It’s only a week between Christmas and New Year’s, but the combination of no school, no schedule, and cold weather can make winter break seem like an eternity. It’s a good thing Philly has so many amazing destinations to keep the whole family entertained.

So bundle up and get out of the house before everyone gets wild! There’s plenty to do around town, and we’ve got the rundown.

Winter Break Camps

If the kids have off and you don’t, or you just need to send them somewhere enriching for the day, check out these great camps around town!

The Franklin Institute

222 North 20th Street

Philly’s favorite destination for the budding scientist, the Franklin Institute never disappoints, and now is the perfect time to check out not one, but two (!) brand new permanent exhibits. Body Odyssey, centered around the museum’s iconic Giant Heart, takes visitors on a fascinating and extensive journey through the human body. See firsthand how everything from our circulatory system to our senses interact with the outside world.

The Hamilton Collections Gallery is another new exhibit, featuring a meticulously curated selection of rare artifacts that take visitors on the journey of human achievement and technological advancement. Displays include film projectors, the Wright Brother’s designs and, of course, the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive.

Please Touch Museum

4231 Avenue of the Republic

The special XOXO: An Exhibit About Love and Forgiveness is still running through January 12, so stop by to learn about feelings and emotions before it’s too late! And be sure to drop into the Creative Arts Studio for a fun project every day. You can see all the daily activities planned at the Please Touch Museum on their calendar.

Looking ahead, you can also celebrate New Year’s with Countdown 2 Noon, the museum’s annual bash that ends with a ball drop in Hamilton Hall so you can get home by naptime.

National Constitution Center

525 Arch St.

Starting on December 18th, the National Constitution Center will be counting down to the New Year by exploring a different amendment in the Bill of Rights each day. Additionally, the Center has a variety of daily scheduled programming for everyone to enjoy, including a Bill of Rights Trivia Game, create-your-own Bill or Rights or buttons, and even a First Amendment Scavenger Hunt!

Museum of the American Revolution

101 S. Third St.

Don’t miss the final days of the museum’s special exhibition, Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of  Washington’s Tent. See for yourself what life was like during the winter months of the Revolutionary War and enjoy hands-on activities, riveting talks and more fun for the whole family. 

National Museum of American Jewish History

National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East

On Christmas Day, the museum remains open for its annual “Being ______ at Christmas” celebration: a day of family fun including crafts, stories, live music with Lolly Hopwood , a scavenger hunt, and more.

Academy of Natural Sciences

1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

For all you dino-lovers, be sure to check out the animatronic exhibit Ice Dinosaurs, where visitors can travel back to the Arctic Circle circa the Late Cretaceous period and learn how dinosaurs survived in extreme polar environments.  .

If dinosaurs aren’t your thing, no worries! The Academy has two other exhibits running during winter break, including Heirloom Plants for the nature lovers, as well as The Ecology of Fashion, an in depth look at how fashion is inspired by the natural world. 

Global Adventures at the Penn Museum

3260 South St.

The Penn Museum will be offering free admission for kids 17 and under (usually $13!) from December 26-28th. Spend the day globetrotting through their extensive galleries, and be sure to check out their free programming such as make-your-own sun catchers and drum workshops.

Children’s Shows

Winter break is a great time to take in a show. ELF The Broadway Musical is at Walnut Street Theatre through December 29, while Peter Pan will be soaring through the Arden Theatre all through break (and beyond). If you’re looking for some real spectacle, STOMP will be at the Miller Theater from December 26—29, and it is sure to dazzle all ages.

George Balanchine’s ‘The Nutcracker’

December 6—29 (Sensory-Friendly Performance: December 26, noon)

Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.

From the Tchaikovsky score to the timeless story of holiday magic, this ballet is a classic for a reason. On December 30 at noon, there will be a sensory-friendly performance with accommodations both inside and outside the theater to make children who are on the autism spectrum, or who may have sensory sensitivities, more welcome.

Disney on Ice

December 26—January 4

Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.

You know the drill—and your little ones have probably been begging to go since last year— so get on your best princess dress and bring your light-up wand for skating, music, and adventure. This production, Last Dance, includes favorite characters like Moana, Ariel, Stitch, Queen Elsa, and more. Of course, Mickey, Minnie, and the whole gang are there too.

Light Shows

Even if Christmas is over, that won’t stop Philly’s holiday institutions from sparkling until 2025. The Macy’s Christmas Light Show (and Dickens Village upstairs), the Comcast Holiday Spectacular  and Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle all run through the end of the year. So keep that holiday magic alive a little longer!

Go Wild

Speaking of light shows, the Philadelphia Zoo’s magnificent LumiNature is on display nights through January 4. This special nighttime experience is a multimedia holiday spectacle the likes of which you have never seen, with immersive realms and even a show projected onto a giant polar bear every half hour.

For more animal-centric fun, head across the river to Adventure Aquarium to visit Scuba Santa in Ocean Realm as he spreads the magic of Christmas and takes selfies through the glass. The aquarium will also have the World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree, and more decorations throughout.

Fun at Franklin Square

Franklin Square is fun no matter the season, and the wintertime is no exception. Whether it’s challenging your friends to a friendly game of mini golf through a winter wonderland, or taking a spin on Center City’s only year-round carousel,  Franklin Square has no shortage of outdoor fun.

Go Ice Skating

Both the BlueCross River Rink at Penn’s Landing and the Rothman Rink at Dilworth Park will be open during the break (and beyond), so if you haven’t gotten a chance to take a spin around the ice, go for it! For little ones, definitely rent a penguin at Dilworth Park for help with balance. Afterwards, warm up with some delicious hot chocolate.

 

Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA® Source/copyright EDITORIAL USE APPROVED; ©VISIT PHILADELPHIA®.

Laura Swartz contributed to the original 2019 version of this article.