High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: January 26--27

High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: January 26–27

Happy weekend! Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

January 23, 2019

Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

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

All Weekend

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

January 22–27

Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.

The musical adaptation of the best-selling novel by Rick Riordan is sure to be popular with kids and tweens who love the book.

Swing @ The Kimmel

January 14–February 24 (excluding Tuesdays); weekdays beginning at 5 pm, weekends beginning at noon

Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.

Part art installation, part virtual reality, Swing is a free and interactive experience that blends cutting-edge technology and imaginative designs. For ages 10 and up.

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.

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

Teatime with Turtles

January 26, 10 am

Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Boulevard

Various activity stations will help children learn all about the wildlife of the river, as highlighted in the museum’s new exhibit, River Alive! Guests will be able to make and take their very own turtle hats and hunt through the exhibit for bottlecap turtles, each with a fun fact inside their “shells.” Included with museum admission.

Arden Bookworms: ‘Pinkalicious’

January 26, 10—10:45 am

Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street

Kids ages 2-4 will hear Pinkalicious, then use theater games, music, and creative movement to bring the story to life. Pre-register online.

Stage Combat Workshop for Grades 6-8

January 26, 10 am—1 pm

Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second St.

In this active class, students will learn the basics of hand-to-hand stage combat from a certified instructor. Pre-register online.

Drop-In Community Music Class

January 26, 10—10:45 am

YCCA, 1714 S. Second St.

Join Ms. Katy and Ms. Maegan for 45 minutes of music making with your child. Play instruments, dance, and sing favorite songs. This class is drop-in and pay-what-you-can (a $10 donation is suggested).

Chinese New Year Celebration and Performances

January 26, 10:30 am–5 pm

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

A day of free performances will include Tai-Chi, yoga dance and song, Tibetan dance, Chinese folk operas, Uighur dance, an historical fashion show, a tea ceremony, and more.

Schuylkill Saturday: Nature Exploration for Families

January 26, 10:30—11:30 am

Schuylkill Center, 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.

Founder’s Freeze Out in Manayunk

January 26, 11 am—4 pm

Main Street, Manayunk

Manayunk will turn into a winter wonderland during this day-long event of ice sculptures and ice carving demonstrations, an ice beer garden, a hot cocoa bar, live music, and more. The event is family-friendly, but you have to be 21 to enter the beer garden.

Story Time Brunch: ‘Toy Story’ Edition

January 26, 11 am—3 pm

City Tap House, 3925 Walnut St.

Join Woody and Buzz for brunch, sing-alongs, and a story. Wear your favorite Toy Story costume, or even pajamas. A $5 donation benefits Mighty Writers. Email Rachel at rbaker@table95.com to reserve your table.

Plastics Chemistry Fair

January 26, 11 am—4 pm

Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.

Make slime, engage in live science presentations, participate in a museum-wide scavenger hunt, and visit with some of Philadelphia’s top plastics organizations during this fun-filled day devoted to the magic of plastics.

Tacony LAB Art Club for Kids

January 19, 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.

Storytime at the Lodge

January 26, 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.

Scientist Saturday: Vertebrate Paleontology

January 26, 1—4 pm

Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Aspiring paleontologists can visit with grad student Ashley Adams to ask questions about her work and see demonstrations of the science in action. Learn how to read a rock, and find out what it can tell you about what life was like millions of years ago.

One Book, One Philadelphia: Get on the Bus!

January 26, 2 pm

Charles Santore Library, 932 S. 7th St.

Read Last Stop on Market Street and talk about all different ways to travel around our city. Create 3D buses to move along maps of different bus routes.

Dancing with the S tars Live

January 26, 8 pm

The Met, 858 N. Broad St.

Experience the professional dancing, costumes, and excitement from the TV show live on stage.

Sunday

Free Adaptive Ice Skating at RiverRink

January 27, 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 serve.

‘Beach Getaway’ Family Time at Philadelphia Museum of Art

January 27, 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.

“Does This Make Cents?” and Family Performance at Please Touch Museum

January 27, 11 am—5 pm (performances at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm)

4231 Avenue of the Republic

All day there will be activities celebrating the museum’s new financial literacy exhibit Cents and Sensibility. At 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm, watch toys come to life as Philadelphia Studio Ballet performs The Enchanted Toyshop in Hamilton Hall.

Chinese New Year Celebration at Ryerss Museum

January 27, 1–3 pm

7370 Central Ave.

Ryerss has partnered with Temple University’s Confucius Institute for an afternoon of games, dumpling making, museum tours, and more.

Sundays on Stage: Lion Dance Plus

January 27, 2 pm

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

Performed by Dance China New York, Lion Dance introduces students to beloved Chinese folk art pieces, including excerpts from Beijing Opera featuring the popular Monkey King character, and the Chinese ribbon dance.

PAFA Family Arts Academy

January 27, 2—4 pm

118-128 N. Broad St.

Taking inspiration from PAFA’s exhibit Make Me a Summary of the World, this free family workshop invites participants to combine wild colors, surprising materials and personal memories into sculptures that tell a story about all the things that make you unique.

Book Reading and Signing: ‘P is for Pterodactyl’

January 27, 2:30—3:30 pm

Tildie’s Toy Box, 1829 E. Passyunk Ave.

Tildie’s welcomes local authors, Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter, and illustrator, Maria Beddia, of P is for Pterodactyl, a silly alphabet book filled with “letters that misbehave.” Copies of the book will be on hand for purchase for the authors and illustrator to sign.