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It may be the shortest month of the year, but there’s still a ton jam-packed into February in Philadelphia.
The Lunar New Year sparks parties from Chinatown to Philadelphia’s Countryside, and Black History Month is honored with events at attractions like the African American Museum and the Please Touch Museum.
If you need a little family time, let it go during Disney on Ice Presents Frozen & Encanto, bask in the Winter Wonder at Longwood Gardens or get your hula on at The Hoop Jawn.
February holiday fun is in full swing at family-friendly Sesame Place while the Museum of the American Revolution celebrates Presidents Day Weekend. And ongoing winter festivals continue at Dilworth Park, Penn’s Landing and Franklin Square.
Wanna stay warm indoors? Pass on the love of reading at the African American Children’s Book Fair, discover your inner foodie at the new Tasties Awards or plan those spring projects at the Philly Home + Garden Show.
Read on for the top events, festivals and exhibitions in Greater Philadelphia in February 2025.
Through Sunday, February 2, 2025
Three performances remain in February to catch the Pulitzer Prize-winning Driving Miss Daisy at the historic Walnut Street Theatre, the oldest continuously operating theater in the English-speaking world. The original 1987 off-Broadway production — which became a four-time Oscar-winning film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman — explores the transformative power of friendship through the eyes of an elderly Jewish widow in 1948 struggling with diminishing independence (and systemic racism) and the Black driver who shuttles her from errand to errand.
Where: Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Opera Philadelphia romantic comedy The Anonymous Lover (based on the play L’amant anonyme) comes to a close at the Academy of Music. Featuring music by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges — the only surviving work from the pioneering 18th century Black composer — the show about a young widow who believes she can never love again until she begins to receive a series of passionate letters from a secret admirer is performed in French with English supertitles.
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, February 9, 2025
The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure enters its final days on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibit — which takes its name from James Baldwin’s 1963 essay on desegregation — features 28 contemporary Black and African artists, including Amy Sherald (you may know her mural at 11th and Sansom streets), Michael Armitage and Claudette Johnson. The collection, curated by trailblazing journalist Ekow Eshun, celebrates Black contemporary life in all its nuance, richness and beauty through painting, drawing and sculpture.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Wednesday, February 12, 2025
The 15,000 aquatic animals at the Camden waterfront’s Adventure Aquarium are getting some company. A new aquarium experience inspired by Nintendo Switch video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a slew of themed activities exploring the wonders of aquatic life from the world of Animal Crossing. Learn more about the real-world animal kingdom through activities like meet-and-greets with game characters (on select dates), photo opportunities with character standees and special backgrounds, creature description signage with information directly from Animal Crossing — presented by in-game curator Blathers — and check-in kiosks offering 100 online-redeemable My Nintendo Platinum Points.
Where: Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
Through Sunday, February 23, 2025
Catch the fun of Winter in Dilworth Park — right in front of City Hall — before the season comes to an end. Lace up your skates (BYO or rentals available) for an up-to-90-minute skating session at the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink (advance reservations suggested) or warm up with comfort food, quick bites, beer, cocktails and a toasty firepit at the ski chalet-style Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin. To get you closer to spring, the whimsical topiaries, plant beds and reindeer sculptures in The Wintergarden at Greenfield Lawn remain on display through Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, February 23, 2025 (dates vary by attraction)
There are just a few more weeks to enjoy the season-long wintertime activities at historic Franklin Square. Pair any (or all!) of these activities with the relaxing firepits, hand-crafted cocktails and seasonal treats at the Ben On the Rocks Winter Pop-Up Bar:
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, March 2, 2025
Curated over the course of two years in collaboration with the award-winning actress known for The X-Files, ER, and NCIS: New Orleans, Shared Vision: Portraits from the CCH Pounder-Koné Collection exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia highlights contemporary art spanning the African diaspora. The show — composed of 40 works of art in multiple media, including pieces by both world-renowned (like Bisa Butler and Samella Lewis) and emerging artists (including Luke Agada and Alex Peter Idoko) — features Black figures and explores identity, presence, beauty, autonomy and power.
