Can you believe that Jan 1, 2010 is a mere three days away? Before you know it, we would have celebrated a decade of historic happenings, cultural booms and new found traditions.

And rather than say goodbye to this banner year with just one set of fireworks, we have two!! Yes, beginning at 6pm and then again at 12midnight, spectators can enjoy this spectaular light show on our bustling waterfront known as Penns Landing.

Guaranteed to be filled with oohs and aahs, the only thing missing is you!!! Make sure to catch one or both displays but leave enough time for our Grand New Year’s celebration known as the Mummers!

Kicking off @ 10am Jan 1, on the corner of Broad & Washington, these costumed performers will dance, entertain, and certainly strut down to City Hall where we’ll have your tickets to the VIP seating

The Liberty Bell and the Independence Hall will be open for tours. 11am-4pm and beginning Jan 1, no timed tickets are required to visit Independence Hall.

We’ll be taking a break for the holiday but will return to see you on Saturday, Jan 2nd promptly at 8:30am.

Enjoy saying goodbye to 2009 but a happy hello to 2010, Philly style!

Can you believe it’s already Christmas? With all the record snowfall last weekend, it truly is a Winter Wonderland. Here at the Center, our elves are packing up early and will close on Christmas Eve at 2pm and reopen Saturday, Dec 26 promptly at 8:30am. The same goes for Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell which will also be closed during the holiday.

In the meantime, take a break from all the holiday hoopla and explore our wonderful city. Here is a short list of attractions that will be sure to delight children of all ages.

But just in case you haven’t found the perfect gift- our holiday ticket packages are sure to entertain the newest visitor to the longtime resident in your family, and don’t forget that we also have VIP seating for the Mummers Parade on January 1st!

Most of our cultural and historic attractions will be closed during the holiday but the Adventure Aquarium is open all 365 days a year. Find out more here

And if Dad burned the Christmas ham, here are a few choices to enjoy a holiday feast!

City Tavern
Fountain Restaurant @ the Four Seasons
Lacroix
Plough and the Stars
Palace at the Ben
And all of Chinatown!

Our warmest wishes to you and yours!

If the holidays have taught us anything, it’s learning how to entertain our relatives. No one said it was easy but between fighting the crowds, buying gifts and getting that last toy hamster, when does one have to time to play tour guide?

But don’t fret, we already have everything planned for you! New this season is our holiday ticket packages which includes admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art , The Franklin Institute and even to the first penitentiary in the country,Eastern State Penitentiary – (don’t worry, it’s only used as a museum =)

There are 5 options to choose from: Historic Pass, Parkway Tour, Family Tour , Culture Tour and Travel Pass. And included in each ticket package are discount coupons for area restaurants, hotels, our gift shops and Café Independence. There is even a special low rate given by the good folks at the Windsor Suites located on the Ben Franklin Parkway which solves the problem of who gets the top bunk.

For more information about our holiday ticket packages and how to best entertain the out of town guests- stop by our Visitor Desk. Real Philly, Real Easy.

With the start of Hanukah and Christmas less than two weeks away, here are a few ways to ease your mind and remember what the holidays are all about.

Holiday Light Show @ Macys
- Maybe it’s the twinkling lights or the grand organ playing in the background but when you hear the voice of Julie Andrews, you know this is something special. For all over half a century, Philadelphians of all ages have lined up in the Grand Court of what is now known as Macys to hear the story of Frosty, the Nutcracker and of course, Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer. One visit guarantees a lifetime of returns. The holiday light show is shown the top of each hour beginning @ 10am Find out more here

Reading Terminal Holiday Railroad – Choo! Choo! Who doesn’t love toy trains? Catch a glimpse of the Reading Terminal Holiday Railroad, a 500 sq ft model railroad display with almost a third of a mile of track traveling across Center City Philly, a Christmas Village and so much more. Find out when the Train is coming into town!

