Pope Francis’ Philadelphia visit is over but his message still rings clear throughout the Philly region and around the globe. The family is precious and needs to be celebrated, protected and nurtured.
Families are God’s gift… “a factory of hope.” Advised Pope Francis to record crowds who came to Philadelphia from all over the world to hear the Pope speak. “Defend the family, because that’s where our future will play out.”
Embracing the Papal decree, “Viva La Familia!” The Philadelphia region is hosting a variety of inexpensive, often free family appropriate festivities throughout Autumn and well into winter.
Autumn is a great time to visit Philadelphia with the kids. The fall foliage in Pennsylvania is very beautiful and Philadelphia is rated one of the nation’s most enjoyable, walkable tourist cities. Philly is loaded with parks with artistic fountains, historic statues and lush lawns great for family picnics.
If you like delicious, fresh, farm to table veggies, fruits and cuisine Center City’s Dilworth Park, which is right beside City Hall, will be hosting a weekly farmer’s market every Wednesday through October and November. Also at Dilworth, Wednesdays, from noon to 1:30 thru October’s, PNC sponsors ‘Live @ Lunch’ featuring an array of performing artists like Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five, Alize Rozsnal, the No Face Performance Group and La Mania Bravo!
From October 21-25 it is October Fest in Dilworth Park. The whole family will enjoy DJ and live music, popular area food and souvenir vendors, games, plenty of children activities and Rosa Blanca Café is setting up a beer garden for those over 21. The park’s popular, ‘Rothman’ Ice Skating Rink opens for skating on November 13th.
Wednesday, September 30th marks opening night for The Philadelphia Orchestra. Come join in a musical/culinary black-tie gala event that welcomes in Philadelphia’s cultural season with preconcert champagne and unbelievable musical scores conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Following the concert you’ll enjoy a full, extravagant meal served under the Kimmel Center’s dazzling the ‘roof of stars’.
There’s no better or more fun way for you and a group of your friends to spend a quality evening, learning about archaeology and educational, historic science than at the afterhours ‘Drink and Dig’ at the Penn Museum on October 21. Where else can you enjoy beer, wine and cocktails as you explore one-of- a-kind exhibits and participate in archeological games and hands-on, fun challenges. You’ll even get to meet a real live Indiana Jones!
On October 1 the whole family will enjoy ‘Cultivating Passion’ a daylong symposium at Philly’s iconic Barnes Foundation, which explores horticulture education, celebrating how plants inspire artists, writers, and designers. Besides a fabulous line up of speakers the event includes a box lunch, a wine reception and a private viewing of the Barnes collection.
Vatican Splendors at the Franklin Institute continues to honor the Pope Francis Philadelphia visit with their exhibit of rarely seen items direct from the Papal headquarters. Until February 15th Visitors can view art and relics spanning 2000 years of Church history, many of which have never been put on public display even at the Vatican in Rome.
What Philadelphia outing is complete without a visit to our nation’s oldest outdoors market, ‘9th Streets Italian market’? Perhaps one of the best times to experience the Philadelphia Italian Market is on October10th during the popular ‘Salute to Columbus’ festival when the streets will be filled with vendors offering every possible variation of delicious Italian cuisine and beverage possible. There will be games, exhibits and contests. 200 shops and curb stands participate and contribute to the loads of family fun things to take part in.
Could anything be more enjoyable and educational for the whole family than a candlelight walking ‘Philadelphia Ghost Tour’ through historic Independence Park, Society Hill and Old City? Spooky folklore, secret passages, historic legends all comes alive. Find out why many say Philadelphia is not just the most historic city in the USA but also the most haunted! Tours depart 7:30 PM at Signer’s Garden located at 5th and Chestnut Street; call 215-413-1997 for reservations. Philadelphia Ghost Tour was rated one of the Top 10 Best Ghost Tours in the country by America’s Best Online! I’ll see you there if you are not too scared to encounter a few ghostly spirits!