Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

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

All Weekend

Shrek: The Musical

November 5—January 5

Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.

 

This award-winning Broadway musical based on the beloved movie features all new songs and fun for the whole family.

POPS Rocks Abbey Road

November 8—10

Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.

 

The Philly POPS will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of The Beatles’ masterpiece Abbey Road, joined by Beatles tribute band, Classical Mystery Tour.

‘Moby-Dick’ Marathon Reading  at Independence Seaport Museum

November 9, 2 pm—November 10, 3 pm

Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd.

 

Various Philadelphians will read Herman Melville’s classic novel over a 25-hour period. This collaboration between the Rosenbach and Independence Seaport Museum will feature a boatload of food and fun activities for all ages. Get (free) tickets in advance and come and go as you please throughout the reading.

Mermaids at Adventure Aquarium

November 2—10

1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ

 

Witness a mermaid swimming among the Shark Realm exhibit, and visit with a mermaid on dry-land during daily meet-and-greets. Plus, meet a pirate, do mermaid-themed crafts, and more.

Veterans Day Weekend at Museum of the American Revolution

November 9—10, 10 am—5 pm

101 S. Third St.

 

Commemorate Veterans Day Weekend with special programs, walking tours, and activities related to early American soldiers and their military families. Free admission for veterans, active and retired military, and Blue Star Families courtesy of Comcast/NBCUniversal.

‘Siege Weekend’ at Fort Mifflin

November 9—10, 10 am—4 pm

Fort Mifflin and Hog Island Roads

 

Learn about Fort Mifflin’s history through guided tours, living history activities and demonstrations, musket drills, weapons demonstrations, and four full scripted Revolutionary War battles.

Billy Elliot

November 1—16

Narberth Community Theatre, 6376 City Avenue (corner of City Ave. and Lancaster Ave.)

 

Based on the hit film, and featuring a score by the legendary Elton John, Billy Elliot follows the journey of a young boy in a small British mining town who discovers his passion for dance!

‘Hamilton’

August 27–November 17

Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.

 

The Broadway sensation based on our ten dollar founding father is finally coming, so do not throw away your shot! Don’t have tickets? Enter the #HAM4HAM lottery! Still don’t have tickets? We rounded up ways to stay entertained with Hamilton-related activities in Philly until you do!

Candytopia

Now open through January 9

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

Love Your Park Day

November 9

 

Love Your Park engages citizens and volunteers to revitalize Philadelphia’s public green spaces and create safe, welcoming, and fun recreation opportunities in parks across the city. See their website for volunteer opportunities across the city, including at Smith Playground!

Reading Terminal Market Holiday Showcase

November 9, 8 am–6 pm

51 N. 12th St.

 

More than 50 Market merchants will feature their special holiday offerings, seasonal produce, desserts, holiday gifts, decorations, and more. The holiday specials will be available both at each merchant’s storefront and at a collaborative dinner table display in Piano Court. The public is invited to browse all of the holiday options, get inspiration, ask questions, and place pre-orders or make purchases.

Love Your Park, NOT the Lanternfly

November 9, 9–11 am

Wissahickon Environmental Center, 300 W. Northwestern Ave.

 

Learn to identify all stages of the destructive Spotted Lanternfly’s life, the destruction it’s capable of, and then go on an all-ages hike to remove them.

Access to Science: Opening Doors to Autism

November 9, 9–11 am

Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Children on the spectrum and their families are invited to experience the museum before the crowds. You can visit with the dinosaurs, and all the other exhibits, at your own pace. Pre-registration is required (same-day registration is available onsite). If you would like to attend, please contact visitor services at 215-299-1060 or reservations@ansp.org

Kid Friendly Hike with Marv Schwartz

November 9, 10 am—noon

Valley Green Inn

 

This 2.2-mile hike takes participants along Forbidden Drive and on wooded trails. Registration is recommended.

Neighborhood Toy Store Day at Momo’s Tree House

November 9, 10 am

205 Arch St. and 2207 South St.

 

Stop by Momo’s for crafts, discounts, and special surprises. Plus, it’s Momo’s Tree House’s fifth birthday! So at the Old City location, stop by around 3:30 pm for silly stories, balloon sculpting, and kid-friendly magic!

Neighborhood Toy Store Day at Tildie’s Toy Box

November 9, 11 am—1 pm

1829 E. Passyunk Ave.

 

Celebrate our favorite Philly toy store in one of our favorite neighborhoods with giveaways, crafts, a photobooth, and more fun!

PNC Grow Up Great Free Concerts at the Kimmel Center

November 9, 11 am

Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.

 

During this monthly interactive kids’ concert in Commonwealth Plaza, kids learn the basics of jazz and more. Dancing is highly encouraged, and every performance ends with a little parade around the Kimmel Center’s lobby to “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Stick around for CraftNOW (see below).

CraftNOW Create at the Kimmel Center

November 9, 11 am—4 pm

300 S. Broad St.

 

Stop by anytime for this free and family-friendly day of hands-on exploration of art and crafts. Local arts organizations and artisans will set up in the Kimmel Center for demonstrations and activities.

Yoga Storytime

November 9, 10:30 am

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

 

Yoga stories, yoga songs, yoga games, and yoga adventures for children and their caregivers.

