Presented by Pages to Pirouettes, The Nutcracker returns to the Free Library stage! Photo courtesy of the event
JingleBell Run, Fishtown Freeze, The Nutcracker, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend
Rose Tree Park glimmers at night, welcoming visitors to enjoy a wintery walk at Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the park
21 Free Holiday and Christmas Events for Philly Kids
The amazing Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular.display is back! Photo courtesy of the venue
24 Best Things to Do in Philly December 2024 with Kids
Santa roams Philadelphia's Christmas Village all season long. Photo courtesy of Kory Aversa for Christmas Village.
GUIDE
Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Philadelphia
Take a sparkling selfie at the Miracle on South 13th Street. Photo by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia
Spectacular Neighborhood Holiday Lights and Christmas Lights in Philly
The zoo lights are aglow at LumiNature. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo
30 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Philly for Kids
Curiosity meets discovery in Body Odyssey, where the walkthrough Giant Heart is just the beginning.
The Giant Heart is Back and Better Than Ever at the Franklin Institute
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Best Philly Tours for Kids: Art Hunts, Food Tours, Ghost Tours, and More
Kids under 18 are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Liz Baill
100 Free Fun Things To Do in Philly with Kids
Fishtown families flock to Penn Treaty Park for the waterfront views, special events, and open space. Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
Fishtown with Kids: 9 Things To Do in the Fishtown Neighborhood of Philly
School Calendars 2024-2025: Important Dates for Philadelphia School District
Grand Slam U.S.A. challenges you to a game of laser tag! Photo courtesy of the center
Best Laser Tag Zones and Paintball for Philly Kids
Build birthday memories brick by brick at LEGOLAND. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND
31 Fun Indoor Birthday Party Places for Kids in Philly
Ricketts Glen State Park is a family-friendly destination with awesome activities for all ages. Photo of Ricketts Glen by the author
Amazing Budget Weekend Getaways for Philly Families
Put your skills to the test on the obstacle course at Urban Air. Photo courtesy of Urban Air
Extreme Sports and More Thrilling Activities for Kids in Philly: Go Karts, Axe Throwing, and More!
Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), located in the heart of Old City.
Visiting Historic Philadelphia: Top Things To Do in the Historic District with Kids
Take in 300 years of history on Elfreth's Alley. Photo courtesy of the museum
3 Days in Philadelphia with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
In addition to Pay-What-You-Wish First Sundays, kids 18 and under are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of the museum
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in Philly
Turn your eye of the tiger into the eye of an artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Kids: Creative Family Time at the Art Museum
GUIDE
Guide to Classes for Kids in Philadelphia
Learn all about fire safety and the history of firefighters in Philly at the Fireman's Hall Museum.Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
14 Free Things To Do Indoors in Philly: Indoor Places To Play On Cold and Rainy Days
Take a bikde ride through Doylestown. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
9 Walkable Neighborhoods near Philly for Family Outings
Six Flag Great Adventure brings big-time thrills and is one of our favorite amusement parks in New Jersey.
Great Theme Parks and Amusement Parks Near New Jersey
Both babies and dogs love stroller walks for some fresh air. Photo courtesy of Gina Massaro for Mommy Poppins
Great Stroller Walks and Stroller Hikes near Philly
Parents eat while kids climb and slide at Craft Hall.
13 Philly Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat
Pony rides always bring out smiles at Linvilla Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard
Animal Farms and Petting Zoos near Philadelphia that are Perfect for Preschoolers
Try a whiz-wit at Tony Luke's, a reliable Philly cheesesteak spot with multiple locations. Photo courtesy of J. Varney for GPTMC
11 Kid-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak Spots
Challenge the rope bridge and zip line at Elmwood Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the zoo
100 Things To Do in Philly with Kids Before They Grow Up
Blue Cross RiverRink is open for Summerfest in the warmer months and Winterfest in the colder months. Photo courtesy of J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Top Attractions in Philadelphia: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
Kids can zoom down the slide and, of course, launch scarves at Kith + Kin. Photo courtesy of Kith + Kin
38 Best Indoor Play Spaces and Indoor Playgrounds in Philadelphia
No one walks the plank, but everyone has fun with with Scallywag’s Pirate Adventures in Erie. Photo courtesy of Scallywag's Pirate Adventures.
10 PA Weekend Getaways for Families
Take a hike: Family getaways are a great opportunity to reconnect with nature.
GUIDE
Philly Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways

News: Free Gym Time, Movie Passes, an Art Scholarship, More

1/4/10 - By Anna Fader

We just awarded two lucky winners free Ice Skating Lessons from Battery Park City on Ice and for the next three weeks we'll be giving away a free Ice Skating Party each week. Since we know how much our readers love freebies, we're jumping right in to some more. We're giving away 25 free family passes to see a screening of the new Jackie Chan family flick. Also find out about free access to Parks Department Rec centers next week, how to get your kid's artwork in a museum or possibly win a scholarship. Lastly, find out what prominent New Yorkers think NY's resolutions should be this year. Read on for all these goodies:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Mommy Poppins readers can get free passes to see the new Jackie Chan family film, The Spy Next Door. The screening is this Saturday, January 9th at 10am at the AMC on 42nd St and 8th Ave. We have 25 family 4 packs of tickets to give away to the first people who claim them. Quick! Get your free movie passes to The Spy Next Door. Oh and I'm going to see a screening on Thursday (afterschool schedules and melt-downs permitting) and I'll tell you what I think on facebook and twitter. [UPDATE: all the tickets have been given out.]

Find out how you can keep exercising even when the weather gets cold at the Parks Department Rec Center Open House. From Monday, January 11 through Saturday, January 17, New Yorkers can visit Parks recreation centers in all five boroughs for FREE and try aerobic classes, yoga, weight-training, cardio equipment, and more. [Update: I just confirmed this includes swimming pools and all facilities]Find a rec center near you.

WNYC is putting together a Museum of Kid Art and wants your submissions. Take photos of your child's drawings, paintings,, photos, sculptures, poems or performance (your child can even be in the picture) and then either upload it to their Flickr group or email it to culturedesk@wnyc.org with "KID ART" in the subject. You can also include a quote from your child about their art piece or, if you want to be fancy, make a video.

Teenaged artists have the opportunity to show off their artwork and possibly win a scholarship from the DE LA VEGA Museum on the Lower East Side. Artists aged 12-15 should bring their works on canvas using acrylics and mixed media (if desired) to the museum in person weekdays by April 30th, 2010 where they can receive feedback from DE LA VEGA himself. The scholarship includes $250 in art supplies (paints, brushes, canvases, sketchbooks), and the winning painting will be on display in the DE LA VEGA MUSEUM. Winners will be announced on the DE LA VEGA MUSEUM Blog on May 14th, 2010.

For some interesting reading, find out what prominent New Yorkers think New York's Resolutions should be. From Russell Simmons' suggestion that we should have meditation in the school to Donald Trump's bizarre fixation on repairing damaged guardrails (which I guess take on more prominence in your world when you spend that much time looking out the side window of a limo).