
Email: [email protected]

Sarah Salord – GEC PR
Tel: 07971 559942
Email: [email protected]

About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.