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Winter’s crisp air and occasional snowfalls make the perfect backdrop for numerous events, exhibitions and festivals in Greater Philadelphia.
The big news: Winter brings the world premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition, immersing guests in the artistry and craftsmanship behind the props, costumes and environments from the blockbuster films of the Harry Potter series at the iconic Franklin Institute.
Elsewhere, residents and visitors enjoy brilliant displays and demos at popular annual events like the Philadelphia Auto Show, the Philly Home Show, Winter Wonder at Longwood Gardens and more.
Some of the city’s best restaurants and chefs show off their seasonal, fixed-price menus and offer diners top-notch culinary experiences during Center City District Restaurant Week in January and East Passyunk Restaurant Week in February and March.
Of course, February is Black History Month, and museums and attractions across the city celebrate Black heritage, history and culture with compelling exhibitions, discussions and more events. It’s also a great time to shop the awesome Black-owned businesses that are so vital to our city and region.
Also up this season: several long weekends perfect for an easy getaway (Martin Luther King, Jr., Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day) and cultural celebrations during Lunar New Year.
Remember that beginning in January, residents and visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to enter any establishment that serves food in Philadelphia, including restaurants, bars, casinos, theaters and more. Other attractions, shops and other indoor public spaces in Philadelphia require proof of vaccination and/or mask-wearing. Guidelines and requirements vary in the surrounding Greater Philadelphia region. Advance tickets or reservations remain recommended or necessary at many spots, and events can be postponed or canceled at any time. Your best bet: Call ahead or check online ahead of time to get the latest info. Read more right here.
Looking for help with a Philly excursion? Call the Independence Visitor Center to speak with a visitor experience expert at (800) 537-7676 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m seven days a week. They’ll help you navigate all the great things you can do right now in Greater Philadelphia.
Read on for the biggest events, exhibitions and festivals in Greater Philadelphia in winter 2022.
Through Sunday, January 30, 2022
This Bucks County farm continues its three-million-light Holiday Light Show (timed tickets required) where visitors drive or, if weather permits, ride in wagons past after-dark displays. Expect illuminated tunnels and just about every imaginable Christmas icon rendered in tiny bulbs. Afterward, guests can cozy up around a campfire.
Where: Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA
Through Sunday, February 13, 2022
The Philadelphia Museum of Art partners with the Whitney Museum of American Art on simultaneous exhibitions of the work of Jasper Johns, considered the country’s most significant living artist. The unprecedented collaboration chronologically shows paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and books that mirror the other museum’s display, creating an immersive exhibition that itself is a study in Johns’ fascination with reflections.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, February 27, 2022
During Winter in Franklin Square, presented by Citizens, the Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO makes this historic square twinkle, with free shows featuring more than 100,000 lights (more than ever!) dazzling viewers through the end of February 2022. No holiday show would be complete without comfort food, local beers and hot beverages (plus, outdoor fire pits and an indoor heated tent), all available in the Franklin’s Winter View (open Thursdays to Sundays through January 9, 2022). During the day, visitors can play a few rounds of mini-golf on the Chilly Philly Mini Golf course and take a spin on the Parx Liberty Carousel.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, March 6, 2022
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest — one of Philly’s favorite winter traditions — brings the seasonal spirit to the Delaware River waterfront through early March 2022. The winter wonderland offers guests a chance to go skating at the city’s largest outdoor rink, cozy up at one of the warming cabins and fire-pit stations, and gaze at the twinkling lights and holiday tree — all while overlooking the Delaware River. Plus: carnival games and plenty of food.
Where: Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, April 3, 2022 (dates vary by attraction)
Pop ups abound in Center City’s Dilworth Park each winter. This winter, folks can:
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Dates vary by show
Curtains are up at Greater Philadelphia’s theaters, and winter is the perfect time to cozy up at a must-see show. This winter, productions of Hadestown (Academy of Music), Oklahoma! (Forrest Theater), Shen Yun (Merriam Theater) and Buyer and Cellar (Act II Playhouse) grace the stages of the area’s theaters. Get the full scoop in our guide to performing arts shows in Greater Philadelphia this winter.
