101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Philadelphia Area - 2023
KidsOutAndAbout is the Philadelphia area's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Philadelphia, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2023!
Santa Sightings
| Nov 4, 2023 | Santa Arrival PJ Party - Cherry Hill Mall |
| Nov 4 - Dec 24, 2023 | Photo with Santa - Koziar's Christmas Village |
| Nov 4 - Dec 23, 2023 | Photos with Santa - Cherry Hill Mall |
| Nov 9 - 22, 2023 | Photos with Santa - Deptford Mall |
| Nov 11, 2023 | A Night with Mrs. Claus - Peddler's Village |
| Nov 11, 2023 | Santa Arrival PJ Party - Springfield Mall |
| Nov 11 - Dec 24, 2023 | Photos with Santa - Sprinfield Mall |
| Nov 16 - 19, 2023 | Photo with Santa - FEZtivalof Trees & Lights |
| Nov 17 - Dec 24, 2023 | Pictures with Santa- Neshaminy Mall |
| Nov 17 - Dec 24, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024 | Santa's Furry Workshop - Sesame Place |
| Nov 17 - Dec 17, 2023 (select dates) | Photos with Santa - Peddler's Village |
| Nov 17 - Dec 24, 2023 | Potos with Santa - King of Prussia Court |
| Nov 18, 2023 | Circle of Trees Celebration - Chestnut Hill |
| Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2023 | It's Santa Photo Time - Oxford Valley Mall |
| Nov 23, 2023 | 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Parade - Ben Franklin Parkway |
| Nove 24, 2023 | Santa Express - Dilworth Park |
| Nov 24 - Dec 24, 2023 | Visit Santa - Macy's Dickens Village |
| Nov 24 - Dec 23 (select days) | Jingle & Mingle with Santa - Franklin Square |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Holiday Celebration - Commonwealth Plaza |
| Nov 25 - Dec 16, 2023 | Holiday Breakfast with Santa and Friends - Kitchen Kettle Village |
| Nov 26 - Dec 10, 2023 (select dates) | Breakfast with Santa - Shady Brook Farm |
| Dec 2, 2023 | The Chesnut Hill Community Hiliday Pardade - Chestnut Hill |
| Dec 2 - 3, 2023 | Holly Jolly Weekend - Peddler's Village |
| Dec 2 - 23, 2023 (select dates) | Brunch with Santa - Elmwood Zoo |
| Dec 3, 2023 | Caring Santa - Oxford Valley Mall |
| Dec 3, 2023 | Santa Cares Day - Neshaminy Mall |
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 17 - 19, 2023 | Kick Off to the Holidays - Peddler's Village |
| Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024 | A Very Retro Christmas - Longwood Gardens |
| Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2023 | Christmas Village in Philadelphia - LOVE Park |
| Nov 24 - Dec 31, 2023 | Macy's Dickens Village - Center City |
| Nov 19 - Dec 29, 2023 (select dates) | Holidays at Fonthill Castle - Mercer Museum |
| Nov 29, 2023 | Old City Holiday Tree Lighting - Betty Ross House |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Chestnut Hill Community Holiday Parade - Chestnuut Hill |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Victorian Christmas Open House - Pennypacker Mills |
Light Displays
| Nov 3, 2023 - March 17, 2024 | Wintergarden - Dilworth Park |
| Nov 5 - Jan 1, 2023 | Christmas Lights - Koziar's Christmas Village |
| Nov 10, 2023 - Feb 25, 2024 | Wintergarden - Dilworth Park |
| Nov 16, 17, 18, 19, 2023 | FEZtival of Trees & Lights - Lulu Shriners Center |
| Nov 16, 2023 - Feb 25, 2024 | Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show- Franklin Square |
| Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 6, 2024 | Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show - Diggerland USA |
| Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 31, 2024 | LumiNature - Philadelphia Zoo |
| Nov 17 - Dec 30, 2023 | Wild Lights - Elmwood Park Zoo |
| Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024 | A Longwood Christmas - Longwood Gardens |
| Nov 17. 2023 - Jan 17, 2024 | Holiday Light Show Drive Through or Wagon Ride - Shady Brook Farm |
| Nov 17, 2023 | Grand Illumination - American Heritage Credit Union |
| Nov 19, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 (select dates) | Dutch Winter Wonderland - Dutch Wonderland |
| Nov 22, 2022 - Jan 2, 2024 | Herr's Annual Christmas Lights Display - Herr's Snack Factory |
| Nov 24 - Dec 30, 2023 | Holiday Garden Railway - Morris Aboretum & Gardens |
| Nov 24 - Dec 31, 2023 | Macy's Christmas Light Show - Macy's Center City Philadelphia |
| Nov 24 - Dec 31, 2023 | Macy's Christmas Light Show - Center City |
| Dec 1, 2023 | Delaware River Waterfront Holiday Tree Lighting - Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest |
| Dec 1-2, 2023 | Holiday Lights Festival - Bustard Road |
| Dec 1, 2023 | Towamencin Township Holiday Lights Festival - Fischers Park |
Holiday Theatre
| Nov 17 - 19, 2023 | Nutcracker - UD Performing Arts Center |
| Nov, 21, 2023 | Turkey Drop & Live Broadcast - The Kimmel |
| Nov 25 - Dec 3, 2023 | |
| Dec 5-30, 2023 | Christmas in the Catskills- Act II Playhouse |
| Dec 8, 2023 | The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show - Miller Theatre |
| Dec 8-10, 2023 | Holiday Duo! "The Little Town of Christmas" & "A Charlie Brown Christmas" - The Blue Moon Theatre |
| Dec 8 - 30, 2023 | Philadelphia Ballet George Balanchine's The Nutcracker - Academy of Music |