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Experience a Penn’s Landing winter wonderland as the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest illuminates the Delaware River waterfront for its 31st season. Glide around the NHL-sized ice skating rink, enjoy boardwalk games and amusement rides, view the festival’s signature holiday tree and fantastic light displays, and hop a ride on the 60-foot-tall riverside Ferris wheel. Or indulge in seasonal treats and hot drinks around firepits, in warming cabins or at the rinkside lounge. Admission is free, with pay-as-you-go food and drink and tiered tickets for ice skating (which should be reserved in advance).
Where: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, March 9, 2025
Renowned Philly playwright Michael Hollinger’s world-premiere comedy Holy Grail of Memphis — winner of three Barrymore Awards for Outstanding New Play — wraps up Arden Theatre Company’s first show run of the year. The Old City theater’s production tells the story of Newton Stover III, a man struggling to rebuild his life and legacy — with assistance from long-lost recordings of a legendary bluesman found in the basement of his grandfather’s rundown music studio — before the bank, an unexpected stranger and ghosts of his past catch up with him.
Where: Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, March 23, 2025
The horticultural minds at Longwood Gardens prove winter is more than stark, bare trees with their annual Winter Wonder exhibit. Escape the chill and bask in the warmth of the beautiful new West Conservatory (part of Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience) as it begins its peak flowering season where Streptocarpus, Saintpaulia, Clerodendrum schmidtii and more fill up the space in purple and white while hundreds of orchids bloom magnificently. Outdoors, the gardens’ 400 acres pop with yellow and orange witch hazel, while winter grasses provide texture to the landscape.
Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Through Sunday April 13, 2025 (select dates)
The Philadelphia 76ers franchise’s 76th campaign hits midseason as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George hit the Wells Fargo Center floor for seven home matchups bookending the league’s All-Star Weekend. Before the break, the Sixers host division rivals the Boston Celtics (Sunday, February 2, 2025) and the Toronto Raptors (Tuesday, February 4, 2025) along with visits from the Dallas Mavericks (Wednesday, February 5, 2025) and the Miami Heat (Tuesday, February 11, 2025). The season’s second half sees the Celtics back again on Thursday, February 20, 2025, followed by dates with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls (Saturday, February 22, 2025 and Monday, February 24, 2025, respectively).
Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Tuesday, April 15, 2025 (select dates)
The Philadelphia Flyers lace up for four February home contests at the Wells Fargo Center before and after the league’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Tilts with two division superstars mark the end of the first half as Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (Thursday, February 6, 2025) and Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins (Saturday, February 8, 2025) come to town. After the break, old foes the Edmonton Oilers come skate on Saturday, February 22, 2025, followed by those pesky Penguins again on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, as part of a home-and-home series.
Ongoing
It’s FaceTime, on a global scale. The hit worldwide art installation known as The Portal has come from New York City to Philly’s LOVE Park The massive circular 24/7 video livestream (created by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys) links the City of Brotherly Love to everyday folks in faraway countries. The Philly Portal is currently located near the LOVE Park Visitor Center on the corner of 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
Where: LOVE Park, 16th Street & John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Billed as Philadelphia’s largest outdoor winter festival, the free Founders Philly Freeze Out returns to Main Street in Manayunk for another day of chilly fun, held concurrently with the free (with advance registration) three-mile Founders Freeze Out Fun Run at 9 a.m. and the Manayunk Chowder Crawl at noon (paid tickets required). Festival highlights include over two-dozen creations from Ice Sculpture Philly, live ice-carving demos, an ice slide and a snowy ice igloo, a Lunar New Year Lion Dance, food trucks and beer specials, a winter market, and discounts at area businesses.
Where: Main Street, Philadelphia, PA
Many of us first learned the intricacies of classical music from Peter and the Wolf, in grade school or perhaps from Disney. The Philadelphia Orchestra once again presents that opportunity for youngsters to be delighted by Prokofiev’s timeless tale and to serve as an introduction to the array of orchestral instruments as each character is brought to life through Peter’s strings, his grandfather’s bassoon, the Wolf’s horns and more — with narration from audience favorite Michael Boudewyns. This show is a part of Ensemble Arts Philly’s buy-two-or-more Family Discovery Series savings package.
Where: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
The African American Children’s Book Project was created in 1992 to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans. Now in its 33rd year, the project’s annual African American Children’s Book Fair is one of the nation’s oldest and largest events focusing on children’s books by Black authors and artists. The free event returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, featuring a variety of literacy activities and the opportunity to meet nearly two-dozen nationally recognized writers and illustrators, including Elizabeth Acevedo, Nikki Grimes, Vashti Harrison and Shawn Martinbrough.
