The Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Philly This April
Spring festivals, outdoor fun, a CoComelon party, and your last chance to visit the Franklin Institute’s Giant Heart — for a while.
Franklin Square / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
It’s April, which means spring festivals, outdoor fun … and the circus! Here’s how to keep the kids busy this month.
Franklin Square
Take advantage of the nice weather and extended spring hours to play Philly-themed mini golf, take a ride on the carousel, climb around the playground and indulge in a Tastykake shake. And the fountain show returns mid-April with dancing water effects (and colored lights at night) choreographed to music every 30 minutes.
Solar Eclipse Viewing Parties
The solar eclipse will be viewable on April 8th. / Photograph courtesy of Getty Images
On Monday, April 8th, a solar eclipse will cut across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — that’s the one where the moon blocks out the sun, throwing the sky into darkness. Philly is expected to reach over 90 percent totality!
And while lots of places are celebrating, the Franklin Institute is going all out. Their party will include solar-filter tents and eclipse-safe telescopes for eclipse viewing, a beer garden with celestial-inspired food and drinks, a live DJ, solar-eclipse doughnuts from Federal Donuts & Chicken (available to the first 200 guests), and solar-eclipse glasses for purchase. The celebration starts at 1:30 p.m. on the front steps of the museum; the eclipse is expected to begin at 2:08 p.m.
Other parties around town range from Free Library branches to parks — check out our guide here!
Spring Festivals
It’s festival season! / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Once festival season begins, you can count on them happening pretty much every weekend, and they’re great opportunities to get out while the streets are blocked off, discover new neighborhoods, and eat and play all day.
The cherry blossoms are already at peak bloom, so head to Fairmount Park now to beat the crowds. Or, you can join them at the ultimate spring celebration: the weekend-long Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival on April 13th and 14th. On both days of the festival, there will be a full schedule of performances — from taiko drumming to martial arts to fashion — as well as a Japanese vendor fair, kimono dressing, ikebana workshops, tea ceremonies, origami, and a pop-up beer garden by Triple Bottom Brewing. There are also events like a pet parade, sushi contest and more throughout the weekend.
Bring your kids and your pups for the Furry Friends Of Frankford Pet Festival on April 13th. Then, dine at dozens of food trucks and enjoy live music at the Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival on April 21st. Do it all again, but in a different part of town the very next weekend (April 28th), at East Passyunk’s annual Flavors on the Avenue: five blocks of pay-as-you-go food, cocktails and craft beer, live music, sidewalk sales, and free family fun.
Da Vinci Art Alliance’s annual community arts and science festival, Everyday Futures Fest, runs the entire month of April with exhibits, workshops and interactive experiences focusing on sustainability and the arts. Check out the schedule here for art activities. And definitely don’t miss out on the block party on April 21st. The festival will take over the 700 block of Catharine Street with temporary installations, vendors, performances and art activities for all ages.
On Stage
Arden Theatre Company is staging a “modern retelling” of Pinocchio, in which the storytellers turn everyday objects into props and puppets. It’ll be in previews from April 10th through 20th, then runs through June 2nd. Arden recommends the play for kids ages four and up.
Also opening this month, Walnut Street Theatre’s kids’ offering for the season is a musical adaptation of the DreamWorks animated movie Madagascar. The “musical adventure” follows the friends as they escape from the Central Park Zoo, and it’s designed especially for little theatergoers. It runs from April 13th through May 5th.
ASH Theater Company is staging a musical version of Finding Nemo at Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk beginning April 18th and running through the 28th. Just keep swimming!
CoComelon Party Time
CoComelon is coming!
I’m not sure this counts as theater so much as immersive toddler fever dream — also, it takes place in a hotel ballroom — but CoComelon Party Time is coming to Philly from April 19th through 21st. Kids will get to meet their favorite CoComelon characters, sing and dance, play games, pose for photo ops in a pretend hot-air balloon and “rainbow zone,” and more. See more about the pop-up on their Instagram, and buy tickets here.
Circus Fun
World Circus Day is April 20th! / Photograph by Sarson Photography
Running at the Plymouth Meeting Mall’s parking lot from April 5th through 16th, the Flip Circus, a “unique arts-based show” features circus fun with clowns, jugglers, unicyclists, stunt performers and no animals.
And if that’s not enough circus for you, keep it going on April 20th — World Circus Day — at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts in Mount Airy. The day includes workshops and classes for kids as young as six — there’s even a free Family Intro to Circus class so you can all join in! — as well as performances by the school’s youth troupe and staff. Pre-register for free and specialty workshops online.
Roller Skate at Dilworth Park
Dilworth Park’s Rothman Roller Rink outside City Hall / Photograph by Laura Swartz
The Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink is set to return to Dilworth Park on Friday, April 19th with all its checkerboard-floor old-school happiness. There will also be on-site food and drink, and the sprayground will be turned on soon enough, too! Skating sessions are available in one-hour blocks, and advance tickets are highly recommended. Pro tip: Get $5 off admission during matinee skate on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rink will be open daily through June 30th.
Earth Day
Photograph by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Earth Day is April 22nd, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate around town — mostly the weekend before — including volunteer opportunities, celebrations and more. Here are some special kid-friendly ones to keep on your radar on April 20th:
- Awbury Arboretum’s celebration includes live music, a scavenger hunt, games, and more. Plus, go visit the Philly Goat Project goats at the Farm!
- Schuylkill Center’s annual Naturepalooza includes nature hikes, food trucks, and nature-themed art and activities.
- Please Touch Museum’s celebration is a day of eco-friendly projects like terrariums and pollinator gardening, plus a “cardboard city” collaborative art activity. There will also be live performances throughout the day.
Trolls (and More!) at the Zoo
Giant trolls are coming to the Philadelphia Zoo. / Photograph courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Garden
Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s massive, folklore-inspired trolls have arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo. Six of these whimsical figures reside throughout the zoo through April 15th, and if you bring your Zoo Key, you can also hear the story of each of the trolls, which are made from reclaimed materials — to inspire people to consider their relationship with the planet. Thomas Dambo’s Trolls: Save the Humans is included with the price of zoo admission. Read more about the installation in our preview.
But wait, there’s more! If trolls aren’t whimsical enough for you, the zoo has just installed 12 unique fairy doors, on what they are calling the Fairy Trail. “Some are hidden low to the ground, some are higher among tall plants, others are near water or attached to buildings,” they warn. (Though if you get impatient, there is a map.) Adorbs!
On April 13th, it all comes together with Tea with Trolls & Fairies. The hourlong ticketed event includes teatime with treats and a fairy meet-and-greet photo op. Kids will also get make-and-take Fairy Door craft kits to create their own at home.
The Art of the Brick at the Franklin Institute
Play area at The Art of the Brick at the Franklin Institute / Photograph by Laura Swartz
You may remember this Lego-art exhibit coming to the Franklin Institute back in 2015, but your kids most likely don’t — they probably weren’t born yet! Plus, it’s bigger and better with new pieces, including a Philly-specific piece designed especially for this exhibit. This time around, in addition to brick-renderings of iconic pieces like The Scream and Starry Night, the exhibit includes PERNiCiEM: The Endangered Species Connection, which pairs 13 large-scale Lego sculptures created of endangered animals with wildlife photography by Dean West. Also new? A 9,000-square-foot Lego play space where kids of all ages can get creative for hours. Check out our preview for more of what to expect.
And April is also a great time to visit the Franklin Institute because it’ll be your last chance (till fall) to go through the Giant Heart! On May 6th, the exhibit will be closed as its home will be redone, transformed into an all-new exhibit dedicated to the human body premiering in November.
