Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on November 16, 2023.
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Southwest Pennsylvania truly comes alive during the holiday season, and no matter where you look there are a number of great Christmas and seasonal activities to enjoy.
This is especially true in Westmoreland County, one of three counties in the Laurel Highlands, as they are home to some wonderful events ranging from the popular Christmas village Overly's Country Christmas, concerts at the Westmoreland Symphony, and more.
So in this one, we thought it'd be fun to share all the great ways to enjoy Christmas in Westmoreland County!
Overly's Country Christmas
Overly's Country Christmas at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds is a dedicated Christmas village complete with shops, animal displays, Santa, decorations, brief drive-thru lights, and more. As one of the only dedicated Christmas villages in the county, this one offers a wealth of holiday experiences in one space.
What is unique about this one as far as Christmas experiences are concerned is that they offer two pricing models depending on your interests. If you pay per carload, you can access the drive-thru light display before parking (a flat $25 per car for up to 8 people). As there may sometimes be a line for the drive-thru lights, those who want to go straight to the Christmas village can park and enter on foot for $5 per person.
No matter what you choose to do, plan to arrive at this one early. The parking lot is on the smaller side (about 175 cars) and guests tend to spend about 90 minutes at the experience, meaning that those who arrive later in the evening may have a solid wait to snag a spot. So get in early and spend more time enjoying the festivities!
Overly's Country Christmas is located at Westmoreland County Fairgrounds, 116 Blue Ribbon Lane outside of Greensburg, PA. Note that Overly's is typically cash only.
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra Home for the Holidays Concert
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra is bringing holiday cheer in 2023 with its annual Home for the Holidays concert on December 16th from 7:30pm to 9pm at the iconic Palace Theatre.
The symphony will be playing holiday favorites, Christmas carols for the audience to participate in, and more. Joining the symphony will be the All-Star Choir of Westmoreland County and Andrew Turner from the Pittsburgh Opera.
So if you are down to sing Silent Night, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, or other holiday classics, don't miss this one!
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra performs at The Palace Theatre, located at 21 West Otterman Street in Greensburg. Tickets can be purchased here. They will also be performing The Nutcracker on December 9th at 11am and 3pm!
Westmoreland Museum of American Art Winter Lights Display
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is a gem at any time of the year as this massive art museum in downtown Greensburg has a wonderfully curated collection and, even better, is completely free to visit!
Over the holiday season, the museum puts on a stunning Winter Lights display in their outdoor garden. The lights are visible from dusk to approximately 10pm starting on November 17th through January 7th and can be a quick stop after checking out the Home for the Holidays concert (above) or after grabbing a meal at The Headkeeper, a late-night coffee or tea from White Rabbit, or a beer at Invisible Man Brewing nearby.
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is located at 221 N. Main Street in Greensburg. Note this is an outdoor experience and the museum closes at 5pm each day, so if you want to hit the museum as well, be sure to time your visit accordingly!
West Overton Village Christmas by Candlelight
West Overton Village gets into the holiday spirits with a candlelight tour of their 1830s Overholt home at various times on the 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th in 2023.
Along with the general ambiance, the house tours include historical decor and stories about how Christmas traditions came about and what the celebrations were like in the early 1800s!
West Overton Village is located at 109 W Overton Road in Scottdale. Tours should be scheduled in advance. More information can be found here.
Westmoreland Conservancy Hot Chocolate Hike
Want to get out and hit the trails despite the cold weather? The Westmoreland Conservancy has you covered on December 16th at 10am with their Hot Chocolate Hike at the Tomer Reserve.
Hit the trails on the 10am hike to explore the reserve, and then all participants will finish with a nice hot chocolate to warm up before making the trip back home.
Beyond hot chocolate, the reserve also has other hikes planned throughout the holiday season including a Winter Solstice Hike at the Morosini Reserve on December 21st at 4pm.
The Westmoreland Conservancy hosts themed hikes throughout the year.
More Ways to Enjoy Christmas in Westmoreland County
When it comes down to it, the above are just a few of the many ways to enjoy Christmas in Westmoreland County this year. There are also a number of great attractions and one-off events you may want to consider as well.
These include the Art of GIFTing at the Greensburg Art Center, Hanna's Town Family Day on December 28th, and more shows at the Palace Theatre and the Lamp Theatre to name a few!
No matter what you choose to do when exploring Westmoreland County, you have a number of wonderful holiday experiences within just a short drive, so get out and explore this season!
Do you have a favorite holiday tradition in Westmoreland County? Comment below to share it!
Monticello Lights
Dec 9&10
6-9pm
Delmont, PA