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
February 1-8, 2025 (dates vary by event)
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, flips the calendar at the start of February, and the city is primed for fireworks, celebrations and plenty of food centered in Chinatown and extending throughout the region, with these as some of the events celebrating the Year of the Snake.
Where: State Street, Media, PA
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Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
North 10th & Spring streets, Philadelphia, PA
Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA
February 1-28, 2025 (Dates vary by attraction)
February is Black History Month, which offers a perfect opportunity to celebrate Black icons and Black culture at special events and programming at attractions and museums across Philadelphia, including:
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Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA
Various locations including Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
February 1 – March 9, 2025 (dates vary by event)
There are only two Sesame Street theme parks in the world — and one is right in Bucks County. An adventure for any Muppet-loving kid, Langhorne’s Sesame Place offers a trio of great events this month for the whole family. Enjoy a yummy buffet and funky desserts (and some banging beats) during Elmo’s Rockin’ Birthday Dine (February 1 & 2, 2025). More great food and love-themed treats are on hand at My Fuzzy Valentine Dine (February 8 & 9, 2025). And laissez les bons temps rouler during a family-friendly Mardi Gras Celebration (February 15 to March 9, 2025, select dates).
Where: Sesame Place Philadelphia, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA
Celebrating one of the world’s great food cities, the inaugural Tasties Awards bring together Philly’s top chefs and restaurateurs, the passionate diners who support them and celebrity presenters. Hosted by the Delicious City podcast, the event honors those who have shaped the city’s vibrant culinary culture with innovation, dedication and excellence across 15 awards with over 40 nominees in categories including Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Best Cocktail Program, Best Late Night Joint and several People’s Choice awards. The event continues into the night with a post-ceremony soiree.
Where: Live! Casino & Hotel, 900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Located in a former movie house overlooking the Delaware River, Bucks County’s 300-seat Bristol Riverside Theater stages hundreds of shows each year. But 2025 marks a new era for the venue, with a grand reopening after the first major renovation in its four-decade existence. Among the improvements are a revamped auditorium (renamed John Martinson Theatre), a new atrium, new seating, updated sound and lighting, increased accessibility, a new river-level entrance, and a glass walled elevator. The debut show in the renovated building is Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman production Fires in the Mirror (February 4 to 23, 2025).
Where: Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA
This February, the stage at the 160-plus-year-old crystal-chandeliered Academy of Music hosts one of the millennium’s most uplifting and brilliantly performed musicals, about one of the nation’s darkest days. Part of the annual Broadway Series, charmer Come From Away tells the story of the small Canadian town of Gander and its welcoming residents who played host to thousands of unexpectedly rerouted plane passengers while America’s borders were closed and all air traffic grounded on 9/11. The innovative show features a small ensemble of talented performers who each carry multiple main roles.
February 4-25, 2025 (Tuesdays only)
Celebrate the legacy that tea played in the nation’s founding during four Tuesdays in February with Tuesday Tea at historic Carpenters’ Hall. Held inside the elegant building that hosted Washington, Adams and the rest of the delegates to the First Continental Congress in 1774, the event offers afternoon tea with an array of sweet and savory treats hosted by (a reenactor portraying) former First Lady Dolley Todd Madison, who discusses the role of tea in the American Revolution.
Where: Carpenters' Hall, 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Philly isn’t just a hotbed for basketball hoops but that other kind as well, showcased during The Hoop Jawn, the Mid-Atlantic’s largest hula hoop festival. This second annual event — for beginners, seasoned vets and spectators — is a celebration of the nostalgic sport with workshops by talented instructors (teaching the basics up to mind-blowing tricks), hooping contests, jaw-dropping live performances, raffles, surprise guests and tons of hula hoop action. A weekend pass includes eight workshops, an event T-shirt, lunch and snacks, professional headshots, and a ticket to the Hoop Jawn Showcase and post-show jam.
