Name: Build the Thrill at Legoland Discovery Center
Start: 2025-03-06T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-27T23:59:59-04:00
Location: LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia

What’s Open on Thanksgiving in Philly?

There's plenty of fun to be had before turkey time!

November 1, 2024

‘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 20^th 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. 15^th 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. 15^th 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: