High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: March 23–24
Happy weekend! Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.
Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.
Click here for ongoing events that run through the weekend, like all the museum exhibits.
All Weekend
You Belong in the Zoo: Member Appreciation Weekend
March 23—24, 10 am—2 pm
3400 W. Girard Ave.
Watch special animal feeding and enrichment sessions, and learn about your favorite animals from their keepers.
Opening Weekend at Shofuso
March 23—24, 11 am—5 pm
Lansdowne and Horticultural drives
Shofuso reopens for its 61st season in West Fairmount Park. Take in the spring blossoms, enjoy complimentary (after admission) tours of the house and garden, and feed the koi.
Button’s 22nd Birthday Weekend
March 22—24
Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
Celebrate Button the Hippo’s 22nd birthday with treats every morning this weekend, hippo feeds, life of Genny and Button chats; and don’t miss out on hippo bedtime! Be sure to wish her a happy birthday and sign a hippo-sized birthday card at the entrance of Hippo Haven, too.
Private Yankee Doodle Weekend
March 23, 10 am—4 pm
Fort Mifflin, Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads
Join the 4th Connecticut Regiment throughout the weekend as they demonstrate life as a soldier in the Continental Army including weapons demos, cannon firings, guided tours, and special hands-on activities.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Through April 28
Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, this adaptation of the popular novel is great for teens. See the world through the eyes of a unique fifteen-year-old as he investigates the death of his neighbor’s dog after being accused of the crime. Walnut Street Theatre has included a study guide online for anyone who wants to learn more.
Meet Phillis the Washerwoman at the Betsy Ross House
Thursdays through Sundays in March, noon—5 pm
239 Arch St.
Meet historical re-enactor of Phillis the Laundress, a free African-American woman who was born into slavery in the 18th century, and went on to become a free woman in Philadelphia.
Last Chance: Swing @ The Kimmel
January 14–March 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.
Saturday
Holi Family Festival at Please Touch Museum
March 23, 9 am—5 pm
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Experiment with art, experience Indian dance and music, learn about Holi in storytime, and participate in the Holi tradition of throwing colors with confetti.
Hoops Madness 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
March 23, 9 am—1 pm
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 West Willow Grove Ave.
Inspired by March Madness, the NCAA college basketball championship, Hoops Madness offers kids and adults a chance to play half court, 3-on-3 games of basketball and participate in a variety of shooting contests. Players are encouraged to pre-register and form teams of four (three players and a substitute) or they can be placed on a team the day of the tournament. It’s also fun to stay and watch!
Kith + Kin Grand Opening Party
March 23, 10 am—3 pm
3060 W. Jefferson St.
Celebrate the opening of this new playspace and community gathering spot all day! Start the day rocking out with Roots with Ruark, do art project with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Nimble Craft, create with PopUpPlay, and enjoy beer and pizza all day! Check back later for our preview of this exciting new neighborhood spot!
Women in STEM Day
March 23, 10 am—3 pm
Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
Come for a day dedicated to spotlighting female role models and their impact on our world, and hear from the region’s top experts in a variety of STEM fields including medicine, neuroscience, physics, and engineering. Plus, hands-on activities, and performances by Philadelphia Studio Ballet.
Spring Face Painting at Lovett Library
March 23, 10:30 am—12:30 pm
Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Ave.
Celebrate the beginning of spring with Stacy’s Face Painting! Crafts and games will be available while you wait your turn. For ages 2 – 12. Space is limited.
Storytime Yoga
March 23, 10:30 am
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
Yoga instructor Beth Heed from Oak and Acorn Wellness will host a free class filled with stories, yoga, and fun for 2- to 5-year-olds and their caregivers. No prior yoga experience is necessary. Some mats are available, or you can bring your own.
Schuylkill Saturday: Nature Exploration for Families
March 23, 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.
Tacony LAB Art Club for Kids
March 23, 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.
Baking with Science Workshop
March 23, 11 am—2 pm
310 S. 48th St.
Participants will learn to make cheesecakes with Cherry’s Baking Company and learn the science behind the baking process. This is a workshop for teens with an interest in learning to bake and create their own recipes.
Kid Friendly Hike
March 23, 11 am—1 pm
Forbidden Drive; meet at Valley Green Inn
Marv Schwartz leads a kid-friendly 2.2-mile hike of Forbidden Drive. Pre-register online.
Women’s History: Literacy Stations for Kids
March 23, 12:15 pm
Walnut Street West Library, 201 S. 40th St.
Sponsored by The West Philly Reading Captains, this event will explore women’s history through games, activities, book giveaways, and theatrical performance. Children and families will meet famous historical women at one of several literacy stations, and are encouraged to ask actors questions about their life and work.
Seafarin’ Saturday
March 23, 1:30—3:30 pm
Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd.
Make your own Viking boat! Kids will learn about Viking culture and make their own boat craft. Free with admission.
Film Screening: RBG
March 23, 2 pm
Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Ave.
Celebrate Women’s history with a documentary film screening about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film runs approximately 90 minutes and is rated PG.
Youth Yoga
March 23, 2:30 pm
Lillian Marrero Library, 601 W. Lehigh Ave.
Move your body and challenge your mind. For ages 7-17, parents welcome to join.
Philadelphia Science Fiction Strangeness Convention
March 23, 4—9 pm
Philadelphia Insectarium, 8046 Frankford Ave.
Fun with visual artists, live music, sci-fi stories, sci-fi zine workshops, afro-futurism, role playing games, vendors and conceptual loss of reality for humans of all ages. Tickets available online.
Drag Storytime at Mister John’s Music
March 23, 5 pm
904 S. Ninth St.
Maria TopCatt is back at Mister John’s Music for stories, lipsyncing dance parties, catwalk time, and togetherness! Here’s what to expect at this unique family event. Tickets available online.
Sunday
Sensory Friendly Sunday at Franklin Institute
March 24, 8 am—noon
222 N. 20th St.
The museum opens early, and exhibits are modified to provide an opportunity to experience all the Franklin Institute has to offer for people on the autism spectrum and with a range of differing abilities. They also create a dedicated quiet space that provides a chance to cool down and take a break with a tent, fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones, and more. Admission is free with pre-registration, and for guests arriving before 9:30 am on the day of the event.
Family Balcony Studio and Tour: Cool Tools
March 24, 10:30 am—3 pm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Artists use all sorts of different tools to create their masterpieces. Explore process and find out how. At 11 am there will be a family-friendly art tour.
Family Circus Festival
March 24, noon—4 pm
Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave.
Readings of circus stories and books by Jerry Pinkney will inspire young artists to create puppets of their favorite characters. Philadelphia School of Circus Arts’ mime artists and stilt walkers will roam through Woodmere’s galleries and fascinate the entire family. Then at 2 pm, aerial, trapeze, juggling, and tightwire artists from the Little Circus will provide an interactive and fun-loving performance. Children can meet with the performers and learn some circus arts after the performance. Suggested donation: $5 per family.
Sensory-Friendly Sunday at National Constitution Center
March 24, noon—5 pm
525 Arch Street
The museum will provide visitors with sensory processing challenges the opportunity to experience the museum in a secure and comfortable environment by providing emotionally safe spaces for families, modified programming for diverse sensory needs, and specialized staff training.
PAFA Family Arts Academy
March 24, 2—4 pm
118-128 N. Broad St.
Take a cue from the giant pink Taj Mahal sculpture in PAFA’s galleries and experiment with using fused plastic as a creative material at this free family workshop.
Photograph by J. Fusco courtesy of Visit Philadelphia.
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