Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

 

Click here for ongoing events that run through the weekend, like all the museum exhibits.

All Weekend

Charlotte’s Web

Through February 3

Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St.

 

The heart-warming story of a special friendship between a lovable pig and everyone’s favorite spider comes to life at the Arden.

Philly Home Show

January 11—13 and 18—20

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.

 

Explore 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.

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

November 23—March 3, 2019

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. This year, it will be celebrating its 25th anniversary, and has lots of fun events planned throughout the season– read all about it in our preview!

Winter in Dilworth Park: Rothman Rink and Wintergarden

Through February

Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15^th St.

 

Skate on the Rothman Rink in the shadow of City Hall and run through the fantastical Wintergarden Maze! Warm up in the Cabin with some snacks and cocoa after!

Saturday

Arden Bookworms: ‘The Snowy Day’

January 12, 10—10:45 am

Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street

 

Kids ages 2-4 will read Ezra Jack Keats’ classic, then use theater games, music, and creative movement to bring the story to life. Pre-register online.

Claying Around on the Wheel

January 12, 10 am—noon

The Clay Studio, 137-139 N. Second Street

 

Kids ages 4-12 with a caregiver will learn the basics of working on the pottery wheel in this fun (and muddy) family workshop. Pre-register online.

The Watershed is an Open Book

January 12, 10—11:30 am

Gideon Elementary School, 2817 W. Glenwood Ave.

 

This early literacy program for kids ages 3-8 (and their caregivers) features weekly seasonal themes. Free, but online registration is required.

The Geography Lady at Baby Wordplay

January 12, 10—11 am

Baby Wordplay Fairmount, 1942 Brandywine Street

 

Kids age 18 months and up will explore the world with photographs, maps, stories, games, music, movement, sensory, crafts and more. $15 to drop in.

Cents & Sensibility Exhibit Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting

January 12, 10:30—11:30 am

Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic

 

Please Touch Museum will unveil their new permanent exhibit centered around financial literacy. Using imaginative play, kids will learn concepts of earning, spending, saving, and sharing. The museum as well as the exhibit’s sponsor PNC will give remarks at the ribbon cutting, and then the exhibit will open to all.

Read + Make Workshop: ‘The Brownstone’

January 12, 10:30 am—noon

Center / Architecture + Design, 1218 Arch St.

 

Kids ages 5-8 and their parents will enjoy hearing the story The Brownstone and then make their own interactive brownstones out of paper! Workshop is free; register online.

Read and Romp: ‘Red: A Crayon’s Story’

January 12, 10:30—11:30 am

National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.

 

Little learners (age 2-6) and their caregivers are invited for an exciting hour of imaginative storytelling, interactive games, and creative crafts. This week, read Red: A Crayon’s Story and discuss issues of personal identity and the feeling of “fitting in.” Snacks and museum admission included. Pre-register online.

GiveBack Workshop: Capes for Kids

January 12, 10:30 am—noon

National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.

 

The National Liberty Museum is partnering with different organizations each month to complete “make-and-donate” projects that will benefit the community. For their first GiveBack Workshop, NLM is partnering with Enchanted Makeovers, an organization that seeks to empower, educate, and nurture women and children living in homeless shelters. Kids will be creating no-sew “hero capes” for children in these shelters “to let them know they can be their own superhero.”

Yoga Storytime

January 12, 10:30 am

Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Avenue

 

Kids ages 2-5 will move, play, and hear stories in this free class hosted by Beth Heed from Oak and Acorn Wellness.

Penn Museum Second Saturday: Let the Games Begin

January 12, 11 am—4 pm

3260 South St.

 

Play games in the galleries, discover ancient connections to modern day sports through a family-friendly tour, and pick up a scavenger hunt that will challenge you to take a closer look at many objects in the galleries.

AAMP Family Fun Day

January 12, 11 am—3 pm

​African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

 

The first 250 people will receive free admission to the museum for interactive arts workshops including collage vision boards, teleidoscope making, and splatter hand art.

