After undergoing an extensive three-year renovation led by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Fairmount Park Conservancy is excited to welcome the public back to Lemon Hill Mansion in East Fairmount Park with one of the most beloved traditions -- decorating for the holidays!
“Winter Around the World” is the theme for this year‘s holiday festivities at Lemon Hill Mansion, featuring the seasonal traditions of several international cultures. Lemon Hill Mansion will honor Philadelphia's diversity and celebrate its re-opening by literally inviting the world through its doors. Experience how people around the world celebrate the winter season with creatively decorated rooms and an array of exciting activities.
Participating groups include: The Ukrainian League of Philadelphia, The Mexican Cultural Center / Mercado de Latinas, The American Swedish Historical Museum, and Vendors from Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park. On the first two weekends (December 2, 3, 9, and 10), the Conservancy will highlight a nationality on each day with live music, regional food, craft activities, and other celebrations centered around the country’s cultural traditions. (Admission $5, free for children 12 and under).
The third weekend (December 16 and 17), Fairmount Park Conservancy presents Family Weekend with FREE admission for all. Plus, live music, children’s activities, and daily appearances from Santa Claus.
2023 SCHEDULE:
Saturday, December 2: Celebrate Ukraine! Presented with The Ukrainian League of Philadelphia
ADMISSION: $5 / Children 12 under are free (proceeds benefit Ukrainian relief charities)
Performances:
- 11 am-3 pm: solo violin from Innesa Tymochko-Dekajlo
- 3-4 pm: Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
Vendors:
- ALL DAY: Local honey and gifts from Ukrainian beekeeper
- From 11 am - 3 pm, Cosmic Café & Ciderhouse serving a hot soup of the day, seasonal snacks, and full menu of beverages, including hot cider, beer, wine, and hard cider from Frecon Farms
Sunday, December 3: Celebrate Mexico! Presented with Mexican Cultural Center, artist Cesar Viveros, and the Mercado de Latinas
ADMISSION: $5 / Children 12 under are free
Performances
- 11-11:30 am: youth dance performance by Ñuuxakun Folklorico Mexicano
- 11:45 am- 12:15 pm: interactive Las Posadas and piñata breaking event (outside) - audience participation encouraged!
- 1:00 - 1:30 pm: youth dance performance by Ñuuxakun Folklorico Mexicano
- 2:00-3:00 pm: Live music from Guachinango Trio
- 3- 3:30 pm: interactive Las Posadas and piñata breaking event (outside) - audience participation encouraged!
Craft Workshop
12:30-3:00 pm: Piñata ornament making with Mexican Cultural Center
Vendors
From 11 am - 4 pm, multiple vendors from the Mercado de Latinas are offering a selection of homemade Mexican food and handmade crafts. Bring an appetite for a delicious selection of food and beverages and support Latina artisans by purchasing one of a kind, handmade gifts for your family and friends. All proceeds go directly to the vendors!
Saturday, December 9: Celebrate Sweden! Presented with The American Swedish Historical Museum
Performers:
-10:00 am–12:00 pm: Sculptor Roger Wing leads a live wood carving demo of Swedish tomtes, using chainsaws, axes, and chisels. See the large Tomte sculpted from a felled Fairmount Park tree. Small hand-carved tomtes also available!* (*Supplies limited so show up early to get these one-of-a-kind gifts!)
-11 am-3 pm: Swedish and American holiday favorites from Last Chance band (Ingrid Rosenback & Jack Scott)
Craft Workshop:
ALL DAY: The Swedish Museum presents a paper heart ornament making for all ages
Vendors:
ALL DAY: The Swedish Museum serving complimentary samples of traditional Swedish holiday treats, including pepparkakor gingerbread cookies, glögg, and lingonberry juice
From 11 am - 3 pm, Cosmic Café & Ciderhouse serving a hot soup of the day, seasonal snacks, and full menu of beverages, including beer, wine, and hard cider from Frecon Farms
Sunday, December 10: Celebrate Southeast Asia! Presented with Vendors from Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park
ADMISSION: FREE! Thanks to support from the Philly Holiday Experience and The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE)
Vendors
From 11:00 AM–4:00 PM, FDR Park’s famous Southeast Asian Market will take over the house and grounds of Lemon Hill! Multiple vendors from Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia will be offering a selection of homemade food (ready-to-eat pre-packaged foods as well as prepared dishes that you can take home to cook yourself) and handmade crafts. Bring an appetite and support immigrant entrepreneurs. All proceeds go directly to the vendors!
