Philadelphia

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: FREE Fun, Wawa Welcome America June 26-30

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 06/25/2017 - 10:00am

With the arrival of summer, Philly parents may be wondering how to keep children engaged in fun without breaking the bank. This week's top picks are all FREE and are sure to put a smile on your face and your wallet.

First, stop into your local library for free programming such as Parkway Central Library's Baby and Toddler Story Time, Wissahickon Library's Guitar Story Time, Fumo Family Library's Mindful Meditation, or Media Library's Captain Underpants Party. Then, make crafts at Linvilla Orchards or Monkey Fish Toys. Dance and sing along at a free outdoor concert at White's Road Park, Debarth Amphitheater, or Narberth Park. Best yet, Wawa Welcome America arrives in town this week! During the festival, young and old can take advantage of free museum admission, Go 4th learning opportunities, and free hoagies, too.

However you spend the week, keep it fun and keep it free! Read on for additional no-cost activities below.

24 Firework Displays to Celebrate the 4th of July in Philly and at the Jersey Shore

Submitted by Becki Melchione on Fri, 06/23/2017 - 7:02am

Nothing says Independence Day like a great fireworks display. Philadelphia knows how to celebrate the birth of America. Start with what's being billed as the largest free concert in the United States with Party on the Parkway, where part of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be shut down and a lineup of great bands will play before a spectacular fireworks display above the Philadelphia Museum of Art. If being one of the thousands celebrating in the streets isn't your idea of a perfect 4th of July, there's a spectrum of events in many of the suburban towns around Philly like the Narberth Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks. Whether enjoying a local band and fireworks in your nearby park or joining the throngs on the Museum Mile, don't forget to bring your chairs, blankets, coolers with snacks, and a few activities to keep the kids entertained until the sky turns dark.

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Food, Nature, Balloons, June 24-25

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 06/21/2017 - 9:30pm

Now that summer has arrived and the days are longer, the race begins to fill the time with fantastic family fun. Thankfully, this weekend's options do not disappoint Philly parents as our event calendar is overflowing with excitement to please the most diverse tribe.

Begin the weekend with food! Start with delicious blueberry pies and jellies or sweet raspberry creations. Indulge in mouth-watering ice cream and then burn off the extra calories with a nature walk or colorful 5K. Celebrate summer with an arts festival, a midsommarfest, or an old-fashioned baseball game. Appreciate nature with an overnight campout, bug hunt, or boat ride. Be sure to carve out time to experience the Chester County Balloon Festival and appreciate the beauty of hot air balloons, the fun of remote controlled airplanes, and the excitement of the Kids' Zone.

Continue reading for additional top picks for this summer weekend. Make it a great one!

See How It's Made: Best Factory Tours Near Philadelphia

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Wed, 06/21/2017 - 10:00am

There's something so cool about seeing how things are made. Whether it's going behind the scenes at Crayola, watching yummy chocolate being poured into molds, or seeing coins minted, it's really intriguing to see everyday items take shape. There are plenty of great places in the area where you can do just that. Read on to see our favorite factory tours and find out how things are made!

Registration for Apple Camp, Apple's FREE Three-Day Summer Camp, is Open Now!

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 2:51pm

If you've got an 8-12 year-old interested in STEM or movie-making, hurry up and run to the nearest computer; Apple has just opened registration for its free three-day camps. Located at different Apple store locations in the Delaware Valley, these camps won't last long and are 100% free, so we wanted you to be the first to know!

For more camp information and ideas, check out our Camp Guide and Directory.

29 Ways to Celebrate 4th of July in Philly Without Fireworks

Submitted by Lindsay Li on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 9:00am

It’s time to celebrate America! While you might think no 4th of July is complete without a celebration of fireworks, we have found 29 events around the region that are firework-free but full of American pride and good old fashioned family fun! From readings of the Declaration of Independence to music and movies, the region is full of ways to celebrate our Independence that don’t keep us up late at night or include any of the rockets red glare or bombs bursting in air.

Your Guide to Pop-Up Gardens and Parks in Philadelphia

Submitted by Lindsay Li on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:02am

Since 2011, Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) Pop Up Gardens sites have been transforming under-used or vacant city spaces into exciting urban oases. In the last three to four years in particular, PHS's model has inspired pop-up gardens, parklets, and other awesome uses of urban outdoor space that are fun for the whole family, to spring up throughout the city (and now even in the suburbs). While most of these parks have beer gardens as a lure, there is also a lot of great family-friendly programming involved. Visiting one of these gardens is a great excuse to get out and relax with the whole family, no matter what age you or your kids may be. This round-up includes the most family-friendly, semi-permanent pop-ups for the summer.

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Summer Solstice, Museum Deals, Bugs June 19-23

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 10:00am

Summer officially arrives this week in Philadelphia! What better way to celebrate the new season than with some of the amazing activities found in our event calendar.

To recognize the longest day of the year, Riverbend hosts its Summer Solstice Celebration complete with live animal demonstrations, puppet shows, and pond exploration. Wolf's Hollow County Park offers the chance to participate in a Summer Solstice Hike. And, Delaware Art Museum allows visitors to wander about and take in the beauty of nature at its Summer Solstice Labyrinth. In addition to summertime events, many venues throughout the Delaware Valley are featuring deeply discounted admission such as the Franklin Institute, the Brandywine Zoo, and the Delaware Children's Museum. Once nighttime arrives, view landmarks such as Glencairn Museum, Cairnwood Estates, and Bryn Athyn Cathedral set aglow, or see the first flashes of lighting bugs at Green Lane Park.

Keep reading for our top picks for the week and get ready for a great summer!

Pick Your Own Blueberries Near Philadelphia

Submitted by Lindsay Li on Fri, 06/16/2017 - 10:00am

When I was little, Blueberries for Sal was one of my all-time favorite stories. I still love reading it to my kids today, and it is certainly the inspiration behind that seasonal excitement I get when it is time to gather my own bucket and "kuplink kaplank kaplunk" berries for canning, for topping pancakes and pies, and for making delicious blueberry jam. Here in Philadelphia, we have access to a lot of wonderful pick-your-own farms. Here is a roundup of some of the best for blueberry season! Or, if you want to make a day trip out of it, check out some of the farms in nearby New Jersey, where the blueberry is the state fruit!

Father's Day Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Trains, Helicopters, Festivals June 17-18

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 06/14/2017 - 9:00pm

How can Philly families celebrate dear ol' dad this Father's Day weekend? With exciting and entertaining activities that can be found in our event calendar, of course! .

Take dad on a helicopter, boat,or train ride. Or, view the antique fire trucks at Evan Mumbower Mills. Get outside and participate in a scavenger hunt created especially for fathers, or cast a line to fish at Linvilla Orchards. Spend an Enchanted Summer Day at Winterthur or visit Ross Mill Farm to see the piggies. Head to Germantown for its Juneteenth Festival or visit the Please Touch Museum for its Freedom Day Festival.

Mommy Poppins Philadelphia wishes a very Happy Father's Day to all the dads, step-dads, grandfathers, uncles, and men out there that make a difference in the life of a child!