Ants on a Log: Music for Children and other Child-like People

January 12, 11 am

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

 

At this free concert, folksy duo Ants on a Log performs music for children (and other childlike people), songfully advocating for positivity, social justice, and silliness!

Tacony LAB Art Club for Kids

January 12, 11 am—2 pm (Toddler Time from 11 am—noon; Ages 5 and up from noon—2 pm)

6918 Torresdale Avenue

 

On Saturdays, the Tacony LAB holds free art activities for kids. Stop in to draw, paint and create! Mural Arts Philadelphia teaching artists lead Art Club meetings, organizing projects and developing creative skills. 11 am to noon will be toddler time for ages 2-4; then noon to 2 pm will be for ages 5 and up.

Drag Queen Storytime

January 12, 11:30 am

Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar, 254 S. 12th Street

 

Come out and hear some stories about diversity, love, and acceptance, while raising money to help the Fumo Library produce more programming and fun for the neighborhood. $5 cover for single parent and child, $10 for larger families. RSVP to thedragmafia@gmail.com to register.

Storytime at the Lodge

January 12, 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.

Author Event: Matthew Ross Smith

January 12, 1 pm

Falls of Schuylkill Library, 3501 Midvale Avenue

 

Local author Matthew Ross Smith will be signing copies of his new book Lizzie Legend, and answering questions about writing and basketball.  All ages welcome.

Sunday

Center City Restaurant Week Begins

Center City Restaurant Week is coming up January 13–25, offering diners three-course dinner for $35, and (at some places) three-course lunch for $20 at dozens of great restaurants around town. See our top kid-friendly picks!

Sensory-Friendly Morning at Philadelphia Museum of Art

January 13, 9—10:30 am

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

These mornings are specially designed for children on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities—the lights, volume, and crowds are turned down. Space is limited. To reserve your spot, email AccessProg@philamuseum.org.

‘Beach Getaway’ Family Time at Philadelphia Museum of Art

January 13, 10:30 am—3 pm

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Get inspired to create an underwater masterpiece after a family-friendly tour of seascapes. Free after pay-what-you-wish admission.

A Snowy Bowie Skate

January 13, noon — 6 pm

Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Blvd.

 

Ice skate to the music of David Bowie, get your face painted like Ziggy Stardust, watch Labyrinth inside The Lodge, and more!

PECO Family Jams: Mosaic Medallions

January 13, noon —4 pm

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South Street

 

Create your own mini-mosaic from tiles, mirror, recycled materials and more. Family-friendly tours of Magic Gardens will be held at 1 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.

Write the Revolution: Tween Writing Workshop and Author Talk

January 13, 12:30 pm (author talk at 2 pm)

Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South Third Street

 

In this special hour-long workshop designed just for young authors aged 9-13, historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar and author Kathleen Van Cleve will lead activities and exercises that ask tweens to consider whose stories are worth telling and demonstrate the power of telling their own history. This event marks the national launch of Never Caught, a young reader’s adaptation of Dunbar’s Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge. After the workshop, stay for an author talk about the book. Pre-registration is required for the workshop.

Sundays on Stage: Bantaba: The Circle of Celebration

January 13, 2 pm

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

 

The Seventh Principle brings together traditional African and modern African-American dance while teaching about the respective cultures. Doors at 1:30 pm.

Mommy & Me Frosty Cake Workshop

January 13, 2—3:30 pm

Ella Vanilla, 7922 Germantown Avenue

 

Kids ages 5-8 with a parent will learn technique and create a cute snowman cake with cake artist Noelle DeSantis, owner of Ella Vanilla. You’ll leave with a fully decorated vanilla cake that serves about 6 people. Purchase class by email at Info@EllaVanilla.com or phone at (215) 909-9392.

 

 

Photograph by Matt Stanley.