The 10th anniversary Kennett Square Holiday Light Parade and Small Business Saturday will usher in the festive season in Kennett Square the last weekend in November, followed by two magical weekends of the beloved Kennett Square Holiday Village Market at The Creamery. Here’s a look at some festive events coming up in Kennett Square:

10th Anniversary Holiday Light Parade and Small Business Saturday

Kennett Square loves a parade, and the Holiday Light Parade and Tree Lighting the day after Thanksgiving has been a highlight for families for a decade now. This year, the parade will be held on Nov. 25, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

“This is the 10th anniversary of the Kennett Square Holiday Light Parade,” said community member and longtime parade organizer Carol Ciliberti. “We started with a handful of entries and have expanded to around 80 floats.” 

Parade participants include music and dance troupes, community groups, and an assortment of vehicles including classic cars, tractors, wagons, fire engines, and school buses, all festooned with lights.

“The parade culminates in welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus to help light the town tree. It’s a great family event for all ages,” Ciliberti said.

Following a new route this year to help alleviate traffic congestion, the parade will start at the intersection of Cypress and South Broad Streets, heading north to State Street and then west along State Street down to Center Street.

A DJ will play holiday music for the crowds on State Street before the parade, and dancers from Longwood Performing Arts will kick off the parade at 6:15 p.m. with performances near the State and Union intersection.

Kennett Collaborative, which sponsors and coordinates the parade in cooperation with local community partners, will be bringing back the popular meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus on the porch at Work2gether (120 East State Street) directly after the parade.

"The parade officially launches the holiday shopping season in Kennett Square," said Kennett Collaborative executive director Bo Wright. "We encourage everyone to come back the next day to enjoy the festive atmosphere and the joy of shopping small and supporting locally owned shops and restaurants. Shopping small—on Small Business Saturday and every day—not only ensures that you find the most beautiful and highest quality gifts for everyone on your list. It also supports our expert and passionate small business owners, their families, and employees and helps build a strong local economy. We’re also encouraging people to save the date for Tinsel on the Town, a holiday shopping event planned by the merchants for the evening of Friday, December 9th."

Kennett Square Holiday Village Market

The Kennett Square Holiday Village Market, returning to The Creamery from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 3, 4, 10, and 11, will once again feature dozens of curated artisan and vintage vendors. Ice sculpture demonstrations, live music, Santa Claus, fire pits and s’mores, handcrafted and warming festive drinks and cocktails, food trucks, and more are all part of the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market experience in the magical setting of The Creamery.

“The Creamery is thrilled to host the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market again this year,” said Joe Mulry, the director of programming at The Kennett Creamery. “This event aligns completely with our mission to nurture community building and collaborative partnerships—and there’s no better time of year to gather our neighbors together than the holiday season. The Creamery is proud to support and celebrate our local artisans, musicians, culture, and traditions.”

Meredith Langer, a vendor curator of Merely Mere, said,  “This is the sixth year of the market, and we will have more vendors than ever before, with over a hundred vendors total over the four days.” 

With a different combination of vendors every day, there will be a variety of everything from jewelry and prints to ceramics, textiles, vintage items, holiday décor, and more. “It will be a great opportunity to purchase holiday gifts and get into the nostalgic holiday spirit while enjoying a festive drink from The Creamery in a special Holiday Village Market enamel mug,” she said.

The Holiday Village Market is a favorite annual event for community members and visitors—as well as for the vendors who return year after year. Amy DiGregorio of Helen Ethel Jewelry has been a vendor every year. “I look forward to the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market to get me in the holiday spirit!” she said. “The market’s festive atmosphere transports those who attend to a winter wonderland reminiscent of a cozy holiday Hallmark movie.”

Colleen and Chris Allison of Fresh Vintage will once again be bringing their wonderfully eclectic selection of prints, maps, and more. 

They said, “The Holiday Village Market is definitely one of our favorites. The unique industrial setting of The Creamery, as well as the relaxed wintry vibe and the friendly customers from all over the Delaware Valley set it apart from other markets. We also love the ice sculptor!”

The Allisons sell original antique local maps as well as maps from all over the globe.

New vendors this year will include Dial V for Vintage, Herbal Jawn Apothecary, Creative Arch Philly Jewelry, and Blue Jar Studio cyanotypes. Kennett local favorites include Hilltop Flower Co., TEXTILE, and Bee Our Guest Wraps.

Visit the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market and follow Kennett Holiday Village Market on Instagram for vendor schedules, updates, and vendor sneak peeks.

Christmas in Kennett 2022

Kennett Collaborative’s plans for Christmas in Kennett 2022 will focus on creating magical moments and making Kennett Square a festive and welcoming place for everyone throughout the holiday season.

“The Christmas in Kennett plan for 2022 accentuates the town’s historic charm that’s particularly delightful over the holidays,” said Wright. “With generous anchor sponsorship from Longwood Gardens, we’re excited to introduce new lighting, décor, and beautiful horticultural displays to celebrate the season in Longwood Gardens’ hometown. Like Kennett Blooms in the spring, Christmas in Kennett is a program designed to lift the spirits of local residents, welcome visitors, and support our small retail business owners and restauranteurs.”

Community support for the Christmas in Kennett fundraising campaign is vitally important, Wright said. “The more we raise, the more we can do to bring light and beauty to Kennett Square for the holidays as well as for the long winter months ahead.

Corien Siepelinga, artist and owner of Square Pear Gallery, is once again creating personalized ornaments featuring the names of sponsors, or the names of those in whose honor or memory donations are given, for all donations of $150 and above. These ornaments will decorate the community tree next to the Franklin Building on State Street. “Our community tree has been one of the most popular elements of our Christmas in Kennett program,” Wright said, “and we love celebrating our donors in this way.”

Those who wish to make a tax-deductible donation to bring holiday magic to Kennett Square this season, can visit KennettCollaborative.org.