Top Picks for This Weekend
Shopping keeping you on your toes? You’ll fit right in at the FREE Pennsylvania Ballet Nutcracker Market through Sun., along three levels of Philly’s Kimmel Center. While you’re picking up holiday gifts, take advantage of free family activities like origami lessons, visits from The Nutcracker characters, dance performances, music from The Philly Pops and raffles. For a flamenco take on the classic Christmas ballet, visit West Windsor, NJ’s Kelsey Theatre Sat. for the Spanish-dance El Sueno, A Cultural Celebration.
Experience a flurry of festive fun — holiday card-making, gingerbread boat-decorating, caroling and photo ops with Santa — during the Seaport Parade of Lights, Sat. at Philly’s Independence Seaport Museum. As the day comes to a close, watch tugboats, vessels and boats decorated with holiday lights sail up and down the Delaware River. Get a prime viewing spot on the second-floor balcony and cast your vote for “best decorated.”
Spread the holiday cheer during the FREE Spirit of Christmas Celebration Sat., town-wide throughout New Castle, DE. All day long, enjoy live holiday music, arts & crafts, visits from Santa, holiday vendors, views of decorated houses and “A Dickens Experience,” an interactive street theater version of A Christmas Carol. The day comes to a close with caroling and a tree-lighting ceremony.
More Local Events the Kids Will Love
While you’re at the Nutcracker Market, drop by the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall for sing-alongs and more holiday cheer in A Christmas Kids Spectacular! Sat. and The Philly Pops’ Christmas Spectacular Sat. & Sun.
Reindeer soar, snowmen balance, penguins spin, gingerbread men flip and toy soldiers walk a tightrope during Cirque Dreams Holidaze at Wilmington, DE’s DuPont Theatre through Sun.
Kick Off the Holidays!
Head down the shore for the Family Holiday Celebration Sat. & Sun. at NJ’s Wildwood Convention Center, where you’ll enjoy the Christmas parade, tree-lighting ceremony, holiday crafters and photos with Santa.
Witness the wonder of the season at Mont Clare, PA’s Locktender’s House Sat., as hundreds of luminary candles are lit during the Holiday Luminaria celebration.
Venture into the surreal through Sun. as the Swiss troupe Mummenschanz tells silent stories with visual effects and crazy props at Philly’s Annenberg Center Live.
Get delicious inspiration at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Sun. during PECO Family Jams: Gingerbread Art Environments, then create your own edible art with graham crackers, candy and frosting.
Catch Santa away from the North Pole Sat. and click a pic in a trio of settings: West Chester, PA’s American Helicopter Museum for SantaFest; DE’s Dover International Speedway for FREE Victory Lane Santa Photos; and Philly’s Hotel Palomar for FREE Santa Paws photos with your furry family members.
Celebrate the stars Sat. in Philly at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education’s Winterfest, complete with ornament & craft projects, live animal shows, a bonfire & s’mores and stargazing.
Walk in Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse’s Winter Wonderland, Sat. in Philly. Festivities include greeting card crafts, gingerbread house-decorating, live music and a hot cocoa bar.
Warm up for the holiday during the Young Family Hanukkah Celebration at Philly’s National Museum of American Jewish History Sun., with arts & crafts, a menorah lighting, sufganiot and sing-alongs.
