75th Annual Lucia Fest

Gloria Dei (Old Swede’s) Church, Columbus Boulevard and Christian Street. Friday, December 7, 6pm and 8pm. Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9, 2pm, 3:30pm, and 5pm. Swedish roots go deep in Philadelphia, and for Swedes the holiday season begins with “Sankta Lucia.” At Gloria Dei Church, built by Swedish settlers in 1699-1700, the day is celebrated in a musical pageant by candlelight and it's a neat opportunity to see the historic sanctuary animated in celebration. Tickets are available at the door for $10, or $5 for children under 12.

Crafty Balboa Holiday 2012

Saturday, December 8, 11am-6pm. SS Neumann Goretti High School, enter at 11th and Moore. Get your handmade, indie craft fix at this year’s Crafty Balboa Holiday bazaar. More than 60 vendors will be selling handmade jewelry, knits, ceramics, glass, accessories, papergoods, prints, housewares, and beyond. There will even be hipster bingo. Peruse the website for vendor profiles.

March of Lights

Saturday, December 8, 7pm. Starts at 22nd and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. A long parade of cars with roof-mounted giant menorah is planned to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. The parade starts at 22nd on the Parkway, heads east, and finishes at Independence Mall.

Rittenhouse Menorah Lighting

Sunday, December 9, 5:30-6pm. Rittenhouse Square. Join the Friends of Rittenhouse Square to celebrate the festival of lights. Prayers will be sung and the giant menorah will be illuminated.