Need plans? We’ve got something great, every day.

 

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All Week

Costume Creation and Pumpkin Patch at SplashLab Arts

October 22—26, 9 am–3 pm

3510 Scotts Lane

 

SplashLab Arts will be offering an indoor pumpkin patch every day during drop in hours (9am-3pm during the week). Come in and pick a pumpkin from the patch, then sit at the table and paint or carve it. You can also drop by the costume making workshop and make an accessory to go along with your costume. You design it, and SplashLab will help you make it!

‘Vikings: Beyond the Legend’ at the Franklin Institute

Through  March 3, 2019

222 North 20th Street

 

The Franklin Institute presents 600 unique artifacts, multimedia, hands-on elements, and more to bring the Viking Age to life. Read all about the exhibit in our preview.

‘Thomas and Friends: Explore the Rails!’ 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.

Fabulous Fashion: From Dior’s New Look to Now

Through March 3, 2019

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

If you have a fashion lover in your midst (or are one yourself), you’ll definitely want to catch this new exhibit that’s all about couture!

Scarecrow Walk at Morris Arboretum

October 6—31

100 E. Northwestern Ave.

 

More than 30 scarecrows will be on display along Oak Allée through Halloween. Come see the impressive designs, and vote for your favorite!

‘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, 2019

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.

The GLOW: A Jack O’Lantern Experience

Thursdays through Sundays from October 4—28

West Fairmount Park, 5201 Parkside Ave.

 

Take a stroll down Jack’s path to see elaborate carved pumpkins and displays like you’ve never seen! New for this year, there’s  a display dedicated to our champion Philadelphia Eagles. Tickets are available online.

Monday

Philadelphia Orchestra’s Sound All Around: Brass

October 22, 10 am and 11:15 am

Academy of Music Ballroom, 240 S. Broad St.

 

Sound All Around is a great introduction to classical music for youngsters (ages 3-5), and features members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Philadelphia Orchestra musician Ernesto Tovar Torres will guide the audience through the brass family.

Toddler/Preschool Around the World with the Geography Lady

October 22, 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 Mexico!

Story Jams!

October 22, 10:30 am

Outside DiSilvestro Rec Center, enter on Morris St. behind the library

 

A playgroup centered around play and positivity that includes storytime, music, dancing, and sensory exploration.

Open Climb at Cecil B. Moore Library

October 22, 2 pm

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.

Teen Halloween Horrors Craft

October 22, 4 pm

Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway

 

Get into the Halloween spirit with a creepy craft, snacks, and more.

Tacony Halloween Celebration 

October 22, 4:30—7:30 pm

Begins at Tacony Library, 6742 Torresdale Ave.

 

Celebrate Halloween early with arts and crafts, ared carpet costume contest, a graveyard ghoul band, and trunk-or-treating! Start at Tacony Library for Scary Storytime and Creepy Crafts, then continue with a costume contest, live entertainment, and much more.

Tuesday

Music Monkey Jungle Free Session at Reading Terminal Market

October 23, 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.

Around the World with the Geography Lady in Queen Village at The Bagel Place

October 23, 11 am—noon

404 Queen Street

 

Join the Geography Lady at The Bagel Place in Queen Village for a fun filled around the world event. There will be pictures, maps, stories, games, music, movement, crafts and much more. For kids ages 1-4.

Mummies, Me, and Nature

October 23, 1—2:30 pm

Pennypack Environmental Center, 8600 Verree Rd.

 

Kids age 2-5 plus a caregiver are invited for a Halloween parade around the meadow and spooky crafts. Apple cidering to follow—they request each participant bring four apples. Costumes are allowed, but dress to be outdoors. Registration required.

School Age Around the World with the Geography Lady

October 23, 3:45—4:45 pm

619 S. Second Street

 

Learn about Mexico with maps, stories, music, snacks, and a special craft to take home. This event is for school age children ages five and up. Drop off is an option, but children must be picked up on time.

Kids Can Cook

October 23, 4 pm

Queen Memorial Library, 1201 South 23rd Street

 

Healthy Cooking class for school-aged children, taught by serv-safe certified cooking instructor Keisha Prosser. Learn about food safety, prepare a full meal, and then help eat what you’ve created.

Trunk-or-Treat at Whitman Square

October 23, 5—7:30 pm

Chick-fil-A Whitman Square, 9711 Roosevelt Blvd.

 

Community businesses will bring out their company cars to create a “neighborhood” of vehicles and distribute candy and other free promotional items so kids can get their costumes on and trick-or-treat safely. There will also be music and entertainment.

Family Night Slime and Pizza

October 23, 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

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

October 24, 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.

Halloween Haunted House at Fumo Family Library

October 24, 4 pm

2437 South Broad Street

 

Celebrate one of the story of Frankenstein and behold the frightful union of the monster and his bride. Crafts, games, treats, and plenty of screams!

