Events for the family
Special Events Philadelphia *FREE* The 8th Annual World Peace Festival Features diverse musical talent & dance performances in a variety of genres. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.; 215-573-3234. foundationarts.org. 12/9 7 pm.
Special Events
Philadelphia
*FREE*
The 8th Annual World Peace Festival
Features diverse musical talent & dance performances in a variety of genres. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.; 215-573-3234. foundationarts.org.
12/9 7 pm.
Dickens Christmas Party
Refreshments & readings from 'A Christmas Carol.' The Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, 200 W. Tulpehocken St.; 215-438-1861.
» READ MORE: www.ebenezermaxwellmansion.org
. $10; $5 children under 12. 12/8 2-4:30 pm.
Mill Creek Farm Benefit Party
Refreshments, silent auction, live music & information on the farm's programs. Ethical Society of Philadelphia, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square; 215-735-3456.
» READ MORE: www.phillyethics.net
. $20 advance; $25 day of event. 12/9 3-7 pm.
Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Inductees include the 1980 World Champion Phillies. 215-886-6657 ext. 1 or
» READ MORE: www.phillyhall.org
for tickets. Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, 201 S. Columbus Blvd.; 215-928-1234. $165-$500. 12/12 5:30 pm.
Santa Paws
Have your pet's photo taken with Santa. Benefit for the Pennsylvania SPCA. Ritz-Carlton, 10 Ave. of The Arts; 215-523-8221. Donation suggested: $10 per photo. 12/9 noon-3 pm.
Pennsylvania suburbs
Brunch With Santa
Meal, pictures with Santa & a special gift. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.
» READ MORE: www.elmwoodparkzoo.org
. 12/13 10-11 am.
Holiday Champagne Breakfast Buffet
Breakfast buffet with your choice of champagne, coffee, tea &/or hot chocolate. Santa will be on hand to pose for pictures with the little ones. Zion Lutheran Church, 301 Jefferson Ave., Bristol; 215-788-3944.
» READ MORE: www.zionlutheran-bristol.org
. $6.50; $4 children 6-12; free for children 5 & under. 12/8 8:30 am-12:30 pm.
*FREE*
Malvern's Victorian Christmas
Burke Park & other locations in Malvern, PA. Tree lighting, holiday music, strolling street performers, children's activities & more. 610-647-0100. 12/7 6:15 pm.
*FREE*
Menorah Lighting
Enjoy music, sufganiot (jelly doughnuts), hot chocolate, latkes & more. Suburban Square, Anderson Ave., Ardmore; 610-896-7560.
» READ MORE: www.suburbansquare.com
. 12/11 5:30 pm.
*FREE*
Visit With Santa & Community Tree-Lighting
Main Street Hatboro, York Rd., Hatboro; 215-957-9790.
» READ MORE: www.mainstreethatboro.com
. 12/8 3-5 pm.
New Jersey
Breakfast With Santa
Breakfast buffet & pictures with Santa. Towne of Historic Smithville, 1 N. New York Rd., Smithville; 609-748-7160. historicsmithvillenj.com. $9.95. 12/8 9 pm.
*FREE*
Christmas Parade
Featuring Santa & friends & more. Asbury Avenue, 700 Asbury Ave., Ocean City; 609-399-0655. 12/8 10:30 am.
*FREE*
Cinnaminson Senior Citizen's Day Holiday Celebration
Musical performance, refreshments & a visit from Santa. Cinnaminson Middle School, 312 N. Forklanding Rd., Cinnaminson; Reservations required: 856-786-8012 ext. 334. 12/13 9-10:30 am.
Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides
Trolley ride through the historic district featuring holiday-themed ghost tales. Closes 12/31. Downtown Cape May, Cape May; 609-463-6415.
» READ MORE: www.capemay.com
. $10; $5 children.
*FREE*
Holiday Open House
Opportunity to meet museum staff & view the exhibits. Ocean City Historical Museum, 1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City; 609-399-1801.
» READ MORE: www.ocnjmuseum.org
. 12/7 5:30 pm.
*FREE*
Winslow Township's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
Music, refreshments & a special visitor from the North Pole. Winslow Township Municipal Building, 125 South Route 73, Braddock; 609-567-0700. 12/7 7 pm.
