Posted on Fri, Nov. 23, 2007
Special Events
Philadelphia
Dining, Dancing & Dickens Children's holiday ballet matinees, holiday displays & light show at Macy's. Avenue of the Arts, 123 S. Broad St., Ste. 1240; 215-731-9668.
www.avenueofthearts.org. 11/23-11/25.
*FREE* Holiday Season Festivities Tree lighting ceremony, gingerbread house, visit from Santa, holiday music, homemade cookies, hot chocolate. Ritz-Carlton, 10 Ave. of The Arts; 215-523-8221. 11/23 5 pm.
*FREE* Simply Manischewitz Live Cook-Off Ten semi-finalists from Philly will compete, complimentary kosher lunch & great recipe ideas for Chanukah & the holiday season. Doubletree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1600. 11/29 11 am-1 pm.
Pennsylvania suburbs
Annual Model Railroad Open House Interactive train installations, Thomas the Tank Engine, scavenger hunt & more. Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club, 400 S. Main St., Phoenixville; 610-935-1126.
www.svmrrc.com. Donations accepted. 11/24-11/25 1-5 pm.
Fruit Wreath Seminar Make your own door or window decoration from fruit in the traditional Williamsburg style. Registration required: 215-794-4059. Peddler's Village, Rtes. 202 & 263, Lahaska; 215-794-4000.
www.peddlersvillage.com. $20 includes light refreshments. 11/28 10 am-noon.
*FREE* Holiday Downtown Open House & Parade Shops decorated, visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus, holiday music, lighting of town Christmas tree. Historic Kennett Square, 106 W. State St., Kennett Square; 610-444-8188.
www.historickennettsquare.com. 11/23 6 pm.
Penn Falls Railroad Scale Model Operating Train Layout Club open house with operating model train display. Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club, 8000 Old York Rd., Elkins Park; 215-635-9747.
www.cheltenhillsmrr.org. Donations accepted. 11/24-11/25 noon-4 pm.
New Jersey
*FREE* Advent Festival Make crafts & wreaths. First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, 20 Kings Hwy. E., Haddonfield; 856-429-1960.
www.haddonfieldpres.org. 11/25 5-7 pm.
Breakfast With Santa Enjoy a treat & visit with Santa or Mrs. Claus. Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., Cape May; 609-884-5555.
www.innofcapemay.com. $15; $10 children 3-12. 11/24 10 am.
Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides Trolley ride through the historic district featuring holiday-themed ghost tales. Closes 12/31. Downtown Cape May, Cape May; 609-463-6415.
www.capemay.com. $10; $5 children. 11/23-11/24 8 & 8:45 pm. 11/25 7:30 pm. 11/26-11/29 7:45 pm.
Moonlight Walk Guided 3-5 mile walk through Historic Whitesbog. Meet at General Store. Reservation recommended. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120-34 Whitesbog Rd., Browns Mills; 609-893-4646.
www.whitesbog.org. $5. 11/24 7 pm.
A Physick Family Christmas Cape May trolley tour & living history presentation at the Emlen Physick Estate. Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1048 Washington St., Cape May; 609-884-5404.
www.capemaymac.org. $15; $7.50 children 3-12. 11/23-11/25 1:30 pm.
Santa Trolley Rides Train ride around Cape May featuring treats & a holiday guest. Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1048 Washington St., Cape May; 609-884-5404.
www.capemaymac.org. $5. 11/24 11:45 am, 12:45, 1:30 & 2:15 pm. 11/25 11:45 am, 12:45 & 1:30 pm.
Winter Wonderland Visits with Santa, Santa's workshop, music, food & more. Kuser Farm Mansion, 390 Newkirk Ave., Hamilton; 609-890-3630.
www.hamiltonnj.com. 11/29-12/1 6-8:30 pm.
Delaware
*FREE* Festival of Lights Downtown Dover; 302-734-1736.
www.visitdover.com. 11/26 6 pm.
The Rainbow Beak Activities, crafts & presentations about toucans. Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington; 302-571-7747.
www.brandywinezoo.org. $8. 11/27-11/28 9:30-10:15 am, 10:30-11:15 am. 11/29 10:30-11:15 am.
Thanksgiving Weekend at Auburn Heights Includes auto & toy train museum adm., steam train rides, antique auto rides, popcorn & hot chocolate. Auburn Heights, 3000 Creek Rd., Yorklyn; 302-239-2385.
www.auburnheights.org. $10; $7 children 2-12; free for children under 2. 11/23-11/24 1-4:30 pm.
