Events for the family
Special Events Philadelphia Brunch With Santa on the Moshulu Visit with Santa over a lavish buffet brunch of both breakfast & lunch fare. Moshulu, 401 S. Columbus Blvd.; 215-923-2500. www.moshulu.com. $39; $15 children under 12. 12/23 10:30 am-3 pm.
Special Events
Philadelphia
Brunch With Santa on the Moshulu
Visit with Santa over a lavish buffet brunch of both breakfast & lunch fare. Moshulu, 401 S. Columbus Blvd.; 215-923-2500.
» READ MORE: www.moshulu.com
. $39; $15 children under 12. 12/23 10:30 am-3 pm.
Fred's Magic World: Winter Wonders
Blend of magic & comedy featuring escape artists, "psychic" sisters, dueling magicians, musical numbers & more. Closes 12/30. Adrienne Theatre-2nd Stage, 2030 Sansom St.; 215-627-6564.
» READ MORE: www.fredsmagicworld.com
. $15; $10 students, seniors. 12/22 2 & 7 pm. 12/23 2 pm.
Pennsylvania suburbs
*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
. 12/21-12/23 9 am-6 pm. 12/24 9 am-4 pm.
*FREE*
Community Christmas Tree Lighting
Tree lighting sponsored by local community groups. Weinreich's Bakery, 55 N. Easton Rd., Willow Grove; 215-659-7062.
» READ MORE: www.weinrichbakery.com
. 12/23 7-9:30 pm.
Toys for Tots Beef & Beer
Marine Corps League benefit. 215-576-9023. VFW Post 676, 2519 Jenkintown Rd., Glenside; 215-576-9023. $15 with unwrapped toy donation. 12/21 7:30-11:30 pm.
*FREE*
Winter Solstice & International Food Tasting
Multicultural program in celebration of the Winter Solstice, sponsored by The Center For Spiritual Living. Delaware Valley Friends School, 19 E. Central Ave., Paoli; 610-640-4150.
» READ MORE: www.rsiphiladelphia.org
. 12/21 7 pm.
The Zoo Cares Day
Day of fun & educational activities for kids, allowing parents free time for shopping. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.
» READ MORE: www.elmwoodparkzoo.org
. $25. 12/21-12/23.
New Jersey
*FREE*
Christmas at the Farm
Jingle bell wagon rides, craft vendors, food & more. WoodsEdge Wools Farm, 78 Bowne Station Road, Stockton; 609-397-2212.
» READ MORE: www.alpacasllamaswoodsedge.com
. $5 for Jingle Bell Wagon rides. 12/21-12/23 10 am-5 pm.
Christmas Train
Train ride to check out the Village's holiday decor. Towne of Historic Smithville, 1 N. New York Rd., Smithville; 609-652-7777. historicsmithvillenj.com. $2. 12/22-12/23 10 am.
Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides
Trolley ride through the historic district featuring holiday-themed ghost tales. Closes 12/31. Downtown Cape May; 609-463-6415.
» READ MORE: www.capemay.com
. $10; $5 children. 12/21 7 pm. 12/22 7 & 8:45 pm. 12/23 7 & 7:45 pm. 12/26 8 & 8:45 pm. 12/27 8:45 & 9:15 pm.
*FREE*
Patcong Valley Society of Model Railroaders Open House
Model railroad displays. Patcong Valley Model Railroaders, Rte. 40 & 1st Ave., Richland;
» READ MORE: www.patcongvalley.com
. 12/22 10 am-4 pm.
Patriots Week
Weeklong event, featuring family-friendly activities commemorating the American Revolution. Features reenactments, tours, Colonial Ball, exhibits & more. Throughout Trenton; 877-PAT-WEEK,
» READ MORE: www.patriotsweek.com
. Prices vary per event. 12/26-12/31.
Kids' Stuff
Children's performances
*FREE*
Joe Mogar
World's foremost expert on thimble magic & manipulation. Registration required: 856-848-9149. Deptford Free Public Library, 670 Ward Dr., Deptford;
» READ MORE: www.deptfordpubliclibrary.com
. 12/26 7 pm.
Philadelphia Orchestra: Sound All Around in the Suburbs
Introduction to musical ideas & themes with stories by Charlotte Blake Alston & Misty Tolle Pereira. Post-concert activity. Baldwin School, 701 W. Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr;
» READ MORE: www.philorch.org
. $15-$18. 12/22 10 & 11:15 am.
Robbi K & Friends: Holiday Concert
World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400;
» READ MORE: www.worldcafelive.com
. $10; $7 children 1-12; free for children under 1. 12/22 11:30 am.
Winter Tales With D.J. Haslett
Poet, musician & artist Haslett will read winter tales in celebration of the first day of winter. Grounds for Sculpture, 18 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton; 609-586-0616.
» READ MORE: www.groundsforsculpture.org
. Included in admission. On the hour. 12/23 noon-4 pm.
Children's Events
Colonial Kids
Experience the 18th century with tours & hands-on activities. Must be accompanied by adult. William Trent House Museum, 15 Market St., Trenton; 609-989-3027.
» READ MORE: www.williamtrenthouse.org
. $3; $2 children. 12/22-12/23 1-3 pm.
*FREE*
HOPE's Extreme Dodge Ball
For middle & high school students. Hope United Methodist Church, 700 Copper Road, Voorhees; Dave Falcone:
» READ MORE: youth@meethope.org
. 12/21 7-9 pm.
Ferret Fun
Children's program about ferrets. Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington; 302-571-7747.
» READ MORE: www.brandywinezoo.org
. $8. 12/22 10:30-11:15 am.
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
. 12/22 11 am-5 pm.
*FREE*
Santa's Animated Fantasyland
Visit the G Boys' Christmas Kingdom. The G Boys, 801 W. Rte. 70, Marlton; 856-983-3300. 12/21-12/22 9 am-9:30 pm. 12/23 9:30 am-9 pm. 12/24 9 am-9:30 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. Super-Sized Storytime - Crayon art. 12/22-12/23 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. Kwanzaa Festival With Tahira Productions - Interactive storytelling & songs about Kwanzaa. 12/26 1 pm. $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, Cockroach Kitchen, Working Beehive & more. $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. Visit With Santa - Kids can visit & have pictures taken with Santa. Reg. adm. plus $10 per picture. 12/22-12/23 noon-4 pm. $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 - Designed by Lit Brothers display designer, Thomas Comerford, & built by German toy firm Christian Hofman, this is a 3/4 life-size display depicting scenes of workshops in a small colonial hamlet preparing for the holidays. Closes 12/31. $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. 12/21-12/23 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. 12/22 9-11 am, 1-2 pm. 12/23 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 - The Court @ Oxford Valley
210 Commerce Blvd, Fairless Hills; 215-269-0442.
» READ MORE: www.bn.com
. Dave Brown:
Philly Jocks: The Best Philadelphia Pro Athletes of Our Time
. 12/23 1-3 pm.
Borders Express
160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia; 610-992-9050. Dave Brown:
Philly Jocks: The Best Philadelphia Pro Athletes of Our Time
. 12/21 noon-3 pm.
Borders Express
263 Oxford Valley Mall, Langhorne; 215-752-0847.
» READ MORE: www.borders.com
. Dave Brown:
Philly Jocks: The Best Philadelphia Pro Athletes of Our Time
. 12/22 1-4 pm.
Poetry & lectures
*FREE*
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. 12/21 10 pm.