Where: First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
February 7-16, 2025 (dates vary by event)
The events during Winter at Franklin Square (see above) ramp up with a trio of fun February Events coming to the historic park:
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
We’re going to burst your bubble … but in the best way, as the world-famous Gazillion Bubble Show pops into the circa-1918 Miller Theater on Avenue of the Arts. This family-friendly show combines bubble artistry, soapy science and interactive fun into a mesmerizing spectacle of floor-to-ceiling bubbly magic, immersive lights, lasers and high-energy music from award-winning bubble artists Deni Yang and Melody Yang of the sensational Yang family bubble troupe. This show is a part of Ensemble Arts Philly’s buy-two-or-more Family Discovery Series savings package.
Where: Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Rising majestically at the head of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art — one of the nation’s largest and most recognizable art institutions — houses vast collections, plus rotating exhibitions. February kicks off a new exhibit inside its iconic halls with Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective, an anthology review of the famed Chicago artist that highlights her stylized paintings of fragmented female bodies all the way up to her late-career quilt-making projects. This first comprehensive retrospective of her work in three decades presents nearly a hundred boundary-blurring pieces.
The Regional Theatre Tony Award-winning independent Wilma Theater along Philly’s Avenue of the Arts has hosted countless shows over its half-century in business, but probably none about a fictional basketball player who also happens to be a deity. In The Half-God of Rainfall, Yoruba and Greek mythologies are blended into the story of superpowered Demi, a half-Nigerian mortal, half-Greek god who leaves his West Nigerian village to become an NBA superstar in this show based on the epic poem from Nigerian-born British poet and playwright Inua Ellams.
Where: The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Stage comedy master Noël Coward’s century-old Hay Fever makes an apt debut at Washington Square West’s legendary Walnut Street Theatre — the oldest continuously operating theater in the English-speaking world, dating back to 1808. The blissful comic masterpiece recounts the story of a once-glittering star of the London stage who invites a young suitor to join her in the country. However, her family has the same idea, which throws all involved into a living melodrama of misjudged meetings, secret seductions and scandalous revelations. Don’t miss the theater’s new wider and more comfortable seating throughout the venue.
The Birds brought home the big one. Now it’s time to bring the party. Celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles’ spectacular Super Bowl LIX win with over 1 million Eagles fans during the official victory parade and ceremony on Friday, February 14, 2025. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and ends with a 2 p.m. Super Bowl ceremony on the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Look forward to Eagles player appearances, cavalcades, jumbotrons, special guests and more confetti than you can imagine. Bonus: The subway is free all day. Go Birds!
Where: Eagles Super Bowl Parade begins at Broad Street & Pattison Avenue and runs up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
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Eagles Super Bowl Ceremony begins at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
No, we will not let it go and we won’t stop talking about Bruno — at least not when the Wells Fargo Center is hosting Disney on Ice Presents Frozen & Encanto. Step inside as dazzling skating (along with Olaf, Kristoff and Sven) transport you to Arendelle to join Anna’s adventure to find Elsa, then to the Madrigal family’s Colombian casita to help Mirabel save her enchanted family home. Bring the whole fam to sing along with your favorite tunes in an event hosted by Mickey and Minnie Mouse themselves. Ticketed character experiences are available for an additional fee.
Lewis Tanner Moore — great-nephew of Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first African American painter to gain international acclaim — dedicated much of his life advocating for Black artists, challenging institutions, like the Michener Art Museum, not to overlook their work and talent. The Bucks County museum pays tribute to the collector and curator with an exhibition featuring 35 of the 65 paintings, photographs, sculptures and works on paper that Moore helped it to acquire. The collection includes works by the devoted advocate’s forefather, as well as local artists Moe Brooker, Barbara Bullock and James Brantley.
Where: Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA
The latest iteration of the famous three-decade-old traveling exhibition, Body Worlds: Vital comes to The Franklin Institute starting this February. A joint work of anatomists and over 13,000 body donors, the exhibit is an exposition of dissected human bodies, animals and other anatomical figures, which allows visitors to view complex anatomy structures and functions in an unprecedented way — through the innovative preservation process of plastination. The display explores health concerns of contemporary times and celebrates the living human body in its optimal state: healthy, vibrant, vigorous and in motion.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Telling the story of the Revolutionary War through personal accounts, the Museum of the American Revolution delves into the War for Independence through relics, documents, works of art, rotating exhibits and special events. Among the most apt for the museum, February brings a celebration of Presidents Day Weekend and the leadership and legacy of the nation’s first president George Washington and the diverse range of people with whom he interacted. Over the long weekend, enjoy hands-on demonstrations, discovery carts, pop-up talks, crafts and lesser-known stories from Washington’s 18th-century world.
