What’s On & Online in Philly This Week & Weekend, Dec. 14-20
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What’s On & Online in Philly This Week & Weekend, Dec. 14-20
Pennsylvania Ballet presents a virtual Nutcracker, Santa swims through Adventure Aquarium, Media’s Rose Tree Park gets festive and more...With Hanukkah in full swing and the winter solstice just days away, the holiday season in Philadelphia is officially underway.
This week it’s all about festive, fun and safe things to do, like the totally decked-out Festival of Lights at Rose Tree Park in Media, the outdoor holiday movie screenings at PFS Drive-In at The Navy Yard, and an underwater visit from Santa at Adventure Aquarium.
Easy holiday shopping experiences make finding the perfect gift a cinch. Pop-up shops, virtual markets and independent storefronts have incredible holiday deals on local goods, plus Shop Black Business Friday, a resolution passed by Philadelphia City Council, is a great way to support the small business owners hit hardest by the pandemic.
Virtual offerings this week invite fans and families to enjoy their favorite holiday traditions from home. The stunning choreography of the Pennsylvania Ballet brings George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to life, while The Philly POPS team up with Hamilton star Mandy Gonzalez for seasonal tunes. One bonus of watching from home? You can order festive takeout or delivery from your favorite local restaurant to enjoy dinner and a show.
If you’re out and about this week and weekend, remember your mask. Masks are required in the five-county region in all indoor public spaces, as well as any outdoor space where social distancing isn’t possible. (Swoop sets a good example.) Another tip: Plan ahead, as many events recommend or require advanced tickets. Read more on visitphilly.com.
Looking for help with things to do in Philly? Call the Independence Visitor Center to speak with a visitor experience expert at 800-537-7676 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m seven days a week. They’ll help you navigate all the great things you can do right now — because it’s #OurTurnToTourist — in Greater Philadelphia.
Below, find things to do in Greater Philadelphia this week and the weekend in three categories: Philadelphia’s Countryside (i.e. nearby Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties); Philadelphia; and online.
WHAT’S ON IN PHILADELPHIA’S COUNTRYSIDE
Festival of Lights at Rose Tree Park
Charlie Brown, Santa and his reindeer are among the festive characters who greet visitors to this Delaware County park every holiday season during the Festival of Lights. Mask up and take a stroll through the 120-acre expanse, where the trees glisten in red, green and multicolor lights every evening through early January.
More Holiday Attractions in Philadelphia’s Countryside
Merry, bright and safe — that’s what to expect this season at the holiday attractions in Philadelphia’s Countryside (i.e. nearby Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties). Folks can drive by 600,000 brilliant lights during the free Holiday Lights Display at the Herr’s Snack Factory in Nottingham; marvel at the jolly holiday spectacular courtesy of the West Chester Griswolds in Chester County; and walk among holiday decorations and more animals than ever during Elmwood Park Zoo’s Wild Lights programming. Read more about Philly’s Countryside holiday attractions on visitphilly.com.
WHAT’S ON IN PHILADELPHIA
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium
During Christmas Underwater at Camden’s Adventure Aquarium, kids marvel at both the world’s tallest and smallest underwater Christmas trees, part of the attraction’s Shark Realm. Alongside thousands of twinkling lights and colorful shells and coral, visitors get the chance to see Scuba Santa and his “elfish” helpers swimming beneath the surface and celebrating the season. Pro tip: Timed tickets are required.
PFS Drive-In at The Navy Yard
Holiday movies cater to crowds of all ages this week thanks to the Philadelphia Film Society’s throwback drive-in movie experience at The Navy Yard. Load up on popcorn and pull into the drive-in to watch quotable Christmas films Love Actually (Thursday and Friday), Elf (Saturday) and — a true classic — A Christmas Story (Sunday).
Boathouse Row Festival of Lights
In honor of multicultural holiday celebrations, Philadelphia lights up Boathouse Row with festive colors each December. This week, the first of this year’s festive displays shines at the iconic Philly landmark for Hanukkah (through Thursday) before transitioning to Christmas (December 19-25). Two great spots to catch the colors: Fairmount Water Works or the platform above the Fairmount Fish Ladder on the Schuylkill River Trail just off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. (Note that MLK Drive is currently closed to traffic, so guests will need to walk.) Next up: lights for Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1).
