This 75-year-old Concolor/White Fir, with 6,000 glowing lights, at City Hall is lit up at night. And it means only one thing: It’s startin’ to look a lot like the holidays in Center City Philadelphia— photo by Tu Huynh.
FunTimes Magazine: ‘Culture & Entertainment’ column, week of December 15, 2025.
“Winter is not a season. It’s a celebration.”
— Anamika Mishra, author-screenwriter
‘Tis the season of selfies and Instagrammable moments. Whether you dread or embrace the holidays, ready or not, the season of frost, snowflakes, evergreens, peppermint, cocoa, and cinnamon officially is here. And so are these joyous events to help warm the chill of December and revel in the merry days ahead. And please don’t forget: When event-going, consider taking precautions, especially when among groups and while indoors, with the risk of COVID-19 variants and other infectious health concerns.
FunTimes To Present IG Live, The Detty December Culture
Thursday, December 18, 2025. Check out IG Live: Detty December × Christmas, a lively conversation on how Christmas celebrations have evolved, from family traditions and togetherness to the rise of Detty December culture. Take a journey with engaging co-hosts Tomiwa and Niffy and explore if the meaning of Christmas has changed or has simply grown into new ways to celebrate. Take a deep dive into what Detty December represents today, the influence of IJGBs on December energy, culture, and lifestyle, as well as how their presence has shaped Lagos into a global holiday destination. Examine the emotional, cultural, and economic impact of the season, from homecoming and identity to tourism and creative industries. Interact with the hosts and reflect on what ultimately December means as a time of connection, culture, and coming home. Free. Noon, 6 p.m. WAT. Join the conversation @funtimesmagazine IG Live
Chris Murray
Have A Murray Christmas
Friday, December 19, 2025. There’s nothing like the smooth vibes of jazz to usher in the holidays. Check out the Chris Murray & Soul Frequency’s Holiday Jazz Concert featuring Chris Murray & Soul Frequency, the fusion jazz band GPS, gospel legend Waverly Alston, R&B sensation Don Juann, and gospel and R&B singer Valicia Selby. If you are in the mood for holiday soul food like fried whiting fish and baked mac and cheese and collard greens, this event may be your jam. Free with dinner (BYOB for alcohol & drinks). Individual tickets: $28.52; 7:30 p.m. EST to 10:30 p.m. EST. The Carson. 570 N. 5th St. eventbrite.com
Celebrate The President’s House Site Anniversary
Sunday, December 21, 2025. It took the power of the community to create The President’s House/Slavery Memorial, a self-guided outdoor exhibit, near the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia’s historic district. That was more than a decade ago. Now, the home in the shadow of the birth of liberty is under the threat of being closed permanently. Come out to support and celebrate the 15th anniversary of the grand opening of the President’s House/Slavery Memorial hosted by the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, a group leading the fight to save the memorial. The exhibit chronicles the paradox and struggle between slavery and freedom in the newly formed United States after the American Revolution. George Washington’s household was run by occupied indentured individuals who lived and worked on this site during his presidency. Nine Black men, women, and children lived at America’s first “White House.” Some of the enslaved individuals like Oney Judge managed to famously escape to freedom. The house was demolished in 1832 after the White House was moved to Washington, D.C. The accounts of daily life in the original president’s quarters are preserved through videos sharing the perspective of enslaved individuals, and text panels examine topics ranging from visiting tribal delegations to the early work of the executive branch. On display are the vestiges of the home’s embedded foundations. Free, 2 p.m. EST, 6th and Market streets (The free exhibit, with no tickets needed, is open daily, from 7 a.m. EST to 10 p.m. EST.) Email: AvengingTheAncestors@gmail.com, AvengingTheAncestors.com
100,000 LED lights at the Wanamaker Light Show presented by Peco. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Visitor Center.
A Roundup Of Holiday Family Fun
Are you looking for festive activities during your winter break from work or school? Courtesy of VISIT PHILADELPHIA — the region’s tourism marketing agency; here are some low-cost or free family-friendly ideas, from indoor pirate playgrounds to suiting up in firefighting boots at an old historic firehouse.
