City streetlights, even stoplights, blink a bright red and green, as Santa Claus and kids’ applause complete the holiday scene

The new Anna C. Verna Playground is now open in FDR Park. Featuring the largest swing set in North America (20 swings!), structures for climbing and sliding, an adventure path, a picnic pavilion, and more, the 2-acre playground welcomes people of all ages and all abilities. (FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., fdrparkphilly.org/)

Skylands Stadium presents its 10^th Annual Light Show & Christmas Village, featuring a mile-long winter wonderland with over 2 million lights, photos with Santa, live music, s’mores station, artisan shops, and seasonal food and drink.  (Through Dec. 30, Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta, N.J., skylandsstadium.com/lightshow)

Voted “Best Local Parade” and “Best Family-Friendly Event” by readers of Main Line Today and presented by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the West Chester Christmas Parade kicks off a month full of celebrations during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester. Come watch as the 25-foot-tall Christmas tree on the lawn of the Historic Chester County Courthouse is lit. Emcees are 6abc’s Adam Joseph and WMMR’s Kathy Romano.  There’s also an appearance by Santa! (Dec. 1, Downtown West Chester, 20 E. Gay St., West Chester, Pa., greaterwestchester.com/lightsupchristmasparade.html)

The Bobby Rydell Foundation presents Al Simeone Entertainment & Joey M’s Golden Kids for a Wildwoods Holiday Spectacular. The show features The Chiclets, Tommy C, Richie Santa, Kid Kyle, The Fireflies, Bobby Wilson and The Tymes and it’s hosted by WVLT Cruisin 92.1 FM Lou Costello. (Dec. 2, Wildwood High School, 4300 Pacific Ave., Wildwood, N.J., discover.events.com/us/new-jersey/wildwood/e/music/wildwoods-holiday-spectacular-pacific-ave-wildwood-4300-427395866)

Head over to the Mario Lanza Institute for a Christmas Party to ring in the holidays. The afternoon includes pizza and other goodies, a memorabilia donation presentation, a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas and the playing of Mario Lanza’s recordings of Christmas songs and carols. (Dec. 2, Mario Lanza Institute, 1214 Reed St., Philadelphia, Pa., mariolanzainstitute.org)

The Italian tenor noted for his unique blend of opera and pop music, Andrea Bocelli, returns to Philadelphia. Since 1994, Bocelli has sold over 75 million records worldwide. (Dec.  7, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., wellsfargocenterphilly.com/events/detail/andrea-bocelli-12-7)

Since the early 1960s, as part of Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” hit factory, Darlene Love has done it all … from major motion pictures to Broadway and TV. Don’t miss her Love for the Holidays show which is sure to include a performance of her No. 1 holiday classic, “Christmas Baby Please Come Home.” (Dec. 14, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, Pa., keswicktheatre.com/)

Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti: Christmas Comes to Town features an evening of classics. The Italian-American crooner is known for his vocals, larger-than-life personality, and heart of gold. Influenced by Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra, he’s been nominated for two Grammys. (Dec. 15, Kathedral Event Center, 499 S Egg Harbor Road, Hammonton, N.J., kathedral.com)

Concerts Under the Stars hosts A Very Sinatra Christmas Special. Experience the joy of the holiday season while listening to one of Philadelphia’s best jazz vocalists singing a catalog of holiday tunes “Ol’ Blue Eyes” loved to sing. (Various dates, Craft Hall, 901 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., concertsunderthestars.com/listing/december-12-21-2023-8-00pm-a-very-sinatra-christmas-special-philadelphia)

“The Rossettis” presents celebrated DelArt paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, such as “Found” and “Lady Lilith,” contextualized among masterpieces from the Tate’s collection and loans from public and private collections worldwide. The international exhibit, organized in partnership with Tate Britain, will include Rossetti’s outstanding early and late paintings, watercolors, photographs, and design, and major drawings by Siddal. Special exhibition ticket required; free for members at the DelArt Plus level and above. (Through Jan. 28, Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Del., delart.org/?utm_source=GMBListing&utm_medium=organic)

Celebrate the arrival of the New Year strutting and twirling your way down Broad Street at the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, the oldest continuous folk parade in the United States. (Jan. 1, City Hall then south on Broad Street to Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.)