Broadway Cabaret at Rittenhouse Grill
Broadway Cabaret at Rittenhouse Grill, Philadelphia’s only Broadway cabaret venue, presents the final performance of its fall 2025 season: It’s Christmastime in the City starring internationally acclaimed entertainer Mark Nadler and Broadway veteran Stephanie Pope. The evening will feature holiday favorites, Broadway hits, and storytelling in the intimate setting of the Rittenhouse Grill. Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner followed by an up-close performance celebrating the joy and magic of the season. Mark Nadler has appeared on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, from Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra to Philadelphia’s own Mann Center. Stephanie Pope’s career spans more than 35 years and over 10 Broadway productions, including “Pippin” (Astaire Award nomination), “Chicago, Fosse,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
Where: Rittenhouse Grill, 1701 Locust St.
Songs of the Season: A Community Lessons and Carols
A special holiday event that reflects the heart of Singing City’s mission: Songs of the Season: A Community Lessons and Carols, is taking place in Rittenhouse Square. Please join us for this free, city-wide holiday sing-along that brings together singers and non-singers alike for a festive seasonal celebration of carols and more, while also giving back to the city we love. It is a moment that reminds us why every voice matters every day. This simple, joyful Lessons and Carols event is your chance to join Singing City and sing with Rollo Dilworth in a welcoming and accessible setting. No musical experience is needed. Just bring your holiday cheer, your friends and family, a non-perishable food item, and lift your voice with us.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 6-7 p.m.
Where: The Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut St.
CBS Philadelphia Joy of Sharing Holiday Toy Drive
Partner with CBS Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts to make the holidays brighter for area children. Benefiting the Salvation Army and Mothers In Charge, visitors are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys to donation boxes in the Kimmel Center, Academy of Music, and Miller Theater.
When: ends Thursday, Dec. 18
Where: The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St.
Irish Christmas in America
Make merry this holiday season with the enchanting sounds of Irish Christmas in America. Returning to our stage for the first time since 2017, this special 20th anniversary performance will feature vocal star Caitríona Sherlock in her Philadelphia debut as well as the local talent of McAleer-Paulson School of Irish Dance. “Full of exceptional music and dance, relaxed good humor, and interesting historical commentary,” (Irish Echo) celebrate Christmas with Ireland’s finest traditional artists.
When: Friday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
48 Record Bar’s Vinyl Pop-Up Market
Music enthusiasts and holiday shoppers alike can mark their calendars for three back-to-back installments of the buzzed-about Vinyl Pop-Up Market at 48 Record Bar, Philadelphia’s leading listening room and cocktail bar and recently recognized by Bon Appétit as one of Philadelphia’s Best Bars. This December, 48 Record Bar will operate with full bar service and crates upon crates of fresh vinyl for sale which includes an assortment of classics and curated selections. Shoppers can peruse an extensive selection of vinyl while enjoying 48 Record Bar’s recently-launched fall/winter cocktail menu.
When: Saturday, Dec. 20 from 12-4 p.m.
Where: 48 Record Bar, 48 S. 2nd St.
Glen Foerd host annual Community Winter Solstice Celebration
Glen Foerd, Philadelphia’s public park and nonprofit cultural site along the Delaware River, invites community members to celebrate the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year with an afternoon of seasonal activities. Attendees can choose from a guided nature walk with naturalist Mike Weilbacher, a yin-style yoga session led by Melissa Gyuraki, or family-friendly creative crafts facilitated by Glen Foerd’s Lily P.A.D.S. educators. The celebration will conclude with complimentary hot drinks, light refreshments and a sunset bonfire along the Delaware River.
When: Sunday, Dec. 21 from 3-5:30 p.m.
Where: Glen Foerd Mansion, 5001 Grant Ave.
