What’s Open on Thanksgiving in Philly?
There's plenty of fun to be had before turkey time!
‘Tis the season to be thankful: thankful for all we have, thankful for family, and thankful that we live in a city that doesn’t keep us cooped up with that family all day! If you need to entertain the kids before turkey time, there are so many fun things that are open and happening in Philly, even on Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Day Parade
8:30 am—noon
Begins at 20th St. and JFK Blvd., then heads east on JFK, left on 16th Street, then down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before ending at the Art Museum
Bundle up and get the kids to the Parkway early for a holiday tradition! Giant balloons, live musical performances, Santa’s sleigh, and even Gritty (yes, Gritty!) feature in our country’s first Thanksgiving Day parade!
Christmas Village
11 am—5 pm
Love Park, 1500 Arch St.
Modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany, this annual holiday market features dozens of vendors in wooden booths selling authentic European food, ornaments, crafts, clothing, and more from all over the world. They also have great food, from waffles to mulled wine (Pro tip: buy the commemorative mug for discount refills—you won’t be sorry); and rides including a giant Ferris wheel and new double-decker carousel in City Hall Courtyard.
Made in Philadelphia Market
9 am—5 pm
Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
Head across the street after Christmas Village, because right outside City Hall more than 40 local artisans, designers, crafters, and confectionaries will offer unique selections for gifts and special holiday foods. This market was designed to complement Christmas Village—but only focuses on locally made gifts.
Astra Lumina
11 am—3 pm
Arlington Art Center, 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown PA
Spend your Thanksgiving night walking amongst the stars! Astra Lumina is a magical night walk in a sculpture garden where visitors go on a multisensory immersive astrological journey. Visitors “walk among the stars” discovering a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions and astral song. This a unique art installation experience the whole family will enjoy.
Rothman Rink at Dilworth Park
11:30 am—9 pm
Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
After all that shopping, get your skates on (or rent a penguin friend to help you balance), and skate around the Rothman Rink outside City Hall! It’ll help you work up an appetite for all that stuffing.
Comcast Holiday Spectacular
10 am—8 pm (hourly, at the top of the hour, except 5 pm)
Comcast Center, 1701 JFK Boulevard
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular returns and opens on Thanksgiving Day! Every year, this 15-minute festive musical fills the Comcast Center lobby with holiday songs, expansive aerial footage of Philadelphia, parts of the Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker, and more on one of the world’s largest highest-resolution LED displays. This year, it moves to on an outdoor video wall in the Comcast Center plaza. Spend your Thanksgiving as a way to celebrate the start of the Holiday season!
Looking for more events happening in November? We’ve got you covered! Check out our calendar of events below:
BODY WORLDS: Vital at the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute 222 North 20th St, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesThe Franklin Institute invites families to explore the fascinating BODY WORLDS: Vital exhibition. This unique experience features real human specimens that reveal the intricate workings of our bodies.
Cecily Brown: Themes and Variations at Barnes Foundation
Barnes Foundation 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesCecily Brown: Themes and Variations,’ a collaborative exhibition by the Barnes and the Dallas Museum of Art, explores the groundbreaking work of Cecily Brown through a feminist lens. The exhibition, held in the Roberts Gallery, features more than 30 pieces demonstrating how Brown challenges and […]
The Hobbit at Arden Theatre Company
Arden Theatre Company 40 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesBilbo Baggins embarks on an unexpected adventure filled with magic and mystery in The Hobbit at Arden Theatre Company. This exciting new stage production brings Tolkien’s beloved story to life, as Bilbo travels through fantastical lands, encounters fascinating creatures, and discovers the power of friendship. […]
Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesVisit “Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s” to see how artists made beautiful and creative works during a time of global change and challenge. During the 1940s, many things changed in politics, science, and how people lived. This exhibit shows how artists used their […]
Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags at the Museum of the American Revolution
Museum of the American Revolution 101 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesThe Museum of the American Revolution marks the 250th anniversary with a special exhibit, Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags. See over a dozen original flags, stitched by colonial makers like Betsy Ross, from the Revolutionary War. These rare survivors offer […]
Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
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