Kristen Sullivan

Latest posts by Kristen

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Nature, Storytime, Fall Fest September 11-15

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 09/10/2017 - 10:00am

Moms, Dads, and kids alike can enjoy the fun that September brings throughout the Delaware Valley. Philly families can carve out time for some semi-spontaneous fun between school days and extracurricular activities with the amazing opportunities found in this week's event calendar.

Take the baby for a stroll through The Philadelphia Museum of Art, or have baby in tow while watching a grown-up movie at The Colonial Theatre. Engage toddlers in learning about the world around them with nature encounters at Briar Bush Nature Center. Little ones can pause for storytime among the animals at The Brandywine Zoo or in the Outdoor Children's Classroom at Morris Arboretum. Children who are homeschooled can dive into the topic of aquatic ecosystem exploration at Bartram's Garden. End the week by taking the entire family to Spruce Street Harbor Park for its Fall Fest or by watching the horses at the Devon Fall Classic.

Stay connected with Mommy Poppins Philadelphia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Now, keep reading to see all the fun that awaits!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Festivals, Trains, Grandparents' Day, Sept 9-10

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 09/06/2017 - 8:38pm

With one week of school routine under the belts of many Philly families, it is time to savor some family time this weekend. Thankfully, there are plenty of choices that can be found in our event calendar. First off, there are a multitude of festivals featuring everything from fungi fun at the Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square, to art appreciation at Doylestown Art Festival, to historical fun at Chadds Ford Days. Train lovers in the family won't be disappointed. West Chester Railroad savors the last bit of summer during its Summer Picnic Train. Colebrookdale Railroad takes passengers to a vintage baseball game while folks at Greenbank Station can step back in time to Civil War days. Best yet, Thomas and Friends are riding the rails at Morris Arboretum all weekend long.

Don't forget to celebrate Grandparents' Day on Sunday. Treat grandma and grandpa to brunch at Franklin Square, or let them take the kids to visit a museum such as the National Museum of American Jewish History, or to Lorimer Park for a nature scavenger hunt.

With such a jam-packed event calendar, be sure to filter by age, tags, and location. Have a great weekend!

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Labor Day Fun, Storytimes, Honey Festival September 4-8

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 09/03/2017 - 10:00am

Traditionally speaking, the day after Labor Day marks the first day of school for many Philly kids. But, just because school is starting does not mean that the fun has to end. Quite the contrary, as our event calendar is filled with many ways to spend time with the family.

Start the week off by celebrating Labor Day with roller skating at Blue Cross RiverRink, touring the exhibits at the Museum of the American Revolution, or visiting the penguins at Adventure Aquarium. Squeeze in time to listen to stories at free events held at Reading Terminal Market, Big Blue Marble Bookstore, or Smith. Older kids can enjoy spending the evening seeing the trains at the Marshall Steam Museum while kids of all ages can learn about honey-making at Glen Foerd during part of the Philadelphia Honey Festival. Don't forget about West Chester's Swingin' Summer Thursdays as well as University City's Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll.

Since summer technically doesn't end until mid-September, make the most of these sunny days by spending family time together. Because, before you know it, everything will be pumpkin-flavored!

Labor Day Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Fairs, Festivals, History, September 2-4

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 08/30/2017 - 7:00pm

Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer for Philly families. Be sure to make the most of this three-day weekend with some of the amazing activities found in our events calendar.

This weekend features a variety of end of summer fairs and festivals. Learn about Medieval England with a trip to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair. Listen to a polka band and taste pierogies at the annual Polish-American Family Festival & County Fair. See the horses and ride the amusements at Ludwig's Corner Horse Show and Country Fair. For some free fun, cool off inside The Barnes Museum for its Free First Sunday or The Philadelphia Museum of Art during its Pay What You Wish admission.

Or, ramp up for the school year with an educational encounter. Experience the life of the Lenape with a visit to Churchville Nature Center. Learn about the Revolutionary War at the newly opened Museum of the American Revolution where kids under 12 get in free all weekend long. Witness a free military demonstration at Signers' Garden, hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and be inspired by tales of our Founding Fathers at the Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches located throughout Historic Philadelphia.

Try squeezing in one more trip during this long weekend with a shore getaway, a jaunt to Amish Country, or a cross-state excursion to Pittsburgh. As summer comes to a close and families make way for soccer practice, piano lessons, and homework to begin, enjoy this weekend and make memories to last a lifetime.

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Music, Nature, Movies August 28-September 1

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 08/27/2017 - 11:24am

This time of year is filled with mixed emotions. Those that enjoy the freedom of summer with its lack of schedule are sad to see it go. But many parents (and some kids) are ready for the school year to return. As summer slowly comes to a close, make the week ahead memorable with the amazing experiences found in our events calendar.

