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The Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Philly This March
From mermaids to Legos to Queen Elsa, there are lots of adventures to plan while you wait for spring. Here are the best family-friendly events to add to your calendar this month.
It’s still cold and dark, but there are plenty of ways to have fun with your kids in Philly. From mermaids to Legos, there are lots of adventures to plan while you wait for spring. Here are the best family-friendly events to add to your calendar this month.
Mermaids at Adventure Aquarium
The mermaids are back at Adventure Aquarium from February 29th through March 17th. Head over the bridge to wave to mermaids swimming in the Shark Realm exhibit and sitting among the stingrays. Visit with a mermaid on dry land during daily meet-and-greet photo ops. Plus, do free mermaid-themed crafts — and buy some mermaid souvenirs and treats while you’re at it. (Why not?)
Philadelphia Flower Show
The Flower Show is back at the Convention Center from March 2nd through 10th. If you’re coming with kids, don’t miss out on the Cocoon play area, where you’ll find open play, crafts, gardening activities and more. The space will host hourly programming every day. This year, they’ll also be selling a special Flower Show coloring book designed by local artists. In addition to the playspace, there’s the always-popular live butterflies add-on, as well as the in-show Artisan Corner where you can make flower crowns, jewelry and other botanical-inspired crafts.
On Sunday, March 3rd, the show hosts Family Frolic, a special day for families. In addition to the rest of the show, there will be free hands-on activities and programming, face painting, giveaways, and more for little ones. More info in our show preview.
The Art of the Brick at the Franklin Institute
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.
Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, so it’s a great time to learn about some of the amazing women who helped shape our nation, challenge our ideals, and effect change. Inspire the next generation of trailblazers with tours, museum visits and more. Kid-friendly highlights include the Penn Museum‘s festival on March 9th as well as storytelling and historical re-enactors every weekend at the Betsy Ross House. Details, plus more happenings, in our Women’s History Month guide.
On Stage
Everyone’s favorite Disney movie gets the Broadway musical treatment this month at the Academy of Music. Frozen opens on March 21st and runs through April 7th. The play has an expanded score with extra songs (Elsa gets a second showstopper!), and watching the ice-castle magic unfold on stage is unforgettable. Despite the Disney source material, the play is recommended for ages six and up due to its long run time and some special effects that might be scary for the littlest theatergoers.
On March 23rd, the Kimmel Center opens its doors for its annual free Organ Day celebration, which includes an all-day marathon of organ music, plus free performances by local arts organizations throughout the day. Another favorite activity of the day: “Organ Pumps,” where audience members can lie on the stage and feel the vibrations as the giant Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ plays!
Close out the month with a bang at Brooklyn Bowl, as the Rock and Roll Playhouse presents the music of Queen with a side of fun (think glow-sticks, freeze-dance games and a parachute) on March 30th.
Family Saturdays at Dilworth Park
The ice rink is gone till November, and the roller rink doesn’t pop-up till April, but Dilworth is still in the family-fun game this March. Their Wintergarden maze remains through March 17th, updated for the season with colorful ribbons and mirror balls — expect flowers to bloom soon! While it’s up, you can “make a wish” and tie a ribbon to the base of the maze’s arbor — just ask a CCD rep or Starbucks kiosk employee for a free ribbon. Even better, the park will host their free Family Saturdays series beginning Saturday, March 2nd and continuing every week through March 16th from 11 a.m. to noon. Here’s the lineup:
- March 2nd: Bubble Magic with George the Magician
- March 9th: Magic Show with Jake Strong
- March 16th: Mlanjeni Magical Theater
Drop Into a New Makerspace
Coco Academy opens this month with a free open house on March 2nd and 3rd. The new Bella Vista spot focuses on STEAM programming with maker software, 3D printing, laser cutting, circuitry and more. There are classes for ages five through 14, which is especially welcome for parents with kids who have aged out of so many activity spaces around town. If you’re not ready to commit to a class, there are drop-in studio times, too. We can’t wait to check it out!
Group Hug at FWM
The Fabric Workshop and Museum’s newest special exhibit, Group Hug by Risa Puno, is incredibly hands-on and fun for all ages, employing gameplay to explore social-emotional concepts. A giant 20-sided die prompts discussion questions inside a colorful bahay kubo. A collaborative game of Whac-a-Mole mirrors the act of caring for others and controls whimsical “Coconut Pods” that recline and play ocean sounds, but only while the game is played! That’s right: While some work together in stressful, frantic multitasking, it enables others in the exhibit to relax and feel cared for. Sounds a lot like parenting, tbh. The FWM is free every day (with a suggested donation of $5), and all ages are welcome.
Hang With a Sloth!
Under The Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest includes life-size, climbable animal sculptures as well as educational interactives. And, best of all, there are animal habitat displays with live animals, including Maple, a two-toed sloth! You can’t meet her face-to-face, but if you stick around you can come up-close and personal with a turtle, a snake, a tegu, and more. Daily talks inside the exhibit will include animal feedings, sloth training, and museum educators explaining what makes these animals unique and how they adapt to live in the rainforest. The exhibit is included with museum admission and runs through September 2nd.
Trolls at the Zoo
Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s massive, folklore-inspired trolls have arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo. Six of these whimsical figures will 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.
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