High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: February 1–2
Happy weekend! Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.
Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening around town!
Click here for ongoing events that run through the weekend, like all the museum exhibits.
All Weekend
Getaway at the Greenhouse
February 1—16
Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 North Horticultural Drive
The Horticulture Center has been transformed into an oasis with lounge areas, a beach, and family-friendly activities on weekends. For kids, there will be a giant sandbox, face-painting, lawn games, dance parties, and more! And adults can hit up the bar with craft beers, wine, and cocktails! New for this year, “GAIA,” a touring art installation of a 10-foot suspended planet Earth will be featured as well. Come on Sunday for Let’s Rock Recess dance party at noon!
Free, but tickets are required. Children 5 and under do not require a ticket. PHLASH is offering a free shuttle service from Center City to the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center every weekend of the Greenhouse from 10 am-10 pm every 30 minutes (stops at LOVE Park, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Please Touch Museum and the Horticulture Center).
Grace for President
February 1–9
Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.
Part of the WST for Kids series, this cute, one-hour play based on the book by Kelly S. DiPucchio is a fun introduction to the electoral system and teaches the value of hard work, courage, and independent thought.
My General Tubman
Through March 1
Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second Street
A world premiere by acclaimed Philadelphia author Lorene Cary, My General Tubman is a beautiful and exciting new play about the complex journey of Harriet Tubman and the impact she continues to have today.
Parent and Kid Skateboard Class
February 1–2
Skate The Foundry, 888 N. 40th Street
In this two-day parent and kid session, kids will assist the instructor and inspire their parents to learn the basics of skateboarding! Pre-register online.
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Through March 8
101 S. Columbus Blvd.
Come to skate, come to party in the cabins, come for the fun and food. This rink is a Philadelphia favorite for a reason!
Winter in Dilworth Park: Rothman Rink and Wintergarden
Through February
Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
Right outside City Hall, go skating on the Rothman Rink and running through Wintergarden Maze! Warm up after in the Cabin with seasonal food and drinks!
Candytopia
Now open through February 17
Ninth and Market streets
Candytopia brings its wildly popular experiential installation art to Fashion District Philadelphia. Favorites—like the marshmallow pit filled with over 250,000 foam marshmallows, and the rainbow-filled room with flying unicorn pigs and confetti explosions—will be joined by Philly-specific elements. It’s Instagram heaven, and you even get to eat candy throughout the experience! Tickets are available online, where you can reserve your timeslot. Kids age 3 and under get in free!
Saturday
Groundhog Day Festival
February 1, 10 am—1 pm
John Heinz at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd.
Celebrate Groundhog Day with live music, refreshments, games, crafts, and activities, and even a super-sized groundhog burrow for kids to explore! Throughout the day, three interactive presentations will feature beekeeping, live animals, and a Franklin Institute weather expert.
Philly Materials Day
February 1, 10 am—3 pm
Drexel University Bossone Research Enterprise Center, 3126 Market St.
Explore the materials that impact your world at a day of free hands-on science and engineering fun for all ages. In addition to demos, performance, and hands-on experiments, this year’s event also features special small group workshops geared to ages 10 and up where participants will work on teams exploring how specific materials impact their world.
Stone Soup
February 1, 10 am—noon
Wissahickon Environmental Center, 300 West Northwestern Avenue
Be a part of the story Stone Soup by creating a vegetarian soup over the campfire. All participants are asked to bring a vegetable to contribute to the soup. While the soup simmers, take a short hike to explore the different rocks in the area. Afterwards, warm up around the fire with Stone Soup and bread. Pre-registration required.
Chinese New Year Celebration and Performances
February 1, 10 am–3:30 pm
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
Experience the famed Lion Dance, martial arts, folk music, Chinese opera, and the dances of different ethnic groups throughout China. Prior to the performances, a tea ceremony and flower arrangement show will highlight the beauty and harmony of cultural exchanges and collaborations.
Yoga Storytime with Ms. Becky
February 1, 10:30 am
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
Yoga stories, yoga songs, yoga games, and yoga adventures for children and their caregivers. Children will learn how yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and breathing can help them manage their emotions, self-soothe, and experience a more meaningful life.
Arden Theatre Workshop: Musical Theatre Dance (Grades K-2)
February 1, 10 am–noon
Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street
In this active class, students will be introduced to dance using songs they know and love from Disney and Broadway scores. They’ll learn how to connect movement to lyrics and storyline and perform for family and friends at the end of class. Book online.
Arden Bookworms
February 1, 10—10:45 am
Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street
Preschoolers (age 2-4) will read Strega Nona, then use theater games, music, and creative movement to bring the story to life. Pre-register online.
Free Family Workshop: Engineering Fashion for Space
February 1, 10:30 am—12:30 pm
Center / Architecture + Design, 1218 Arch St.
Ideal for ages 5-12 and their curious grown-ups, this engaging monthly program allows you and your children to spend time together listening to a story then designing a solution to a challenging problem highlighted in the story. This month: space fashion! Free; register online.
Storytime at the Lodge
February 1, 11:30 am—12:30 pm
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Listen, Learn and Play will lead interactive activities and music, along with some stories. Light snacks and hot chocolate will be provided for the kids. Stick around after, and skate!
