Local Happenings
Check out some of the upcoming happenings SEPTA can take you to.
ISEPTAPHILLY Newsletter
Check out the latest edition of our newsletter - here! Want it delivered directly to your inbox every Monday? Email us here.
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo
This immersive display transforms the Philadelphia Zoo’s day-scape into a nighttime multimedia spectacle. After the animals are tucked away for the evening, the zoo lights up with more than 1 million holiday lights in 14 distinct zones. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance. Get there on SEPTA Routes 15 or 38. Save $2 on admission with this Perk!
Plan Your Trip
Stag and Doe Night
Midweek shopping gets a little more festive in Chestnut Hill during the area’s annual Stag & Doe Nights. Every Wednesday - enjoy extended shopping hours, holiday specials and complimentary refreshments at stores throughout Chestnut Hill. Be on the lookout for a roaming brass quartet and even Santa himself during the evening hours along Germantown Avenue. Leave the sleigh at home and leave the driving to SEPTA. Ride Routes 23, 94 or L or hop the Chestnut Hill East or Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail Lines to the last stop.
Plan Your Trip
Jolley Trolley
The season is upon us and there is no better place to celebrate than Main Street in Manayunk! Take a tour of the wonderful holiday light displays on the FREE Jolly Trolley rides Thursday nights in December. Hop the Manayunk/Norristown Line to Manayunk Station or Routes 9, 27, 35 or 61.
Plan Your Trip
Free At Noon 🎶
WXPN's Free At Noon is held every Friday at World Cafe Live and always features fabulous music. Heading to the show? Get there on SEPTA. Take Regional Rail to William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, the Market-Frankford Line to 30th, Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 30th Street, or Bus Routes 21, 42, or 49.
Plan Your Trip
Lucia & Christmas Market
This holiday market in South Philly comes with a side of treats, live music and traditional Lucia processions. Admission is $5 (Saturday & Sunday). It's so easy to get there on SEPTA! Hop on the Broad Street Line or take Bus Routes 4 or 17.
Plan Your Trip
The Comcast Holiday Spectacular and The Universal Sphere
The Comcast Center’s annual (and free!) super high-res LED holiday show returns this year, back in the lobby of the city’s second-tallest building on one of the world’s largest LED continuous video walls. Shows run daily at the top of every hour from 10AM to 8PM with sensory-friendly shows on offer every Thursday and Friday at 2:30PM (and upon request) - from 11/24 thru 1/1. Also back from 2022 is The Universal Sphere - a free cinematic experience (advanced reservations encouraged) created by Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Animation, Universal Parks & Resorts and Comcast Labs - located in the upper lobby of the Comcast Technology Center. Shows run daily from 10AM to 8PM with the last daily show starting at 7:45PM. Get here on SEPTA Regional Rail. The Comcast Center is literally connected to Suburban Station. Or hop the Market-Frankford Line to 15th Street, Broad Street Line to City Hall, Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 19th Street or one of many Bus Routes that cross-cross the city. See you there!
Plan Your Trip
Franklin Frost
The Franklin Institute’s seasonal celebrations include a 26-foot-tall celestial-themed Christmas tree, model train displays inside Big Chill Valley and the life-size Baldwin 60,000 Locomotive decked out in festive décor. Step inside Celestival Village (open Saturdays and Sundays only) for fun photo ops inside a giant holiday card, a frost maze and hands-on activities like holiday card making. Franklin Frost is included in regular museum admission. Leave the driving to SEPTA. Short walk from Suburban Station, hop Bus Routes 7, 33, 38, 48 or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 or 36.
Plan Your Trip
Christmas Light Show
The Grand Court in the National Historic Landmark Wanamaker Building has hosted a Christmas Light Show since 1956. Macy’s continues the tradition of twinkling snowflakes, dancing snowmen and more with a 100,000-light show narrated by Julie Andrews and accompanied by the famed Wanamaker Organ. Get there on SEPTA! Hop Regional Rail to Suburban or Jefferson Station or take the Market-Frankford Line to 13th Street Station!