Pop-up Markets and Holiday Shopping in Philly
It couldn’t be any easier to shop local and support Philadelphia businesses this season. Storefronts in Old City, Rittenhouse Square and Peddler’s Village are among the many holiday shopping destinations in Greater Philadelphia offering great deals (not to mention tax-free shopping on most wearable goods). Pop-up experiences and events like Chestnut Hill’s Holiday Magic, Inc. and Stag & Doe, and the handmade fairs at Bartram’s Garden and the NKCDC Holiday Market are perfect for shoppers who enjoy the hunt. All out of ideas? Check out our mini gift guides on VisitPhilly.com for more ways to shop Philly and support local businesses.
Shop Black Business Friday
In support of shopping with Black-owned businesses this holiday season, the City of Philadelphia recently passed a resolution declaring each Friday in December 2020 as “Shop Black Business Friday.” For more than 130 Black-and Brown-owned businesses to shop and support now in Philadelphia, check right here and get planning.
More Holiday Attractions in Philadelphia
During the holidays, Philadelphia lights up. And while the holidays are different this year, many attractions remain open for safe seasonal fun. This week offers the nightly (and free!) Holiday Light Show at Fashion District Philadelphia; the chance to see City Hall in a whole new light (literally) during the reimagined-for-2020 Deck the Hall Holiday Lights; and the last full week for holiday shopping at the charming Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Read more about holiday attractions in Philadelphia for 2020 on visitphilly.com.
Buzzworthy Food & Drink Picks
Follow the glow of holiday lights to 12th Street in Midtown Village, where themed pop-up bar Tinsel returns for another year of festive food and drinks with an outdoor dining twist and new safety protocols for 2020. Elsewhere, New Deck Tavern brings holiday cheer to University City, where a block of 34th Street is closed to traffic Wednesdays through Sundays for winter-wonderland dining. Also on the menu this week: The Sisterly Love Food Fair pops up at Jet Wine Bar and Bridget Foy’s with pre-packed goodies from several women-owned restaurants; home delivery sushi service Kaiseki has a new storefront in Callowhill; Brauhaus Schmitz is decked out for its new-for-2020 holiday Zeitgeist; and Talula’s Garden and The Love both have new heated outdoor dining options. Plus, there’s still time to put your order in for cannolis, tamales and other traditional Philly holiday foods.
WHAT’S ONLINE
The Love + Grit Sweepstakes
During the 2020 holiday season, shoppers have an opportunity to make change and strengthen the Greater Philadelphia community by buying gifts from Black-owned businesses, which are disproportionately at risk of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Love + Grit Sweepstakes inspires support for these businesses while giving readers the chance to win 10 gifts valued at $500 from Black-owned shops in Philly. Enter through December 30, 2020, to win a grand prize for yourself or someone you love and check out our guide to Great Black-Owned Shops and Boutiques in Philadelphia to start shopping now. (Pro tip: You can enter the contest once a day!)
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker from the Pennsylvania Ballet
One of Philadelphia’s most beloved holiday traditions goes entirely virtual for 2020. The story of young Clara, the Rat King and the Sugar Plum Fairy unfolds online this year with the always-brilliant choreography of the Pennsylvania Ballet. Guests can also purchase Zoom tea-party packages for the kiddos, featuring guest appearances by The Nutcracker characters, ballet tips and seasonal crafts.
The Philadelphia Orchestra: Favorites from The Nutcracker
Conductor Erina Yashima and the Philadelphia Orchestra bring the sounds of The Nutcracker into homes everywhere with a streaming performance that includes the recognizable Tchaikovsky tunes. Don’t miss the holiday sing-along — a staple of the Orchestra’s holiday performances — as part of the virtual experience.
A Philly POPS Christmas Gift
Hamilton star Mandy Gonzalez is back for a third holiday season with the POPS, performing popular seasonal songs alongside conductor David Charles Abell and pianist Charlie Albright in the aptly named Philly POPS Christmas Gift. Plus, the radiant voices of The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir and The Philadelphia Boys Choir make this a can’t-miss (and totally free!) virtual experience.
A Soulful Christmas from the Kimmel Center
This Sunday, seasonal spirtuals and gospel songs put WDAS-FM listeners in the holiday spirit. Choirs from nine Philadelphia congregations —including the historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church — provide the soundtrack for this two-hour experience playing locally on 105.3 FM radio, led by the station’s on-air personality Patty Jackson and the Kimmel Center’s Artistic & Music Director: Dr. J. Donald Dumpson. Can’t tune in? Catch the stream on the Kimmel Center’s YouTube channel after December 20.
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