The Best Things To Do in Philly with Kids

Discover the best family-friendly things to do in Philadelphia with kids, including events, festivals, attractions, and free activities through our curated calendar. Find what’s happening in Philly today and plan your next family adventure!

💞 Check out our sister Community Calendars too: Main Line Parent and Bucks County Parent.

🗓️ Have an event to share? Join Philadelphia Family as a Member and Submit it to us for consideration! (Members are given priority event coverage.)

Make the most of family life in Philly with the best weekend events, parenting tips, and local stories— all delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday.

Philadelphia Family’s High Five Newsletter delivers:
📍 Can’t-miss family weekend events and activities
💡 Practical parenting advice for city life
🧳 Insider tips to navigate Philly like a native

Subscribe now and never miss out on what’s happening for families in Philadelphia!

Philly Family Community Calendar

Shared Vision: Portraits from The CCH Pounder-Koné Collection

​The African American Museum in Philadelphia 701 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is proud to present, “Shared Vision: Portraits from The CCH Pounder-Koné Collection,” featuring paintings from the personal collection of award-winning actress, CCH Pounder. This exhibition, curated exclusively for AAMP, is a stunning collection of contemporary art that spans the African […]

Ice Dinosaurs Exhibit

The Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Explore paleontology’s final frontier in Ice Dinosaurs, the Academy’s exciting new special exhibit. Transport yourself to the Late Cretaceous period in the Arctic Circle, where dinosaurs actually lived year-round in extreme polar environments. This brand-new, immersive and educational experience brings this era to life with animatronic […]

LIGHT THROUGH A GLASS SPRING

Light Through a Glass Spring

Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard 1001 Intrepid Avenue, Philadelphia, United States

Light through a glass spring features work by artists Cynthia Goodman Brantley and Emily Selvin. Emily’s translucent glass and Cynthia’s glowing drawings play with mixing non-literal forms and perceived function. Both artists embrace openness in their pieces, and leave their work available to viewers’ analysis. […]

Free
The Comeuppance

The Comeuppance

The Wilma Theater 265 S Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

From the boundary pushing, Tony Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon), this electrifying comedy is a meditation on impermanence, nostalgia, and isolation. Anticipating their 20-year high school reunion, fueled by adult jungle juice and pot, four former classmates reminisce at a porch pre-party that hangs […]

Chilly Philly Mini Golf in Franklin Square

Chilly Philly Mini Golf in Franklin Square

Franklin Square 200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Putt through 18 holes of wintry fun this holiday season! Center City’s only outdoor mini golf course transforms into a winter wonderland both day and night during Winter in Franklin Square. Chilly Philly Mini Golf features lights, seasonal music, and larger-than-life wintertime friends throughout the […]

Holidays on the Hill | Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill 8000 to 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

During Holidays on the Hill, visitors can immerse themselves in the season’s spirit by strolling through one of Philadelphia’s most historic villages! Guests can enjoy the holiday cheer of Chestnut Hill with a brass quartet, view an outdoor model train display at Morris Arboretum and take […]

Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm

Shady Brook Farm 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA, United States

Shady Brook Farm's spectacular Holiday Light Show features more than three million lights illuminating acres of farmland. Encounter whimsical displays and familiar characters as you drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride. Opens on […]

Christmas Around the Farm – Linvilla Orchards

Linvilla Orchards 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, PA, United States

During the holiday season, Linvilla Orchards transform the Farm into a Winter Wonderland. Featuring Santa and his elves, handmade wreaths, greens and holly, and a sea of poinsettias. Shop an enormous selection of timeless holiday decorations, children’s toys and collectibles you won't find anywhere else. […]

The Play That Goes Wrong at Plays & Players Theater

Play & Players Theatre 1714 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

This farcical murder mystery and play within a play, conceived by award-winning company Mischief Theatre, looks at the inept and accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they embark on producing an ambitious 1920s murder mystery. As hilarious disaster after disaster ensues and the cast starts to […]

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

The Media Theatre 104 East State Street, Media, PA, United States

The holiday season has come to life on The Media Theatre stage! This music-revue style production features all of your favorite wintery classic songs with some of the finest singers & dancers to bring it to life. After opening a holiday storybook, join your favorite […]

Christmas Village | Festival of Trees

City Hall and LOVE Park 1500 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA, United States

Featuring 20 decked out trees, the Festival of Trees returns to this year's Christmas Village in all it's Holiday Splendor. Tree Lighting Ceremony: December 05 @ 6:00pm Festival Dates: Dec 5th – Dec 24th Hours: Sun – Thur: 12-7pm  |   Fri – Sat: 12 – […]

The Rock School Presents: Classic Nutcracker

Miller Theater 250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Usher in the spirit of the holiday season with Clara’s fairytale brought to life. Children of all ages delight in the charm, beauty, and grandeur of this beloved classic featuring an international cast of award-winning artists from the world-renowned Rock School for Dance. Classic Nutcracker, […]

Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Walnut Street Theater

Walnut Street Theatre 825 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

On one remarkable Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who show him the past, present—and possible future. You and your loved ones are in for a classic holiday treat with this special hour-long musical adaptation for kids that uses traditional songs to […]

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker | Philadelphia Ballet

Academy of Music 240 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

The holiday season comes to the stage in the Philadelphia Ballet's annual performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, a tradition unlike any other. Cross swords with the Mouse King and dine with the Sugar Plum Fairy in this quintessential celebration of the season, brightened by […]