Plan Your Trip
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Experience a riverfront winter wonderland at the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. Glide around an enormous ice skating rink, snap a photo next to the festive holiday tree and warm up with a hot beverage next to a fire pit or inside a cozy cabin. Entry into Winterfest is free. Ice skating, cabins and firepits can be reserved in advance. Get there on SEPTA. Hop the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street or Bus Routes 12, 21, 25, 42, 17, or 33.
Plan Your Trip
Clark Park Farmers Market
Clark Park is home to one of the largest and most well-populated farmers markets in Philadelphia, and boasts over a dozen vendors manning tables piled high with organic fruits, heirloom vegetables, milk, eggs, cheeses, meats and more. It's open year-round on Saturdays from 10a to 2p. Get there on SEPTA. Routes 13, 30 & 34 drop you right there!
Buy Black. Shop Local.
The Enterprise Center is partnering with local and regional Black-owned businesses this holiday season for a Black Holiday Pop-up. This curated marketplace is a one stop shop to Buy Black for your holiday gifting and to treat yourself! Get there on SEPTA! Hop the Market-Frankford Line to 52nd Street!
Plan Your Trip
Wild Lights
Norristown’s Elmwood Park Zoo shines (quite literally) during the holiday season [from 11/18 thru 12/30], with millions of LED lights illuminating the Montco attraction’s 16 acres during Wild Lights. The walk-through experience features brilliant light displays and live entertainment during the evening hours. Tickets are required. Take SEPTA's Manayunk/Norristown Line or Norristown High Speed Line to Norristown Transportation Center. From there, Bus Routes 90, 96, and 98 get you within walking distance. Save $2 on admission with this Perk!
Plan Your Trip
Christmas Village
Organizers from Germany help to transform LOVE Park into an open-air European wonderland that is Christmas Village, with more than 110 different vendors set up in brand-new wooden huts. It's open from 11/24 thru 12/24. Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.
Plan Your Trip
Deck the Hall Holiday Lights
City Hall comes alive for the holiday season as the western façade of the historic building lights up with stunning technicolor projections that are synchronized to sound effects during the nightly (and free!) Deck The Hall Light Show. The must-see lighting display kicks off at the top of the hour at 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9PM each night. So easy to get here on SEPTA. Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.
Plan Your Trip
Penguin Party
’Tis the season everywhere — even underwater. This sub-surface seasonal celebration - open from 11/25 thru 12/24 - features a scuba-diving Santa, underwater lighting displays and even an underwater Christmas tree (purported to be the world’s tallest). To get there, take PATCO to the aquarium. Connect from SEPTA to PATCO at 8th & Market or 13th & Locust.
Plan Your Trip
Holiday Garden Railway
The annual Holiday Garden Railway brings a mini-winter wonderland to the historic Morris Arboretum, with a quarter-mile track where model trains chug along loops, through tunnels and over bridges, past perfect little replicas of beloved Philadelphia landmarks. In short, it’s adorable. On select Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the display’s run, guests enjoy the railway amid thousands of twinkling lights as part of the after-hours Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express programming. Lighted trees and other colored lights make the garden even more magical. Tickets are required. Ride the Chestnut Hill East to the last stop. From there hop the Route L or 97 toward Plymouth Meeting or Plymouth Meeting Mall to the Germantown Avenue & Northwestern Avenue stop.
Plan Your Trip
A Philly POPS Christmas: Spectacular Sounds of the Season
Music director and principal conductor David Charles Abell leads the POPS Festival Chorus, The Philadelphia Boys Choir and the St. Thomas Gospel Choir with Hamilton’s Mandy Gonzalez as special guest (again) alongside vocalist Jordan Donica, of Charmed and Blue Bloods fame. Get here on SEPTA. Hop Routes 4, 12, 27, 32 or the Broad Street Line to Walnut-Locust.
Plan Your Trip
Headhouse Farmers Market
On Sunday stop by the Headhouse Farmers Market for fresh produce, baked goods, local meats, cheeses and wines. It's so easy to get here on SEPTA. Hop Route 12, 40, 47 or 57.
