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Holiday events in Philly and the suburbs

Here are some festive holiday food and beverage happenings and specials this December in Philadelphia and the suburbs.

Frankford Hall-idays

This December, Frankford Hall is turning up the holiday cheer with its annual Frankford HALL-idays, a festive celebration filled with family-friendly fun, delicious seasonal offerings, and a chance to give back to the community. Featuring Santa visits, kids’ activities, and special holiday food and drinks, it’s the perfect outing for families and holiday enthusiasts alike.

The festivities will take place on the following dates and times, with Santa on-site for photo opportunities.

  • 12/8/2024 (Sunday): 4pm-8pm
  • 12/14/2024 (Saturday): 12pm-4pm
  • 12/15/2024 (Sunday): 12pm-4pm
  • 12/21/2024 (Saturday): 12pm-4pm
  • 12/22/2024 (Sunday): 10am-2pm

Guests can enjoy festive beverage specials like hot cider, Glühwein (mulled wine), hot cocoa (spiked options available), and Christmas beer. Food lovers can look forward to a family-style butcher board and other seasonal surprises. For little ones, PlayArts will lead holiday-themed arts and crafts, keeping the fun going for all ages.

As part of the celebration, Frankford Hall is giving back to the community by selling holiday ornaments, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Lutheran Settlement House, a Fishtown-based nonprofit supporting families in need.

Breakfast with Santa and Lunch with the Grinch at Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia

Breakfast with Santa
Kick off your holiday cheer at Hard Rock Cafe Philly from 10:00a.m. to 11:30a.m. with a magical breakfast buffet hosted by Santa Claus himself. Enjoy the warm ambiance of holiday decorations and iconic Hard Rock memorabilia while savoring a delicious breakfast spread of eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, fresh fruit, and more. Activities include story time with Santa, photo opportunities, a balloon twister, ornament decorating, and other festive surprises. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Lunch with the Grinch
For an afternoon of holiday fun, join The Grinch for a festive lunch buffet from 12p.m to 1:30p.m. Delight in Hard Rock classics like tupelo tenders, twisted mac & cheese, cheeseburger sliders, and more. Guests will also enjoy story time and photos with The Grinch, along with balloon twisting, ornament decorating, and additional holiday fun! Tickets are available for purchase here.

Hard Rock Philly’s Holiday Specials

Celebrate the holiday season with festive cocktails at Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia, crafted to bring warmth and cheer to every gathering. Sip on winter favorites from the new Holiday Menu, like the Sleighride Sangria, a merry mix of red wine, Bombay Sapphire Gin, and Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic, or the bold Blackberry Rocker, blending Teremana Reposado Tequila, blackberries, rosemary simple syrup, and cranberry juice. For a cozy treat, try the Polar Express-o, featuring Jameson® Irish Whiskey, chilled coffee, Kahlúa, and cream – served with a collectible glass!

For a full holiday feast, Hard Rock will be open on Christmas, serving a special holiday menu. 2 courses are $35, and a full three course meal including desserts is $41. Begin with a classic Caesar salad or a seasonal berry salad, followed by entrée options including baby back ribs, steak frites, grilled salmon, and the cranberry burger – a wintry twist featuring red wine cranberry chutney, shoestring onions, arugula, and provolone. End your meal on a sweet note with caramel apple cheesecake.

Holiday Food & Drink Happenings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Celebrate the holiday season with exciting culinary events and specials at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art, featuring pop-ups, takeovers, and festive delights. Tickets to the museum are required to dine and can be purchased here:

  • Dec. 20 – Stir Restaurant Takeover:
    • Chef Nana of Georgina’s Kitchen brings her acclaimed Ghanaian and West African cuisine to Stir Restaurant, showcasing a unique and flavorful dining experience. Reservations can be made here.
  • Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 – Down North Pizza Station Takeover:
    • Down North Pizza takes over the café’s pizza station, offering their creative and crave-worthy pies.
  • Dec. 6 – Jan. 3 – Holiday Specials:
    • Enjoy festive cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and seasonal holiday desserts available during Friday Night Lounge and at the café.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has decked the halls at their iconic Lobby Bar transforming it into the Rockin’ Holiday Bar through Dec. 31. Along with your favorite bands, the Rockin’ Holiday Bar will feature festive holiday-themed cocktails including the White Christmas Margarita featuring coconut, tequila and lime, the Sugar Cookie Martini crafted with vanilla vodka, Irish cream, butterscotch and half and half, cranberry mimosa featuring champagne, cranberry and ginger beer, and the Peppermint Martini that includes the classic peppermint and creamy vanilla flavors of the season.  

