I Visited All the Shops in Christmas Village: Here Are the Ten Places that Stood Out

One may walk through Love Park during December and notice something different.

The Park, once barren save for the shining red “Love” Statue and a few admiring tourists, is bustling, filled to the brim with shuffling citizens and visitors from across the nation. What attracts these tourists is not a newfound appreciation for the Love statue—but the annual Philadelphia Christmas Village.

Sprawling from the corner of 15th and Arch and extending to the courtyards of Philadelphia City Hall, the Christmas Village is an annual Philadelphia event modeled after the traditional German Christmas Markets, the most notable being the famous Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg. The German influence is apparent—a few minutes of walking through Love Park and you will be greeted by the heady smell of German Bratwurst.

Food stalls, however, are just one attraction of the Christmas Village. The focus of the event, which lasts from November 18th until December 24th, is on its unique assortment of vendors. The decorated stalls that occupy Love Park for the 5-week period boast a number of items, including Philly-themed paraphernalia, artwork, clothing, and spa items. This year, the Christmas Village features over 120 vendors, with the number of vendors increasing yearly. Along with vendors and food, visitors can enjoy ice skating at Dilworth Park, a carousel ride in the interior courtyard of City Hall, and a Ferris Wheel in the northern courtyard.

Of the hundreds of stalls visited, a select few especially stood out. Here are some of the most eye-catching and quality stalls in the Christmas Village.

1. Norden Arts & Handicrafts

If entering the Christmas Village on the corner of 16th and Arch, you will first be greeted by the colorful clothing and winter accessories from Norden Arts and Handicrafts. The shop is packed to the brim, bags and jackets hanging on the exterior and shelves stocked with hats and gloves in the cozy interior. The shop owner describes the items as authentically handmade in Nepal. 

2. Living and Giving Inc.

One of the most dazzling shops in the Christmas Village, Living and Giving Inc. sells assortments of winter clothing and accessories. The true highlight of the shop, however, is their colorful wind spinners of various designs. The wind spinners are made from stainless steel cut by laser technology. When wind blows, the result is mesmerizing — creating a spinning spectacle of iridescent metal.

3. Raclette Stube

Raclette Stube is one of Christmas Village’s many food stalls, located among a chain of vendors near the Love statue. The stall sells Raclette Sandwiches, a traditional Swiss dish. Creamy, salty melted cheese is scraped fresh off a cheese wheel and placed on a crispy baguette, complete with meats and vegetables. 

Junior Kaddy Ren (11-3) describes the taste of her Raclette Sandwhich, “The tomatoes are sweet, the pesto is basily, the salami is rich and salty, the bread is cruncy and toasted, the cheese is delectable.” When asked which element was the best, she replied “I mean, the cheese makes the sandwich.”

Junior Laura Dragomir also raved about the sandwich, describing “The flavors all meld together to form a perfectly sour, savory, meal. The bread is fluffy, it provides the perfect cushion for the cheese and pesto to imbed into the bread. All in all it’s a strong sandwich.”

Raclette Stube provides a variety of the Raclette Sandwich, including an Italian, Salami, and Prosciutto variation. 

4. Andrey’s Gifts From Afar

Located amongst a particularly narrow alley of stalls in the Christmas Village. Andrey’s Gifts From Afar boasts a selection of charming and colorful handcrafted Christmas items. On the interior shelves, Ukrainian Nesting Dolls Rest along with hand painted wooden Christmas Trees, Christmas Ornaments, and winter cottages. Displayed at the front of the shop are small glass creatures from Russia, the smallest selling for $4 each.

5. Astro Vinyl Art

One of the more eclectic shops in the Village, Astro Vinyl Art steers away from the traditional wintery theme. The stall sells Upcyled Artworks made from Vinyl records which feature artists such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. Astro Vinyl Art does not only appear during the weeks of Christmas Village, however—they also have a location in Pottstown, PA.

6. Asante African Art

Asante African Art is located in the City Hall half of Christmas Village. The husband and wife duo who own the shop are Kenyan, and their artwork is displayed in the shop among other African artists. “I do realism and my husband does abstract,” says the shop owner, pointing to the numerous paintings on the wall. Located outside the shop are assortments of beaded, wood, and bone earrings originating from the Maasai, a tribe native to Kenya and Tanzania. The price of the earrings range from $15-$25.

7. Skinmushh

From first glance this stall may not seem intriguing, but upon smelling the fresh fragrances that drift from the stall, it becomes nearly impossible to ignore. Specializing in spa and body items, Skinmushh carries a selection of body butters and oils, moisturizers, serums, candles, and bath bombs. These various items all come with luxurious scents such as cocoa butter, saffron, cedarwood, fruit loops and hot cocoa. The key ingredients for body items include shea butter, mango butter, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil. What’s more: all items are organic, vegan, and cruelty free.

8. True Honey Tea

Different from your typical tea shop, each tea bag from True Honey Tea is pre-sweetened with honey crystals. The shop has a selection of hot teas to sample, including lavender, chai, hibiscus lemon, and green tea. Each bag includes 24 tea bags and costs around $20.

9. Tantra Arts

An antique collector’s dream, Tantra Arts features a swath of vintage metal items. What can only be described as a tasteful frenzy, the stall sells assortments of rings (the watch rings were particularly interesting), necklaces and pendants, scarab bracelets, lockets and locks, wall hooks, compasses, figurines, door handles, and more.

10. Tiger Snake Vintage

Located just outside the Dilworth park entrance to City Hall, Tiger Snake Vintage is a small vintage clothing shop that sells cozy sweaters, vintage sweatshirts and crewnecks, jewelry, and scarves. The owner sources her goods from estate sales,  a type of public sale in which a home’s contents are sold, including clothing, dishes, furniture, and decorations. The owner describes these sales as “intense, but you can find a lot of goodies.”