Delaware
Deck the Zoo
Decorate trees with snacks for visiting animals, listen to holiday music, winter treats & more. Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington; 302-571-7747.
» READ MORE: www.brandywinezoo.org
. Included in admission. 12/9 1:30-3:30 pm.
*FREE*
Spirit of Christmas
Caroling, concerts, tree-lighting ceremony, Santa, crafts & more. City of New Castle, 220 Delaware St., New Castle; 302-322-9802. 12/8 10 am-5 pm.
*FREE*
Ten Thousand Villages Sale
Benefit sale of hand-crafted home decor & gifts. 302-475-9568. Centre Friends Meeting Schoolhouse, Center Meeting Rd., Centerville; 302-428-1980.
» READ MORE: www.tenthousandvillages.com
. 12/7 noon-6 pm. 12/8 10 am-6 pm.
Kids' Stuff
Children's performances
Lois Young: Holiday Cheer & Rockin' Reindeer
Holiday-themed concert & puppet show. Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington; 302-652-5577.
» READ MORE: www.grandopera.org
. $6. 12/11 10 am.
Philadelphia Orchestra Family Concert: Holiday Traditions Around the World
Family-friendly concert. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Sts.; 215-893-1999.
» READ MORE: www.philorch.org
.
$5-$45. 12/8 11:30 am.
Steve Pullara
Simple, fun & funny songs about topics such as frogs, bathtubs & gumdrops. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400;
» READ MORE: www.coolbeansmusic.com
. $10; $7 children 1-12; free for children under 1. 12/8 11:30 am.
Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars
Selection of fun holiday tunes performed by 'Summer Stage' performers. Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill; Reservations required: 610-622-1189.
» READ MORE: www.udpac.org
.
$6-$8. 12/7 7:30 pm.
Children's Events
*FREE*
1st Annual Holiday Festival
Make-&-take crafts, storytelling, sharing holiday traditions, sampling holiday goodies & more. Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, 1001 Powell St., Norristown; 610-278-5100.
» READ MORE: www.mc-npl.org
. 12/8 11 am-2 pm.
Candy Holiday House
Make candy houses using graham crackers & frosting. Tamanend Park, 1255 Second St. Pike, Southampton; 215-355-9781. $20; $15 residents. 12/8 10-11 am.
*FREE*
Christmas Around the Farm
Holiday decor & crafts, children's activities. Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media; 610-874-4678.
» READ MORE: www.linvilla.com
. 12/7-12/23 9 am-6 pm.
A Dose of Sugarplums & a Dash of Fruit at Dr. Physick's
Appearance by Santa, sugarplum & crystallized fruit workshop for kids. Physick House, 321 S. Fourth St.; 215-925-2251.
» READ MORE: www.philalandmarks.org
. $5. 12/8 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
Let's Learn About Bats
Bat-themed activities for kids. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.
» READ MORE: www.elmwoodparkzoo.org
. $12. 12/7 12:30-1:20 pm.
Santa Claus Arrives by Train
Children will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with Santa at the Brass Lantern. 215-598-7165. Carousel Village, 591 Durham Rd. (Rte. 413), Wrightstown; 215-598-0707.
» READ MORE: www.carouselvillage.com
. 12/8-12/9 11 am-5 pm.
What's for Lunch?
Children's program on how animals eat. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.
» READ MORE: www.elmwoodparkzoo.org
. $12. 12/11 2-3 pm.
Children's museums & attractions
Camden Children's Garden
3 Riverside Dr., Camden; 856-365-8733.
» READ MORE: www.camdenchildrensgarden.org
. Butterfly house, maze, treehouse & more. Holiday Festival of Lights - 4.5 acres of gardens with 100,000 holiday lights & animated light sculptures. $3.50; free for children 2 & under (additional fee for train ride). Fri.-Sat. 5:30-8 pm thru Dec. $6; $4 ages 3-11; free for children 2 & under Tue.-Sun. 10 am-5 pm.
Garden State Discovery Museum
2040 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill; 856-424-1233.
» READ MORE: www.discoverymuseum.com
.
Hands-on children's museum featuring an activity wonderland for infants through age 10. Hooray for Hanukkah - Hanukkah-themed stories, crafts & snacks. 12/9 noon. $9.95; $8.95 seniors; free for children under 1. Sun.-Fri. 9:30 am-5:30 pm; Sat. 9:30 am-8:30 pm.