Christmas Dinner at Revolution Chop House

Revolution Chop House at Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia invites guests to celebrate the season with a special Christmas dinner featuring a festive menu. Begin with a rich lobster bisque, and for the entrée, guests can choose between braised lamb shank with creamy herb polenta and rosemary mushroom demi-glace or the seven fishes seafood risotto with lobster, halibut, shrimp, and more in a saffron fumet. For a sweet finish, enjoy the Rum Raisin Bread Pudding with eggnog anglaise. This elegant dining experience offers a cozy yet refined setting, perfect for making holiday memories.

Spooky events leading up to and on Halloween

Here are some spooky events happening in the lead-up to and on Halloween:

LMNO invites guests to its Costumes & Cocktails Halloween Disco party on Thursday, October 31st, from 6:00 PM to 1:30 AM. Attendees can enjoy spooky-themed drinks, bites, and dance to the beats of DJ Dre, who will be spinning from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM. The event is free to attend, with a pay-as-you-go option for food and drinks, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite 70s icons for the Halloween costume contest,with prizes awarded to the top three: a $100 gift card, $50 gift card, and 4 free drink tickets. To enter, participants simply need to post a photo of their costume at LMNO on Instagram and tag @lmnophilly by the end of the night. Winners will be announced via Instagram DM on Friday, November 1st.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City

Come dressed up to a Halloween Party at the Lobby Bar on Saturday, October 26, from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM! Listen to music from the 80’s Revolution Band, who will take the stage at 9:30 PM, with microphone announcements by ZXL radio personality Sean Patrick happening between 9:00 PM and midnight. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their best costumes, with exciting prizes up for grabs. The prize structure includes a $2,000 Hard Rock Gift Card for Best Overall Costume, and $1,000 Hard Rock Gift Cards for Best Couples Costume, Scariest Costume, Most Creative Costume, and Funniest Costume. Winners will be announced at midnight.

Guests can enjoy spooky sips from the haunted drink menu, featuring cocktails like Witches Brew, Vampire Spritz, Peanut Butter Cup Martini, and Pumpkin Spice Martini.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Halloween will come alive at the Museum with spooky treats. Through November 1, visitors can enjoy Halloween-themed specials in the Café at Ellis Coffee Bar, including spooky cookies and cupcakes, along with festive coffee drinks like Caramel Hot Chocolate, Black Sugar Latte, Spiced Caramel Cider, and Blueberry Chai. On October 25, the Friday Night Lounge will feature themed cocktails such as Blood Orange Vampire Punch (tequila), Shirley Temple of Doom, Festbier Beer, and Red October Beer.

The Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia will be featuring a special Halloween menu from October 21st through October 31st. The BOOberry burger is a fresh steak burger with applewood bacon, creamy brie cheese, crispy shoestring onions, dijonnaise, and arugula, finished with a blueberry chipotle sauce and served with seasoned fries.Pair this delicious burger with the BOOberry Zombie cocktail, which features a blend of Bacardi Superior run, triple sec, pineapple, and fresh lime with a ghoulish treat of pomegranate.

