Written by Nick Simard on 5.11.19
If you thought Seasonal Affective Disorder would have the last laugh in Philly, think again. Yo! Let it snow. Bring on the singing choirs, the whirling dancers, the marching bands. Santa’s in the house so let’s get merry.
BONUS: Parking meters are free on Thanksgiving Day. There’s also free parking on Saturdays from Thanksgiving Day to January 1st!
Ready to celebrate the Thanksgiving Day Parade? On Thanksgiving Day, the city streets fill up with floats and giant balloons (and, yes, the possibly one and only Santa Clause). To get in the mood for Thanksgiving in Philly, get a load of the Liberty Bell balloon coming into the 1986 Parade.
Kathy Sledge will perform in the Parade. Yes, that’s Kathy from Sister Sledge!
Where should you go to see the best highlights? With the grand finale happening on the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, a hot spot is Eakins Oval, in front of the Museum. Or scope out your vantage point at Logan Circle. You should be golden anywhere along the Ben Franklin Parkway.
Browse the 6ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade on Facebook to pick out your can’t-miss highlights.
Read More: Winter Events in Philadelphia
Starting Thanksgiving Friday (the day after the holiday), every two hours during opening times, Macy’s in Center City puts on its free show of special effects around a magic tree, with a Julie Andrews narration.
Catch the wintry wonderland performance in the Grand Court atrium any time from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve.
Noon performances rise to a crescendo with live music from the Wanamaker Grand Organ. Go to Macy’s at 1300 Market Street for the experience.
Oh, yeah! Rink opens at Penn’s Landing November 23, so let’s get on the ice, Philly!
Or come for chestnuts roasting on fires, arcade fun, and the candy cabin. Plenty of fun for kids — little and big!
Come to 101 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard for this glistening, riverfront tradition. It’s open every day (holidays included), all the way to March 3, 2020! Skate rentals available on site.
Come out Saturday, November 30, and celebrate local entrepreneurship with Small Business Saturday. This event happens all over the country — a dedicated day on Thanksgiving Weekend for all the moms and pops who create local jobs, enliven neighborhoods, and live their vocations.
Old City and Northern Liberties are two of the participating neighborhoods.
Read up about the history and background of this initiative, and plan to shop small this season.
Starting the day after Thanksgiving and chugging along through New Year’s Eve is the Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum. There’s a quarter mile of rails, loops, and tunnels for the giant model trains.
See the beautifully crafted replica of Independence Hall with pine cone shingles, and go under a trestle bridge yourself.
This is a particularly great thing to do after your Black Friday hike along the Wissahickon Loop.
To see the model rail exhibit, come to the Arboretum at 100 E. Northwestern Avenue.
Ready to find your perfect home in Old City, Northern Liberties, or any one of Philadelphia’s greatest neighborhoods? Just give us a call at 215.545.1039 to find out about Carlyle Property Management’s available floor plans. We look forward to celebrating our city with you.
Topics: Holidays Philadelphia