Music lovers have many options. Learn how to play a ukulele at Fumo Library or listen to the sweet strum of the guitar at Wissahickon Library. Check out a drop-in class with Music Monkey Jungle at Old Pine Community Center, The Children's Boutique, Momo's Treehouse, or Tildie's Toy Box. Rock out at a concert at Philadelphia City Institute's Summer Concert Series, Penn Museum's Summer Nights Concert, or The Market at DelVal's Wine Concert.

Kids interested in science and nature can wander through the Enchanted Woods at Winterthur, explore the exhibits at the Delaware Museum of Natural History during its last Two Dollar Tuesday event, and be mesmerized by the fountain shows at Longwood Gardens. Don't forget to stop by Tyler Arboretum to say goodbye to the Big Bugs exhibit which concludes Tuesday. Save some time to chill out with a movie at Queen Memorial Library, The Colonial Theatre, or FDR Park.

Since September is just around the corner, be sure to plan a month full of fun with new, interesting, and unusual experiences. For now, keep reading and make it a great week!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Superheroes, Circus, Harry Potter August 26-27

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 08/23/2017 - 9:30pm

What do superheroes, tacos, Harry Potter, and the circus all have in common? These are the themes of our top picks for the upcoming summer weekend in the Delaware Valley!

Start off the weekend with a trip to the Please Touch Museum as it hosts a plethora of super-duper activities. Children can make crafts in the superhero alter ego craft station, pretend to be superheros in the imaginative play corner, and march in a superhero parade. Then, take a break and refuel with some Mexican cuisine at the Delaware Taco Festival. Do you like tomatoes on your tacos? If so, don't miss Linvilla Orchard's Tomato Festival. Complete your meal with a sweet ending by celebrating the flavors of chocolate and vanilla or partaking in some sweet summer melon. Once energized by delicious festival foods, head to the Philadelphia Museum of Art as it features Watson Adventures' Wizard Scavenger Hunt. Participants learn about the exhibits and art within the Museum referencing fun facts about Harry Potter. Conclude family fun with a stop at Morris Arboretum to see the circus trains on display now through Labor Day weekend.

For more fantastic fun, browse through our events calendar and search using age, tags, and location filters. Make it a great weekend!

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Solar Eclipse, Free Fun, History August 21-25

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 08/20/2017 - 10:00am

At long last, the solar eclipse occurs on Monday! Although Philadelphia isn't among the prime viewing locations, it is still a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this celestial phenomenon. Luckily, there are many local spots hosting solar eclipse events such as Independence Seaport Museum, Franklin Institute, Wagner Free Institute of Science, Brandywine Creek State Park, and Myrick Conservation Center.

After checking eclipse-watching off your lifetime bucket list, savor some free summertime fun. See an outdoor movie at The Dell or Pennypack on the Delaware, watch the Summer Mummers entertain the crowd at Powell Lane Plaza, partake in a Tinkergarten Trial Class at Wooden Park, or jam to live music at Kerr Park. Explore the life of Benjamin Franklin with a free visit to Benjamin Franklin Museum. In addition, kids can participate in free programming such as Barnacles and Bullets at the New Hall Military Museum and Colonial Stations situated throughout Historic Philadelphia.

Reality-check... the school year is just around the corner. Combat back-to-school jitters with a trip to Bucks County Children's Museum and be sure to check out a few consignment sales to update your kids' wardrobe with clothes for the season. For now, continue reading for our top weekday picks.

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Festivals, Culture, Music August 19-20

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 08/16/2017 - 9:30pm

Summer in the Delaware Valley is slowly slipping away, but the summer fun hasn't ended yet for Philly families. On both Saturday and Sunday, families can experience the Festival of Flight showcasing airplanes and automobiles, or visit the Philadelphia Folk Festival to hear plenty of folk music and enjoy fun children's activities. Looking to learn about a new culture or celebrate your own heritage? Visit the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing as it hosts a Caribbean Festival, one of the many summertime events courtesy of PECO's Multicultural Festival Series.

More weekend excitement includes outdoor movies at Franklin Square, Limerick Community Park, and Kingsessing Playground, as well as outdoor concerts such as the 40th Street Summer Series, Norristown Free Outdoor Concert Series, and Radio 104.5 Summer Block Parties. For something a little more low-key, cool down with a swim at a pop-up pool or splash pad before they close for the season. Those looking for a real thrill can plan a tubing and water rafting adventure. No weekend is complete without a sweet treat at your favorite ice cream shop! Plan out the rest of the month's activities with something from our August GoList, and make sure your summer goes out with a bang!

Kristen Sullivan

Kristen Sullivan

Latest posts by Kristen

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