Copied to Clipboard
Winter in Franklin Square
Spectacular lights, warming winter treats and plenty of holiday cheer fill historic Franklin Square all winter long during the park’s all-ages Winter in Franklin Square.
The free Ben Franklin-inspired Electrical Spectacle Light Show sets the park aglow with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights (the most ever!) and an energizing soundtrack made up of your favorite holiday tunes.
Elsewhere in the park, you can hit a few rounds of mini-golf on the Chilly Philly Mini Golf course, warm up by the firepits, hop aboard the Parx Liberty Carousel and try your hand at street curling.
The seasonal outdoor attraction rounds out the festivities with special events and pay-as-you-go bites and cocktails at the Ben On the Rocks heated tent.
Winter in Franklin Square runs from November 16, 2023 through February 15, 2024.
The 2023 edition of Winter in Franklin Square features glimmering lights, magical mini-golf, special events and plenty of holiday fun.
Electrical Spectacle Light Show
Winter in Franklin Square’s centerpiece attraction is the free Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO, illuminating the historic park nightly with hundreds of thousands of lights and a soundtrack of seasonal tunes, from José Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas as You.
The show runs every 30 minutes from 5 p.m. until closing during Winter in Franklin Square. The schedule for Winter in Franklin Square for 2023/2024 is:
— Photo by J. Fusco for Historic Philadelphia, Inc.
You can’t miss the enormous kite that serves as an ode to Benjamin Franklin’s famous kite-and-key lightning experiment, hovering above the square’s centerpiece fountain. LED lights dance to music all along the kite, spreading a holiday glow throughout the park.
Holiday Attractions
Parx Liberty Carousel
Take a spin on the Parx Liberty Carousel and enjoy the colorful lights and classic holiday tunes as you go round (and round and round). Tickets are required (open daily).
Mini-Golf
Center City’s only outdoor mini-golf course showcases 18 holes of festive lights, holiday music, winter characters and iconic Philly landmarks during Chilly Philly Mini Golf (November 16, 2023 through January 28, 2024).
Then, the fun continues in February with Philly Mini Golf with Love (February 1-25, 2024). Tickets are required for both.
Street Curling
Gather a team, channel your inner Olympian and push your stones to glory with Street Curling! Curling rinks must be rented in advance and tickets are required (November 16, 2023 through February 25, 2024).
Ben on the Rocks
Take a break and unwind at Ben On the Rocks, serving handcrafted cocktails, toasty beverages (including spiked hot chocolate!), seasonal beer and wine (evenings November 16, 2023 through January 7, 2024). Or hop over to SquareBurger to chow down on classic comfort foods (open daily).
Also on offer: cozy outdoor firepits and an indoor heated tent.
Seasonal Events
As part of the holiday happenings, Franklin Square celebrates the season with plenty of new and returning family-friendly events, including:
Keep an eye on Franklin Square’s official site for more details and other happenings.
Winter in Franklin Square and its seasonal events are completely free to attend. Refreshments, mini-golf, street curling and carousel rides are all pay as you go.
Franklin Square is in Philadelphia’s Historic District near the northeast edge of Chinatown (and is conveniently located near many of the city’s top holiday attractions).
This holiday season, Franklin Square is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Franklin Square is super accessible via public transportation, including SEPTA’s Route No. 47 bus and the Chinatown station on the Market-Frankford subway line. Folks looking to drive can also find several nearby parking garages and surface lots.
For more info about Winter in Franklin Square, including hours and attraction pricing, click the button below.
Winter in Franklin Square is just the tip of the holly jolly iceberg. Check out our guide to all of the ways Greater Philadelphia celebrates the most wonderful time of year.
Christmas Village in Philadelphia — Photo courtesy Christmas Village in Philadelphia
For a complete guide to the must-see holiday attractions in Philly and the Countryside, click the button below.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks, including tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, or the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?
A guide to the most wonderful time of the year in Philadelphia and the Countryside...