Kids' Stuff
Children's performances
Kidz Bop World Tour Fun, kid-friendly rock tunes. Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St.; 800-298-4200,
www.kidzbopworldtour.com.
$20-$35. 11/24 3 & 7 pm.
Children's Events
Eyes Have It Program about sight & how animals use it to protect themselves. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.
www.elmwoodparkzoo.org. $12. 11/29 10:30-11:20 am.
North Pole Express Train ride to the "North Pole." Visit with Santa, sing along & hot chocolate. Black River & Western Railroad, Rte. 12, Flemington; 908-782-6622.
www.brwrr.com. $18; $7 children. 11/23-11/24 6:30 pm.
Photos With Santa Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Call 609-399-2629 for more info. The Ocean City Music Pier, Moorlyn & the Boardwalk, Ocean City; 609-525-9291.
www.njoceancity.com. 11/24-11/25 noon-3 pm.
Santa Claus Arrives by Train Children will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with Santa at the Brass Lantern. Call 215-598-7165 for more info. Carousel Village, 591 Durham Rd. (Rte. 413), Wrightstown;
www.carouselvillage.com. 11/23-11/25 11 am-5 pm.
Santa Express Train ride with Santa & his elves. Black River & Western Railroad, Rte. 12, Flemington; 908-782-6622.
www.brwrr.com. $12; $10 seniors; $6 children. 11/23-11/25 11:30 am, 1 & 2:30 pm.
Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird: Visit With Santa Watch Santa arrive in a helicopter, have picture taken while you whisper you wish list, enjoy activities, refreshments & a gift. American Helicopter Museum & Learning Center, 1220 American Blvd., West Chester; 610-436-9600.
www.helicoptermuseum.org. Regular admission plus $10. 11/24 11 am & 1 pm.
Santa's Express West Chester Railroad, Market St., West Chester; 610-430-2233.
www.westchesterrr.net. $15; $10 children 2-12. 11/23-11/24 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. 11/25 11 am, 1 & 3 pm.
The Zoo Cares Days Day of fun & educational activities for kids, allowing parents some free time. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.
www.elmwoodparkzoo.org. $25. 11/23.
Children's museums & attractions
Camden Children's Garden 3 Riverside Dr., Camden; 856-365-8733.
www.camdenchildrensgarden.org. Butterfly house, maze, treehouse & more. $5; $3 ages 3-11; free for children 2 & under. Tue.-Sun. 10 am-5 pm.
Garden State Discovery Museum 2040 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill; 856-424-1233.
www.discoverymuseum.com.
Hands-on children's museum featuring an activity wonderland for infants through age 10. Mythical Creature Day - Children's program about mythical beasts. 11/24 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. $9.95; $8.95 seniors; free for children under 1. Sun.-Fri. 9:30 am-5:30 pm; Sat. 9:30 am-8:30 pm.
Insectarium 8046 Frankford Ave.; 215-335-9500.
www.insectarium.com. Ongoing: Arachnid Alley - Exhibit about spiders; Cockroach Kitchen - Live cockroach exhibit; Insect Museum - Thousands of mounted & live specimens, interactive exhibits; Working Beehive - Live bee exhibit. $7; free for children under 2. Mon.-Sat. 10 am-4 pm.
Kix & Giggles Children's Playground 9356 Old Bustleton Ave.; 215-677-4140.
www.kixandgiggles.com. Attractions include a wrap-around gym, a rock wall, soft-play section for babies & toddlers, an outside seating area & more. Mondays 10 am-3 pm are reserved for children with special needs & their families. See website for more details. $6.95. Tue.-Thu. 10 am-8 pm; Fri.-Sat. 10 am-9 pm; Sun. 10 am-8 pm.
The Please Touch Museum 210 N. 21st St.; 215-963-0667.
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org. Arts & crafts, stories, theater, interactive exhibits, hands-on activities & more. Eat Like a Pirate - New theater show about good nutrition & exercise to be staged daily through 11/25 & free with museum admission. $10.95; free for children under 1. Daily 9 am-4:30 pm.