Where: Various locations including the Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
This exhibition focuses on late pop star David Bowie as a social disruptor through work inspired by his music, art and fashion. All creations shown will be for sale, benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Where: National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 7-16, 2022
Founded the year after his death, Philly Loves Bowie Week honors the late, great visionary David Bowie through a number of musically inspired events. In addition to the opening of a months-long exhibition at the National Liberty Museum (see above), Bowie fans can look forward to the following this week:
Where: Various locations including Theatre of The Living Arts, 334 S. Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 9-21, 2022
During the massively popular Center City District Restaurant Week, a three-course dinner goes for just $40 per person at many of Philadelphia’s top restaurants, while lunch (available at select eateries) goes for $25 per person. Despite its name, Restaurant Week has expanded over the years to cover nearly two full weeks, giving patrons plenty of time to try new spots and return to old favorites. Must-trys include Pumpkin BYOB, Amada, and SOUTH Kitchen & Jazz Club.
Where: Various locations including Amada, 217-219 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 10, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
For the first time in nearly three years, WWE’s flagship program, Monday Night Raw, returns to the Wells Fargo Center with the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship — Big E vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins — and the Raw Women’s Championship Match — Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch.
Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Beginning January 11, 2022, an evocative statue of Harriet Tubman created by Wofford Sculpture Studio takes up residence outside Philadelphia’s City Hall, coinciding with Black History Month, Women’s History Month and the 200th anniversary of Tubman’s birth. The months-long celebration of the Underground Railroad conductor also includes more than 30 in-person and virtual events. Stay tuned to the event’s official site for more info.
Where: Various locations including Philadelphia City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Every year, Philadelphia honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of giving back and an extended weekend full of activities across the city. Residents and visitors can partake in one of the hundreds of service projects throughout the city and the region during the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, and check out a full weekend of programs celebrating King at museums and attractions like the African American Museum in Philadelphia and Woodmere Art Museum.
Where: Various locations including the Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 15-23, 2022
Over 100 lifelike animatronic dinosaurs call the Pennsylvania Convention Center home for nine days when Jurassic Quest comes to town with displays dedicated to the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods. Visitors can see the types of creatures who roamed the land and sea in realistic scenes, as well as check out dinosaur-themed rides, “live” dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a “Triceratots” soft play area, bounce houses and inflatable attractions, photo opportunities, and more.
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Installed in mid-January 2022
Formerly housed at the Newseum building in Washington, D.C., a 50-ton marble tablet engraved with the 45 words of the First Amendment will be placed along a 100-foot wide wall at the National Constitution Center’s Grand Hall Overlook, the second-floor atrium overlooking historic Independence Mall.
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 21-22, 2022
Opera Philadelphia’s first onstage performance at the Kimmel Center since January 2020, Oedipus Rex is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy of the man who killed his father and married his mother with a score by Igor Stravinsky. Before the show, George Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, rarely-performed piece Lilacs will be staged.
Where: Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 22 – March 27, 2022
The horticultural minds at Longwood Gardens prove winter is more than stark, bare trees with their annual Winter Wonder exhibit. In the Conservatory, Streptocarpus, Saintpaulia and Clerodendrum schmidtii 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
January 28-29, 2022
Chestnut Hill transforms into a winter wonderland during this weekend festival, where visitors can find a synthetic ice skating rink, ice-sculpting demonstrations, a bonfire encased in ice, a Yurt Village for chic glamping inspiration, vodka tastings and chili specials at participating restaurants.
Where: Various locations including Chestnut Hill Brewing Company Taproom, 8231 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Major attractions and institutions across the city — including the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Orchestra — celebrate Black heritage, history and culture throughout February with special exhibitions, discussions, performances, tours and more. Check out our complete guide to Black History Month in Greater Philadelphia for more.
Where: Various locations including Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, 419 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
February 4, 2022 – December 2023
The face gets all the glory in art, but Auguste Rodin was a master in expressive hands — full of tension and drama. This exhibition features 15 bronzes and plasters of hands, including The Cathedral, a 1908 sculpture depicting two larger-than-life-sized hands whose fingertips are about to touch.
Where: Rodin Museum, 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
If you can’t escape the cold this winter, embrace it — with a beer in hand — during the Founders Philly Freeze-Out. Founders Brewing Company transforms Manayunk into a winter wonderland with ice sculptures, live ice carving, Founders specials in neighborhood bars and restaurants, and in-store promotions and discounts at select boutiques.
