What a year its been for fall foliage in Greater Philadelphia. Time may be running out, but Pennsylvanias weekly fall foliage report (which is a real thing!) shows that you can still find the seasons dazzling hues at spots throughout Greater Philadelphia this week, especially in Philly and in Chester and Delaware counties. Make the most of your autumnal jaunt by stringing together a series of stops (always with snack breaks!) via one of our curated road trips. Or feel the wind in your hair on foliage-inspired railroad excursions on the West Chester Railroad (Sunday) or the New Hope Railroad (Friday through Sunday).
Soak up the final days of brilliant fall foliage
Where:Various locations, including in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood
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Another season of harvest celebrations has (almost) come and gone. Revel in the last, best bits of fall (hayrides, corn mazes and more) during the final week of Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards in Media and the Fall Festival at Hellericks Family Farm in Doylestown. Feeling more in the mood for fruit? Peddlers Villages AppleTime in the Village celebration is two weeks long for 2020, featuring apple-themed food and drink at the attractions restaurants, live entertainment over the next two weekends (November 7-8 and 14-15) and all your favorite apple products (apple cider, apple butter, etc.).
Find fun on a farm during the last harvest celebrations of the season
Where:Various locations, including Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media
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Naturally fermented breads and pizzas are on the menu at eeva, the new takeout restaurant and bottle shop operating in ReAnimator Coffees South Kensington cafe. Add it to the list of tasty things to check out this week, alongside the Pierogi Festival (Saturday and Sunday) in Northern Liberties. Dont let the name fool you kielbasi, holopchi and kapusta are also on the menu, and a beer garden serves adult beverages to socially distant guests. And the weeks not complete without a trip to Reading Terminal Market, whether it be for a quick lunch, fresh dinner ingredients or some flowers to brighten up your work-from-home situation. Cant make it there? You can still support this Philadelphia institution.
Make room for wood-fired pizza and Polish food
Where:Various locations, including eeva, 310 Master Street
Welcome to the season of the cant-miss hotel deal. Right now, Philly hotels are offering free nights and all sorts of perks valet parking, late checkouts, and food and beverage credits for folks looking to safely recharge, reconnect, disconnect or celebrate (or just get the heck out of the house). This week and weekend, score free overnight valet parking and snacks for the drive home with the Views & Valets package at the Four Seasons Philadelphia Hotel at Comcast Center. Or make it a staycation with this package from The Logan, Philadelphias Hotel, featuring 20% off hotel parking, 20% off at hotel restaurants and spa, and discounts on tickets at neighboring Benjamin Franklin Parkway museums.
Snag a perks-filled deal at a Philly hotel
Where:Various locations, including The Logan, Philadelphia’s Hotel, 1 Logan Square
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Soak up some arts and culture this week at a couple cool (and free!) outdoor art exhibitions. Seek out the intriguing outdoor installations (including a 1984 Ford Thunderbird covered like a piñata) in the wonderfully named Mystery Island and the Marvelous Occurrence of Spontaneous Art at The Navy Yard (through Monday); peruse art made with social distancing in mind at Testing Grounds at Cherry Street Pier and Race Street Pier (through Friday); and pause and reflect at the Science History Institute’s new outdoor exhibit featuring gripping portraits of the pandemic’s essential workers from Philly (through spring 2021).
Stroll through a free outdoor art exhibition
Where:Various locations, including The Navy Yard, 4747 S. Broad Street
Pair brews and bites with Phillys great fall weather at the Independence Visitor Centers Terrace on Tap, recently extended through late November. Set on the large second-floor outdoor terrace, the Visit Philly-sponsored pop up serves brews from East Falls Wissahickon Brewing Company, specialty cocktails and food from Brûlée Catering, and excellent views of Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, and the National Museum of American Jewish History. Timed reservations are highly recommended, but walk ups are also welcome.