| Dec 10, 2023 | The Muppet Christmas Carol - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 13, 2023 | National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 15, 2023(SOLD OUT) | Winter Wonderjawn: A Holiday Variety Show - Theatre Exile |
| Dec 15, 2023 | The Rock School Presents:Classic Nutcracker Miller Theatre |
| Dec 16 - 24, 2023 | Polar Express - The Newton Theatre |
| Dec 17, 2023 | Home Alone - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 17, 2023 | It's a Wonderful Life - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 22, 2023 | A Christmas Story - The Newtown Theatre |
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 24, 2023 | Gary Hoey w/ Rob Balducci Band - Sellersville Theater |
| Nov 24-26, 2023 | Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 1, 2023 | A Very Philly Christmas - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 1, 2023 | Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? - Miller Theatre |
| Dec 5, 2023 | Christmas with the Rat Pack - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 8 - 17, 2023 | Holiday Concert - Theatre Horizon |
| Dec 10, 2023 | White Christmas(Sing-Along Version) - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 12, 2023 | Illuminated Classical Christmas Concert - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 12, 2023 | A Soulful Christmas - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 12, 2023 | The Glencairn Christmas Sing Online Concert - Glencairn Museum |
| Dec 16, 2023 | A Very Valli Holiday - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 17, 2023 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra-The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve - Wells Fargo |
| Dec 16, 2023 | The Philadelphia Orchestra Children's Holiday Spectacular - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 14-16, 2023 | The Glorious Sound of Christmas - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 19, 2023 | A Very Jazzy Christmas - The Newtown Theatre |
| Dec 19, 2023 | Christmas from Notre Dame - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 20, 2023 | Messiah - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 22, 2023 | Holiday Cabaret - Commonwealth PLaza |
| Dec 22-23, 2023 | Elf in Concert - Verizon Hall |
| Nov 24-Dec 31, 2023 (select dates) | Outdoor Christmas Musicians - Longwood Gardens |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Open Nov 2023 | Cut Your Own Tree - Colavita Christmas Tree Farm |
| Open Nov 18, 2023 | Cut-Your-Own - Clark's Christmas Tree Farm |
| Open Nov 24, 2023 | Choose & Cut Trees - Hague's Christmas Trees |
| Open Nov 24, 2023 | Cut Your Own Tree - Marsh Creek Tree Farm |
| Open Nov 24, 2023 | Cut Your Own Tree - AGA Farms |
Ice Skating
| Nov 10, 2023 - Feb 2024 | Ice Skating - The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink |
| Nov 24, 202 - March 2024 | Ice Skating - Blue Cross RiverRink |
| Open through March 2024 (select days) | Public Skating - Rizzo Rink |
Hanukkah
| Dec 8 - 10, 2023 | Hanukkah Celebration - Sesame Place |
| Dec 10, 2023 | Community Menorah Lighting and Hannukah Celebration - Franklin Square |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 10, 2023- Jan 1, 2024 | Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market - Dilworth Park |
| Nov 18 - 19, 2023 | Christmas Fest - Basket Bonanza - St. Anselm Parish |
| Nov 17 - 19, 2023 | Holiday Kickoff Weekend- Peddler's Village |
| Nov 24, 2023 | Philadelphia Christmas Village - Love Park/City Hall |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Small Business Saturday - Peddler's Village |
| Dec 6, 2023 | Sweetness Unwrapped Marketplace - Cherry Hill Mall |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Philly Christmas Walk - Love Park |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 31, 2023 | Noon Year's Eve - Legoland Discovery Center |
| Dec 31, 2023 | Noon Year’s Eve Kids paint party for kids - ARTrageous Brush & Flow |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Celebration - Verizon Hall |
| Dec 31, 2023 | Kid's New Years Eve Countdown - Franklin Square |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Fireworks - Sesame Place |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Kids Countdown with Fireworks - Cherry Street Pier |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Fireworks - Battleship New Jersey |
Miscellaneous
| Nov 16, 2023 - Jan 28, 2024 | Chilly Philly Mini Golf - Franklin Square |
| Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 13, 2024 | Gingerbread House Competition & Display - Peddler's Village |
| Nov 17, 2023 | Dashin' thru the Lights - Shadybrook Farm |
| Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024 | A Very Furry Christmas - Seasme Place |
| Nov 24, 2023 - Jan 1, 2024 | Holiday Bricktacular - Legoland Discovery |
| Noov 21, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024 | Holiday Tours - Pennypacker Mansion |
| Nov 23, 2023 | Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - NYC |
| Nov 25 - Dec 23, 2023 select dates | Holiday Garden Railway - Morris Arboretum |
| Dec 2, 2023 | The Chesnut Hill Community Holiday Parade - Chestnut Hill |
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
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