Trick or Drink: Philadelphia Halloween Bar Crawl at Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia

Join Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia for a 3-day Halloween Bar Crawl in partnership with BarCrawlerz! Get into the spooky spirit in the legendary Philadelphia Room, where a DJ will be spinning tunes throughout the event, surrounded by festive Halloween decor. Sip on drinks from Hard Rock’s Happy Hour menu, and don’t forget to purchase tickets here. See below for event details:

  • Friday, October 25th: 6 PM – 2 AM (Registration: 6 PM – 11 PM)
  • Saturday, October 26th: 4 PM – 2 AM (Registration: 4 PM – 10 PM)
  • Thursday, October 31st: 6 PM – 2 AM (Registration: 6 PM – 11 PM)

Trick or Treat Around the Town Center

Celebrate Halloween with a spooktacular evening of family fun at King of Prussia Town Center! The annual Halloween festival will return on October 28th from 5pm-7pm. Families are invited to get in costume, bring their buckets, and go trick-or-treating with the Center’s tenants. The open green space between the tenants will feature a DJ, photobooths, festive lawn games, and other fall fun for kids of all ages.

Forsythia in Old City is decked out for the season. Enjoy sophisticated fine French dining along with playful, yet upscale Halloween cocktail specials and decor.

Valley Forge Casino Resort’s Annual Music Series Returns

Valley Forge Casino Resort’s annual Valley Beach summer music series is back and better than ever, starting on Saturday, May 25th with Shot of Southern, a Philadelphia-based country music group. The series will feature weekly, outdoor performances on Saturday nights that bring together the best of live music, summer weather, delicious drinks and light bites.

Additionally, DJs will play every Friday night at Valley Forge Casino’s brand-new lounge and entertainment space, Deck 52, as part of the “Decks on Deck” series. Attendees must be 21+ to enter Friday and Saturday nights, and a cover charge will be applicable.

Home to the music series, Valley Beach is a 20,000-square-foot poolside club with an entertainment stage, open-air bar, tiki bar, private cabanas available to rent, and a crystal blue pool located at Valley Forge Casino Resort. 

WHEN:      

WHERE:       Valley Forge Casino Resort, 1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Valley Forge Casino Resort is the only all-inclusive gaming destination in the area, operating twenty-four hours per day. It has a 36,000 square foot gaming floor with 850 slot machines and 50 table games, the FanDuel Sportsbook, over 25,000 square feet of meeting, conference, and banquet space, two five-star hotel towers with 442 rooms, and more. Additionally, there are six restaurants on the grounds, live performances, and a vibrant nightlife. Two miles from the King of Prussia Mall and conveniently on the Main Line, this one-of-a-kind hospitality experience is reachable from Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Manayunk Presents Founders Philly Freeze-Out, MYNK Chowder Crawl and Winter Market

The ‘coolest’ festival in Philadelphia is back – and kicks off a historic year of festivities to celebrate Manayunk’s Bicentennial Celebration. Manayunk Development Corporation teams up with Founders Brewing Company to present Founders Philly Freeze Out, Freeze Out Run and 2024 MNYK Chowder Crawl, on Saturday, February 3, 2023. Main Street in Manayunk turns into a winter wonderland filled with live ice carving demonstrations and 25+ photo-worthy ice sculptures created by “ice king” Peter Slavin of Ice Sculpture Philadelphia. The day starts off with the Freeze Out Run by Philadelphia Runner and New Balance at 9:30am, followed by the Freeze Out main event from 11:00am to 4:00pm, followed by the 2024 MNYK Chowder Crawl from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

Festivities during the day will also include the Lion Dance with New Leaf for Chinese and Lunar New Year, a new interactive ice sculpture by Philadelphia Flyers street team, a new snowy ice igloo experience and photo opportunity, offerings from popular food trucks, Founders and MNYK giveaways, a festive winter shopping pop-up market, and Founders specials at restaurants and bars up and down Main Street. Founders Philly Freeze Out is free to attend, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go. Freeze Out Run is free to participate, with advance registration required. 2024 MNYK Chowder Crawl is $15 per ticket. For event info, race registration and chowder crawl tickets, visit https://manayunk.com/events/ and follow @manayunkdotcom

“In collaboration with Founders Brewing Company and Ice Sculpture Philly, we bring ice, art, beer, and chowder together to create the ultimate winter celebration here in Manayunk,” said Manayunk Development Corporation Events Coordinator Caitlin Marsilii. “You won’t want to miss this year as we have more live carvings than ever before and the Flyers Street Team.”