Vendors include: Sahbyy Food, Pecel Ndeso, Lucky Elephant Cafe, Saijai Nadhabhand, Melissa Khmer BBQ, Suga Dady FDR, La’Bopha Kitchen, MaeDee, Vietnam Eats, and Pov Srey Fashion
Cooking Demonstrations
11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM: Chef Seri Chao presents an interactive Cambodian cooking demonstration! Participants will learn to make “kreung,” an essential ingredient in Cambodian cooking, and relieve holiday stress by smashing the paste in a traditional mortar and pestle. Enjoy complimentary samples of Seri’s salaw macheu kreung soup that is guaranteed to excite your taste buds and warm you on a chilly winter day!
Music
All day: Music highlighting Southeast Asian artists from DJ Transit and DJ KB
Saturday December 16: Celebrate America Family Weekend!
ADMISSION: FREE!
Performers/entertainment:
Downstairs oval room:
- 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: free photos with Santa Claus!
Upstairs oval room:
- 10:00 am -12:00 pm: kids holiday sing-along with Mister John’s Music
- 12:00 -2:00 pm: holiday classics with jazz pianist V. Shayne Frederick
- 2:30-3:30 pm: the soul of the season with jazz singer Denise King
Craft Workshop:
10 am -3:30 pm: Sisters Interacting Through Stitches- fiber arts holiday craft activities for children
Vendors:
From 11 am - 3 pm, Cosmic Café & Ciderhouse serving a hot soup of the day, seasonal snacks, and full menu of beverages, including hot cider, beer, wine, and hard cider from Frecon Farms
Sunday December 17: Celebrate America Family Weekend!
ADMISSION: FREE!
Performers/entertainment:
Downstairs oval room:
- 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: free photos with Santa Claus!
Upstairs oval room:
- 10:00 am-12:00 pm: kids holiday sing-along with Mister John’s Music
- 12:30-1:30 pm: holiday favorties with Little Big Sister Band
- 2:00-3:00 pm: the soul of the season with jazz singer Denise King
- 3:00-4:00 pm: more holiday favorties with Little Big Sister Band
Craft Workshop:
10 am -3:30 pm: Sisters Interacting Through Stitches- fiber arts holiday craft activities for children
Vendors:
From 11 am - 3 pm, Cosmic Café & Ciderhouse serving a hot soup of the day, seasonal snacks, and full menu of beverages, including hot cider, beer, wine, and hard cider from Frecon Farms
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Fairmount Park Conservancy & Lemon Hill Mansion are partnering with Ormiston Mansion, Laurel Hill Mansion, Woodford Mansion and Historic Strawberry Mansion to present the 2023 Holidays in the Park. For more detailed info on all of the holiday house tours, please visit: parkcharms.org
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
-Lemon Hill Mansion has public restrooms
-Lemon Hill Mansion has a staircase entrance that is not ADA accessible
-Tickets are not timed. Come anytime between 10 am - 4 pm - capacity permitting
-If you cannot attend Lemon Hill Mansion on the date of purchase, you can exchange your tickets for another date (capacity permitting) by emailing: [email protected]
-If you're planning to visit other historic houses in East Fairmount Park, please check their opening dates parkcharms.org as they vary by each house (all hours are 10 am -4 pm)
-All of the houses charge a $5 admission fee, which can be purchased through each house's website or at the door (there is no "all house pass"). Tickets purchased on this platform are valid at Lemon Hill Mansion ONLY
-There is no bus transportation this year. The Historic Houses of East Fairmount Park are conveniently located within a short drive of each other or by SEPTA’s Route 32 bus
PARKING: there is plenty of parking in the lot behind Lemon Hill Mansion and along Lemon Hill Drive. As always, never leave valuables in your car!
LUNCH: Lemon hill will have lunch vendors available on all of the open days from 11 AM – 3 PM