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All Week

‘Thomas and Friends: Explore the Rails!’ Opens at Please Touch Museum

Through January 6, 2019

4231 Avenue of the Republic

 

The long-awaited Thomas and Friends exhibit arrives at Please Touch Museum with plenty of train-themed fun, photo ops, imaginative play, and valuable STEM lessons along the way! Read our full preview here.

Costume Creation at SplashLab Arts

October 1—5, 9 am—3 pm

3510 Scotts Lane

SplashLab Arts will be offering a costume making workshop during drop-in hours. Come in and make an accessory to go along with your costume. You design it, and SplashLab will help you make it!

Center City Restaurant Week

September 23– October 5

 

Dozens of great restaurants around town offer $35 prix fixe menus. See our picks for enjoying Restaurant Week with kids here!

‘Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation’

Through December 31

National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.

 

Walk in Alexander Hamilton’s shoes and learn more about the Founding Father whose life has fascinated Americans for centuries. This exhibit focuses on the intellectual and political conflicts between Hamilton and his contemporaries, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams, and of course, Aaron Burr (that one was a bit more personal). It’s included with museum admission.

‘Xtreme Bugs’ at Academy of Natural Sciences

Through January 21

1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Nearly 20 towering animatronic bugs will come alive in this new creepy crawly exhibit! Get a bug’s-eye view of the world and learn about their intricacies and behaviors. See our preview here.

Monday

Toddler/Preschool Around the World with the Geography Lady

October 1, 10—11 am

Lilypad, 1234 S. Broad St.

 

Geography Lady will use stories, music, movement, games, crafts, and a snack to introduce little ones to the world. This week, explore Central Asia.

Story Jams

October 1, 10:30 am

1700 South Broad Street (enter on Morris, behind the library)

DiSilvestro Rec Center hosts a playgroup centered around play and positivity that includes storytime, music, dancing, and sensory exploration.

Tuesday

The Geography Lady at Momo’s Treehouse

October 2, 10 am

205 Arch Street

 

Preschoolers and toddlers will enjoy music, games, crafts, and more as they explore the world with Geography Lady.

Music Monkey Jungle Free Session at Reading Terminal Market

October 2, 10 — 10:30 am

51 N. 12th St.

 

Sing, dance, move, and have a rockin’ good time with Music Monkey Jungle. Admission is free and open to the public.

Merge Dance Studio at Roxborough Library

October 2, 10:30 am

6245 Ridge Avenue

 

Merge will visit Roxborough Library with music and dancing for all ages.

Museum Playdate: Enchanted Egypt

October 2, 10:30—11:30 am

Penn Museum, 3260 South St.

 

Geared for families with children ages 3-6, Museum Playdates feature illustrated stories told in Museum galleries, hands-on reproduction artifacts, and make-and-take art activities—plus a snack! During Enchanting Egypt, children discover The Little Hippo: A Children’s Book Inspired by Egyptian Art, and then explore the mummies gallery!

Family Night Slime and Pizza

October 2, 6:30–7:45 pm

SplashLab Arts, 3510 Scotts Lane

 

Enjoy family access to the studio at night. Call to make a reservation by 3pm Tuesday afternoon, and indicate whether you want dinner delivered for your family. Then show up and have fun getting messy!

Wednesday

AdventureWoods Free Public Hours

October 3, 9 am—3 pm

Awbury Arboretum, 1 Awbury Road

 

This innovative, sustainable natural playground engages children in creative, imaginative, and active discovery. Kids are free to have fun and learn, experiment and discover, all while exercising and enjoying the outdoors.

Baby and Me Yoga

October 3, 9:30 am

Vault + Vine, 3507 Midvale Ave.

 

Enjoy baby bonding and a gentle, playful practice to move the body and clear the mind. Bring a mat for yourself and a blanket for baby. Pre-crawlers only. Drop-in for $18 (or you can buy a class card).

Little Explorers: Apple Cider, 18th Century Style

October 3, 10–11:30 am, storytime at noon

Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd.

 

Kids age 2-4 can take a turn crushing apples in an old cider press to make fresh apple cider! The morning also includes snacks, walks through the garden, and more. Bring a picnic lunch and stay for free story hour at noon. Pre-register online.

Jams! in the Park

October 3, 10 am

Dickinson Square Park

 

Meet in the park for stories, music, and a sensory activity.

Book Nook Storytime at Reading Terminal Market

October 3, 10—10:30 am

51 N. 12th St.

 

This program, in partnership with The Free Library of Philadelphia, is geared towards children ages 3 to 5.

Drag Queen Storytime

October 3, 10:30–11 am

Andorra Library, 705 East Cathedral Road

 

Brittany Lynn will share some incredible children’s books about diversity and self-love. Read all about the fabulous Drag Queen Storytime in our story.

Open Climb at Cecil B. Moore Library

October 3, 10:30 am

2320 Cecil B. Moore Ave.

 

Kids ages 3-5 are welcome to see the library’s new playspace, featuring a miniature rock wall! Closed-toe shoes required.

School Age Geography Lady Class at Lilypad (Ages 5 and up)

October 3, 3:30—4:30 pm

1234 S. Broad St.

 

Join the Geography Lady after school to explore different countries and cultures around the world through stories, music, movement, games, crafts, and a snack.

