Christmas in Gettysburg: A Charming Holiday Escape in America's Most Historic Town
When the holiday season arrives, Gettysburg trades its summer battlefield crowds for something quieter and more magical: candlelit streets, snow-dusted historic buildings, and a small-town Christmas spirit that feels straight out of a Currier & Ives print. Whether you're planning a romantic winter getaway, a family weekend, or an end-of-year team retreat, Christmas in Gettysburg delivers history, charm, and holiday cheer in equal measure. Here's how to make the most of it.
A Gettysburg Christmas Festival: The Heart of the Season
The season officially kicks off the first weekend of December with A Gettysburg Christmas Festival, a three-day celebration spread across the town's historic streets. The headline event is the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Lincoln Square, where Santa himself flips the switch on the town's giant tree while carolers, hot chocolate, and horse-drawn carriages fill the square with old-fashioned holiday charm.
Beyond the tree lighting, the festival features seasonal activities and promotions throughout downtown, an activity guide packed with events for kids and adults alike, and extended hours at local shops and restaurants. It's the perfect anchor for a weekend itinerary: book your stay early, because rooms fill quickly around festival weekend.
Step Back in Time: Christmas on the Homefront
Five Christmases at the Shriver House Museum
For a Christmas experience you simply can't get anywhere else, visit the Shriver House Museum during the holidays. The museum's seasonal Five Christmases candlelight tours walk you through the meticulously restored 1860 home of the Shriver family, decorated as it would have been in the years surrounding the Civil War. A four-foot, candle-laden period Christmas tree, evergreen garlands, and a guide in period attire bring a mid-19th-century Christmas to life, candle by candle. It's history and holiday spirit in a single deeply memorable hour.
Christmas at the Eisenhower National Historic Site
A short shuttle ride from the visitor center takes you to the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the farm President Dwight D. Eisenhower kept beside the battlefield. During the holiday season, the home glows with period decorations reflecting the Eisenhowers' 1950s and '60s celebrations. Wandering the festively dressed home of a president and first lady, with the quiet winter pastures of the farm outside the windows, is a uniquely Gettysburg holiday moment.
Holiday Shopping on Gettysburg's Historic Streets
Gettysburg's brick-lined downtown and Steinwehr Avenue are a holiday shopper's dream. The star of the season is The Christmas Haus on Baltimore Street, a year-round German Christmas shop stocked with handmade ornaments, smokers, nutcrackers, arches, and holiday décor imported directly from Germany's Erzgebirge region. Even if you don't buy a thing, stepping inside feels like walking into a Bavarian Christmas market.
From there, wander the boutiques and galleries around Lincoln Square and along the streets where Lincoln once walked — many shops stay open late during festival weekends, with hot cider and locally made gifts from Adams County's farms and artisans.
Candlelit Dining and Historic Fare
Few places set a winter table like the Dobbin House Tavern, Gettysburg's oldest home (built in 1776), transformed into a candle-lit colonial restaurant. In winter, the historic structure is decked in period holiday decorations, and the cozy Springhouse Tavern downstairs serves casual fare beside three natural springs, while the upstairs dining rooms offer a more formal candlelit dinner. During the holidays the house also hosts its popular Holiday House Tour, letting visitors explore the beautifully decorated historic home. Reservations are strongly recommended in December.
Winter Battlefield Weather and What to Pack
Gettysburg in December is cold, with daytime temperatures often in the 30s and 40s and occasional light snow, which only adds to the atmosphere: the battlefield monuments and rolling hills under a fresh dusting of snow are genuinely stunning, and winter light on the landscape is a photographer's dream.
For planning tools, event calendars, and up-to-date holiday happenings, the official Destination Gettysburg visitor guide is the best resource for the season, from festive events to seasonal specials at local inns and restaurants.
Why Gettysburg Makes an Unforgettable Holiday Getaway
- Small-town charm at-scale: Tree lightings, carriage rides, carolers, and strollable historic streets — all within walking distance.
- History you can feel: From Civil War Christmas candlelight tours to Eisenhower-era décor, holiday traditions span three centuries.
- Genuine German Christmas heritage: The Christmas Haus and the region's Pennsylvania Dutch roots make for authentic, old-world holiday shopping.
- A slower pace: Winter is Gettysburg's quiet season, ideal for reflective walks across the battlefield or cozy evenings by a fire.
- End-of-year retreat potential: The calm of December makes it a great setting for planning sessions and team gatherings before the new year begins.
Make It a Weekend: Stay at The Baladerry Inn
After a day of candlelight tours, festival lights, and snowy battlefield vistas, there's no better place to land than The Baladerry Inn. Our elegant boutique inn pairs the grace of a historic country estate with modern amenities and warm, personal service, and it's minutes from downtown Gettysburg, Lincoln Square, and all the festivities. Enjoy quiet fireside evenings, beautifully appointed rooms, and a restful retreat steps from the season's celebrations.
Whether you're here for the Christmas festival, a romantic holiday escape, or a serene end-of-year gathering with your team, Christmas in Gettysburg is a season you'll want to return to year after year. Book your holiday stay at The Baladerry Inn today and experience Gettysburg's most wonderful time of year.