The Shops at Wanamaker Light Show
The magic of the holidays in Philadelphia will sparkle even brighter this season with the debut of Shops at The Wanamaker Light Show. This brand-new indoor holiday market will transform the Wanamaker Building Grand Court into a warm and festive shopping destination featuring 30 curated local vendors — all set against the backdrop of one of the city’s most treasured holiday spectacles. Shoppers can browse a curated selection of artisan gifts, seasonal treats, handmade goods, and festive finds, while surrounded by the glow and music of the iconic Wanamaker Light Show, a Philadelphia tradition that has captivated audiences since 1956. Now, with the addition of Shops at The Wanamaker Light Show, guests can do more than just experience the magic — they can take a piece of it home.
When: through Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 12-8 p.m.
Where: Wanamaker Building, 100 E Penn Sq.
”Little Women”
Hedgerow Theatre Company ushers in the holiday season with Kate Hamill’s celebrated adaptation of “Little Women,” a vibrant and heartfelt retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story about family, identity, and the ties that hold communities together. In “Little Women,” audiences follow the March sisters as they come of age during the American Civil War, each navigating her own dreams while confronting the expectations of a changing world. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy discover the power of resilience, imagination, and sisterhood as they face moments of joy, loss, and transformation that shape who they hope to become.
When: through Friday, Dec. 26
Where: Hedgegrow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media, PA 19063
“The Nice List”
When Santa announces he has to leave the North Pole for an important trip, he puts two elves in charge of the all-important Nice List! Excited to show they can handle the job, the elves get to work, but soon realize they’re in “over their candy canes.” As they struggle to decide who’s naughty and who’s nice, the list gets shorter and shorter… until it seems like no one will get presents at all! Full of festive songs, dancing, and holiday cheer, “The Nice List” is a heartwarming musical adventure the whole family will love!
When: through Sunday, Dec. 28
Where: Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, PA 19007
Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum
The Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum & Gardens returns to Chestnut Hill, delighting visitors. The beloved attraction features rail cars traveling along more than a third of a mile track, set within a landscape of twinkling lights and delightful sounds.
When: through Tuesday, Dec. 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Morris Arboretum & Gardens, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.
”Clay as Care” at the Clay Studio
The relationship between ceramic art and health is examined through an exhibition, scientific research, a publication, and public programs. The project considers ways in which care manifests in ceramic art and how viewing art and working with clay can promote personal and communal health. The exhibition features artists whose practices address healing, rest, and resilience, including Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Pew Fellow Adebunmi Gbadebo, Ehren Tool, and Maia Chao. Co-Curators Jennifer Zwilling and Nicole Pollard will work closely with The Clay Studio Exhibition Council, partners in the health research field, and the four lead artists to create an exhibition and space that reflects the values of care that we see as inherent in the act of making art with clay.
When: through Wednesday, Dec. 31
Where: The Clay Studio, 1425 N. American St.
Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market
The largest outdoor holiday market celebrating local vendors, local made products and local gifts returns to Dilworth Park! The market brings with it 40+ vendors with all the holiday vibes including the new white huts, twinkling lights and illuminated stars. The holiday vibes will be elite! Look for dozens of vendors that read like a who’s who from the tri-state region with everything from fashion, décor, home goods, dog treats, candles, jewelry, foodie gifts and so much more.
When: through Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
Philadelphia Zoo’s LumiNature
Philadelphia’s most celebrated and award-winning holiday light show is back — and ready to reach new heights 110 feet above the city skyline! Philadelphia Zoo is thrilled to announce the return of LumiNature and over one million dazzling holiday lights. New this year, look for the debut of the Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel a new observation wheel ferris wheel with breathtaking scenes of the lights and overlooking the city where the former Zoo balloon was. This will instantly become one of the most Instagram-ready new attractions for the 2025 holiday season.
When: through Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance”
Launch your holidays by celebrating a beloved model of a modern major comedic opera with Quintessence Theatre’s presentation of “The Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert & Sullivan! On his 21st birthday, a dashing young pirate apprentice prepares to finally be freed from servitude. Arriving back on land for the first time, he plans to live a dutiful and honorable adulthood. But there’s a snag — check his birth certificate! A bevy of local beauties, conscientious pirates and their King, a wily and witty old waiting-woman, an incompetent madcap Major General, a troop of troglodyte policemen, and a parade of ingenious paradoxes all portend to make Quintessence a delightful winter destination!