Comcast Holiday Spectacular - Inside the Tallest building in Philadelphia with the world’s largest LED Screen visitors can enjoy clips of the Nutcracker, a choir of children singing and even a downhill trip on a snow covered forest. Best of all, it’s in 3-D Find all the details here

For more holiday favorites, be sure to check our holiday page, our simply stop by the Visitor Desk. Real Philly Real Easy.

Tucked away in Old City, lies the oldest continuously inhabited street in the country,Elfreth’s Alley . Dating back to 1702, these houses, 32 in all are mainly residential with two houses, 124 & 126 open as a museum.

Of course, this never stops visitors including myself from gazing through the little peepholes and wondering where they run the cable in the house. But rather than guess, you can simply ask them this at their Annual Holiday Open House “Deck the Alley� this coming Saturday Dec 5!

From 4pm to 7pm, enjoy seeing the outside and inside of many of the historic homes, a book reading and signing by author Trinka Hakes Noble, some warm apple cider and of course, Christmas carols!

To purchase tickets for the event, click here

Elfreth’s Alley only has two open houses a year and this weekend is one of them! Stop by our Visitor Desk to learn all about the holiday happenings in Philly including where to meet Santa and his reindeer. Okay maybe not his reindeer. Real Philly, Real Easy.

Excited for the holidays? So are we!

Today marks the 1st of Dec and we couldn’t be happier to have you join us this holiday season in Philadelphia.

Make sure to check back here often as we share all the holidays
happenings throughout our area including shows, festivals, Santa
sightings and a good ole fashioned tree lighting!

Tonight, the lights of everyone’s favorite playground, Franklin Square will illuminate the night sky as Ben Franklin himself flicks the switch on the park he made famous.

Join us for some hot apple cider, cookies and white hot chocolate( mmmm) as Ben, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there to greet guests AND YES, kids are encouraged to bring their wish list to Santa! The fun begins @ 5pm at Franklin Square!

Tis the
season.. Real Philly Real Easy.

Franklin Square Holiday Lighting!
Tuesday Dec 1 @ 5pm
6th-7th Race Streets

Every one has heard of John Hancock. After all, he was the first to pen his name on the Declaration of Independence. But in case you forgot, the document contains 55 other signers. Tomorrow, meet the authors behind Signing Their Lives Away, The Fame and Misfortune of the Men who signed the Declaration of Independence. From ending up in debtors prison to being lost at sea, here lies the story of the most famous men in American History that we know absolutely nothing about.

We know that on July 4, 1776, we declared our freedom from England. Here is the rest of the story.

Meet the Authors/ Book Signing
Sat Nov 28
11am- 4pm
Independence Visitor Center Gift Shop

Don’t forget, we have free gift wrapping every weekend in December. Hint Hint.

For more info click here

So you might be wondering, what is actually open on Thanksgiving? After all, the big feast isn’t until later that evening and you may need to work up an appetite before sitting down to some turkey and stuffing!

Here is what you can look forward to on Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day Parade Did you know Philadelphia has the oldest Thanksgiving Parade in the Country? Well, now you do! Dating back to 1920, this parade begins at 8:15 AM from 20th Market Streets and marches down the Ben Franklin Parkway to Eakin’s Oval. They’ll have floats, balloons, marching bands, special celebrity guests and maybe even a jolly man in a red suit. The Parade runs from 8:15 am to 12 noon.

Comcast Holiday Spectacular the Comcast Center is certainly hard to miss. Not only does it tower as the tallest building in Philadelphia, but it also boasts the largest LED screen in the world (2,000 Square Foot!) Beginning every hour from 10 am to 8 pm, you’ll be treated to holiday show unlike any other because its going to be presented in 3-D! What better way to welcome in the holidays than being able to taste the snowflakes.