First Wednesday at Please Touch Museum

October 3, 4—7 pm

4231 Avenue of the Republic

 

The museum will stay open until 7 pm for two extra hours of play, and offer $2 per person admission starting at 4 pm. This month, kids can experiment with mural arts, theater, and more. Also, through a partnership with Vetri’s Mobile Teaching Kitchen, chefs young and old will learn how to prepare a meal together.

Outside Movie Night: ‘Inside Out’

October 3, 6:45–9:45 pm

Markward Playground, 400 S. Taney St.

 

Bring your blankets and chairs to enjoy Inside Out beginning at dusk in the playground.

Thursday

Drop-in Play and Storytime at Philly Art Center

October 4, 10:30—11:45 am

2501 Olive Street and 514 Bainbridge Street

 

For babies ages 0-2. Walkers enjoy sensory stations, while floor-bound babies enjoy age appropriate manipulative play. Storytime is at 11 am. No need to sign up, just drop-in for $5 at the door.

Dance me a Story with Pennsylvania Ballet

October 4, 10:30 am

South Philadelphia Library, 1700 South Broad Street

 

Listen, move, and learn at this special story time with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Free and no registration required for children ages 3-6 and their caretakers.

Hispanic Heritage Month Movie: ‘Coco’

October 4, 4 pm

Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Avenue

 

Come for a free screening of Coco and popcorn to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lantern Workshop

October 4, 6—9 pm

Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St.

 

Create paper lamps for use in the Día de Muertos procession. Register here.

Night Market: Point Breeze

October 4, 6—10 pm

20th and Federal Streets

 

Food trucks come out en masse for this street fair highlighting different neighborhoods throughout the season. This year, Night Market closes out in Philly’s Point Breeze section, so you can eat your way through the neighborhood one last time.

Fall Night Hike at John Heinz

October 4, 6:30—8 pm

8601 Lindbergh Blvd.

 

Join an all ages Ranger-led Night Hike to see the refuge in a different light, and discover the sights and sounds of the forest after the sun goes down.

Friday

Baby Bird Playdate at Philadelphia Museum of Art

October 5, 10:15 am

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Play at the museum with your little ones and enjoy music, art making, and gallery walks.​ For toddlers and their grownups.

Storytime at Morris Arboretum 

October 5, 10:30—11:45 am

100 E. Northwestern Ave.

 

Each engaging story session is tailored to the changing seasons and complements the natural setting of the arboretum. In case of bad weather, storytime will be held indoors.

Cuentos Infantiles en Español

October 5, 11 am

Charles Santore Library, 932 South Seventh Street

 

Señora Yenni of Bilingual Butterflies reads stories, sings songs and plays games with preschool children – all in Spanish.  It’s perfect for Spanish speakers and learners alike.

Workshop: Big Mouth Mirrors in Clay

October 5, 1:15—3:30 pm

Sue’s Art Class, 2119 Spruce St.

 

Design and build your own crazy clay mirror portraits of your special unique character in hand built clay. Optional: return to glaze after bisque fired. Age 5 and up; pre-register online.

PAW Patrol Skate Party

October 5, 1–10 pm

Rolling Thunder Skate Rink, 7017 Roosevelt Blvd.

 

Go skating with Chase and Marshall! Call for specific times they will be appearing.

Family Happy Hour at PlayArts

October 5, 5—7 pm

1241 N. Front Street

 

Bring your friends and your little ones out for BYOB First Friday, with food provided by Caviar, and a DJ spinning tunes.

Party at Minnow Lane

October 5, 5:30—8:30 pm

2029 Frankford Ave.

 

Minnow Lane hosts a fun-filled, kid-friendly evening on First Friday to celebrate their third anniversary and unveil a new mural for the store.

Nest Parents Night Out

October 5, 6—9 pm

1301 Locust St.

 

Drop off the (potty-trained) kids age 18 months-6 years for a fun night of activities, crafts, and pizza while you have an adult night out. Pre-registration is required.

October Family Swim Night

October 5, 6—8 pm

Fitness Works, 714 Reed St.

 

This unstructured open-swim event is open to one and all; come and splash around any time during the two-hour window. This is a time for families to relax, have fun, make new friends and enjoy the pool. Pre-register to guarantee entry.

Spooky Mini Golf Opens at Franklin Square 

October 5, 6—9 pm

200 N. Sixth St.

 

Franklin Square’s Philly-themed mini golf is transformed into spooky fun for the Halloween season with fog, lights, music, and surprises!

Chestnut Hill Night of Lights

October 5, 7—10 pm

Germantown Avenue, from Rex to Willow Grove

 

Celebrate Chestnut Hill’s history, as historical images and films of the neighborhood will be projected through storefront windows and onto exterior walls, while neighboring buildings along Germantown Avenue will be illuminated with colored lights. There will also be vintage cars, street musicians, and demonstrations by artisans.

Movie Night at Tacony Creek Park: ‘WALL-E’

October 5, 7:30—9:30 pm

559 East Olney Avenue

 

Tacony Creek Park is hosting a free outdoor movie night, featuring the family-friendly flick Pixar’s WALL-E. Movie begins at dusk. Bring your own blanket.

Weekend Events

Get all our weekend picks in the High Five, here!

 

Photograph by Laura Swartz.