Plan Your Trip
Fly Eagles Fly 🦅
The Philadelphia Eagles are back at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, 12/4 for their matchup against the Titans. Going? Best way from home to home field is the SEPTA Broad Street Line. Ride it south to NRG Station (last stop). Ride HOME FREE thanks to our partners at betPARX!
Plan Your Trip
Holidays On The Hill
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Chestnut Hill! During Holidays on the Hill, visitors can immerse themselves in the spirit of the season by strolling through one of Philadelphia’s most historic villages now thru 12/25! It's so easy to SEPTA there. Ride Routes 23, 94 or L, or take the Chestnut Hill East or Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail Lines to the last stop.
Plan Your Trip
FESTIBUS Displays
The SEPTA Holiday Vehicles are decorated by our Frontline workers who show their skills and talent every year by transforming their bus or trolley to spectacular display. Who can forget the “Grinch”, “The Smurfs” and “Lion King” themes from recent years? The decorated trolleys and regional rail trains can be seen daily on varies routes. Our bus static displays are scheduled to be on exhibit throughout Center City and other Philadelphia locations.
Friday - 12/2 - they'll be located at 4th & Market from 7AM - 9AM.
Saturday and Sunday - 12/2 and 12/3 - they'll be located at Love Park from 1AM - 5PM.
You can also catch a couple of the buses in the Visit Philadelphia Parade on Saturday from 5PM to 6PM on Saturday!
Museum of Illusions
Believe half of what you see. The Museum of Illusions outpost in Old City joins existing locations in Toronto, Paris, Chicago and New York. With over 80 exhibits meant to trick the eye, the attraction delights visitors with holograms, stereograms and optical illusions, all the while teaching about vision, perception and the human brain. Get here on SEPTA. Short walk from Jefferson Station or ride SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line to 5th Street/Independence Hall Station. Bus Routes 5, 9, 17, 21, 33, 38, 42, 44, 48, 57, and 121 also stop near the museum.
Plan Your Trip
Every Brilliant Thing
Every Brilliant Thing is on stage at the Arden Theatre Company til 12/116. So easy to get here on SEPTA. Hop the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street or Routes 5, 17, 33, 48 or 57. Before you go - check out this Perk - it will save you $10!
Plan Your Trip
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Catch Tina: The Tina Turner Musical the Academy of Music from 11/22 thru 12/4. Get there on SEPTA. Hop Routes 4, 12, 27, 32 or the Broad Street Line to Walnut-Locust. Get up to $10 off tickets with this Perk!
Plan Your Trip
Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink
It’s a winter wonderland in the shadow of City Hall. Now thru 2/26, glide around the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, snap a selfie in the festive wintergarden, warm up with a hot beverage inside the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin and grab some seasonal snacks — all set against a very festive backdrop. Reservations are encouraged for timed, 90-minute skating sessions. Get here on SEPTA! Hop the Market-Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.
Plan Your Trip
The Gardens After Dark
Experience the splendor of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens after dark, when the mosaics sparkle under the glow of colorful lights. The Gardens After Dark experience runs on Fridays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. through December 30, 2022, except for November 25 and December 9. Timed tickets are required. Get there on SEPTA! Short walk from the Lombard-South stop on the Broad Street Line or hop Routes 40, 45, or 47.
Plan Your Trip
Winter
Franklin Square celebrates the winter season with free nightly light shows inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s legendary kite and key experiment - from 11/16 thru 2/26. Free light shows — set to a soundtrack of seasonal tunes — illuminate the square every 30 minutes from 5 p.m. until close. Before or after the show, grab a burger or beverage fireside from the on-site Square Burger, play a round of festive Chilly Philly Mini Golf or hop aboard the classic Parx Liberty Carousel. Get there on SEPTA: it's a short walk from 5th Street/Independence Hall Station on the Market-Frankford Line!
Plan Your Trip
Transit Tuesday ☕️
Celebrate Transit Tuesday with SEPTA and Dunkin'. Flash your SEPTA Key card to receive a MEDIUM Hot or Iced Coffee for only $1 (+ appl. tax) every Tuesday at any participating Greater Philadelphia-area Dunkin' location. To find your nearest Dunkin' click here. Offer valid on Tuesdays only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Participation may vary. Limited-time offer.
