Founded in 1966 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa - the spiritual home of Polish Catholics in America - this festival has grown into one of the region's largest celebrations of Polish heritage. The 60th festival features pierogi and other Polish specialties, folk dance ensembles, crafts, and amusement rides.

Event time: Sept 5-7 & 12-13, 12 noon-8 pm

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Families light diyas, decorate homes with colorful rangoli, and come together for feasts and the exchange of gifts and sweets. For many South Asian families in our community, it's one of the year's most meaningful times — a chance to reconnect with loved ones and pass on traditions.

Photo: Subharnab Majumdar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lighting ceremonies that open the holiday season are a cherished American tradition, and Peddler's Village - an 18th-century-style shopping village - hosts one of the region's biggest. Santa flips the switch on the village's holiday lights (about 6:15 pm), which then glow every evening through January 18, 2027.

Event time: Friday, Nov 20 (evening; arrive by 5:30 pm); lights on nightly through Jan 18, 2027

Photo: Bogdan Migulski, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This Buddhist holiday commemorates the day that Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. More prominent in Mahayana Buddhist traditions, particularly in East Asia (Japan, Korea, Vietnam). Other Buddhist traditions celebrate the enlightenment on Vesak Day.

Photo: Sumitsurai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families” was adopted by the United Nations in 1990. This resolution recognizes the human rights of migrant workers and their families. Each year International Migrants Day highlight the contributions made by the roughly 272 million migrants worldwide.

On Christmas night 1776, George Washington led his army across the icy Delaware River to a surprise victory at Trenton - a turning point of the American Revolution. Every Christmas Day, hundreds of reenactors in Continental uniforms recreate the crossing in replica boats, with colonial-era games and activities for families.

Event time: Christmas Day, Dec 25 (crossing usually early afternoon - arrive by 11:30 am)

The annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. The English term “Christmas” translates to “mass on Christ’s day”.

Passover (April 21-29), also called Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday conducted throughout the world on the eve of the 15th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar. The Passover Seder is a ritual feast where Jews retell the story of their liberation from slavery in Egypt. Passover lasts for eight days among the most religious in the Jewish diaspora.