When: through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026
Where: Quintessence at Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Ave.
Holidays in Franklin Square
Historic Philadelphia, Inc., the non-profit responsible for renovating, operating, and maintaining Franklin Square, opens Holidays in Franklin Square, featuring the Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO, inviting the community to celebrate traditions old and new. Holidays in Franklin Square will enchant visitors with holiday magic and jolly memories. The centerpiece of the festivities is the free Electrical Spectacle Light Show with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights choreographed to seasonal music throughout the Square every night. Guests can cozy up around fire pits with hot beverages, including spiked options for adults, and enjoy Street Curling and Chilly Philly Mini Golf, adorned with lights and seasonal decorations. Visitors can indulge in hand-crafted cocktails and seasonal treats in the pop-up winter bar, Frosty’s Fireside Lodge. The Square will also host various family holiday events, such as Wicked Night (New for 2025!), Jingle and Mingle with Santa, Santa Paws, and Brunch with Santa. Other festivities include Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations, along with a gift-making night with The Clay Studio and fun for everyone with the Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown. Franklin Square, along with the Parx Liberty Carousel, Chilly Philly Mini Golf, SquareBurger operated by Cescaphe, and the two playgrounds will be open during the day.
When: through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 from 5-9 p.m.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St.
”A Christmas Story: The Musical”
PA: Walnut Street Theatre continues their 217th season by inviting audiences to experience the holidays with Ralphie Parker and his family! Travel back to 1940’s Indiana with the Parkers in “A Christmas Story: The Musical.” The show is Broadway’s musical comedy gift! A boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas, a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, the dogs stealing the turkey, a cranky department store Santa and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. This beloved musical captures holiday wonder with funny and heartfelt songs, show-stopping dancing, a pair of mischievous dogs, delicious wit and a heart of gold!
When: through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026
Where: Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.
”Stories My Father Told Me” at Al-Bustan
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery presents “Stories My Father Told Me,” a solo exhibition by renowned artist Helen Zughaib. Through 25 paintings, Zughaib brings a vivid world alive—a world derived from the stories that her father would relay to her and her siblings while growing up in Lebanon. Though rooted in her specific familial experience, the exhibition speaks to something universal: the enduring power of storytelling to bridge generations and preserve identity. Each painting invites viewers to recall their own storytellers, to hear echoes of familiar voices, and to find themselves within a shared fabric of belonging.
When: through Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
Where: Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery, 310 W. Master St.
”To Provide a Naval Armament: U.S. Navy & Marine Corps History, 1775 – 1958”
Philadelphia gave birth to the U.S. Navy twice — first in 1775 and again in 1794. The later Navy reflected the young nation: ships designed by Quakers, built in shipyards along the East Coast with wood harvested by enslaved people, led by white officers, and crewed by a diverse mix of nationalities, ethnicities, and religions. The Marines of both eras laid the foundation for one of the world’s elite fighting forces. While prominent Philadelphians appear in naval history, the story also lives in the letters and journals of sailors, surgeons, and shipyard workers. In partnership with Homecoming 250, “To Provide a Naval Armament:” U.S. Navy & Marine Corps History, 1775–1958 explores the Navy and Marine Corps through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections, tracing their evolution from the American Revolution to the early Cold War, all while remaining anchored in Philadelphia.
When: through Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.
”Faces of Resilience” at City Hall
Recognizing November as Restorative Justice Month, Creative Philadelphia’s Art In City Hall program, in partnership with Councilmember Jim Harrity, presents Faces of Resilience, an exhibition organized by the Barnes Foundation and Mural Arts Philadelphia that was first presented at the Barnes Foundation in 2022. This new iteration features artwork by currently and formerly incarcerated artists from SCI Phoenix, southeast Pennsylvania’s maximum-security for men. This display is complemented by contemporary masks and works of mixed-media printmaking created by emerging artists from Mural Art Philadelphia’s Guild and Rec Crew, paid apprenticeship programs for justice-impacted or formerly incarcerated young adults, which explore themes of identity and place. Overall, this presentation features the work of 46 artists ranging in age from 18 to 80 years old.