Insectarium
8046 Frankford Ave.; 215-335-9500.
» READ MORE: www.insectarium.com
. Ongoing: Arachnid Alley - Exhibit about spiders; Cockroach Kitchen - Live cockroach exhibit; Insect Museum - Thousands of mounted & live specimens, interactive exhibits; Working Beehive - Live bee exhibit. $7; free for children under 2. Mon.-Sat. 10 am-4 pm.
Kix & Giggles Children's Playground
9356 Old Bustleton Ave.; 215-677-4140.
» READ MORE: www.kixandgiggles.com
. Attractions include a wrap-around gym, a rock wall, soft-play section for babies & toddlers, an outside seating area & more. Mondays 10 am-3 pm are reserved for children with special needs & their families. See website for more details. $6.95. Tue.-Thu. 10 am-8 pm; Fri.-Sat. 10 am-9 pm; Sun. 10 am-8 pm.
The Please Touch Museum
210 N. 21st St.; 215-963-0667.
» READ MORE: www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
. Arts & crafts, stories, theater, interactive exhibits, hands-on activities & more. Enchanted Colonial Village. 12/7-12/13 9 am-4:30 pm. $10.95; free for children under 1. Daily 9 am-4:30 pm.
Sesame Place
100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne; 215-752-7070.
» READ MORE: www.sesameplace.com
. Holiday Shopping & Character Photo. 12/7-12/9 10 am-3 pm. Sesame Place's Holiday Shop & Dine Breakfast With Big Bird & Friends. $16.95; $14.95 children 2-11; free for children under 2. 12/8 9-11 am, 1-2 pm. 12/9 9-11 am. $44.50; $39.50 seniors; free for children under 2. Weekends only.
*FREE*
Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse
Intersection of 33rd & Oxford Sts. in E. Fairmount Park; 215-765-4325.
» READ MORE: www.smithplayhouse.org
. Three-story "play mansion" for children 0-5 yrs. old & huge outdoor play park for children 0-10 featuring the Giant Wooden Slide, the giant net climber, the Apollo spinner climber, the Biggo Duo swing & much more. Tue.-Sun. 10 am-4 pm. Children must be accompanied by adult.
Literary Calendar
Book signings & readings
Barnes & Noble
301 Main St., Exton; 610-524-0103.
» READ MORE: www.bn.com
. Phil Martelli:
Don't Call Me Coach
. 12/13 7 pm.
Barnes & Noble - Rittenhouse Square
1805 Walnut St.; 215-665-0716.
» READ MORE: www.bn.com
. Sal Paolantonio:
The Paolantonio Report
. 12/11 7 pm.
Barnes & Noble
4801 Concord Pike, Wilmington; 302-487-9677.
» READ MORE: www.barnesandnoble.com
. William Guarnere & Edward Heffron:
Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends
. 12/8 2 pm.
Borders Books & Music
4010 Dearborn Circle, Mount Laurel; 856-866-9090.
» READ MORE: www.borders.com
. Michael Smerconish & Maureen Faulkner:
Murdered by Mumia
. 12/8 1-3 pm.
Borders Books & Music
1149 E. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; 610-527-1500.
» READ MORE: www.bordersstores.com
. Michael Smerconish & Maureen Faulkner:
Murdered by Mumia
. 12/11 7:30 pm.
Borders Books & Music
801 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales; 215-412-2655.
» READ MORE: www.borders.com
. Marie Lamba:
What I Meant
. 12/8 2 pm.
Borders Books & Music
1001 Baltimore Pike, Springfield; 610-543-8588.
» READ MORE: www.bordersstores.com
. Susan Jeffers:
The Nutcracker
. 12/8 11 am.
Borders Books & Music
80 E. Wynnewood Ave., Wynnewood; 610-642-0362.
» READ MORE: www.bordersstores.com
. Susan Jeffers:
The Nutcracker
. 12/9 noon.
Borders Express
268 Montgomery Mall, North Wales; 215-362-2772.
» READ MORE: www.bordersstores.com
. Carmen Ferreiro-Estaban:
Two Moon Princess
. 12/9 1-3 pm. Doris Washington:
A Blessing, Caring & Sharing
. 12/11 noon-3 pm.