“At Founders Brewing Company, we love sponsoring the Founders Freeze Out in Manayunk every year because it brings together some of the best qualities Philadelphia has to offer: community, public art, street festivities, and, of course, great beer,” said Founders Brewing Co. Market Manager Igor Simić. “The day is built around showcasing local businesses and restaurants via the unique medium of ice sculptures, and the live carvings performed by Peter Slavin and his team at Ice Sculpture Philly are must-see. Whether you’re doing some shopping on Main Street, participating in the Chowder Crawl, or stopping by a bar to try Founders’ new Mortal Bloom Hazy IPA, it’s the perfect way to shake off the post-Holiday blues and celebrate Winter one more time before Spring gets here!”

Manayunk will host one of the Philadelphia region’s coolest (literal and figurative) outdoor winter festivals with a full day of family fun along Main Street on February 3rd. Come out bright and early for the Founders Freeze-Out Run starting at 9:30am. Philadelphia Runner presents this free three mile fun run, with support from New Balance, who will be joining with shoes to test out on the run, giveaways and more. Philadelphia Runner will then debut their 2024 sculpture at the start of the festival itself. The race is free but registration is required in advance.

The Founders Philly Freeze Out main event will run from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Neighbors, friends and visitors are invited to stroll up and down the street, where they can view and take photos with 25+ glistening ice sculptures outside participating Main Street businesses. Festivities will include finished sculptures, as well as live carving demonstrations scattered throughout the day.

While strolling among the icy masterpieces, festival-goers will find frosty fun with a new snowy ice igloo experience and photo opps, hearty food offerings from popular food trucks, Founders and MNYK giveaways and other surprises. Philadelphia Flyers Street Team will be on hand as special guests this year, with a special new interactive hockey sculpture. Additionally, look for the Lion Dance with New Leaf to celebrate the Chinese and Lunar New Year.

Up and down Main Street, beer lovers can find specials from Founders Beer Company at top restaurants and bars, including: Bar Jawn, JD McGillicuddy’s, La Roca, Lucky’s Last Chance, Manayunk Brewing Co., Mia Ragazza, Ryan’s Pub, Taqueria Amor, The Couch Tomato, The Grape Room, The Goat’s Beard, Union Tap House and Winnie’s Manayunk.

From 11:00am to 4:00pm, visit the Founders Winter Market, a one-day pop-up at Richards Apex (4170 Main Street) featuring art, apparel, accessories, candles, jewelry, home goods and much more. Participating vendors so far include: Lily Lough Jewelry, Fishtown Pickle Project, Let’s Get Spooky, SouthHouse, Jewelry Designs By KL, Macramaybee, CharcuTori Events!, Shay Lynn, Sweet Batter, Botanical Funk, SPogas Art, S H Candles, G+RIZZ, From Mine, To Yours and more to be announced.

From 12:00pm to 4:00pm, come hungry for the 2024 MNYK Chowder Crawl. Manayunk restaurants will put their best spoons forward to create their own versions of winter’s favorite comfort food. Participating businesses to date include:

Chabaa Thai Bistro
JD McGillicuddy’s
Lucky’s Last Chance
Manayunk Brewing Co.
Mia Ragazza
Taqueria Amor
The Couch Tomato
The Goat’s Beard
Union Tap House
Winnie’s Manayunk
Yanako
More to be announced

Check-in runs 11:30am to 2:00pm at the Richards Apex parking lot. Tickets are on sale now for $15 each and going fast. This event sells out each and every year. Get them while they last.

For updates on live carve times, activations, event map, Chowder Crawl voting and all the frosty fun, download Let’s Rallie – the official app of Founders Philly Freeze Out.

For more about Founders Philly Freeze Out, Race and Chowder Crawl, and partners, visit https://manayunk.com/events/ and follow @manayunkdotcom @iceicephilly @foundersbrewing @philadelphiaflyers and @letsrallie.