Your guide to family fun this fall in Philly

Looking for some family events to partake in this fall in Philly? We’ve got you covered. 

Slide-A-Thon 

Taking place on Oct. 6 (for corporate teams) and Oct. 7 (for families and friends), Philadelphians can head to Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse for its 4th annual Slide-A-Thon. 

The event will feature opportunities for all ages to participate in slide games, partake in challenging obstacle courses, and take part in team activities. And as a release states, the little ones will also have a chance to showcase their creativity through engaging arts and crafts. The Slide-A-Thon will act as a fundraiser to support Smith and the beloved Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide, situated within Smith’s historic 16,000-square-foot Playhouse and 6.5-acre Playground in East Fairmount Park. 

Registration is open for the event now. 

3500 Reservoir Dr., smithplayground.org

Harvest Weekend at Dilworth Park

Philadelphia families can head to Dilworth Park on Oct. 6, 7 and 8 for Harvest Weekend, which will feature live music, seasonal food and beverage items and activities for families. The free event will also feature the Hay Maze (which goes up a week early on Sept. 29), plus a schedule of free activities and entertainment including local bands and DJs, live pumpkin carving demonstrations and pumpkin painting for children. 

Harvest Weekend will also feature strolling performers like scarecrow stilt walkers and magicians and then on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m., the Philly Goat Project will host a meet and greet with goats for guests of all ages. 

And as a release states, on Saturday afternoon, Maker’s Mark Diplomat, Mai Jeans, will be onsite from 1 to 4 p.m. with customized tote bag giveaways, and at 4:15 p.m., visitors 21 and older are invited to participate in a stein-hoisting contest presented by Tröegs Independent Brewing. Festivities will continue on Sunday with live apple cider making at 3 p.m. Also on Sunday, everyone is invited to explore the park’s City Pickle pickle ball courts from 1 to 3 p.m.

While there, families can also indulge in fall fare like Bavarian pretzels and bratwurst, plus, check out the Made in Philadelphia Fall Market which is returning with more than 60 local vendors. 

1 S. 15th St., centercityphila.org

Camden Adventure Aquarium Fintastic Fall Days 

This new activation at the CAA kicked off last week on Sept. 21 and will run until Nov. 5. Fintastic Fall Days features aquatically-themed displays of lit-up gourds showcased throughout the Aquarium, both floating on the surface and sunken deep below among sharks, rays, and other aquatic animals, a release states.

Additionally, Philadelphians can also find hands-on activities for kids like pumpkin slime and other hands-on sensory experiences included with admission, plus a $5 option to paint and take home their own pumpkin masterpieces. The activation will also feature some new food on the menu including sweet potato tots, a smoked maple sausage pizza, a pumpkin fish cone (aka a pumpkin-flavored waffle cone served with vanilla or chocolate soft serve), plus some new pumpkin drinks options served at the Flying Fish beer garden among some of the options. 

1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, adventureaquarium.com

Reading Terminal Market Harvest Festival

On Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Reading Terminal Market’s Harvest Festival will be in full swing on Filbert Street. The family-friendly event will feature a bluegrass band, line dancing, a scarecrow stilt walker, axe throwing, pumpkin painting, a pretzel twisting demonstration and contest hosted by Miller’s Twist, and a beer garden hosted by Molly Malloy’s.

And as always, the annual event will also feature specials and fall favorites throughout the Market like pumpkin ice cream from Bassett’s, mini churros from El Merkury and more. 

1136 Arch St., readingterminalmarket.org

Chestnut Hill’s Night of Lights 

The annual event from Chestnut Hill Conservancy lets visitors learn about architecture, archives, and local history along Germantown Avenue between Willow Grove Avenue and Bethlehem Pike. The official kick-off will include a Flip the Switch ceremony starting at 6:45 p.m. on the 6th held in the outdoor open space on East Hartwell next to the Foliage Plant Boutique.

Following that, Philadelphians can stick around for storytellers at each themed projection window, music from various local acts like from MilkBoy co-founder Tommy Joyner’s Pep Rally, plus entertainment from Maplewood Music Studios (including performances by Maplewood Music Studios teachers Rich Rudin, Larry Cohen, John “Jocko” MacNelly, and Ralph Salerno), a release states.

Additionally, there will also be an “Ask the Archivists” table, and more family-friendly interactive activities, with the night concluding at 9 p.m. After opening night, the exhibition continues nightly from 7 to 9 p.m. until its final night.

chconservancy.org