20 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend
Hotel Palomar is collecting donations for Saved Me at Santa Paws on Saturday. Photo by Andre Flewellen
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9
The Carnal & the Mortal @ Wagner Free Institute of Science
The Wagner and Atlas Obscura are hosting a night of sex talk and erotic ghost stories with two guest speakers. Author Paul Koudounaris will enlighten us about sexualized ghosts in the Palermo catacombs in Italy, and pathologist Nicole Angemi, who’s known for her (warning: gross!) autopsy Instagrams, will tell us about “sex-related diseases, dysfunctions, accidents, and deaths.”
Frozen Night @ Franklin Square
Elsa, Anna, and WXPN’s Kids Corner host Kathy O’Connell and producer Robert Drake will be at Franklin Square Holiday Festival’s Frozen-themed night. Or come by with your pups tomorrow for Santa Paws Saturday to take photos with Santa and get a free pet portrait drawn by a Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts student, plus doggie treats from BoneJour.
Netflix Presents: Here Comes The Funny @ Tower Theatre
Adam Sandler, David Spade, Nick Swardson and Rob Schneider get back to standup in their joint comedy tour.
Matt Pond PA @ Underground Arts
Former Philadelphian Matt Pond brings his band back home to play Underground Arts. He just released his 11th album, Winter Lives. Moving Panoramas and Joy Riding are also on the bill.
Doogie Horner and Michelle Biloon @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
Former Philadelphian Doogie Horner and current Philadelphian Michelle Biloon are both taping half-hour specials at Good Good Comedy.
Get the Led Out @ Electric Factory
Led Zeppelin’s biggest fans, tribute band Get the Led Out, play the Electric Factory, which will be collecting items for Toys For Tots at the show. Here’s an option.
Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan @ Helium Comedy Club
Broken Lizard Comedy Group’s Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan, from Super Troopers and Beerfest, do standup and tell behinds-the-scenes stories about their movies at Helium. They’ll be back for another show on Saturday.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
50 Cent @ Bloomingdale’s
Rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, will be at Bloomingdale’s in the King of Prussia mall to promote men’s underwear brand Frigo. If you buy something from Frigo (and you’re in line by 2 p.m.), he might sign it. You can have a pair of undies signed by 50 Cent.
Santa Paws @ Hotel Palomar
Bring your pet to Hotel Palomar on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. to get a professional photo with Santa and snag a gift bag from Doggie Style. It’s free, but the hotel will be collecting donations for no-kill shelter Saved Me.
DVLF TOY @ Top of the Tower
It’s the 10th year for TOY, the annual fundraising bash for LGBTQ foundation DVLF, and they’re celebrating the milestone with a new party location, high up at Top of the Tower. Bring an unwrapped toy for kids at CHOP and kids served by Action Wellness.
Tell Me A Story: ’Tis the Season @ Studio Theatre at the Arden’s Hamilton Family Arts Center
Jen Childs, Bi Jean Ngo and other Arden Theatre artists will tell stories about the holidays, backed by music, in this installation of the Arden Cabaret Series. Hillary Rea hosts.
Crafty Balboa Holiday @ Bok
Browse goods from 65 artists and makers at Crafty Balboa’s holiday market, or go homemade at the “make and take” craft table hosted by Art Sphere.
Winterfest @ King of Prussia Town Center
The new Town Center in KOP is hosting a winter festival with Santa, ice sculptures, cookie decorating, face painting, games and crafts, and samples from local restaurants. Jenn Ryan from 101.1 More FM will be broadcasting live from the fest. If you have a spare new or like-new winter coat, bring it along to donate to Cradles for Crayons.
Community Holiday Parade and Sugarplum Saturday @ Chestnut Hill
Watch marching bands and choirs parade through Chestnut Hill in the morning, followed by photo ops with Santa, gingerbread workshops, cookie decorating, arts and crafts, and storytime.
Arctic Ave @ East Passyunk Avenue
Stroll along EPA to check out ice sculptures and live ice carving from the pros at Ice Sculpture Philly during the second annual Arctic Ave. At 7 p.m., there will be an ice-carving battle in front of Pat’s and Geno’s.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
Holiday Light Show @ Shady Brook Farm
Pumpkin-picking season may be over, but there’s still a good reason to visit Shady Brook Farm: A two-mile trail with three million lights. You can drive through yourself (with a ticket) or take a wagon ride. Santa will be hanging out at the Farm Market for photos. The lights are up through January 8th, 2017.
Philly Vegan Pop Flea Merry Mini Market @ Tattooed Mom
Vegan-friendly vendors will be selling gifts and edibles at TMoms at this pop-up holiday market.
Questlove Supreme @ Foundry at the Fillmore
The Root’s Questlove is back at the Foundry for a DJ set.
Big Huge Yiddish Dance Party @ The Rotunda
Work up a sweat dancing to live Klezmer music at this holiday bash from Philadelphia Folklore Project and Community Klezmer Initiative.
96.5 Amp Radio Let It Snow Show @ BB&T Pavilion
The Chainsmokers — the DJ duo who hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Closer,” featuring the also-really-hot-right-now Halsey — headline the Let It Snow concert, with Mike Posner, JoJo, Charli XCX, Kungs, Cash Cash.
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