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.

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Philly Family Community Calendar

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 […]

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 […]

East Passyunk Tree Lighting

East Passyunk Avenue Singing Fountain S 11th St & E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA, United States

East Passyunk's annual tree lighting ceremony is here! Head over from 5 - 7pm at The Singing Fountain on December 4th for the official kick-off to the holiday season with our Christmas tree lighting. Come on out and make sure to bring a to take […]

ELF The Broadway Musical

ELF The Broadway Musical | 2 pm & 7:30 pm

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 […]

Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum

Morris Arboretum 100 E Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Make your holiday even more magical with a visit to the Holiday Garden Railway, as it is transformed for the season with thousands of twinkling lights! See the enchanting rail cars in a festive wonderland of lights and sounds, a marvelous experience for visitors of […]

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 […]

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 – […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Sankofa Farm Stand at Bartram’s Village

Sankofa Farm Stand at Bartram’s Village

Bartram's Village

Come purchase fresh, chemical-free inspirited local produce straight from Sankofa Community Farm every Thursday at the Bartram’s Village apartments (54th & Lindbergh Blvd entrance), now through mid-November! EBT, cash, WIC Farmer’s Market vouchers, and Senior vouchers are all accepted methods of payment (standard retail WIC […]

LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo

LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo

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

Philly Zoo Comes to Light LumiNature is back for another season of sights, sounds, and surprises! See more than a million twinkling lights across 16 illuminated zones at the zoo's biggest and brightest holiday light show yet. Open from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on weekends and […]

Manayunk Jolly Trolley

Manayunk Jolly Trolley

Main Street Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Bring the family to Main Street all season long for Get LIT weekends which will feature food and drink deals, shopping specials, festive live entertainment, and the FREE Jolly Trolley. The Jolly Trolley will run up and down Main Street making several stops at your […]

ELF The Broadway Musical

ELF The Broadway Musical | 2 pm & 7:30 pm

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 […]

Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum

Morris Arboretum 100 E Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Make your holiday even more magical with a visit to the Holiday Garden Railway, as it is transformed for the season with thousands of twinkling lights! See the enchanting rail cars in a festive wonderland of lights and sounds, a marvelous experience for visitors of […]

Cherry Street Pier First Friday

Cherry Street Pier 121 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Visit the Cherry Street Pier on the First Friday of each month for exhibition openings, artist studio tours, markets, and stunning views of the Delaware River. All exhibitions and events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.  First Friday dates: January 5, February […]

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 […]

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 […]