Weekend event picks: Shopping, more holiday goodies

The post-Black Friday calm has set in and it's time to enjoy the season. Here's what's going on this weekend.

Girl power! Three female-owned shops — Shea's Closet, Bee Inspired and Slate Boutique — will call the Voorhees Town Center (2120 Voorhees Town Center, Voorhees, N.J.) home from Friday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 7. The latest in the Shop Up Pop Up boutique-shopping experience allows local business owners a chance to shell out goods over the course of a weekend. Hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Peddler's Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, Pa.) will be the ultimate stop for all things merry and bright. Starting at 10 a.m. on both Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7, the Christmas Festival features two full days of entertainment including carolers meandering through the village, a parade (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.), dance companies, stilt walker and more.

Take a peek into numerous Fairmount Park houses, dressed in their Christmas best, on Saturday, Dec. 6. Get a ride from the Fairmount Park Holly Trolley for seasonal transportation to Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill Mansion, Mount Pleasant, Lemon Hill, Historic Strawberry Mansion, Woodford Mansion and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. Each of the locations are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will have holiday performers, light bites, interactive performances (magic show!) and more. Trolleys depart from Lloyd Hall (1 Boathouse Row) and all houses every 10 to 15 minutes from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The only way to fully embrace the holiday season is to taste the flavors that go along with it. Mount Airy's Brunch Sessions aim to do just that when seven restaurants (Earth Bread + Brewery, Geechee Girl Rice Cafe, Goat Hollow, Jyoti Indian Bistro, Little Jimmie's Bakery Cafe, Trolley Car Diner and Malelani Café) offer three courses of seasonal fare, including offerings like sweet potato bread pudding French toast, Lapsang Souchong infused pork and frittata flatbread, on Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7. The restaurants open between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and brunch is offered until 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., depending on location.

If you know what's good for you — and your shopping list — get to NoLibs and Fishtown for their Holiday Shopping Spree. For every participating store you frequent (including Philly Phaithful, 737 N. 4th St.; Art Star, 623 N. 2nd St.; Two Percent to Glory, 2031 Frankford Ave.) you score additional discounts: 10% off at the first store, 15% at the next, 20% at the third and 25% at every subsequent location. The spree runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Class up your Saturday at the Glen Foerd Mansion (5001 Grant Ave.), for a day of performances, holiday crafts and tree lighting. Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, musicians from Settlement Music School's Kardon Northeast Branch will sing, dance and play their way into your hearts with shows throughout the day. Come 5 p.m., Santa will pop his head in and a sing along tree lighting will follow.

Channel your best Sugar Plum Fairy at the opening of the Pennsylvania Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust Streets). This weekend's show times are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Crispy and cold is how we like our bacon and beer, respectively. Get them both at the 23rd Street Armory (22 S. 23rd St.) on Saturday, Dec. 6 for this Bacon and Beer Festival. Expect bacon from Rex 1516, DiBruno Bros. and Bing Bing Dim Sum, among others and brews from Penn Brewing Co., 2nd Story Brewing, Flying Fish and more. Drink and eat responsibly from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

If colonial Philadelphia is more your style, the residencies in Elfreth's Alley (126 Elfreth's Alley) open their doors for tours from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. Hang with Ben Franklin, Dolley Madison and colonial Pennsylvania's cranky Santa and see the traditional, decorated homes in all their glory.

Walk through a South Street Headhouse District Winter Wonderland on Sunday, Dec. 7. The Headhouse Square Shambles (200 Pine St.) will be buzzing with holiday cheer when Santa arrives on a fire truck at 5 p.m. Expect performances from the Society Hill Dance Academy and Philadelphia Dance Academy and a grand tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Don't forget that PHAIR vendors will be holding their holiday market throughout the entire event — from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. — and Brauhaus Schmitz will be offering German sausage sandwiches, goulash, beer and mulled wine.