Toast to brews and views at Terrace on Tap
When:Through Saturday, November 21 (select dates)
Where:Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street
www.phlvisitorcenter.com
Indoor shows are back at Punch Line Philly, bringing socially distanced laughs to the Fishtown venue with a lineup of local and star-power talent. The weekly Philly All-Pro Comedy Showcase kicks off the indoor shows on Wednesday, followed by actor, comedian and 7UP commercial star Godfrey with one show on Thursday and two on Friday. Purchase your tickets in advance and check out Punch Lines updated COVID-19 safety guidelines to ensure the best experience possible.
Enjoy safe laughs during an indoor show at Punch Line Philly
When:Indoor shows return beginning Wednesday, November 4
Where:Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel Street
www.punchlinephilly.com
The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF), which goes all-virtual for 2020, kicks off on Thursday. More than 80 films, documentaries and short films from Asian American and Pacific Islander video artists are on the docket for the two-week fest, as well as virtual live music, theater performances and panel conversations with global filmmakers. This weeks highlights include the opening night screening of The Paper Tigers, an action comedy about three Asian American childhood friends who must avenge their master’s death; centerpiece film Far East Deep South, a documentary about the history of the early Chinese in the segregated South during the Chinese Exclusion era; and the retrospective film and Academy-Award nominated documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin. Find the fests full schedule on PAAFFs official site.
Binge on the all-virtual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Where:All virtual for 2020
www.paaff.org
The holidays have arrived in the very center of Center City! Get into the spirit of the season at Dilworth Park by cruising around the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink (November 6, 2020 – February 28, 2021), offering timed, 90-minute skating sessions for 2020-21; strolling through the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn, an open-air wonderland of lights, topiaries and rustic décor perfect for photo-ops (through February 28, 2021); and relax in the Rothman Orthopedics Cabin, where seasonal cocktails await in a new open-air set up (November 6, 2020 – February 28, 2021). Masks are, of course, required. Read up on Center City Districts new safety protocols before slipping on your skates.
Welcome the return of winter attractions at Dilworth Park
When:Through Sunday, February 28, 2021
Where:Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street
www.dilworthpark.org
Get some inspiration to explore the Greater Philadelphia region at the new exhibition Places for the People: WPA Travel Posters, which opens on Friday at Old City’s Carpenters Hall. Visit the meeting place of the First Continental Congress to view a collection of rare travel posters commissioned during the Great Depression by the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to promote tourism in the region and provide artists with work. The posters feature iconic Philadelphia and Old City landmarks like Independence Hall and The Betsy Ross House, which you can (and should) make part of your itinerary for the day. Get info on the attraction’s latest safety protocols on the official site.
Get staycation inspiration at a new exhibit of Philly posters at Carpenters Hall
When:November 6 December 20
Where:Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut Street
carpentershall.org
November is Craft Month, as proclaimed by the City of Philadelphia, and it brings many opportunities to get crafty and to support local artisans and makers, both virtually and in person. Tune in to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show (Friday through Sunday) to browse the unique works of 130 artists and shop museum-quality crafts. Or visit the museum in person to check out the first-ever Philly-Made Market, a pop-up holiday market featuring Philly-made designs earrings made from vintage tins, Philly tarot cards, and facemasks with images from the museums collection from more than 25 local makers (through Sunday, January 17). Or, on Saturday, tune in to CraftNOW Create, a virtual experience for the whole family featuring live video demonstrations highlighting step-by-step directions on how to create clay monster heads, wooden dragonflies, holiday gnomes and more. Check out the list of materials or pick up a free home kit in advance.
Get crafty and support local artisans and makers
Where:Virtual and various locations, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
All aboard for winter fun! On this seasonal adventure, guests board a train (pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive) and ride the rails of the 150-year-old New Hope Railroad line all the way to the North Pole. On the one-hour trip, passengers enjoy cookies, carols and even a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and kids leave with their own sleigh bells courtesy of the Big Man himself. Advanced tickets are required, so plan ahead and peruse the railroads safety guidelines before heading north.
Hop aboard a train to the North Pole on the New Hope Railroad
When:November 7 – December 30 (select dates)
Where:New Hope Railroad, 32 W. Bridge Street, New Hope
Cost:Fares start at $43.99 per person
www.newhoperailroad.comread more
The Top Things to Do in Philly This Week & Weekend, November 2-8
