Nicole O'Donnell

Latest posts by Nicole O'Donnell

Best Free and Fun Things To Do in Philly with Kids January 2025: Lunar New Year, Ice Princesses, and More

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Sun, 12/29/2024 - 7:31am

Celebrate winter at Peddler's Village with live fire artistry and ice carving demonstrations. Photo courtesy of Peddler's Village

From New Year's Day to Lunar New Year, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don't miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Philly this January.

We've got you covered for the first month of 2025, kicking it off with the Mummers Parade on New Year's Day. Over in Peddler's Village, admire amazing ice displays or warm up by the firepit at Fire & Ice Fun. Welcome the Year of the Dragon with Lunar New Year celebrations at the Penn Museum. Also, on deck this month are Franklin Square's Ice Princess Weekend and Indoor Mini Golf at Linvilla.

It's chilly in Philly, so check out our Indoor Activities Guide for great ways to escape the cold. For families who don't mind some freezing fun, our Winter Activities Guide is full of lists like the best places to go s now tubing and our favorite sledding spots near Philly--so bundle up and get out there!

New Year's Eve Weekend 2024 in Philly: Fireworks, Parades, Countdowns to Noon, and More

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 6:49am

Ring in 2025 by attending the annual Mummers Parade on January 1! Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Looking for the best things to do in Philly on New Year's Eve and New Year's Weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Skate into the New Year with a bang! Bid farewell to 2024 and join the fun at the New Year's Eve Fireworks Celebration, complete with views of the fireworks presented by Rivers Casino. Enjoy early countdown celebrations, plus more fireworks displays at Peepsfest or Sesame Place.

New Year's Day brings the time-honored tradition of the Mummers Parade, a celebration that has delighted and entertained Philly for more than 120 years. After the New Year's ball has dropped, a lot of the holiday events come to a close, so check your list twice and make sure you don't miss a thing.

18 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other Philly Celebrations for Kids

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Sun, 12/22/2024 - 7:38am

Countdown2Noon, Please Touch Museum’s signature New Year’s Eve event for kids, is back — with even more confetti! Photo courtesy of the museum

It's almost New Year's Eve in Philly and we've got all the festive things to do with kids to make it a memorable start to the new year.

Ring in 2025 with your kiddos before bedtime! There are plenty of family-friendly New Year's Eve festivities around Philly, from fireworks and balloon drops to community celebrations at playspaces and parks. Get ready for lots of laughter and fun as you wave good-bye to 2024 together.

Looking for ways to keep busy leading up to the big ball drop? Check out or list of 35+ Things To Do over Winter Break and browse our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events to make sure you've hit all the holiday highlights this season.

Christmas Weekend 2024 in Philly Top Things To Do: Jolly Trolley, Selfies with Santa, Menorah Parade, and more.

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Fri, 12/20/2024 - 7:31am

Bring the family to Main Street all season long for Holiday Light Nights. Photo courtesy of Manayunk

Looking for the best things to do in Philly this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your schedule.

The countdown to Christmas is in full swing! Snap a Selfie with Santa for a good cause before the big night. Don't miss the Jolly Trolley in Manayunk for your last chance to shop on Main Street before the holiday. Drive on over to Cherry Hill for the annual Car Menorah Parade. If you love history, We love to take is slow at the Fairmount Park House Holiday Tour and take in the beauty and history of the houses. For more history during the holidays, Washington Crossing the Delaware is the place to be on Christmas day.

Best Pixar Movies in Order, As Ranked By Kids & Parents!

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Tue, 12/17/2024 - 9:43am

Finding Dory is a classic Pixar film! Image courtesy of Pixar/Walt Disney Pictures

The beauty of Pixar movies is that kids love them and parents love them! But do parents and kids love the same movies? Disney Pixar’s films are known for making kids giggle and parents cry. Is there a perfect Pixar movie to watch that everyone will love?

Spoiler alert: Yes! We asked parents and kids to rank their favorite movies, and then had our Philadelphia social media manager compile the results and ask her Pixar-loving daughter for her take on why kids loved the ones they picked. Read on to discover the one Pixar movie everyone can agree on...

Whether it's a holiday gathering, a sick day at home, or family movie night, it's great to have more movies the whole family will love ready to watch. We compiled the 75 Top Family Movie Night Ideas, 100 Best Kids' TV Shows of All Time, and more in our Guide To the Best Movies and TV Shows for Kids and the Whole Family.

Three Kings, Jurassic Quest, Snowflake Trains, Gingerbread Competition, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 5:16am

Presented by Pages to Pirouettes, The Nutcracker returns to the Free Library stage! Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your must-do list.

The New Year is here, and there are a ton of new ways to enjoy Philadelphia. Head to Oaks to enjoy Jurassic Quest, an interactive dinosaur adventure. Check out the Three Kings Celebration at the Kimmel center for an afternoon of celebrations and surprises. If you still have the holiday itch, you can check out the final weekends for the Herr's Snack Factory Christmas Lights Display or the Holidays at Brandywine. Get out there and enjoy all the fun things to do!

21 Free Holiday and Christmas Events for Philly Kids

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Sun, 12/01/2024 - 7:52am

Rose Tree Park glimmers at night, welcoming visitors to enjoy a wintery walk at Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the park

The list of kid-friendly Christmas events is endless! There's no better way to spend time with family and friends than at an attraction that doesn't cost anything. All around the Philadelphia area, there are tons of places for families who want some holiday cheer without breaking their wallets. So we've put together this helpful list that will help you create memories this season.

For more ways to keep the season merry and bright, check out our Holiday Bucket List which can all be found in our Guide to Holiday Events and Christmas Activities.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar daily, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

24 Best Things to Do in Philly December 2024 with Kids

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 7:46am

The amazing Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular.display is back! Photo courtesy of the venue

Christmas lights and holiday activities are back this December, and that's just the beginning of things to do in Philadelphia as the holiday season kicks into high gear. Don't miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Philly this month.

Philadelphia is not just a city of delicious cuisine and crushing culture; it's also home to some truly spectacular holiday light displays! Take your family out for an evening stroll through the neighborhoods this month, from the The Miracle on South 13th Street to the Smedley Street Christmas Lights Spectacular, to the delightfully over-the-top West Chester Griswolds in the 'burbs. Glide on over to Flight on Ice, Delco's pop-up ice rink, or stop by for a skate at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. Don't miss the epic Disney on Ice when it comes to Philly at the end of the month, and before we say goodbye to 2024 forever, grab the kids and enjoy fireworks at Sesame Place to send the year off with a bang.

For more ways to keep the season merry and bright, check out our Holiday Bucket List which can be found in our Guide to Holiday Events and Christmas Activities.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar daily, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

Latest posts by Nicole O'Donnell

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