Borders Express
351 W. Schuylkill Rd., Pottstown; 610-323-3462. Dave Brown:
Philly Jocks: The Best Philadelphia Pro Athletes of Our Time
. 12/9 2-4 pm.
Borders Express
1200 Baltimore Pike, Springfield; 610-543-8588. Jonathan McGoran:
Blood Poison
. 12/8 2-5 pm.
Chester County Book & Music Company
975 Paoli Pike, West Chester; 610-696-1661.
» READ MORE: www.ccbmc.com
. Dave Brown:
Philly Jocks: The Best Philadelphia Pro Athletes of Our Time
. 12/8 1 pm.
The Doylestown Bookshop
16 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-230-7610.
» READ MORE: www.doylestownbookshop.com
. Jonathan McGoran:
Blood Poison
. 12/7 7-9 pm.
Free Library of Philadelphia - Central Branch
1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322.
» READ MORE: www.library.phila.gov
.
John Richardson:
A Life of Picasso
. $14; $7 students. 12/11 8 pm. Roger Kamenetz:
The History of Last Night's Dream
. 12/13 7 pm.
Harleysville Books LLC
674 Main St., Harleysville; 215-256-9311.
» READ MORE: www.harleysvillebooks.com
. Trinka Hakes Noble:
Apple Tree Orchard & The Orange Shoes
. 12/8 1 pm.
Ocean County Library
101 Washington St., Toms River; 732-349-6200. oceancountylibrary.org/Branches/TR/tr.htm.
Frank Delaney:
Tipperary
. 12/11 7 pm.
Robin's Bookstore
108 S. 13th St.; 215-735-9600.
» READ MORE: www.robinsbookstore.com
. Joel Spivak:
Subways of the World
. 12/12 6-8 pm.
Poetry & lectures
Camden County Historical Society
1900 Park Blvd., Camden; 856-964-3333.
» READ MORE: www.cchsnj.com
. Genealogy of the Gingerbread Man - Lecture by food historian Susan McLellan Plaisted. $12; $3 children 9 & under. 12/8 noon-4 pm.
Cape May County Library - Upper Township
2050 Rte. 631, Petersburg; 609-628-2607.
» READ MORE: www.cape-may.county.lib.nj.us
. Tom Champion: History of Belleplain - Talk & slide presentation on history of Belleplain State Forest & surrounding environs. 12/13 7:30 pm.
Chester County Historical Society
225 N. High St., West Chester; 610-692-4800.
» READ MORE: www.cchs-pa.org
.
Feed the Birds - Slide show & talk about caring for birds in the winter. Make edible outdoor decorations for birds. $6; $4 children; free for adults with children. 12/8 8-10 am.
Harvest Book Outlet
9 E. State St., Media; 610-566-3191.
» READ MORE: www.harvestbooks.com
. Poets & Prophets: Deborah Fries. Donation suggested: $2. 12/11 7 pm.
Mercer County Community College - Studio Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor; 609-584-9444.
» READ MORE: www.mccc.edu
. The Late Night Series - Open mic event for music, comedy, poetry & more. 12/7 10 pm.
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park; 215-887-8700.
» READ MORE: www.kenesethisrael.org
. Life in the Comics With a Jewish American Family - Lecture by Patty & Terry Laban, creators of the cartoon strip 'Edge City' $14; $12 advance. 12/13 11:30 am.
Serenity Gifts & Coffee
140 South Easton Road, Glenside; 215-884-4342.
» READ MORE: www.serenitygiftsandcoffee.com
. Afternoon of Poetry - 12/8 1-3 pm. Senior Poet's Day - Poetry readings from seniors. Contact Lillian Clarke at 215-549-6297 for more details. 12/8 1-3 pm.
The University of Pennsylvania - Kelly Writer's House
3805 Locust Walk; 215-573-9748.
» READ MORE: www.writing.upenn.edu/wh
. PoemTalk - Discussion of a poem from the PennSound archive. Recorded for the 'PoemTalk' podcast. 12/12 4 pm.
University of the Arts - Gershman Hall (Gershman Y)
401 S. Broad St.; 215-446-3027.
» READ MORE: www.gershmany.org
. Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices - Keynote speaker, panel of health experts & brunch. Donation suggested: $18. 12/9 11 am.