The Miracle on South 13th Street is located on the 1600 block of South 13th Street between Morris and Tasker Streets. This one block of Philly features more Christmas decorations than you usually see in entire neighborhoods.
Like many traditions, there’s no definitive history of The Miracle on 13th Street. However, for at least the last few decades this block in South Philly has been going over the top with decorations that are on par with some of the top Christmas destinations in PA.
In fact, in 2016, Travel + Leisure named it the best Christmas lights in Pennsylvania, beating out well-known spots like Koziar’s Christmas Village and Hershey Sweet Lights.
Over the last few Christmases, I’ve had the chance to visit The Miracle on South 13th Street several times. On my first visit, I simply drove down the street. An enjoyable experience for sure, but overall too quickly as you can’t really stop to enjoy the lights or take photos on a public road.
So, to get a better look, I decided to walk the street during my second visit at this fabulous free Christmas light display in PA.
When you visit, start at the intersection of 13th Street and Morris Street, which is the entrance to this winter wonderland. However, the only main advantage of doing so is that the few overhead signs will be facing the way you are walking.
Along this block, there are approximately 50 homes and nearly all are decorated for the holiday season. Some simply decorate with a few string lights, while others go all out with lights, full-size characters, and even window animations.
My wife, my young children, and I were all mesmerized by the beautiful decorations that surrounded us. My young son especially enjoyed seeing Santa Claus peeking out from a third-story window in a very well-done video that played on repeat.
Other highlights for him included the chance to write a letter to Santa and see some of the large blow-up characters outside the homes. I’m even told that Santa makes appearances throughout the season, as do carolers.
Without a doubt, a visit to The Miracle on South 13th Street should be on your list if you are spending Christmas in Philadelphia.
If you can, either take public transit (it’s a short walk from the Tasker-Morris subway station) or park your car (parking can be tricky in this area, though). This will give you a chance to walk through The Miracle on 13th Street and give you a chance to fully enjoy this magical site. However, driving through is still a nice option if you are short on time.
Either way, don’t miss this great South Philly tradition as it’s one of the best places to see Christmas lights in Philadelphia.
The Miracle on South 13th Street is lit daily from 5 pm to 11 pm during the month of December. More information can be found on the block’s Facebook page.
Looking for more holiday things to do in Philadelphia? Check out the Christmas Markets in Philly, Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular, our tips for the Mummers Parade, our suggestions for spending New Year’s Eve in Philly, and LumiNature at the Philly Zoo.
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