Pierre’s Weekend Calendar December 20 – 22
Shows This Weekend
Friday
Nightmare @ The Fillmore
CeeLo Green @ Keswick Theatre
Daughters @ Union Transfer
Glitterer @ The Foundry
Popa Chubby @ Sellersville Theater
Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret @ Fringe Arts (140 N Christopher Columbus Blvd)
Saturday
LIVING COLOUR @ Ardmore Music Hall
The Starting Line @ Franklin Music Hall
Low Cut Connie @ Union Transfer
The Front Bottoms @ The Fillmore
Kem @ The Met
Yheti @ Theatre Of Living Arts
Rodriguez @ City Winery
August Burns Red @ Chameleon Club (Lancaster)
Gorilla Biscuits @ Reverb (Reading)
Gallagher @ Santander Performing Arts Center
Jason Isbell @ Hard Rock AC – Soundwaves
Sunday
Crobot @Chameleon Club (Lancaster)
Sons Of Serendip @ The Queen
Mir Fontane @ The Foundry
What’s going on at MMR?
What’s Going on in the Movies?
New This Week:
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker ( PG-13 ) Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher
CATS (PG) Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, James Cordon
Still in Theaters:
Jumanji: The Next Level ( PG-13 )Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan
Frozen II (PG) Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Sterling K. Brown
Happening Around Town:
Through December 24
Christmas Village in Philadelphia
Christmas Village returns to LOVE Park for its 12th season to put Center City in the mood for the winter holidays. From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve, Philadelphia’s largest holiday attraction will transform LOVE Park into an authentic open-air German Christmas market with holiday sights and sounds featuring thousands of twinkling lights, festive Christmas decorations, live music at the main stage, children’s activities and European food and drinks. Preview Weekend Sat 11am-8pm and Sun 11am-7pm. Opens Thurs Nov. 28 11am-7pm every day. LOVE Park, 1500 Arch Street.
Through December 29
The Wizard of Oz
Leigha Kato stars as Dorothy in Quintessence Theatre’s production of Frank L. Baum’s classic fantasy about a girl who just can’t stop killing witches. Directed by Lee Cortopassi. Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Ave.quintessencetheatre.org
Through December 30
Christmas Underwater
The Aquarium decks its tanks with Christmas trees, a scuba-diving Santa Claus, and “daily magical indoor snow-like flurries.” Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ. Adventureaquarium.com
Through December 31
Holiday Garden Railway
Miniature trains wind their way through a quarter mile of tracks in this outdoor display at Morris Arboretum. Certain times require slotted tickets, so check the schedule. Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave. morrisarboretum.org/
Through December 31
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Pennsylvania Ballet stages the holiday classic about a girl who falls in love with a nutcracker. Also her toys come to life. And there are some evil mice in there, I think. Music by Tchaikovsky, of course. Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. kimmelcenter.org
Happening Around Town:
Through December 31
Franklin Square Holiday Festival & Electrical Spectacle Light Show
Once again quant little downtown park Franklin Square will be transformed into a dazzling display of winter cheer and electrical bravado. The festival features light shows every night and a calendar full of family-friendly events. Free, opens November 14, continues through December 31, Franklin Square, 200 N. Sixth St. historicphiladelphia.org
Through January 1
Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market
The Market will once again transform Dilworth Park into a holiday shopping wonderland from Saturday, November 23 to January 1. Over 50 artisans, designers, crafters and confectionaries from the greater Philadelphia region will offer decorations, gifts and holiday foods inside white, festively lit tents topped with original Herrnhut Stars. Just feet away from the tents will be the dazzling holiday Christmas Village Philadelphia Carousel delighting children of all ages in the City Hall Courtyard..madeinphila.com for more information. Fri-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun-Thurs 11am – 7pm. 1400 John F Kennedy Boulevard (West Side of City Hall).
Through January 1
Fairmount Park Holiday House Tours
The historic houses of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park will be decked out in their finest winter finery and welcoming guests for guided tours. Participating venues include Cedar Grove, Historic Strawberry Mansion, Laurel Hill Mansion, Lemon Hill Mansion, Mount Pleasant and Woodford Mansion. (See Also: The full Very Philly Christmas events lineup.)
