Newtown's Holidays Happen in Four December Days. Plan Them in November.
October 29, 2026
October 29, 2026
This year most of Newtown's best-known holiday traditions fall between Thursday, December 3 and Sunday, December 6. The tree lighting, the Newtown Historic Association's house tour, the holiday parade and a four-day run of a holiday musical at the Newtown Theatre all land in that window, mostly within walking distance of the town center. The rest of the season sits on either side of it. Two events share a Saturday in late November, a 5K runs on Thanksgiving morning, and two holiday concerts follow the next week.
When the season is packed that tightly, the decisions that shape it come earlier. Several of those four days have overlapping start times, one ticket outlet takes only cash or check, and a few events cap their tickets or close registration on a fixed date. Most of that has to be handled before Thanksgiving.
Here's the long weekend in order, with the times as the organizers list them.
All four days have something on the schedule, and on three of them two events compete for the same evening or afternoon. Choosing between them takes up most of the planning.
The tree lighting is organized by The Newtown Experience, and it's short. It runs one hour, with performances by BC Discoveries and the Goodnoe Elementary Choir, a DJ, and cookies and hot chocolate. Santa arrives on an antique fire truck and lights the tree himself.
The lighting ends at 7 p.m. and Friday's musical starts at 7:30 p.m. at the theatre on North State Street. If your household wants both, Friday is the night that allows it, but there's only half an hour in between. If you'd rather not rush, the Thursday 7:30 p.m. show is the only other evening performance with no competing event that night.
The Newtown Historic Association's Holiday Open House Tour is in its 63rd year. It opens several private Newtown homes decorated for the season, plus multiple public buildings, all within easy walking distance of the town center. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Every ticket includes entry to the Half-Moon Inn at 105 Court St., the restored 18th-century building that houses the association. Inside there will be period music and hearthside colonial cooking demonstrations.
How you pay depends on when you buy.
When you buy | Where | Price | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
Early bird, now | $30 members, $35 nonmembers | Online | |
Early bird, in person | Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State St. | $30 members, $35 nonmembers | Cash or check only |
Day of the tour | Half-Moon Inn, 105 Court St., or Stocking Works, 301 S. State St. | $40 | Not specified |
Children under 12 get in free. Advance tickets are non-refundable, and the tour goes ahead rain or shine. The association's page lists the tour as Saturday, December 5, but its line about day-of sales says December 6. If you plan to buy at the door, check with the association before Saturday.
There are two house rules to plan your outfit around: no photos inside the homes and no high-heeled shoes.
The tour runs six hours, and the 2 p.m. matinee falls right in the middle, so most households will pick the tour or the afternoon show. A morning on the tour leaves the 7:30 p.m. performance open.
The Newtown Business Association's Holiday Parade, presented by the Newtown Athletic Club, carries this year's theme, "Story Book Holiday Magic." Santa's Village opens at 11 a.m. and the parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. from Newtown Business Commons. The Newtown Business Association has posted a 2026 route map on that page. You can send questions to the parade committee at [email protected].
This year's route is new. The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. at Newtown Business Commons, heads west on Washington Ave to Sycamore St, then north on Sycamore to Durham Rd. Santa's Village is in the Fred Beans Ford lot on Sycamore St, and there's a new Quiet Viewing Zone along the route. Check the parade map on the Newtown Business Association's website for closures and parking before you go.
The final "Miracle on 34th Street" performance starts at 2 p.m., an hour and a half after the parade begins. If you have tickets for that matinee, think about how long you'll stay at the parade before you leave the house.
The weekend is packed, but most of the decisions behind it have deadlines in November. Here are the three earlier events that set the pace.
Two events fall on the same Saturday. The Newtown Township Holiday Craft Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 100 Municipal Drive, and admission is free, according to Visit Bucks County.
The 4th Annual Newtown Holiday Cocktail Trail runs from noon to 4 p.m. and is sponsored by Johnson, Kendall & Johnson. Ticketholders start at the Newtown Theatre, where they pick up a glass and a trail "passport." The passport lists each participating Newtown Borough shop and that day's promotions, and it also points out Borough restaurants along the way. Tickets are $55, a limited number went on sale September 30, and everyone on the trail must be 21 or older. The trail raises money for the theatre. In the event announcement on The Newtown Experience, the theatre's executive director, Andrew Smith, said the trail "has become a Newtown tradition, serving not only as a theatre fundraiser but also encouraging people to shop and eat locally."
The two schedules overlap only between noon and 3 p.m. Since tickets for the trail are limited and the fair is free, buy the trail ticket first.
The Newtown Turkey Trot 5K starts at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving at Brian S. Gregg Memorial Park, 129 N. Congress St. Newtown Borough's listing runs the event from 9 to 11 a.m. Boss Events organizes the race, and proceeds go to the Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund in Brian S. Gregg's honor. Registration on RunSignup costs $50 for adults and $30 for the 12-and-under 5K. It closes at 7 a.m. on race day. The Borough's event page links a course map.
The house tour's early-bird price is the one that saves money: $30 or $35 now versus $40 on the day. Picking up tickets at Newtown Book & Record Exchange means bringing cash or a checkbook downtown ahead of time. "Miracle on 34th Street" has five performances in four days, and the times you'd pick depend on which of the other events you're attending, so it makes sense to buy those seats once the rest of the weekend is settled.
The Newtown Theatre has two holiday concerts the following week. "Swingin' Through the 50s & 60s Christmas Spectacular" plays Thursday, December 10, at 8 p.m. Advance general admission is $40, VIP is $53, and any unsold seats are $50 at the door. "Christmas with the Rat Pack" follows on Sunday, December 13, at 4 p.m. General admission is $41, VIP is $54, and unsold seats are $52 at the door. For both shows, advance tickets cost less than door prices.
If you're planning December in Newtown and surrounding areas, or thinking about a move here, I'm glad to help.
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