What to do with the kids over Holiday Break








Shows



Disney On Ice Dare To Dream  December 22nd - January 1st.  Get tangled up in the newest thrilling show to hit the ice, Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream. Experience Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled; as Rapunzel, her unlikely companion, Flynn, and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!  Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in a magical, musical journey that all begins with a fateful kiss.  And fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true.  At the Wells Fargo Center.




Charlotte's Web at the Arden Theater  November 30 - February 10, 2012  A heart-warming story of a special friendship between a lovable pig and everyone’s favorite spider. Wilbur, Charlotte and their barnyard friends have never been more delightful than in this wonderful tribute to one of the greatest stories for children ever written.




Wizard of Oz at the Kimmel Center - Tuesday December 27th and Wednesday December 28th. A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz will blow you away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports you to a dazzling art deco Oz, complete with munchkins and flying monkeys. Don't miss the chance to travel "Over the Rainbow" and experience this national treasure on stage.

Ice Skating

Chester County Skating Club
The skating club will have Family skate times daily December 26th - December 30th starting at 1pm


Ice Line
Ice Line will offer Public Skate times twice a day (on most days) December 26th - January 1st


Power Play in Exton
Power Play will over Public Skate time daily December 26th - January 2nd


Caln Skate Rink


Rink open daily from 9am -3pm December 26th - December 30th

Blue Cross River Rink

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation is proud to continue to present a wintertime tradition in Philadelphia, as the Blue Cross River Rink will re-open for a 18th season on November 23rd.
The Blue Cross River Rink at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia’s only outdoor public ice rink, is located on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street.

Call 215-925-RINK for current rink and weather conditions



Museums

Dino Dons Dinosaurium

Check out this cool exhibit located right in the Granite Run Mall in Media.  Search for dino bones, hang out in Don's Shooting Gallery and much more.



Dino Days at Delaware Museum of Natural History

Dig into the fascinating world of dinosaurs at the 19th annual Dino Days presented by Bank of America on, December 28 and Tuesday, December 29 at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. 

The Franklin Institute

Giant Tinker Toys - December 26 - January 2 
These oversized building sets are sixteen times larger than the original and are sure to inspire future engineers and architects to bring their big dreams to life.

Storybook Science - December 26 - January 2
This special program for our youngest museum visitors (ages 0-3) features a storybook reading and a hands-on activity in our Early Childhood classroom, KidScience Workshop, located in the back of the KidScience exhibit. This month's theme is TRAINS!


Check their website for more family fun events. The Franklin Institute also has a dinosaur exhibit

The Best of Yuletide’s Past at Winterthur Museum

Now thur January 8, 2012


Join us for a magical tour that will transport you to Christmases of old. Experience Winterthur’s most beloved holiday displays from past Yuletides, and discover holiday traditions of Americans from the colonial period through World War II, including the introduction of the first Christmas trees decorated with goodies for children by Pennsylvania Germans in the 1800s.

Christmas at Hagley
Now thur January 1st

The1803 du Pont ancestral home, is decorated primarily in Colonial Revival style for the holidays. Dried flowers, greenery, fruits, and other natural materials create a beautiful holiday ambiance accentuated by soft lights and Christmas music. Exhibit included in regular admission. Free for members. Use Hagley's main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

A Brandywine Christmas at Brandywine River Museum
Now thur January 8

The museum celebrates the season with fabulous holiday displays including an extensive O-gauge model railroad, an elaborate Victorian dollhouse and thousands of whimsical "critter" ornaments on holiday trees.


Now thur  January 1st

Adventure Aquarium will be transformed into a holiday wonderland under the sea, featuring larger-than-life decorations, twinkling lights, glowing trees, gently falling snow and of course, appearances from the Aquarium’s beloved Scuba Santa (and his elf helpers!), who will delight children all ages as he dives the 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm exhibit among rare sharks, gigantic sea turtles, hundreds of schooling fish, massive stingrays and more.

Now through January 2, 2012
Enchanted Colonial Village
Monday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm and Sunday 11:00am- 5:00pm


Please Touch Museum shares the magic and motion of the holidays with the return of the Lit Brother’s Enchanted Colonial Village.  Visit this representation of an 18th century village, featuring a Bakery, Village Store, Blacksmith and Toymaker shops.  Together, these scenes make for a wonderful intergenerational learning and memory making experience.

Christmas Lights and Displays

Christmas at Longwood Gardens


Half a million outdoor lights and holiday magic await you during Longwood's incomparable Christmas display. Enjoy dazzling trees and seasonal concerts. The Music Room hosts a special, themed holiday display. Kids of all ages will delight in a miniature Garden Railway decked out for the holidays. Thousands of poinsettias accented with amaryllis, artemesia, begonias, cyclamen, hybrid lilies, kalanchoes, paperwhites, red-berried plants and many other flowers flourish inside acres of heated glass conservatories. Living wreaths, swags and live floral trees adorn rooms throughout the Conservatory. Included in Gardens admission.

Holiday Light Show and Dickens Village Macy's Center City

THE 2011 CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW runs hourly from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve day check website for times. The DICKENS VILLAGE (Floor 3) is open continuously during the same period from 10am to 7pm.

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular 2011

“The Comcast Holiday Spectacular 2011” debuts on Thanksgiving Day at 10:00 a.m. with exciting new elements and scenes, including a world class 1940s Swing-Style dance of Jingle Bell Rock featuring Broadway stars, ice sculptures coming to life, and a new light show. Several new super-high resolution computer generated images have been incorporated, providing people of all ages with a holiday display like no other.

The 15-minute show, full of stunning original holiday imagery, music and more was created using cutting-edge technology and will be shown on the 83’ x 25’ Comcast Experience video wall, which is the world’s largest four mm LED display with incredible resolution that’s five times that of an HDTV, in the Comcast Center lobby.

Now through New Year’s Weekend 2012
Shown daily; 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
15-minute shows at the top of each hour
(Shows are not hosted on weekdays at 5:00 p.m.)



Amusement Parks

Sesame Place A Very Furry Christmas
Now thur December 31st

A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place! For a one-of-a-kind family-friendly celebration with everyone's favorite furry friends. The fun starts with 3 special Christmas shows, awesome music and twinkling lights all around. Plus, you'll find more than 300 Christmas trees, including a huge celebratory tree decorated Sesame Street-style. The street will glow with festivities and come to life at night with our illuminated Street Party Parade. And the fun continues with a special Christmas menu, super holiday shopping and, of course, a visit with Santa.


Dutch Winter Wonderland
Now thur December 30th

Dutch Winter Wonderland offers themed rides, games, and holiday entertainment under thousands of twinkling lights! Indoor activities include cookie decorating, voting for your favorite gingerbread house, and sharing holiday wishes with Santa. 


Hershey Park Christmas Candyland
Now thur December 31st

The magic of the holidays comes to life at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. With two million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, festive decorations, and Hershey's Product Characters decked out in their holiday best, there is something for all to enjoy! 

Christmas Candylane features many attractions for guests of all ages including over 30 rides including the family-favorite, Twilight Express.


Children Movies


Wednesday December 28th at 4:30   See a holiday favorite the Polar Express

In Theaters


We Bought a Zoo   (PG)


Hugo (PG)