$8-$30, continues through January 1, multiple locations. holidaysinthepark.com/
Through January 4
Grand Illumination Celebration
Peddler’s Village will once again get into the holiday spirit with lights, decorations etc. This Friday’s opening celebration includes Santa Claus, apple cider, hot chocolate, marshmallow toasting, a display of award-winning gingerbread houses and more.
Peddler’s Village, 2400 Street Rd., New Hope, PA. peddlersvillage.com
Through January 5
A Longwood Christmas
The holiday display begins a week before Thanksgiving. In our celebration of all the shapes of the season, we’ve swathed our Conservatory in undulating ribbons, colorful confectionery, shimmering crystals, delicate snowflakes, and so much more. Outdoors, illuminated trees, glowing orbs, a shimmering tunnel of lights, and captivating light displays choreographed to holiday music set the tone for Christmas at Longwood.. 9am-10pm. Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA. longwoodgardens.com
Through January 5
LumiNature
If for some reason a collection of exotic animals from all over the fricking world isn’t enough for you, perhaps this winter-themed light show will tickle your fancy. LumiNature features “12 different illuminated experiences” throughout the zoo. Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave. phillyzooluminature.org
Through January 5
Merry and Bright II: The Christmas Collection of Jeanette Turnbull
Vintage and contemporary Christmas decorations will adorned the corridors of Chestnut Hill’s beloved Woodmere Art Museum. See also: Saturday’s Chestnut Hill Circle of Trees event featuring live music, hot chocolate, cookies, Santa Claus and more.
Opens Saturday, continues through January 5, Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave. woodmereartmuseum.org
Through January 5
Photo Pop
This photogenic “winter wonderland” offers colorful backdrops for visitors to photograph themselves in front of. According to the web site, “Photo Pop strives to design thought-provoking and wholesome experiences that weave art, pop culture and seasonal celebrations together for guests to escape reality, have fun, and express themselves.” So: No boomer bashing. And if you notice somebody having trouble working their phone, why not help them? inside The Bourse, 111 S. Independence Mall East. Photopopphilly.com
Happening Around Town:
Through January 12
30 Americans
Thirty African-American artists (including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, Xaviera Simmons and Purvis Young) contribute to this ambitious group show that aims to “explore identity against a backdrop of pervasive stereotyping — of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class.”
continues through January 12, Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. barnesfoundation.org
Through January 20
Notorious RBG
Subtitled The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this exhibition tells the story of the Supreme Court Justice who has captured America’s fancy in recent years. Also, this is fun: “In homage to Notorious B.I.G., the exhibition section titles are inspired by his lyrics.” continues through January 20, National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East . nmajh.org
Through January 20
Dinosaurs Around the World
The Academy of Natural Sciences’ newest exhibition features super-sized animatronic dinosaurs. Plus fossils, a hands-on dig site and other kid-friendly activities. Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Through January 26
The Snow Queen
Whit MacLaughlin directs the Arden’s family-friendly adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale set in all four seasons. continues through January 26, Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St. ardentheatre.org
Through February 2
Ancient History of the Distant Future
This group show at PAFA has 13 contemporary artists creating pieces “in conversation with” artworks in PAFA’s collection. Artists include Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Matthew Buckingham, Cassils, Enrique Chagoya, Minerva Cuevas, Alex Da Corte and more.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 128 N. Broad St. pafa.org
Through February 9
‘Pigskin Peanuts’
Perhaps tailored more to the adult nostalgia than modern childhood interest, this exhibit shows 50 of Charles M. Schulz’s famous football comics (Oh Lucy, why so mean to poor Chuck?) alongside Bucks County gridiron memorabilia. Cute, right? through Feb. 9, Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine St., Doylestown, mercermuseum.org
Through February 22
Contemporary Photography Exhibition IX
The winners of Philadelphia Photo Arts Center’s contemporary photo competition — Sasha Phyars-Burgess and Guanyu Xu — both explore, in their work, issues of race, representation, and sexuality. Phyars-Burgess captures images of domestic life to reveal what it means for us to look at bodies (particularly black bodies). Xu secretly takes over his parents’ Beijing home, with portraits of himself and other gay men, landscapes, and buildings from around the world, and magazine images he collected as a teenager. The resulting images protest his conservative upbringing and claim the home as his own. The exhibit showing their winning work opened this week and runs till February. Through Feb. 22, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, 1400 N. American St., free, philaphotoarts.org
Through March 1
In Conversation: Visual Meditations on Black Masculinity
This group show — presented by MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora — features the work of 55 women and non-binary photographers that “explore the construct of Black masculinity.”
