5 best January events to check out in Philadelphia

Updated: January 5, 2018 — 10:22 AM EST

janartscal07-29122017-0010 — **WWE**
It's WWE Royal Rumble Week at the Wells Fargo Center Jan. 27-30, and WWE SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair is slated to be on hand.

With 2018 upon us, that means a fresh start. We don’t know about you, but we think that a fabulous New Year’s resolution that’s pretty easy to keep is to get out more, and January just happens to be an excellent time to start. Here, we present you with five fantastic ways to make to the most of your January. So while this weather might make you want to bundle up tight, that doesn’t mean the rest of the month should be spent on the couch, with Netflix a-blazin’.

Les Misérables

Can you hear the people sing? You certainly will at the Academy of Music as this Broadway mega-blockbuster hits the stage. Prepare yourself for a story of fiery romance and idealistic revolutionaries, set to one of the most timeless scores around. Shout-out to Philly’s own Phoenix Best, who plays Eponine. She got her start in showbiz ushering at the Kimmel Center.

Through Jan. 21, Academy of Music, Locust and Broad Streets, $44 to $144, 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

MLK Day of Service

There are a ton of ways to give back on Jan. 15 as part of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the country’s largest King Day of Service event. Girard College serves as a hub of volunteer activity, but be sure to check out your local schools, religious organizations, and businesses for volunteer opportunities closer to home. As always, mlkdayofservice.org has a comprehensive list of ways to give back.

Rufus Wainwright with the Philly POPs

**Matthew Welch**
Rufus Wainwright will perform with the Philly Pops.

A match made in POPs heaven. Crooner Wainwright will explore his notable career with the help of the 65-piece POPs orchestra and music director Michael Krajewski. Opening up for the divine Wainwright is the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Choir, who will belt out their best before Wainwright takes the stage.

8 p.m. Jan. 19, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St. $35-$500, kimmelcenter.org.

Auto Show Philadelphia

**MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer**
William Mihal, 13, of Wayne PA, sits in the driver’s seat of 2017 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe and looks to his mother and father. He and his family have been coming to the show for the past seven years.

The ever-popular event for gearheads and auto aficionados returns with a litany of cool cars on display and events appealing to those who like to vroom, vroom. Everything kicks off with a Black Tie Tailgate on Jan. 26. Jeep will host an indoor drive event, while the likes of BMW, Mazda, and Toyota have opportunities for outdoor drives.

Jan. 27-Feb. 4, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., $7-14 (advance tickets), www.phillyautoshow.com

WWE Royal Rumble

Let’s get ready to … Royal Rumble? The WWE is bringing one of its “big four” events — which also includes WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Survivor Series — to the Wells Fargo Center. The last time Royal Rumble graced Philadelphia with its presence was 2015, but the WWE’s strategy has changed since then. Now, there’s a full weekend that includes auxiliary events Raw, Smackdown Live, and NXT. Events regularly sell out — the last Royal Rumble at the Wells Fargo brought more than 17,000 fans to South Philadelphia — so best to get your tickets as early as possible.

Jan. 27-30, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., $20-$600, wellsfargophilly.com.