Free to enter. Free to park. A Reading holiday tradition

A holiday tradition in Reading, Pennsylvania

Free to enter.
Free to park.

Millions of lights. Music in the air. Memories to take home. Bring your family and friends to Hillside Playground for a walk through Reading’s Christmas wonderland.

Plan your free visit See the lights
Visitors walking among colorful holiday lights at Christmas on the Mountain in a past season
Christmas on the Mountain · Photo from a past season

Make it your holiday tradition

A little wonder.
A whole lot of Christmas.

Bundle up, bring the people you love, and let the mountain light up your night. For more than three decades, families have made this Reading tradition part of their holidays.

01 / Take it all in

Walk into the lights.

Explore glowing trees, festive scenes, and lights that dance to holiday music. Take your time and discover the details along the way.

02 / Bring your camera

Make memories together.

Find a favorite photo spot, gather everyone close, and capture a little Christmas magic. The display’s character scenes and photo experiences have grown over the years.

03 / Everyone is welcome

A night out, on us.

Free to enter. Free to park. Local businesses, volunteers, and Reading High School’s Marine Corps JROTC help keep the tradition open to everyone.

Plan your free visit

Your night on the mountain

Everything you need to visit.

We’ll see you at Hillside Playground in Reading. Come anytime during open hours and enjoy the display at your own pace.

01

When to come

November 27 – December 23, 2026

Opening Black Friday. The final night is Wednesday, December 23.

Sunday, Tuesday–Thursday
5–9 pm
Friday & Saturday
5–10 pm
Monday
Closed
02

Where to find us

Hillside Playground
459 N 14th Street
Reading, PA

Admission and parking are free. Follow signs and on-site directions when you arrive.

Get directions (opens in a new tab)

From the mountain

Come see what lights up Reading.

Moments from past seasons. The display takes on a life of its own every year.

Blue-lit snowy trees beside a Let It Snow display at Christmas on the Mountain
Blue lights on the mountain
Costumed characters posing among Christmas lights
Characters and holiday smiles
Two Marine Corps JROTC cadets warming up with hot drinks beside the display
Cadets helping bring it to life
Wide view across the colorful Christmas on the Mountain display at Hillside Playground
A view across Hillside Playground

More from past seasons

These scenes are part of the event archive.

Costumed character beside a heater and colorful holiday lights in a past season
A character visit from a past season
A sleigh and reindeer display with sponsor signs from an earlier season
An earlier sleigh display; the sponsor signs pictured are historic
A seat inside a tunnel of white lights beneath a visible 2023 Christmas on the Mountain sign
The light tunnel photo spot in 2023

Photos from previous seasons. Displays and appearances may vary.

A Reading tradition

Built by people who love this place.

More than three decades of lights. Generations of holiday memories. Christmas on the Mountain has grown from a neighborhood display into a beloved gathering place for families from Reading, Berks County, and beyond.

When the Hillside Playground Association’s long-running display was in jeopardy in 2015, local businesses, volunteers, and Reading High School’s Marine Corps JROTC came together to keep it going—and continue to help bring the display to life.

The display has continued to grow, with recent seasons featuring more than five million lights and pixels, immersive light shows, and new family photo experiences. Behind the glow are months of planning and hands-on work by cadets, volunteers, and local supporters.

The idea has always stayed simple: bring people together and make Christmas magic something everyone can enjoy.

A costumed character beneath a white-lit tree with red ornaments at the display in a past season
Scenes from a past season

Made possible by our community

The people behind the lights.

Christmas on the Mountain stays free because local businesses and neighbors show up for Reading. We’re grateful to the supporters whose generosity has helped keep this tradition shining through the years.

Savage Auto Group

Helped keep the tradition going when it needed community support in 2015 and has remained a key supporter.

Axcess Industries

Helped make the display’s electrical system safer and more reliable, and has supported its growth.

With thanks to longtime community supporters

Around Reading & Berks County

See the tradition in the spotlight.

Explore news coverage and a visitor’s view of the mountain. These stories look back at past seasons.

Keep the mountain bright

A tradition powered by the community.

Free admission and parking bring the community together. In a good-weather season, the display welcomes nearly 50,000 visitors. Local businesses and neighbors help keep this Reading tradition bright for everyone.

Support the lights, lend a hand, or help make the visit special for local families.

01 / Businesses

Help run the display

Help cover lights, power, equipment, repairs, and the work of running the display. Tell us the amount or in-kind contribution your business can commit.

02 / Cadet meals

Feed the team

Reading High School Marine Corps JROTC cadets help make the season possible. A food sponsor can provide or fund meals. We’ll confirm dates and crew counts together.

Good to know

A few quick answers.

Have a question or an idea to share? Send the event team a message.

Is there an admission or parking charge?

No. Admission and parking are free.

Is the display open every night?

It runs November 27 through December 23, 2026, and is closed on Mondays. Hours are 5–9 pm Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, and 5–10 pm Friday and Saturday.

How can my business help?

Businesses can support the lights, contribute supplies, or help provide meals for the cadets. Send the event team a message to talk through an idea.