African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St. aampmuseum.org
Through March 8
Designs for Different Futures
This new exhibition at the PMA has a distinctly sci-fi feel, though many of the strange robots and such in its displays are not fiction at all. Designs for Different Futures offers multiple takes on the world of tomorrow. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. philamuseum.org
Happening Around Town:
Through March 17
Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier
This new exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution tells the remarkable and tragic story of Richard St. George who served in the British Army before becoming an artist and art subject in Europe.
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St. amrevmuseum.org
Through April 19
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Experience
Based on Philadelphia-based Quirk Books’ best-selling survival series, the world-premiere exhibit will feature a hands-on logical series of immersive challenges providing the essential instructions for surviving unexpected but possible real-life scenarios. Stay calm, be prepared, and jump the shark. Through April 19, Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., fi.edu
Through May 17
Off the Wall: American Art to Wear
This exhibition explores clothing design from the ’60s and beyond created by “pioneering artists who used body-related forms to express a personal vision and frames their work in relation to the cultural, historical and social concerns of their time.” Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. philamuseum.org
Happening This Weekend
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, and SUNDAY
Holiday Garden Railway Nights at Morris Arboretum
Get in the holiday spirit at Morris Arboretum, where you can watch model trains cruise along a quarter-mile track, complete with seven loops and tunnels, 15 rail lines, and replicas of historic monuments and Philly landmarks. At night, it’s all lit up with thousands of twinkling lights, as is the forest of 12-foot trees you pass on the way. Advance tickets are required. Dec. 20-22, Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., $8-$20, 215-247-5777, morrisarboretum.org
FRIDAY DECEMBER 20
Winter Solstice Bird Walk
Good news: Daylight hours are about to start getting longer again. Celebrate with local birding expert Toribird, who will lead an hour-long bird walk on the evening of the winter solstice. Free and open to the public, the tour will wander through the historic Woodlands Cemetery. Bring your own binoculars, though there will be a few pairs available to share for those who don’t have their own. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, The Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Ave., free, woodlandsphila.org
FRIDAY and SATURDAY
Creamy Acres Farm: Night of Lights Hayride
During the Halloween season, Creamy Acres is known as one of the area’s best spots to get the living daylight scared out of you. Now, the farm is decidedly more cheery for their Night of Lights Christmas hayride. Hop aboard a hayride and see the farm awash in lights, complete with a seasonal music soundtrack. Keep an eye out on the weather (and the farm’s Facebook page) for cancellations. 5:30pm- 8pm. Creamy Acres Night of Lights, 448 Lincoln Mill Road, Mullica Hill, New Jersey
The Philadelphia Orchestra: The Glorious Sound of Christmas
For a musical event that’s a little more wholesome, the Philadelphia Orchestra reprises its traditional Christmas program, which includes full-orchestra renditions of holiday classics like “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” “Carol Of The Bells,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Deck The Halls.” The show is perfect for your grandmother and niece alike. 7pm. Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 300 S Broad St. philorch.org/
A Philly POPS Christmas
Led by David Charles Abell, the Philly Pops perform a slew of holiday shows featuring Mandy Gonzalez, the Philadelphia Boys Choir, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir, and more. Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St. kimmelcenter.org
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage
Just down the block at the Merriam Theater is a staging of a touring production of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which sees our favorite Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and other familiar characters produce their own Christmas play. Merriam Theater, 250 S Broad St.For times and tickets go to kimmelcenter.org.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 21
Peek-A-Boo Revue Holiday Show
This risqué “neo-burlesque” holiday show features “a drum line of babe-toy soldiers,” music by The Strip Tease Orchestra, and more. 6:30 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. worldcafelive.com
Winter Wonderland
Get inside a giant snow globe for a family-friendly photo op and enjoy “kid-rock” music by the Cat’s Pajamas. Plus hot chocolates, sweets and more.
