FOOD & DRINK
Southern Thanksgiving Feast
Nov. 23, 2 p.m.
The Little Lion
243 Chestnut St.
thelittlelionphilly.com
$45
Perfect for those with nowhere to go for Thanksgiving indulgences, The Little Lion’s meal is available for dine-in or pick-up, with bars open as early as noon. The menu is a six-piece feast that features, among other items, a smoked ham with honey bourbon glaze, blackened catfish, sweet potato hash, stuffing and pumpkin cheesecake.
Fade to Black
Nov. 24, 11 a.m.
BRU Craft & Wurst
1316 Chestnut St.
bruphilly.com
This annual Black Friday celebration is one of BRU’s biggest of the year–an all-day, beer-drinking celebration with limited-quantity beers from Captain Lawrence Brewing Company and Left Hand Brewing Company. Specialty stouts, “black” sours and a playlist of AC/DC and Metallica make this a standout.
Colonial Chocolate-Making
Nov. 25, 11 am.
The Betsy Ross House
239 Arch St.
historicphiladelphia.org
Free
Two chocolatiers from American Heritage Chocolate discuss how women contributed to the war effort by, in part, crafting beverages like hot chocolate and coffee. Naturally, guests will get to sample mock-ups of the hot chocolate colonists drank at the time.
Limited-Time Venezuelan Thanksgiving Menu
Through Nov. 26
Puyero Venezuelan Flavor
524 S. Fourth St.
Pay as you go
It’s a Venezuelan Thanksgiving at Puyero, with a sweet-corn pancake served with turkey and gravy, mozzarella and cranberry sauce. There’s also a sweet potato arepa stuffed with turkey, gravy and brussels sprouts, plus a trio of chocolate arepas for dessert. The restaurant will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but will reopen at 5 p.m. on Black Friday.
MUSEUMS
Thanksgiving at Museum of the American Revolution
Nov. 24 through Nov. 26, 10 a.m.
Museum of the American Revolution
101 S. Third St.
amrevmuseum.org
Various prices
Considering George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving, it’s only fitting that the Museum of the American Revolution would host special events for the occasion. A “Wall of Thanks” will be erected for the community to add to, gallery educators will speak to the subject of Pilgrims and early American shopping culture and, on Saturday and Sunday, kids can try on Revolutionary-era clothing and participate in crafting activities.
LGBT
Live on Walnut: Nick DiMattia
Nov. 26, 8 p.m.
The Toasted Walnut
1316 Walnut St.
toastedwalnut.com
$6
The Toasted Walnut continues its “Live on Walnut” music series with Grace & the So Beautifuls and Nick DiMattia—both acoustic sets. DiMattia will be performing in anticipation of the release of his EP, “Deano,” which goes live at midnight.
FESTIVALS
Thanksgiving Holiday Parade
Nov. 23, 8 a.m.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Free
The country’s longest-running Thanksgiving Day parade enters its 98th year, a 1.4-mile parade that ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and features special guests Ruben Studdard, the cast of “Waitress” and “Star Wars” cosplayers “Garrison Carida. A family-friendly Parade Zone will be set up at Eakins Oval with crafts and performances.
MUSIC
Flightschool
Nov. 24, 8 p.m.
World Café Live
3025 Walnut St.
worldcafelive.com
$16
This four-piece rock group fuses rock and blues, drawing inspiration from the ‘70s; the band just released a five-song EP, “All My Friends Are Busy.” Also featuring: special guests Denizen and Matt Kelly.
THEATER
Cirque du Soleil: Varekai
Through Nov. 26, various times
Temple University Liacouras Center
1776 N. Broad St.
cirquedusoleil.com
$39
The stunning circus, aerialist and acrobatics production—full of color and brimming with high-energy movement–tells the story of a world set deep inside a forest. Brace yourself for mesmerizing costuming and choreography.
SHOPPING
Fabric Row Fourth Friday
Nov. 24, 9 a.m.
South Street Headhouse District
facebook.com/fabricrow
Pay as you go
Fourth Friday happens to fall on the busiest retail shopping day of the year; in celebration, the South Street Headhouse District shops offer everything from mega savings—see: Philly AIDS Thrift’s storewide half-off sale between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.—and incentives like a 10-percent-of-sales donation to Planned Parenthood at Moon + Arrow. Bus Stop Boutique also, notably, offers 25 percent off select shoe and handbag styles.
Small Business Saturday
Nov. 25
East Passyunk Avenue
Various times
visiteastpassyunk.com
East Passyunk Avenue shops have organized this Saturday shopping crawl with dozens of shops to explore, plus complimentary sips, samples, gifts and gift wrapping. Pop by The Bottle Shop for mulled apple cider—spiked or non-alcoholic.
HOLIDAYS
Ardmore Tree Lighting
Nov. 24, 6 p.m.
Schauffele Plaza
56 Lancaster Ave., Ardmore
ardmoreshops.com
Free
Santa steps into town to light the Ardmore Holiday Tree. Cocoa and carols will be on-hand as the lights spring to life and Santa hosts a meet and greet for kids.
Christmas Village Opening Ceremony
Nov. 26, 3 p.m.
LOVE Park
1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.
philachristmas.com
Pay as you go
Christkind from Nurember recites a prologue to officially commence the 2017 season of Christmas Village at Love Park. The Camden Catholic High School band will perform and, of course, vendors will be open for business.
Jack Frost Saves Christmas
Nov. 26 through Dec. 31
The Media Theatre
104 E. State St.
mediatheatre.org
$15
A brief and upbeat all-ages production, this holiday show is about a boy with an icy touch—quite literally, he turns everything into ice. It’s a story of friendship, featuring Austy Hicks as Jack Frost. Hicks starred in Media Theatre’s “Carousel” earlier this year.
A Very Philadelphia Holiday
Through Jan. 1, 10 a.m.
One Liberty Observation Deck
1650 Market St.
phillyfromthetop.com
$14
The 360-degree observation deck is decorated in a four-quadrant layout, showcasing different markers of Philadelphia culture in each one. Among them: a light display inspired by “Miracle on South 13th Street” in South Philadelphia, a Mummers-themed corner with props and costumes, stage décor from Pennsylvania Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” and a Ben Franklin head that takes a few pieces of inspiration from the other three sections.
