Franklin Square Holiday Festival & Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show: Running through Dec. 31, this holiday outdoor attraction brings a festival and light show to Franklin Square. The free spectacular features the Electric Spectacle light show, which includes thousands of lights twinkling along with holiday music. A winter beer garden and food from SquareBurger completes the experience. Enjoy the Lightning Bolt Holiday Express train ride and many other events that are free and fun for the whole family. Visit historicphiladelphia.org for more information.
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival: Enjoy the last weekend of this film festival which focuses on educating and exposing the Philadelphia region to films about and by Asian Americans. Films are screened around the city, all for under $10. All weekend, from Nov. 18-20, check out incredible films, which mostly screen at the International House of Philadelphia in University City and the Asian Arts Initiative in Chinatown North. Visit phillyasianfilmfest.org to see which films are being shown this weekend.
Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival: More than 30 films from around the world will be shown during the Jewish Film Festival, which closes Nov. 19. Screenings are held across the city and in a variety of genres, all connected by Jewish heritage, culture and history. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and students are free, but must register in person at The Gershman Y during business hours or at the door. There are also ticket packages available. For more information about the films, visit pjff.org.
Philadelphia Marathon: The annual marathon’s course runs through the city’s historic downtown, past the Philadelphia Museum of Art and along Boathouse Row. The weekend includes an 8K race, half-marathon, kids fun run and health and fitness expo. Thousands of spectators will cheer on runners. The runners begin and end on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The best views can be found from the parkway between 18th Street and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. from Spring Garden to Montgomery Drive. Runners must stop at the Pennsylvania Convention Center before the marathon to pick up race packets. Visit philadelphiamarathon.com to register.
UniverSoul Circus 20th Anniversary: UniverSoul Circus, one of the most interactive circuses in the world, makes its home in Fairmount Park through Nov. 27. The circus includes diverse acts like a comedic dog performance from Chilean dogs, Ethiopian contortionists, tigers and disco dancing. Ticket prices start around $17. Visit universoulcircus.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
