Fun things to do in Philly Thanksgiving weekend

Looking for some fun and unique things to do in Philly this holiday weekend? We’ve got you covered. 

Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum

The grounds of Morris are always enchanting and fun to explore. But during the holiday season, their famous Garden Railway is transformed into a seasonal must-see for all ages. The Railway is free with admission to Morris when checking the venue out during the daytime. However, at night, the experience turns into the Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express. 

On select nights this month and next, visitors can check out the laser lights in the trees and sparkling fixtures along more than a quarter mile of track. Advanced tickets (recommended) are on sale and run for $0 to $22 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. The experience officially opens this Friday, Nov. 25.

100 E Northwestern Ave., morrisarboretum.org

Holiday Light Trolley Tour

It’s that time of the year again where the city is bright and merry with holiday lights. And to see all of them in one night (or, the best of the best at least), Founding Footsteps is back with another Holiday Light Trolley Tour. 

While on the Jolly Trolley, the roving vehicle will be decked out with holiday decorations while making stops at the city’s most popular holiday light displays including: Miracle on S. 13th Street, The Smedley Street Christmas Spectacular, Santa’s Speakeasy @ Mainstay Brewing (Craft Hall), and Sto’s Christmas Pop-Up. And as a release states, the tour will also pass by Winterfest at Penn’s Landing, The Betsy Ross House and City Hall. Time permitting, earlier tours may stop at Franklin Square and later ones at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The tour is BYOB and will also feature live music. Tickets ($55-$60) are now on sale (advanced buying is highly recommended) and are discounted for Monday through Wednesday tours. Tours will begin Friday, Nov. 25, and run through Dec. 31. Guests will meet and depart from Craft Hall, located at 901 N. Delaware Ave. 

foundingfootsteps.com

Tailsgate

This Sunday, Nov. 27, the Eagles will be taking on the Green Bay Packers, but before kickoff, Philadelphians can celebrate with a special tailgating event that aims to do some good. Taking place in the Lincoln Financial Field parking lot G1 the day of the game, Tailsgate will be in full swing to benefit the PSPCA. 

For $30 per ticket, the event will feature food and drinks provided by various local and national sponsors, along with games, raffles and online auctions, with proceeds going directly to the foundation. While there, visitors can also learn about adoption opportunities from PSPCA specialists as well. The event will take place from 3 to 8 p.m.

 3601 S. 11th Street, pspca.org

LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo

When the sun goes down, the Philadelphia Zoo will light up like magic once again this year for 2022’s Luminature. The spectacle has become an annual tradition for the cultural institution, and this holiday season’s showcase is said to be bigger, brighter and better than ever before. 

The full-scale nighttime holiday light show takes over the entirety of the venue after hours. While walking through, Philadelphians can find magical illusions of big cats and peacocks coming to life; flamingos flocking on a 25-foot-tall tree; and hundreds of penguins hosting an outdoor party of their very own, among many other gems. 

For 2022, there are a few fresh fixtures to set your eyes on. The Penguin Prismatic features a 40-foot-tall penguin glowing with 40,000 lights surrounded by a colony of colorful penguins reflecting on the Zoo’s Bird Lake. Visitors will also be able to check out video projections that mimic the Savannah desert. And the new finale “showstopper,” titled the Animale Fantasia, will feature cave-like screens situated on a field of lights choreographed to music, and as the Zoo says, it can’t be missed. 

LumiNature is open now through Saturday, Jan. 7. LumiNature is a nighttime experience, with timed entrance tickets available every half hour from 5 to 8 p.m. for arrival, with the experience closing last call at 10 p.m. Guests should pre-purchase timed-tickets to make reservations.

3400 W. Girard Ave., PhiladelphiaZoo.org.