Learn2Code with Philly CoderDojo
February 1, 11:30 am
South Philadelphia Library, 1700 S. Broad St.
Join Philly CoderDojo on the first Saturday of every month when they will be offering a free coding club for kids ages 7 to 17. The workshop is free but space is limited. Be sure to register by emailing PHLCoderDojo@gmail.com
Will Grammy Remember Me?
February 1, 11:30 am
Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, 125 S. 52nd St.
Learn about Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia through interactive activities, discussion, and a read-aloud with local author J. Elizabeth, and educators from The Penn Memory Center.
Chestnut Hill on Ice
February 1, noon–5 pm
Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill is transformed into a winter wonderland during this festival featuring unique ice-themed attractions and cozy comforts including live ice sculpting and ice sculptures throughout Germantown Avenue, a yurt village for winter “glamping,” photo spots, chili specials, and even an iceless ice skating rink!
Winterfest for Wildlife: A Fundraiser for the Wildlife Clinic
February 1, noon—4 pm
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road
It’s a day of wildlife-themed fun: face-painting, nature crafts, winter wildlife hikes, and talks on both urban wildlife and how animals survive winter—supporting the Wildlife Clinic. A limited number of time-stamped tickets for behind-the-scenes tours of the clinic will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Book online.
InLiquid’s 2020 Benefit: Family Day
February 1, noon—3 pm
Crane Arts, 1400 North American Street
Meet local artists, see their work, and enjoy free family-friendly activities with local arts organizations, including a scavenger hunt! While your kids play, you can bid in the annual silent auction to benefit InLiquid, a nonprofit that supports and promotes our city’s artist community.
African American Children’s Book Fair
February 1, 1—4 pm
Community College of Philadelphia, 1700 Spring Garden St.
One of the oldest and largest single-day events for African-American children’s books in the country, this fun-filled afternoon is packed with activities that promote the power and joy of reading. Authors and illustrators will make presentations and sign their books, and there will be a wide selection of affordable literature available to purchase.
Arden Theatre Workshop: Superhero Stage Combat (Grades 3-5)
February 1, 2—5 pm
Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street
In this active class, students will learn the basics of stage combat from a certified instructor. This safe technique uses “theatre magic,” which involves minimal contact with your opponent. Book online.
Black History Month Matinee Series: ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’
February 1, 2 pm
South Philadelphia Library, 1700 S. Broad St.
Every weekend of Black History Month, the South Philadelphia Library will be showing a movie to celebrate. This weekend, it’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, introducing Miles Morales to the big screen.
PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
February 1, 3 pm
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
Independent readers are invited to read with a therapy dog—share a new book or an old favorite in a judgment-free space. Siblings are welcome.
Sunday
Play Without Boundaries at Please Touch Museum
February 2, 9—11 am
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Enjoy the museum without the large crowds and the loud noises that may be challenging for children with sensory sensitivities. Plus, therapy dogs, dance therapy, and visits from more helpful organizations. Online registration required.
Free Adaptive Ice Skating at RiverRink
February 2, 9:30—10:30 am
Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Blvd.
Bring family and friends to enjoy free instructive skate lessons for those with mobility restrictions. Participants will work with rink staff to learn sled skating skills. All ages. First come, first served.
Family Festival: People, Places, Paintings
February 2, 10 am—3 pm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Celebrate Black History Month with a painting party featuring local artist Patricia Thomas, who leads a studio project inspired by the art of Horace Pippin. Free with pay-what-you-wish admission.
PECO Free First Sunday Family Day at the Barnes Foundation
February 2, 10 am—5 pm
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Explore the galleries, and enjoy a fun-filled day of music, art making, and storytelling. This month’s Family Day spotlights women in the arts.
Artmaking and Storytelling at Woodmere Art Museum
February 2, 11 am—noon
9201 Germantown Ave.
Introduce your preschoolers to the enjoyment of art through stories and artmaking. Young visitors and their grown-ups enjoy reading picture books in the galleries, followed by an art project.
Youth D&D Meetup
February 2, 11 am—1:30 pm
ThirstyDice, 1642 Fairmount Ave.
Are your teens looking to meet up for weekend roleplaying? They can join ThirstyDice for this free event for middle school and high school students. No prior roleplaying experience is necessary, but players are encouraged to bring their own dice.
Youth Climate Action Forum
February 2, 1—3 pm
Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
A youth-led forum and information session aimed at connecting high school and college students who are passionate about issues of climate change and the protection of our environment. Meet Academy scientists and discover resources for taking steps toward a healthier planet. Learn about upcoming programs focused on climate change, the future of our environment, and how we can all take action against climate change. Free with registration.
PAFA Family Arts Academy
February 2, 2—4 pm
118-128 N. Broad Street
Discover how some cultures, like the Paracas community in Peru, developed dyeing techniques using natural fruits, herbs, and spices to make artworks. Free admission.
Puppy Bowl Viewing Party
February 2, 3 — 6 pm
Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St.
Come watch the cutest game ever while you snuggle adoptable puppies from the Morris Animal Refuge. There will be food and drink specials, too
Photograph by Laura Swartz.
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