Thanksgiving Things to Do in Philadelphia, PA
Thanksgiving week in Philadelphia, PA has plenty to do beyond dinner — Dilworth Park at City Hall (Free), Independence Blue Cross RiverRink ($5), Independence Seaport Museum ($23), Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University ($22), and Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University ($22) are all open or hosting special events. Check for turkey trot races and volunteer shifts at local food banks.
Touch everything. That's the rule.
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131 · Wed-Sat 9am-4:30pm, Sun varies by week · Ages 0–7
Animals walk overhead in mesh tunnels
3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Daily 9:30am-5pm, last entry 4pm
Giant walk-through heart since 1954
222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Daily 9:30am-5pm
Giant wooden slide since 1899 — always free
3500 Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121 · Apr-Sep: Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm; Oct-Mar: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Mon · Ages 0–10
Rope bridge over a shark tank
1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ 08103 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am-5pm
Only East Coast Sesame Street park
100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA 19047 · Check website for seasonal schedule · Ages 2–8
Skating in winter, roller rink in summer
101 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Winterfest: Mon-Thu 1-9:30pm, Fri-Sun 11am-12:30am; Summerfest: seasonal
Half a block of handmade mosaic labyrinth
1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 · Wed-Mon 11am-6pm, closed Tuesdays · Ages 5+
Free hammocks on the river
301 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm
Small zoo, no meltdowns, giraffe feeding
1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown, PA 19401 · Daily 10am-5pm
Covered waterfront pier — rain or shine
121 N Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Mon-Thu 12-9pm, Fri 12-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Ground-level fountain jets toddlers love
1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 · Daily 6am-12am; fountain May-Oct, rink Nov-Feb
Lion-head fountain + Tuesday farmers market
210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Daily 6am-12am
Flat riverside trail past Boathouse Row
Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Daily, dawn to dusk
Kids dig for real fossils — closing Sep 2026
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 0+
Mummies + real conservation lab behind glass
3260 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, First Wed until 8pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+
Free Junior Ranger booklets + Liberty Bell
143 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Visitor Center: daily 8:30am-5pm; sites vary · Ages 0+
Craft beer for parents, pirate playground for kids
901 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123 · Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm · Ages 0+
Board a real submarine
211 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-5pm · Ages 0+
Free nature center 20 minutes from downtown
300 Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118 · Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+
Meet costumed Betsy Ross, 30 minutes
239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-5pm · Ages 0+
Rocky steps + world-class art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Mon 10am-5pm, Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri until 8:45pm, closed Tue-Wed
DiNic's roast pork + Bassetts ice cream since 1893
51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 · Daily 8am-6pm
Al Capone's cell + Steve Buscemi audio tour
2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Daily 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm), Mar-Nov
No seat more than 60 feet from the stage
2031 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Show nights Wed-Sun, check schedule
WXPN-connected — great bookings
3025 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Show nights, check schedule; restaurant hours vary
Two venues in one — 2,500 main + 450 Foundry
29 E Allen St, Philadelphia, PA 19123 · Show nights, check schedule
Half a block of handmade mosaic labyrinth
1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 · Wed-Mon 11am-6pm, closed Tuesdays
Free hammocks on the river at sunset
301 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm (seasonal, May-Sep)
Giant walk-through heart since 1954
222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Daily 9:30am-5pm
181 Renoirs in the room Barnes designed
2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Thu-Mon 11am-5pm, closed Tue-Wed
800-cap standing room, good from anywhere
334 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 · Show nights, check schedule
Fishtown comedy club next to The Fillmore
33 E Laurel St, Philadelphia, PA 19123 · Show nights, check schedule
Always free, always different
118 S 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Wed-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mon-Tue
Einstein's brain + swallowed objects collection
19 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays
Largest Rodin collection outside Paris
2151 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Thu-Mon 10am-5pm, Fri until 8:45pm, closed Tue-Wed
Continuously lived in since 1702
126 Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Always accessible (street); museum Thu-Sun 12-5pm
3,200-year-old sphinx for $18
3260 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, First Wed until 8pm, closed Mon
Free, no ticket, 20 minutes
526 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 9am-5pm
Washington's chair is still in the room
520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 9am-5pm, tours every 15-20 min
Tiny 1740 row house, costumed Betsy Ross
239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-5pm
Oldest natural science museum in the Americas
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Board a real cruiser and submarine
211 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-5pm
Clean improv comedy, bring the kids
2030 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Fri-Sat shows, check schedule
Free Saturdays, under 12 always free
101 S Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Thu-Tue 10am-5pm, closed Wed
Free — 100,000+ specimens in a Victorian museum that hasn't changed since the 1890s.
1700 W Montgomery Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121 · Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, closed Sat-Mon
A 17th-century-style Japanese house in Fairmount Park — koi pond, tea garden, and sliding screens.
114 Horticultural Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131 · Wed-Fri 11am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm (Apr-Oct); limited winter hours
Same family lived here from the 1690s to the 1970s — oldest rose garden in North America.
6026 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144 · Thu-Sat 12-4pm (Apr-Dec)
Best banh mi in Philadelphia for $4 — from a corner store in West Philly.
810 S 47th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143 · Daily 6:30am-8pm