Christmas Village is back

BY CATHERINE LUCEY, Daily News Staff Writer luceyc@phillynews.com, 215-854-4172
Posted: November 18, 2012

IT'S BEGINNING to look a lot like the Christmas Village over in LOVE Park.

Organizers of the outdoor shopping bazaar inspired by German Christmas markets are setting up on JFK Plaza, with plans to open Thanksgiving Day. The fair, now in its fifth year, moved last year to the park on JFK Boulevard near 15th Street from Dilworth Plaza, outside City Hall

The village drew national attention two years ago, when the word Christmas was removed from the archways leading into the fair. City officials said organizers took the letters down after complaints from some residents.

But the move drew a firestorm of media criticism and after two days, Mayor Nutter requested that the signs be restored.

Managing Director Rich Negrin said the city is happy with the name and location for the fair.

"To be honest, I think the issue we had with the Christmas Village was that people had to go through the Christmas Village to get city services [in City Hall]. We wanted to walk that fine line between church and state," Negrin said. "What better place for a Christmas village than LOVE Park?"

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