Michael Leibrandt explains tell us about how Philadelphia is trying to save a Christmas tradition.
The beginning of many great traditions started in Philadelphia — the City’s 1913 grand display outside of Independence Hall – saw a forty-five piece Regimental Band and an over sixty-foot Spruce Tree adorned with over 4,000 sparkling lights. It drew a crowd of over 20,000 people. Each year since , Philadelphia marks the Christmas season with the annual lighting of an outdoor tree in Center City.
Wanamaker's Christmas light show in December 2006. Source: Bruce Andersen, available here.
Now Philadelphia is trying to save another Christmas tradition — beginning in July. Last Friday was the first in what promises to be a series to raise $350,000 in funding intended to preserve the Christmas Light Show and the Dickens Village in the Wanamaker Building. Last Friday — officials in the City held a news conference to announce that the popular tradition is coming back for 2025 and that a fundraising campaign is underway called “Save the Light Show” with the intention of covering the expense of the Christmas costs tradition for (many) to see in the future.
Right there next to the great Holiday tradition of that (outdoor) Philadelphia Tree — is that of Christmas at Wanamakers. For almost seventy years — festive Philadelphia Holiday shoppers have been treated to the joyous experience of the (Holiday Light Show) against the backdrop of beautiful music from the Wanamaker Organ. You haven’t experienced Christmas in Philadelphia until you’ve heard the sweet sound of the organ and seen those colorful lights.
Last year in March 2025 — the latest retail business to occupy 1300 Market Street(Macy’s) shuttered its doors. The new owner of 1300 Market Street (TF Cornerstone) has vowed to preserve both — which are on the Philadelphia National Historic Registry. The more than 28,000 plus Pipe Organ was acquired by owner John Wanamaker from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
The year 1910 would see legendary Philadelphia businessman John Wanamaker complete his largest venture — when architect Daniel H. Burnham’s Florentine Style (Granite Walls) became a reality and the 12-story building dazed Philadelphia shoppers. The marvel of a brand new department store took two vital pieces of Philadelphia history that still remain today from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The (some 29,000) actual pipes of the iconic Organ, constructed in the (Grand Court) and what is still the largest pipe organ in the world to this day and the equally iconic bronze Wanamaker Eagle.
It’s not certain what will be the ultimate fate of 1300 Market Street. And while that building’s future may be out of our control — it appears during the heat of the summer — that one of our city’s finest Holiday legacy’s is still safe.
Michael Thomas Leibrandt lives and works in Abington Township, PA.
