It’s a long break this year! Most kids have almost two weeks off school this year for winter vacation.
From vacation-camps to impromptu activities, here are a few things to entertain you throughout the holiday season.
Queen + Rook Cafe
607 S. 2nd St.
The weather is always perfect inside Queen & Rook Game Cafe, Philadelphia’s new board game cafe with a thousand games, delicious plant-based dining, and an awesome beer list. From Scrabble to Ctan and the latest games, there’s something for everyone and plenty of nostalgia too. The game library is available Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at no extra charge. On Thursday through Sunday it’s $7 for three hours of gaming per person. Children 12 and under play free all week. We host birthday parties and all kinds or groups as well. Learn more online.
Winter Wonderland 2019 at Loews
On Sunday, December 15, join Loews Philadelphia Hotel and Albrecht Events as they transform the iconic Millennium Ballroom into a winter wonderland experience fit for the entire family. For $49 per adult and $24 per child (children 2 and under are free), families will enjoy a special holiday themed brunch buffet including a children’s pancake making station, carving stations, and homemade pies and desserts; capture moments with complimentary family photo opportunities with Santa Claus, the abominable snowman and life size snow globe; create themed crafts for the whole family; and play on a holiday bouncy castle, enjoy a soft play area, mazes and inflatables for children of all ages. For more information call 215-627-1200.
Music Theatre Philly Camp
262 S. 12th St.
Music Theatre Philly is offering full-day camp for all the days off. Camps are designed for two age groups (4-8 and 9-16), and both will sing and dance to
Broadway material from Hamilton, Mean Girls, Dear Evan Hansen, and more. Loaded with crafts, classes in voice, dance, and acting, this full day of camp is the perfect way to stay busy during Winter Break while making friends and gaining confidence in a full-filled and education environment! MTP’s Winter Camp is geared toward today’s busy family with many different registration options that include, ‘by the day’. With additional Before and After Care options, they’ve got you covered throughout the day! Sign up online.
The School of Rock Free Trial Lesson
421 N. 7th St.
School of Rock Philadelphia takes kids, tweens, and teens from the lesson room to the stage, developing both their confidence and musicianship with programs designed for all skill levels. School of Rock Philadelphia teaches guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, drums and combines weekly private music lessons and group band rehearsals to prepare students to take the stage in front of live audiences in an authentic concert setting. To date their students have played at venues such as The Foundry, World Cafe Live, Boot and Saddle, Underground Arts, Johnny Brendas and many more. Winter Break is the perfect time for a free trial lesson and tour! Or check out their upcoming shows throughout the month of December. Visit online to learn more.
Urban Air Delco
1260 E. Woodland Ave., Springfield, PA
Indoor play for a cold, rainy day? Urban Air offers wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, Dodgeball Courts, Stunt Airbag, Slam Dunk Tracks, Runway Tumble Track, The TUBES Obstacle Course, The Urban Warrior Course, and Warrior Battle Beam. In addition to these attractions, there’s the Urban Air Adventure Hub, which includes the Indoor Climbing Walls that go up three stories high, Pro Zone Performance Trampoline Pit and the zip-rail attraction, the Urban Air Sky Rider Indoor Coaster. The 600-foot-long, 30 foot high Sky Rider is the tallest and longest of its kind in the country! Visit online for more.
FREE STUFF TO DO ANYTIME
The Comcast Center Holiday Show
The Comcast Center lobby’s annual free high-res LED holiday show combines the Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker, a magical sleigh ride over the city, and a sing-along. The show runs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., except 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Macy’s Christmas Light Show
Macy’s, which holds The Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker building, offers a free show of dancing lights around the massive Christmas Tree. Accompanied by the famed Wanamaker Organ and narrated by Julie Andrews, performances take place every two hours during store hours. On the third floor, the free-to-explore Dickens Christmas Village offers a tour of a vintage animatronic A Christmas Carol display that ends in a one-on-one with Santa.
Delaware River Winter Wonderland
Hang out fireside or in the chalet-style lodge by the Delaware River. There’s also food, drinks, a game room, and an ice skating rink with a view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Dilworth Park Festivities
Free holiday attractions abound in Center City’s Dilworth Park. The Deck The Hall Light Show features technicolor projections onto City Hall synchronized to holiday music. Check out the seasonal plants and lights inside the free-to-enter Wintergarden. Not free but accessible are the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin and the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market. And this year’s Christmas Village features a massive ferris wheel!
Franklin Square Holiday Festival
Historic Philadelphia’s annual Philadelphia tradition. Watch the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show throughout the season every 30 minutes from 4:30 PM to 8 PM daily.
Photo Pop Philly: Winter Wonderland at The Bourse Food Hall
An Instagrammable winter wonderland, this interactive, photo-friendly pop-up art exhibit returns this winter to The Bourse Food Hall with installations inspired by the season.
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo
New this year to the Philadelphia Zoo, 600,000 lights transforms the zoo each evening into a walk-through display of light and sound. Check out massive animal light displays and enjoy seasonal fare, drinks, and live performances.
Chestnut Hill Holidays on the Hill
During Chestnut Hill’s Stag & Doe nights, visitors can stroll along Germantown Avenue, meet and greet Santa, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, browse boutique shops during extended hours, and enjoy the sounds of carolers and a brass quartet. There’s also weekends with Santa , Holiday Garden Railway Nights at Morris Arboretum, and a community holiday parade.
Holidays in Manayunk
Shopping specials and holiday events including Santa Paws, Photos with Santa in Canal View Park, Promenade of Trees: “A Very Philly Christmas.” Stroll down Main Street to vote for your favorite trees by dropping coins in the jars in front of each tree. Pick up your bag of coins and a map at the Manayunk Holiday Tree in Canal View Park.