Wanamaker Light Show. Enjoy the magic of spectacular holiday lights in a time-honored show that’s a Philly tradition. Starting in 1956, the Wanamaker Light Show has entertained generations with its dazzling lights, performances on the world-renowned Wanamaker Organ, and storytelling. More than 100,000 lights will illuminate dancing snowflakes, ballerinas, snowmen, and reindeer. Also, check out the Dickens’ Village – a 6,000-square-foot animatronic retelling of A Christmas Carol. It’s one of the city’s biggest seasonal attractions. Free; through Tuesday, December 23, the activities will be open daily, noon to 8 p.m. EST, with shows taking place at 12:30 p.m. EST, 1:30 p.m. EST, 2:30 p.m. EST, 3:30 p.m. EST, 4:30 p.m. EST, 5:30 p.m. EST, & 6:30 p.m. EST. (There will be no 7:30 p.m. show; Wednesday, December 24, noon to 4 p.m. EST, with shows at 12:30 p.m., EST 1:30 p.m. EST, 2:30 p.m. EST. & 3:30 p.m. EST. 100 E. Penn Square (the old Macy’s, entrances on Juniper and Market streets.)
Philadelphia City Hall – City Tower Tour. City Hall was the tallest habitable structure, with its towering 37-foot-tall statue of Philadelphia’s founder William Penn, until 1908. Today, the statue represents one of the world’s largest buildings. Enjoy the city at its holiday finest on the City Tower Tour offering 360-degree panoramic views from 548 feet above, right under Billy Penn’s feet. On a clear day, you can see the whole city from different directions. $16 for adults, $10 for kids; free for children 3 and under; the last tour each day will start at 2:45 p.m. EST. Weekdays, 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Craft Hall: Playground & The Den. Check out The Den playground inside a brewpub. Here, kids can explore a Pirate Ship Playground, play ping pong or Skee-Ball, walk down a wooden slide, or find an old-school arcade game like Mrs. Pac-Man. Enjoy a 140-square-foot and 60-square-foot video wall to watch sports. Pay as you go. Mondays to Fridays, 4 p.m. EST to midnight; Saturdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. EST to midnight. 901 N. Delaware Ave.
Fabric Shop and Museum. View contemporary art at its best. The museum’s Artists-in-Residence Program supports the work of emerging artists, from large-scale sculptures to screen-printed fabric garments. See its events’ schedule for workshops like how to create sustainable wrapping paper and tote bags. Free; suggested donation: $5; Wednesdays to Fridays, 12 p.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST, Saturdays to Sundays, Noon to 5 p.m. EST. 1214 Arch St.
Fireman’s Hall Museum. Kids can dress up in firefighting boots and coats, and steer a historic PFD Fireboat. Learn about local firefighting over nearly 300 years in the city that started the first fire company. Explore the many treasures in this 1898 firehouse: An old fire engine, a chief’s room, badges, hoses, helmets, and ceremonial parade hats.Free but donations are accepted.Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. 147 N. 2ndSt.
Universal Sphere at Comcast Technology Center. Immerse yourself in an otherworldly cinematic experience by producer Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Animation. Register ahead for a timed ticket and take in a seven-minute film entitled “The Power of I,” which will be shown inside a 34-by-39-foot gleaming white orb in Comcast’s upper lobby. Free but must pre-register. Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. 1800 Arch St.
Franklin Square – Chilly Philly Mini Golf. The 18-hole course will feature twinkling lights, holiday music, Philly landmarks, and inflatable penguins. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa at Frosty’s Fireside Lodge and sign up for nightly street curling. The free Electrical Spectacle Light Show, inspired by Ben Franklin and set to music, will be worth a look. $15 for adults; $12 for kids. Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST. 200 N. 6th St.
Morris Arboretum. The Tree Canopy Walk will be the main attraction. Walk on a swaying suspension bridge, then climb a rope net high into the trees and take a break in the larger-than-life bird’s nest. And check out the Holiday Garden Railway featuring a 60-foot holiday tunnel lit in twinkling lights. $22 for adults, $12 for children. Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. 100 E. Northwestern Ave.
Philadelphia Zoo. America’s oldest zoo comes alive with the beloved illuminated holiday Galapagos tortoises. It will be part of LumiNature, a whimsical light show with a new “Pherris Wheel” offering great views from 110 feet above. $32 (ages 12+), $27 (ages 2-11); LumiNature runs from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 3. The zoo’s regular hours are Mondays to Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. EST to 3 p.m. EST. 3400 W. Girard Ave.
Photo courtesy of Creative Philadelphia.
A Call For Artists For America 250
Through Sunday, December 21, 2025. If you love Philadelphia and are artistic, the America 250 City Art Poster Project is for you. Amateur and professional artists living in Philadelphia can submit a design to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The artwork should reflect the history, culture, identity, and pride of Philadelphia, the nation’s birthplace where that famous document was created. A total of $10,000 in prize money will be awarded to winning participants whose work will be promoted nationally. The initiative is organized by Creative Philadelphia, Mayor Cherelle Parker, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST on December 21. https://oacce.submittable.com