Where: Various locations in Manayunk including Main Street, Philadelphia, PA
Opens February 16, 2022
After last summer’s first reopening phase of a $12 million visitor center rehabilitation project at Valley Forge National Historical Park, the pivotal site is ready to unveil a new aspect of the renovation. All-new museum exhibits immerse visitors in the six-month period of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army through color, sound and textures of wood, metal, and mud. The public opening of the renovated theater follows in summer 2022.
February 18 – September 2022
The most comprehensive touring exhibition about the Wizarding World makes its world premiere this winter at Philadelphia’s iconic science museum. The immersive experience reveals the artistry and craftsmanship behind the props, costumes and environments from the blockbuster films of the Harry Potter series, as well as Fantastic Beasts.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA
February 19-21, 2022
There’s no better place to spend Presidents Day weekend (February 19-21, 2022) than Philadelphia, a city intimately linked with our Founding Fathers and many of our country’s presidents. Visitors can commemorate the holiday (which officially falls on Monday, February 21, 2022) with special programming at some of the region’s historical institutions, or take advantage of the long weekend at top attractions. (Look for our full guide to Presidents Day Weekend in Philadelphia to come.)
Where: Various locations including National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Pueblo and Navajo pottery, textiles and jewelry are on display at the Barnes Foundation’s latest exhibit, Water, Wind, Breath: Southwest Native Art in Community. The show comprises nearly 100 works, some collected by Dr. Albert Barnes from Santa Fe and Tao, New Mexico in the 1930s, as well as other works by contemporary Native American artists highlighting the connections between historic pieces and modern practices.
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
February 25-27, 2022
Local and nationally renowned tattoo artists convene at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for a weekend of inking and entertainment at the Philadelphia Tattoo Festival. Check out the attending artists, schedule an appointment (or test your luck with a walk-up) and enjoy your newest piece of body art. Also on offer: tattoo contests, sideshow acts and burlesque.
After a heartbreaking loss in the MLS playoffs against NYCFC, the Philadelphia Union are back in late February, taking on Minnesota United FC in their 2022 home opener. Bundle up, and cheer them on!
Where: Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA
Lagers, stouts, hazy IPAs, hard ciders and more are available for endless (responsible) sipping at the annual Kennett Winterfest, an afternoon-long celebration of beer in Chester County. Tickets include all-you-can-drink brews from breweries like 2SP Brewing Company, Cape May Brewing, Levante Brewing Company and more. (In search of more craft beer? Right this way.)
Where: 600 S. Broad St, Kennett Square, PA
Wander through the sprawling XFINITY Live! entertainment complex while sampling beer at Winterfest Live! With over 100 beers from 75-plus breweries to choose from, you’ll have endless options of hard ciders, stouts and porters to sip from your complimentary stein.
Where: XFINITY Live! Philadelphia, 1100 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Score three-course prix-fixe lunch and dinner deals at many popular eateries in Philly’s East Passyunk neighborhood — known for its diverse dining scene and restaurants helmed by acclaimed chefs — during this once-a-year restaurant week. For 2022, hungry visitors enjoy a three-course lunch and/or dinner at one of four price points — $20, $30, $40 or $55 — and can choose to dine indoors, eat outdoors or order takeout (available at select locations) at 24 restaurants.
Where: Various locations in East Passyunk, East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
The automotive industry’s latest creations are on display over more than half a million square feet at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the annual Philadelphia Auto Show, returning this year and running for nine days. Get an up-close look at hundreds of classic, luxury and exotic cars — and even climb behind the wheel of some.
Acclaimed pop artist Keith Haring, born nearby in Reading, Pennsylvania, was inspired by city graffiti in his colorful work. This spring and summer, the Michener Art Museum displays a private collection of more than 100 works, including two rare drawings Haring drew in blank advertising spaces in the New York City subway and Medusa Head, Haring’s largest print.
Where: Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA
March 18-20 & 25-27, 2022
Hundreds of home exhibitors and home-design experts head to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the annual Philly Home Show, a two-weekend event that inspires homeowners and renters alike to freshen up their spaces. Experts in gardening, landscaping, interior design, furnishing, architecture and construction set up shop to answer questions and help guide attendees seeking advice and inspiration.
March 2022
Formerly located in Old City, the Clay Studio opens a new, state-of-the-art facility in Kensington with programming dedicated to clay workshops, classes and community engagement. The new facility provides quadruple the classroom space, larger artist studios and galleries, and even an outdoor covered pavilion.
Where: 1425 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia) and overnight hotel accommodations.
The can’t-miss experiences in the first World Heritage City in the United States …
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