I had the chance to preview the "Jolly Trolley" in Manayunk recently! What is a "Jolly Trolley" you ask? It is a fun and convenient way to visit Manayunk and finish your holiday shopping this year-and its FREE. Did you wait until the last minute to complete your gift list? Do you love finding unique products and supporting local businesses? Are you just looking to see some beautiful holiday lights and grab a bite? The "Jolly Trolley" has you covered.
The final journey for the Trolley will be Thursday, December 23, 2021 from 5 to 9 PM. The loop takes approximately 25 minutes. Simply park your car and meet the Trolley in the Regal UA Main Theatre parking lot at 3748 Main Street. The Trolley will make 13 stops. You can hop on and off at your leisure. When you are ready to make your next stop or return to your car, meet the Trolley and it will take you back to the lot. Manayunk Development Corporation hopes the Jolly Trolley will become a new tradition to celebrate Manayunk’s unique holiday magic. They have also arranged for street performances of Victorian Carolers, to add to the ultra-festive ambiance of Main Street during the Jolly Trolley hours. And a visit this Thursday night from the Big Guy himself!
The "Jolly Trolley" itself is festively adorned with Holiday lights. Each year many of the small businesses (over 50) also participate in the holiday window display competition Manayunk Gets LIT so be sure to check out the amazing displays and creativity of these establishments. The businesses invested more than $500,000 worth of lights in a project that took more than two months to install. You also don't want to miss a few fun holiday photo ops including the Amberella "Mi Todo" and the hanging giant ornament display at Main & Gay Streets (both seen below). There are dazzling lights up and down Main Street as well!
Be sure to check out some of the shops as well. A few of my personal favorites are LILA Philadelphia and The Little Apple. And I adore Crust Vegan Bakery. When I took my Trolley ride I had an incredible dinner at Winnie's which included this salad which was so good I'm still thinking about it 2 weeks later. Yes, a salad-it is that good!
“Manayunk is simply the best place in Philadelphia to see holiday magic in action. Our
pedestrian scale Main Street is festooned with hundreds of thousands of lights, that
totaled together create an exciting and free holiday activity for people of all ages to
enjoy. . . Join us all season to create your own holiday memories, set against the backdrop of Manayunk’s magic,” says Gwen McCauley, Executive Director, Manayunk Development Corporation. The Main Street Light Spectacular will be up through New Years.
So get to Manayunk this Thursday night for some Holiday magic!