Where: Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
The annual Philly Home + Garden Show draws 300-plus exhibitors and experts to Montgomery County’s Greater Philadelphia Expo Center for three days of activities, events, displays, showcases and swag. Specialists set up on the 7,500-square-foot expo floor offering inspiration in categories including gardening, landscaping, interior design, architecture, construction, renovation, automotive, electronics, health and wellness, pools, appliances, décor and more. Main stage speakers for 2025 include Craig Conover of Bravo’s Southern Charm and Christopher Knight — aka Peter Brady — from HGTV’s A Very Brady Renovation. Tickets are required; snag yours now and save $4 with promo code VISITPHILLY.
Where: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks, PA
Why wait for summer brew season when you can beerfest in the heart of chilly season at Kennett Winterfest in Chester County? Lagers, stouts, hazy IPAs, hard ciders and other beers from across the region, nation and world are available for sampling at the afternoon-long celebration of brew life — along with live music and food vendors — in beautiful Kennett Square. Tickets feature all-you-can-drink beer samples, including from area breweries like Human Robot, Urban Village, Round Guys, Well Crafted, Neshaminy Creek and Victory Brewing. Designated driver tickets are also available at reduced prices.
Where: Kennett Square Borough Hall, 600 S. Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA
Established in 1996, South Philly-based non-profit Theatre Exile focuses on new and contemporary works featuring local talent performed in an intimate setting. The highlight of the theater’s calendar is the annual Philly GRIT series, which showcases experimental and boundary-pushing performances by Philadelphia artists across diverse storytelling styles. This season’s GRIT-y headliners include Koal, a one-woman clown show/drama fusion about climate-catastrophe-fueled wildfires in Australia, and Heart Ripped Out Twice And So Can You!, billed as a (mostly) comedy about pain, along with bonus performance of Camp Cookie featuring Philly-based drag performer Cookie D’iorio.
Where: Theatre Exile, 1340-48 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Prominent regional Arden Theatre Company has garnered much acclaim since its founding in 1988, including dozens of Barrymore Awards. Coming to their stage in February, gritty King Hedley II, from “Poet of Black America” August Wilson, follows a recently released felon struggling to take control of his life in the face of a family and community struggling with his return to the real world in 1980s Pittsburgh. The production, continuing the theater’s commitment to Wilson’s American Century Cycle, is directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Temple University alum and Villanova University Associate Professor James Ijames.
Where: The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Franklin Music Hall, 421 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, 1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA
Penn Live Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA
Parx Xcite Center, 2999 Street Road, Bensalem, PA
Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple Avenue, Sellersville, PA
City Winery Philadelphia, 990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA
Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, PA
Black history is Philly history, and Black History Month offers a special opportunity to reflect on the Black experience, commemorate the contributions of Black figures, and pave the way for a more just and equitable future. Learn about the works of Black trailblazers at Philly institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the African American Museum in Philadelphia and The Franklin Institute. Celebrate Black artists with special performances at the Academy of Music. And discover a new favorite shop or restaurant while supporting the many Black-owned businesses in Philadelphia.
Gōng xǐ fā cái! Philly and its large and proud Chinese population does Lunar New Year right each February, offering opportunities to celebrate with traditional performances, special cuisine, festive parades, and the exchanging of lucky red envelopes of good wishes and prosperity throughout the city. Explore cultural celebrations at institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pearl S. Buck House and enjoy festivals at sites including Chinatown, Dilworth Park and Franklin Square, many showcasing the talents of the iconic Philadelphia Suns and their popular traditional Lion Dance.
Restaurants across Philadelphia offer seasonal menus filled with warm, hearty selections of soups, stews and roasted entrees. But what really warms the heart (and hands) during winter is a quaint dining space with a roaring fireplace to boot. Check out some of Philly’s homiest eateries with fireplaces like the wood-burning blaze at The Plough & the Stars, the British-inspired hearths on both floors at The Dandelion, the indoor/outdoor connecting fireplace at Suraya, the exposed brick ingle at 59 Almshouse in Richboro or the poured-concrete spot under the skylight at Wm. Mulherin’s Sons.