Trick-or-Treat at the Art Museum

October 24, 5—7:30 pm

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Come dressed up to trick-or-treat through the galleries and make some spooky artwork!

Family Terrarium Night

October 24, 6:30—8 pm

DiSilvestro Playground, 1701 S. 15th St.

 

This program is free and open to all ages (parent participation is strongly encouraged for younger children). All supplies will be provided along with an educational talk to explain what terrariums are all about! Feel free to bring your own container if you wish. Call 215-685-1598 or email DisilvestroPlayground@gmail.com to reserve your spot, as space is very limited.

Thursday

Drop-in Play and Storytime at Philly Art Center

October 25, 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.

Art in the Park

October 25, 3:30–6 pm

Mifflin Square Park, 6th and Ritner streets

 

Murals on the Move will be at the park with a van full of art supplies for a fun, family friendly event. Stop by and make a work-of-art.

Pumpkin Storytime and Craft

October 25, 4 pm

Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Avenue

 

Listen to fall stories and decorate a stand-up wooden pumpkin to take home.

Spooky Bat Walk

October 25, 5—7 pm

8601 Lindbergh Blvd.

 

Learn about different bat species found on the refuge on this special Halloween-themed walk and crafts.

East Passyunk Community Center Halloween Party

October 25, 6—8 pm

1025 Mifflin St.

 

This free Halloween party has treats, games, costume contests, and a Quidditch demonstration by the Philadelphia Freedom Quidditch Club!

Halloween Movie: ‘Hocus Pocus’

October 25, 6—8 pm

Venice Island Performing Arts Recreation Center, 7 Lock Street

 

Venice Island Performing Arts Recreation Center is hosting a free double feature screening to get you in the mood for Halloween! Light refreshments will be available. No tickets necessary. At 6 pm, it’s Hocus Pocus. Sorry, families, the 8 pm showing of The Thing is adults only.

Friday

Free Halloween Stroller Strides Class

October 26, 9:30—11:30 am

Schuylkill River Park, 300 S. 25th St.

 

Treat yourself to a free Stroller Strides class. After class the kids will go stroller to stroller to trick-or-treat, so bring a snack to give out. Pre-register online.

Monster Mash Bash at Mini InMovement

October 26, 10 am and 11 am

Philly InMovement 610 S. Percy Street

 

Kids ages 10 months-5 years can come in costume for a special Halloween-themed open gym with treats. Register online.

Baby Bird Playdate at Philadelphia Museum of Art

October 26, 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.

Squiggles Meet and Greet

October 26, 11:30 am—noon

Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic

 

Come play and learn with Squiggles, Please Touch Museum’s new mascot and friend.

Dinos After Dark

October 26, 4—8 pm

Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

As part of the Parkway Soiree, the museum will stay open late with pay-what-you-wish admission, and host a Dino Drafts beer garden and dance performances (and dino dancing!) outside; and hands-on activities inside.

Parkway Soirée

October 26, 5—10 pm

Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia

 

To close out the yearlong Parkway 100 celebration, honoring the Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s centennial, a block party will take over that iconic place, featuring a giant birthday cake, food and drink from Night Market Philadelphia, and family-friendly activities and experiences up and down the Parkway! Daniel Tiger will visit Shakespeare Park, zombies will walk among us, and so much more! Several Parkway museums and cultural institutions will offer extended hours and special programming, including the return of Dino Dancing at the Academy of Natural Sciences! See our preview here.

Last Friday Halloween Celebration

October 26, 5—9 pm (kid-friendly from 5—7 pm)

1825 Frankford Ave.

 

Bring the kids and the pups from 5–7 pm for costume contests, crafts, face painting, treats, and the monster mash! After 7 pm, there are drink specials and a “live exorcism,” so you might want to pack it in before then if you’re bringing the family.

MoshuBOO

Fridays through Sundays from October 5—28, 5—9 pm

Moshulu, 401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.

 

The iconic Moshulu transforms into a pirate ship for a family-friendly celebration featuring costumed characters, spooky tours, an on-deck pumpkin patch, treats, and more! Tickets available online.

Spooky Mini Golf at Franklin Square 

October 26, 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!

Halloween Hikes and Hayrides

October 26 and 27, 6—10 pm

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

 

Go on a family hike through the candlelit forest to meet friendly nocturnal animals. Then enjoy hayrides, craft activities, and food truck offerings for dinner. End the night with s’mores by the campfire. Tickets are sold online in advance for members and at the door for the general public; timed reservations for hikes are first come, first served.

Halloween Campfire and Party

October 26, 7:30 pm

Pennypack Environmental Center, 8600 Verree Rd.

 

Celebrate Halloween with a fun night of stories, songs, skits, campfire treats, and more. Registration is required by October 23. Email PEC@phila.gov to receive a registration form.

Weekend Events

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

 

Photograph courtesy of South Street Headhouse District.