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

Last Chance: ‘Very Eric Carle’ at Please Touch Museum

Through January 12

4231 Avenue of the Republic

 

Step into the world of Eric Carle in this cute,  interactive exhibit. Follow the path of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, compose a night symphony with The Very Quiet Cricket, and more!

Camp-In at the Franklin Institute

January 11, 6:15 pm—January 12, noon

222 N. 20^th St.

 

Kids ages 6-13 (and chaperones) will have a unique sleepover experience in the museum, plus access to the new “Worst-Case Scenario” special exhibit! Campers must clear out by 9:30 am on Sunday, but can stay and explore the museum until noon! Pre-register online.

The Band’s Visit

January 7–19

Academy Of Music, 240 S Broad St.

 

Recommended for ages 10 and up, this joyous Tony-award winner for Best Musical comes to Philly!

Philly Home Show

January 10—12 and 17—29

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.

 

Explore a variety of home solutions from local experts, gain ideas and insights from TV home design show celebrities, and acquire new craft project skills at make-and-take workshops (including a succulent bar) and more. Tickets available online.

Winter in Dilworth Park: Rothman Rink and Wintergarden

Through February

Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15^th 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!

The Snow Queen

Through January 26

Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St.

 

Based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic fairy tale, The Snow Queen transports audiences on a journey through the four seasons, and celebrates the magical power of friendship.

Candytopia

Now open through January 25

Ninth and Market streets

 

Coming to the new Fashion District, Candytopia brings its wildly popular experiential installation art to Philly this fall. 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

Nimble Crafters at Kith + Kin

January 11, 10 am—noon

3060 W. Jefferson St.

 

Weekly take-home projects are inspired by nature, cultures, and art appreciation. Experimenting with different materials in a controlled environment allows your child to gain confidence but most importantly have fun! Come any time between the two-hour open studio time and stay as long as you choose.

Arden Bookworms

January 11, 10—10:45 am

Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street

 

Preschoolers (age 2-4) will read Where the Wild Things Are, then use theater games, music, and creative movement to bring the story to life. Pre-register online.

Popcorn Bowls on the Wheel

January 11, 10 am—noon

The Clay Studio, 137-139 N. Second St.

 

Learn the basics of working on the pottery wheel, and enjoy time together making a personal-sized popcorn bowl in honor of National Popcorn Day! Classes are appropriate for children ages 4-12. Parents with children ages 4-7 work together on one wheel. Pre-registration is required.

Schuylkill Saturday: Nature Exploration for Families

January 11, 10:30—11:30 am

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

 

Gather in the Visitor Center before hitting the trails for a guided exploration. Each week explores a different theme. All ages welcome. No registration required.

Author Book Signing and Reading with Drag Queen Story Time’s Brittany Lynn

January 11, 11 am

Fumo Family Library, 2437 S. Broad St.

 

Philly’s beloved drag queen Brittany Lynn has written a children’s book! Hear The Adventures of Miss Kitty Popcorn & Cheese and get it signed by the author and illustrator! Read more about this new book and Drag Queen Story Time in our review!

Penn Museum Second Saturdays: The Things We Wear

January 11, 11 am—4 pm

3260 South St.

 

Explore the galleries through a family-friendly tour, design your own necklace, and pick up a scavenger hunt that will challenge you to take a closer look at some of the beautiful items that humans have worn throughout the centuries.

AAMP Family Funday: New Year, New Visions

January 11, 11 am—3 pm

African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

 

Family Funday at AAMP will incorporate interactive workshops and art-making activities, including vision boards, African dance workshops, and more. Perfect for ages 5 and up. The first 250 people will receive free entry to the museum for this event.

Storytime Yoga

January 11, 11 am

Richmond Library, 2987 Almond St.

 

Yoga instructor Beth Heed from Oak and Acorn Wellness will host a class filled with stories, yoga, and fun for 2 to 5 year-olds and their caregivers.

Storytime at the Lodge

January 11, 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!

Family Class: Baking and Ancient Writing

January 11, noon

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

 

Families will make and taste cuneiform-inspired cookies and learn more about how writing was invented. This program is open to children ages 7 to 12 and their caregivers. Pre-registration is required via Eventbrite; tickets are $14 per person.

Nature Observation

January 11, 1—3 pm

Falls of Schuylkill Library, 3501 Midvale Ave.

 

Exercise your observation skills outside, and stretch your ability to focus through mindfulness games. Dress warmly for outdoor play!

DRUMline

January 10 and 11, 7:30 pm

Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.

 

Created by the musical team behind the hit movies, the live show embodies the soulful, high-stepping style of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching band experience, and is fun for the whole family!

Sunday

Sensory Friendly Sunday at the Mütter Museum

January 12, 9–11 am

19 S. 22nd St.

 

An early morning geared for families with children on the spectrum or with sensory sensitivities, Sensory Friendly Sunday at the Mütter is a welcoming environment for your child and family to enjoy the Mütter Museum’s world-renowned collection of anatomy, pathologies, and medical history in a quiet and accepting setting. Visitors will find stations with interactive touch objects, guided tours, and a designated quiet space with snacks. Admission for this event is Pay What You Wish; pre-register online.

Free Adaptive Ice Skating at RiverRink

January 12, 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.

Art of Play

January 12, 10:30 am—3 pm

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Get playful in the galleries and discover toys, games, and children in art. Take a family-friendly tour, and then make art together as a family. Included with admission; kids 12 and under are always free.

Book Reading and Signing with Brittney Shipp

January 12, 11—11:30 am

Kith + Kin, 3060 W. Jefferson St.

 

Featuring NBC 10 meteorologist Brittney Shipp’s first children’s book, The Meteorologist in Me, this free event will include a reading, Q&A, and more. Copies of Shipp’s new book will be available for purchase.

PECO Family Jams: Packing-Material Portraits

January 12, noon—4 pm

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.

 

Come explore the many faces of the Magic Gardens, then make one of your own out of common materials, such as cardboard, tape, and toilet paper rolls. There will also be family-friendly tours at 1 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.

A Snowy Bowie Skate

January 12, noon—6 pm

Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Blvd.

 

Ice skate to the music of David Bowie, watch Labyrinth and concert footage on the screens inside The Lodge at Winterfest, and enjoy Stardust face painting and themed drink specials!

Starman Art Afternoon

January 12, noon—4 pm

Tattooed Mom, 530 South St.

 

Come listen to Bowie tunes while creating a variety of Bowie art: coloring pages, Bowie fashion doll, Ziggy Stardust mask, Aladdin Sane mask, and more. Complimentary glitter face painting, too! Free, but donations support the Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

 

 

 

Photograph by Laura Swartz.