Penn Museum Second Saturdays: Myths and Legends

November 9, 11 am—4 pm

3260 South St.

 

Take a closer look at some of your favorite myths and legends from around the world. Take a family-friendly tour, make your favorite mythical creature, and pick up a scavenger hunt that will help you find heroes, monsters, and giants hidden in the galleries. Then, stop by the games station and challenge yourself to a friendly game in the galleries.

PMA Pop-Up at Kith + Kin

November 9, 11 am—12:30 pm

3060 W. Jefferson St.

 

Explore sound, texture, and color through hands on art-making. Best for ages 3-6.

AAMP Family Fun Day: The Super Heru Comic Book Mini-Con

November 9, 11 am—5 pm

African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

 

Perfect for families and solo comic book lovers alike, AAMP hosts the East Coast Age of Black Comics Convention for The Super Heru Comic Book Mini-Con! This day of activities, panel discussions, games and more is free to the first 250 attendees.

Project BUILD: Span-tastic Bridges

November 9, 11 am

Overbrook Park Library, 7422 Haverford Ave.

 

This hands-on STEM program is for children in grades 2–5 and their parents or caregivers. Visitors from the Philadelphia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will help kids to design and build various types of bridges.

Fire and Ice Festival Grand Opening Celebration at Rothman Rink and Wintergarden

November 9, noon–2 pm

Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15^th St.

 

Dilworth Park begins kicks off its winter season with the opening of Rothman Rink and the beautiful Wintergarden maze. Open seven days a week, Dilworth will be the site of skating, cozy Cabin eats, fun activities, and more! On Saturday, there will also be ice sculptures, fire performances, and more.

2nd Saturday in Northern Liberties

November 9, noon—4 pm

North Second Street

 

From street art to live music, the neighborhood comes alive with family-friendly activities and specials in restaurants, galleries, shops, and outside.

Daddy Daughter Day Spa at Pistola’s Del Sur

November 9, 1 pm

1934 E. Passyunk Ave.

 

Bring in your little girl and learn about crafts, makeup, nails, and hair. All ages are welcome, and it’s free. Plus, kid and adult specials are available throughout the event!

Celebration of The Great Beech

November 9, 1—3 pm

Wissahickon Environmental Center, 300 W. Northwestern Ave.

 

Celebrate WEC’s Champion Tree in its last seasons of life with crafts, art, love letters, and more.

Meditation for Kids

November 9, 1:30 pm

Andorra Library, 705 E. Cathedral Rd.

 

Kids who practice meditation and mindfulness are better able to focus, experience greater compassion and confidence, and can learn tools to calm themselves, and decrease anxiety.  For ages 5 and up.

Unicorn Cake Workshop

November 9, 2—3:30 pm

Ella Vanilla, 7922 Germantown Avenue

 

Kids age 9 and up will learn how to make the popular unicorn cake! Learn how to color buttercream icing, use a piping bag, and more. Everyone leaves with a fully decorated 4-inch vanilla cake. Register by emailing Noelle@EllaVanilla.com or by calling (215) 909-9392.

Sunday

RBG Family Day

November 10, 10 am—5:30 pm

National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East

 

Celebrate Notorious RBG with the whole family with art-making, storytime, spotlight talks, and even a storyteller from Historic Philadelphia telling stories of girl power throughout American history. They’ll also have an activity booklet for young children visiting Notorious RBG, and two selfie spots to continue the fun!

Family Sunday: Round and Round

November 10, 10:30 am—3 pm

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Go on family-friendly tours and make art together as a family.

Playfest 2019

November 10, 11 am—2 pm

Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard

 

Enjoy a free day of play with STEAM based activities, crafts, and more from PopUpPlay and other Philadelphia organizations including PlayArts, Philadelphia Zoo, Kith + Kin, Smith Playground, Momo’s Tree House. Stick around for a free screening of Frozen at 3 pm!

The Rock School Land of Sweets

November 10, noon and 4 pm

Rock School of Dance, 1101 S. Broad St.

 

This family-fun extravaganza features sweets, treats, sword decoration, crown making, and gingerbread house building with guest appearances and performances, including a 20-minute performance with the Sugar Plum Fairy in a pas de deux, and notorious battle scene starring General Mouse Howe. Tickets available online.

PECO Family Jams: Wood Assemblages

November 10, noon—4 pm

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.

 

Make small wall hangings out of scraps of wood, colorful fabric, cardboard, tape, yarn, and more. In addition, family-friendly tours will take place at 1 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.

Baby Shark Live!

November 10, 2 pm

Academy Of Music, 240 S. Broad St.

 

Baby Shark teams up with his friend Pinkfong to sing and dance to new and classic songs. One of them is undoubtedly his theme song (doo doo doo doo doo doo). In fact, if this is just an hour straight of the YouTube song, you only have yourself to blame. We may have to go out of sheer curiosity how they will fill an entire stage show based on this viral earworm. And if you can’t get enough Baby Shark, you can upgrade to the Baby Shark Meet and Greet for access to an after-show photo opportunity with Baby Shark and Pinkfong, along with an exclusive Baby Shark souvenir bag.

PAFA Family Art Academy

November 10, 2—4 pm

PAFA, 118-128 N. Broad St.

 

Inspired by prints on view in the museum galleries, create a unique and colorful design using scratch art with crayon and tempera paint. Free admission.

 

 

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