Sesame Place 100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne; 215-752-7070.
www.sesameplace.com. Sesame Place's Holiday Shop & Dine Breakfast With Big Bird & Friends. Reservations required: 215-752-7070. $16.95; $14.95 children 2-11; free for children under 2. 11/23 9-11 am. 11/24 9-11 am, 1-2 pm. 11/25 9-11 am.
Holiday Shopping & Character Photo. 11/23-11/25 10 am-3 pm. $44.50; $39.50 seniors; free for children under 2. Weekends only.
*FREE* Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse Intersection of 33rd & Oxford Sts. in E. Fairmount Park; 215-765-4325.
www.smithplayhouse.org. Three-story "play mansion" for children 0-5 yrs. old & huge outdoor play park for children 0-10 featuring the Giant Wooden Slide, the giant net climber, the Apollo spinner climber, the Biggo Duo swing & much more. Tue.-Sun. 10 am-4 pm. Children must be accompanied by adult.
Literary Calendar
Book signings & readings
Barnes & Noble 301 Main St., Exton; 610-524-0103.
www.bn.com. Eli Kowalski:
Philly Sports Challenge: Eagles Edition. 11/23 5 pm. Michael Katz:
Shalom on the Range. 11/29 7-9 pm.
Barnes & Noble - Rittenhouse Square 1805 Walnut St.; 215-665-0716.
www.bn.com. Christopher Kimball:
America's Best Lost Recipes. 11/28 7:30 pm. Ray Didinger:
One Last Read. 11/29 7 pm.
Borders Books & Music 515 Rte. 73 South, Marlton; 856-985-5080.
www.bordersstores.com. Leonard Vernon & Allen Meyers:
Jewish South Jersey. 11/25 2 pm. Hope Fox:
Impress for Less. 11/28 6 pm.
Borders Express 298 Exton Sq., Exton; 610-363-5036.
www.borders.com. Dave Brown:
Philly Jocks: The Best Philadelphia Pro Athletes of Our Time. 11/25 noon-2 pm. Yanni Maniates:
Magical Keys to Self-Mastery. 11/25 1-4 pm.
The Franklin Institute 222 N. 20th St.; 215-448-1200.
www.fi.edu. Elyse Schein & Paula Bernstein:
Identical Strangers. 11/29 7 pm.
Free Library of Philadelphia - Central Branch 1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322.
www.library.phila.gov.
Greg Behrman:
The Most Noble Adventure. 11/28 7 pm.
Poetry & lectures
Camden County College College Dr., Blackwood; 856-227-7200.
www.camdencc.edu. World AIDS Day Commemoration - Program on the HIV/AIDS problem & its impact on NJ. 11/26 noon.
Camden County College 200 N. Broadway St., Camden; 856-968-1304.
www.camdencc.edu. World AIDS Day Commemoration - Program on the HIV/AIDS problem & its impact on New Jersey. 11/28 noon.
Electric Factory 421 N. Seventh St.; 215-569-9400.
www.livenation.com.
Rob Bell: The Gods Aren't Angry - Founder of Mars Hill church & author of 'Velvet Elvis.' $16. 11/26 8 pm.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust St.; 215-732-6200.
www.hsp.org. Documents of Jewish Interest From the Collection - Documents highlighting Jewish heritage & history will be set aside to view & discuss with library staff. 11/28 6-8 pm.
Phoenixville Public Library 183 Second Ave., Phoenixville; 610-933-3013. Local Author Book Fair - 10 local authors chat with visitors & sell signed copies of their books. 11/29 5-8:30 pm.
Steel City Coffeehouse 203 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-933-4043.
www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com. Mad Poets Society Poetry Series - Organization of poets & writers gather for camaraderie & critique to celebrate the creative soul & promote literary arts. 11/25 1 pm.
The University of Pennsylvania - Kelly Writer's House 3805 Locust Walk; 215-573-9748.
www.writing.upenn.edu/wh. Live at the Writer's House - One-hour taping of poetry, spoken word & live music, to be broadcast on WXPN. 11/26 7 pm. Revisiting the Creative Music Studio - Program featuring two of the founders of the Creative Music Studio: Karl Berger & Ingrid Sertso. 11/28 6 pm.
Upper Moreland Township Building 117 Park Ave., Willow Grove;
www.uppermoreland.org. Myths & Legends of Christmas: Why We Believe in Santa Claus - Preentation by Mrs. Judy Parrish. Light refreshments will be served. Call 215-659-5925 for more info. 11/27 7:30 pm.
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