Free, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Quartermaster Plaza, W. Oregon Avenue & 23rd Street.
Third Annual Nightmare Before Christmas Dance Party
Dance to creepy carols beneath death-themed decorations at this Halloween-Christmas mash-up. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be a pop-up Polaroid photo booth to capture them next to special guest Santa Jack Skellington. Show up early for a free Insomnia Cookie while they last. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Ruba Club, 416 Green St., rubaclub.org
Butterfly Light Festival
Beautiful butterflies meet beaming and twinkling lights: It’s the second annual Butterfly Light Festival from Philadelphia’s Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion. The family-friendly celebration features a butterfly light show, butterfly release, live music, light painting workshop, interactive animal experiences, games, crafts, face painting, and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, 8046 Frankford Ave., phillybutterflypavilion.com
An American Celtic Christmas
Celtic band Jamison performs holiday and Irish favorites with several guest singers and dancers.
6:30 p.m., Keswick Theatre, 291 N Keswick Ave., Glenside, PA. keswicktheatre.com
Happening This Weekend
SATURDAY and SUNDAY
Carols in Color
Eleone Dance Theatre presents its annual music and dance show based on Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, a “retelling of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.” More info here. Sat 4 & 7:30 p.m., and Sun 3 & 6:30 p.m., The Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts, 3000 W. School House Lane. eleonedance.org
Holiday Punk Rock Flea Market
Dog-themed tarot decks, steampunk accessories, and stuffed monster toys: The Punk Rock Flea has plenty of cool and quirky gifts for the hard-to-shop-for. Taking over the spacious 23rd Street Armory, this two-day flea market draws hundreds of vendors, selling vintage clothes, records, and local art. Admission gets you in all weekend, which is handy, since there are different vendors each day. 23rd Street Armory, 22 S. 23rd St., phillyprfm.com
SUNDAY DECEMBER 22
Old City Community Menorah Lighting
Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with a community menorah lighting. The Old City Jewish Arts Center has teamed up with the Betsy Ross House for the event, which takes place in its cobblestone courtyard. There will be traditional fare, too, including latkes and doughnuts. 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St., free, historicphiladelphia.org
Menorah Lightings
Hannukkah starts Sunday and there are (at least) two Menorah Lightings in Center City in Rittenhouse Square (near 18th and Walnut streets) 4:30pm -5:30pm and at the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch St.) 5pm-7:30pm. Rittenhouse Square & Betsy Ross House.
Festivus!
While Festivus isn’t officially until December 23, the folks at The Grey Lodge Pub are celebrating a day early with all of the usual goings-on: a beautiful unadorned aluminum pole, a meatloaf dinner, and fruitcake on display. This year’s Feats Of Strength include arm wrestling and holding a giant mug of pennies. Don’t forget to air your grievances at the open mic and sip on a selection of seasonal beers like Troegs Mad Elf, Evil Genius’ Santa I Know Him, and more. 4pm-9pm. The Grey Lodge Pub, 6235 Frankford Ave.
FANTASTIQUE: BURLESQUE BRUNCH!
The Bella Vista French bistro holds a brunch event to behold. While you’re filling up on crepes and cocktails, a roster of Philly’s finest burlesque performers will dazzle you on stage. Your ticket gets you admission to the show while all food and drink is 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM. L’Etage, 624 S. 6th St.
Sports Up!
Friday
SIXERS HOME vs Dallas Mavericks @ 8pm
Saturday
SIXERS HOME vs Washington Wizards @ 7pm
FLYERS AWAY vs Ottawa Senators @7pm (can be heard on WMMR).
Sunday
EAGLES HOME vs Dallas Cowboys @ 4:25pm (Biggest Game of the Year for the Birds).