Fall’s chill and winter’s cold may have you longing for the indoors, but February is a fantastic time to enjoy hundreds of miles of trails across Philly parks and green spaces open and safe for hiking, even if it means a festive jaunt through the snow. Bundle up and head out to Forbidden Drive and the Wissahickon Creek trails of Wissahickon Valley Park, uncrowded offseason paths throughout Pennypack Park, and brisk views from up on Fairmount Park’s Belmont Plateau. Or hit the 2.4-mile cross-country and snowshoeing trail at Spring Mountain Adventures.
While the weather outside may be frightful, the action is hot inside cozy Wells Fargo Center. The arena has warmed the hearts of fans since 1996, where all three of Philadelphia’s indoor pro teams — the NBA’s 76ers, NHL’s Flyers and NLL’s Wings — hit their midseasons in February on the court, ice and turf, respectively. It’s not all professional sports action, as March Madness nears for a few big NCAA basketball matchups hosted by the Villanova Wildcats and big names roll through to play big live concerts at the 21,000-capacity venue.
Bright lights, dramatic turns, big sing-alongs … it’s warm for a show all February long inside Philly’s plethora of iconic theaters and playhouses. As holiday events wrap, a bevy of stage shows and musicals hit the planks for Broadway magic, heartfelt scores, classic texts and world premieres. New runs often take hold at grand lyceums and community auditoriums alike in February at sites like the Academy of Music, Miller Theater, Wilma Theater and Walnut Street Theatre in the city and Bristol Riverside Theater, The Media Theatre and Bucks County Playhouse in the countryside.
February in Philly is still cold, even as temps start to rise. Daytime high temperatures average 44 degrees Fahrenheit with overnight lows down around 28 degrees. (February’s thermometer hit a record high of 79 degrees in 1930.) The month is the city’s snowiest, averaging just over six-and-a-half inches in total, and snow can pile up quickly, as with 2010’s Snowmageddon storm which dumped a February record of 22 inches. During the shortest month, the sun shines just about five-and-a-half hours per day, with around nine days experiencing some rainfall that’s not frozen precipitation.
The Philadelphia region stretches into the surrounding four-county countryside of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, offering even more parks, restaurants, attractions, shopping, history and fantastic events worth a drive or a train ride. Annual February suburban highlights include Winter Wonder at Longwood Gardens, Indoor Mini Golf at Linvilla Orchards, shows like the Philly Home + Garden Show and Philadelphia Gift Show at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Kennett Winterfest in Kennett Square, and a myriad of themed celebrations at Langhorne’s Sesame Place. Musically inclined? Catch hot indoor live music at Keswick Theater in Glenside, Bensalem’s Xcite Center and Sellersville Theatre.
The performing arts scene is hot in February, with plays, musicals, dance, kids’ events, comedy and more throughout the region. Catch fresh-from-Broadway shows along with Opera Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Ballet at Academy of Music (plus more Broadway at Forrest Theatre), the Philadelphia Orchestra at The Kimmel Center and music and dance at Miller Theater and Philadelphia Theatre Company’s Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Or see the thespians hit the stage at historic Walnut Street Theatre and Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater in the city and Act II Playhouse, Bucks County Playhouse and Media Theatre in the countryside.
The February sports scene in Philly is, in a word (besides cold), exciting. At the Wells Fargo Center, the 76ers and Flyers are racking up mid-season wins in front of throngs of enthusiastic fans, as are indoor lacrosse’s Wings. At hallowed college basketball halls like The Palestra, the six local Big 5 teams battle for March Madness bids, and — in a sign of the coming spring — soccer’s Union kick off their schedule in Chester. But the winner is you with friends and family enjoying stadium food and drink, cheers and boos and, of course, Gritty.
February is a great month to visit Philly if you’re looking to avoid crowds. With winter’s chill in the air and spring break still weeks away, fewer visitors means less time in line and more time to enjoy the activities, museums and historic sites the region has to offer. But that doesn’t mean any less excitement, with plenty of high-energy events across the region for folks like the 20,000 DIY’ers passing through the doors of the annual Philly Home + Garden Show and the beer fans sampling suds from over five-dozen breweries at Kennett Winterfest.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and priceless peace of mind.
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