When: through Friday, Jan. 23, 2026
Where: Room 116, Creative Philadelphia Art Gallery at City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink
Visit the city’s premier wintertime destination, open seven days a week. Reservations are encouraged for timed, 90-minute skating sessions. Visit centercityphila.org to view the full schedule and purchase tickets.
When: through Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
”Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets” at the Barnes
This fall, the Barnes Foundation will present Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets, a landmark exhibition of paintings by the self-taught artist Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), featuring works from the Barnes collection and museums around the world. With 18 paintings by Rousseau, the Barnes is home to the world’s largest collection of works by the artist, and the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris, with 11, is home to the second largest collection. This exhibition brings together these important collections, providing an unprecedented opportunity to see works that the French art dealer Paul Guillaume either owned — now in the Orangerie’s collection — or sold to Dr. Barnes. Some of these paintings will be reunited for the first time in more than 100 years, while others have never been exhibited together.
When: through Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin
The Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin has been reimagined to add a full bar, banquet seating, and new décor. In partnership with Centre Square Hospitality, powered by Aramark Sports + Entertainment, an elevated new menu includes winter dishes like tomato soup and grilled cheese, jumbo pretzel charcuterie and chicken & waffle nachos, while the bar will feature craft cocktails made with Basil Hayden® bourbon, as well as beer, wine and ready-to-drink -196 Vodka Seltzer canned cocktails.
When: through Monday, Feb. 23, 2026
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
“Jerrell Gibbs: No Solace in the Shade” at Brandywine
“Jerrell Gibbs: No Solace in the Shade” will survey the first decade of the career of Baltimore artist Jerrell Gibbs (b. 1988). His dynamic, large-scale figurative paintings of family, friends and community focus on everyday scenes of Black life, transforming them into monumental moments that highlight the universal themes of identity, reflection and belonging. Organized by the Brandywine, this project will mark the artist’s first solo museum exhibition and first monographic publication — and is also the Museum’s first solo presentation of an emerging contemporary artist. The exhibition will feature 30 paintings drawn from both museum and private collections throughout the United States and Europe.
When: through Sunday, March 1
Where: Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffmans Mill Rd., Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Wintergarden on the Albert M. Greenfield Lawn
An open-air oasis featuring hundreds of twinkling and colored lights, illuminated overhead sculptures and seasonal foliage, with warm mulled wine available from the Chaddsford Winery kiosk for adults 21 and older.
When: through Sunday, March 15, 2026
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest invites guests to cozy up on the Delaware River Waterfront with amazing views of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The beloved seasonal tradition features an NHL-sized ice rink, outdoor firepits, warming cabins, and festive food and drink for all ages to enjoy. Open seven days a week, including holidays (unless otherwise noted), admission is free with pay-as-you-go amenities that let visitors create their own winter adventure. Classic amusements like the Ferris wheel, indoor arcade, and the giant holiday tree return in December. For the best experience, guests are encouraged to reserve skating tickets, cabins, firepits, or Rinkside Lounge packages in advance at RiverRink.com.
Where: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
“Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” at AAMP
The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) presents a cultural milestone exhibition “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design.” The acclaimed exhibition, celebrating the power of art, identity, and imagination, marks its Philadelphia debut with nearly 80 original costumes from films that have shaped global culture — including “Black Panther,” “Selma,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Amistad,” “Dolomite is My Name,” “Coming 2 America,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and, for the first time ever, “Sinners.” As the first Black woman to win two Academy Awards, Ruth E. Carter has transformed costume design into a form of cultural storytelling, honoring the past while envisioning what’s possible for the future. Her journey from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Hollywood’s most celebrated stages resonates deeply with Philadelphians.
When: through Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St.
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