Macy’s Christmas Light Show

Macy's Center City 1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

One of the grandest of Philadelphia traditions returns this year, lighting up the Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker Building - location of America's first department store. Spanning seven decades, this iconic display features thousands of festive lights accompanied by music from the 110-plus-year-old Wanamaker Organ. […]

Miracle on South 13th Street

Head down to South Philly for one of the most spectacular neighborhood displays in all of Pennsylvania. Every year, the stretch of 13th Street between Tasker and Morris lights up. Neighbors go all out with lights and displays to celebrate the season, along with accompanying […]

Grand Illumination at American Heritage Credit Union

American Heritage Credit Union 2060 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA, United States

American Heritage Credit Union's Annual Grand Illumination celebration is the perfect event to kick-off the holiday season. Our free Grand Illumination has become one of the most beloved holiday traditions in Philadelphia and includes the lighting of two 40-foot Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, and over […]

Wintergarden at Winter at Dilworth Park

Dilworth Park 1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Dilworth Park’s popular winter attractions are returning for the season! The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink will again offer skating seven days per week, the Greenfield Lawn will host reindeer topiaries in the Wintergarden and the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin will round out the park’s seasonal transformation. Visit each […]

Adventure Aquarium: Christmas Underwater

Adventure Aquarium 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ, United States

A jolly fishmas awaits during Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium! Splash into the spirit of the season as Scuba Santa returns to dive with sharks, sea turtles and rays, sharing Christmas cheer with all who come to visit. During hours of operation. Tickets necessary for entry. Make […]

Manayunk Gets Lit

Manayunk Gets Lit

Main Street Manayunk Main St., Philadelphia, PA, United States

The season is upon us and there is no better place to celebrate than Main Street in Manayunk!  Mannyunk Gets Lit is a lights and display competition where Main Street lights up with more than eighty thousand lights, with the participation of over 50 businesses. […]

Breakfast With Santa

Dave & Busters 325 N. Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Santa Claus is coming to Dave & Buster’s! Score a ho-ho-whole morning of family fun with exclusive early access to the store. Forget the long lines at the mall. There’s no better place to meet Mr. Claus! Your kids can play games & get a […]

$25.99
Wildlife Spotlight Series at the Philadelphia Zoo

Wildlife Spotlight Series at the Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo 3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Learn about your favorite species in the Philadelphia Zoo's NEW Wildlife Spotlight Series! Connect with animal experts, enjoy animal-themed activities for all ages, and experience exhibits from a new perspective. The Wildlife Spotlight Series is included with Zoo admission!   Rhino Spotlight August 22-25 | Come […]

Free Admission at The Michener Museum

Michener Art Museum 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, PA, United States

The Michener Museum is now free of charge on the second Sunday of every month. The free second Sunday and evening hours on first Thursday are possible due to a $400,000 grant from the Art Bridges Foundation, whose Access for All program is funding 64 […]

Eastern State Penitentiary Free Neighbor Day

Eastern State Penitentiary 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Eastern State Penitentiary invites their neighbors in the 19130 and 19121 zip codes to visit FREE of charge every 2nd Sunday of the month, no reservations required!   Eastern State Penitentiary was the world’s first penitentiary—a prison designed to inspire penitence—and now operates as a museum […]

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular

The Comcast Center Plaza 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, United States

The sights and sounds of the holidays come alive in this free, 15-minute show, The Comcast Holiday Spectacular, which has quickly become a new holiday tradition in Philadelphia. Marvel at holiday scenes brought to life in this multi-sensory show, featuring classics like Jingle Bell Rock, The Twelve Days of Christmas and The Nutcracker​​​​​; a […]

Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND

Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, United States

Build the best memories at Philadelphia's top family holiday event, Holiday Bricktacular! Daily from November 29 - January 1, families can enjoy a winter wonderland of activities, festive decorations and more at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia. Holiday Bricktacular Activities: New for 2024! Build To Give […]

Macy’s Dickens Village & Santa

Macy’s Dickens Village & Santa

Macy's Center City 1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

One of the most nostalgic family holiday experiences Philadelphia has to offer, this immersive experience is a vintage animatronic retelling of A Christmas Carol. After exploring the fabulous displays and gorgeous lights, you can take the family to meet Santa and let him know what […]

Lucia & Christmas Market

Lucia & Christmas Market

American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Don’t miss this unique magical holiday experience! The outdoor Christmas Market includes your favorite holiday deli items, Christmas decorations and gifts, and SWEA bakery treats. The Swedish Christmas Café will sell holiday foods and sweets for refreshment. Enjoy live music holiday music by the Last […]

Free – $10

Meet Santa at Philadelphia Premium Outlets for the Holidays

Philadelphia Premium Outlets 18 Lightcap Rd, Pottstown, PA, United States

Families can meet Santa at Philadelphia Premium Outlets as part of the Simon Santa Photo Experience. Santa arrives on Friday, November 29, and will be available until Christmas Eve. The Santa Photo Experience will be open Monday – Friday from 11AM-7PM, Saturday from 10AM-8PM and […]

$20 – $50

Christmas Village in Philadelphia in LOVE Park and City Hall

City Hall and LOVE Park 1500 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA, United States

The Christmas Village is back! Head to LOVE Park to peruse this iconic seasonal market of food and over 120 vendors. While your there enjoy the festival of trees, rides, and hanging out with Santa. MEET SANTA: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Dec 6th through […]

ELF The Broadway Musical

ELF The Broadway Musical

Don’t walk 3,408 miles from the North Pole to New York when Walnut Street Theatre brings the holidays to you! The 2024-25 Season continues with ELF The Broadway Musical. Previews begin November 19 and the show runs through December 29, 2024 which includes holiday performances. Open captioning will […]