Big Bus Tours Why walk when you can ride around Philadelphia on the top of an authentic London Double Decker Bus? See our city on a 90-minute guided tour that includes over 20 stops; taking you from our historical waterfront all the way to the first zoo in the country! Tours will depart every hour from 10:00am-3:00pm

Chinatown Designated as Stop 4 on the Bus tour, Philly’s Chinatown is hailed as the 3rd largest Chinatown in the country. The restaurants and eateries are always open and nothing feeds the hunger like the Chinese-version of the American Brunch, dim sum!

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell - In a holiday where we give thanks, we cannot forget to give thanks for our freedom. Take a tour of Independence Hall, the birthplace of America and relive the history where our Declaration was signed and our Constitution ratified. Just a few steps away is our cradle of liberty, our iconic symbol of freedom, the Liberty Bell. Both are open until 4 pm. ( No tickets are required to view Independence Hall on Thanksgiving)

And now it’s time to enjoy some turkey! The Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving but we’ll see you on Black Friday! Real Philadelphia. Real Easy.

Let’s talk turkey… After all, Thanksgiving is only three days away . But if you’re not visiting family or no one wants to cook, here is a list of restaurants eager to serve you on this wonderful holiday.

City Tavern- Enjoy a traditional family style Thanksgiving Meal in what John Adams called “the most genteel tavern in America.” City Tavern will serve dinner from 1:00pm- 7:30pm.

Moshulu- Why settle on land when you can be at sea? Celebrate turkey day on a boat! Enjoy holiday favorites or sample from their fabulous a la carte menu as you enjoy spectacular views of the Delaware. The Moshulu will be seating from 1:00pm- 8:00pm

XIX- Gobble on holidays treats from the nineteen floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel as they serve up a sumptuous buffet of turkey, stuffing and sides. Can’t beat the view! Seating is 1:00pm – 6:00pm

London Grill- No Basting, Just Tasting! Savor local flavors at this neighborhood gem. A Thanksgiving buffet complete with baked country ham and sweet potato casserole! Yummy! Seating is from 2:00pm- 7:00pm

And now for something completely different…
If turkey isn’t your kind of “stuffing� here are some choice restaurants to fit the bill!

Cafe Spice- to get that Curry Fix- 11:30am- 10:30pm
Chima - All you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse. Mmm… Steak 2:00pm-9:00pm
Charles Plaza- How about some Tofu turkey, Chinese-style? 11:30am to 10:00pm
Gnocchi- Feast on handmade gnocchi with your own choice bottle of wine
Sang Kee Duck House- Who doesn’t love some succulent duck? No, they will not be serving the Turducken 10:30 am- 5:00pm

And just a quick announcement, NO CHEESESTEAKS will be served on Turkey Day. You’ll just have to wait till Friday!!!

For more about dining options throughout Philadelphia, stop by our Visitor Desk where we’ll give you a taste of the town! Real Philly Real easy.

Spending just an hour in Philadelphia can be considered a crime. But coming just to see the history without exploring the arts is just a downright sin! Granted, the bank of time only allows so much in a day but what history may miss, our culture completes.

Here is just a few of the dozens of shows/ performances you can look forward to in Philadelphia this weekend.

Ballet X- Swan Lake, this is not. Combining dazzling choreography with a fresh approach to the classic medium, you have modern dance at its finest. Forget what you think ballet is or was; this is Ballet redefined. To experience Ballet X- click here

The Light in the Piazza- Florence, Italy is the stunning backdrop for this Six Time Tony award wining love story. While on vacation in Tuscany, Margret and her daughter Clara meet a young handsome Florentine eager to capture Clara’s heart. But will love cease to exist if they were to find out Clara’s secret? To see the “Light�, click here

Oliver- Enjoy Charles Dickens classic tale of the boy who asked for more! With a huge cast of 70 including 40 children and 2 dogs, it’s sure to delight audiences both young and old. The rousing score includes “Consider Yourself�, “I’ll do anything� and who can forget, “Food, Glorious Food.� Click here to learn more about Oliver!

To hear more about the Arts in Philadelphia including our own philharmonic , stop by our Visitor Desk to get the Real Philadelphia, Real Easy.