Weekend activities for the Philadelphia Marathon
The Philadelphia Marathon has been a November highlight since 1954. The 26.219-mile race takes place on the third Sunday of November each year and draws thousands of participants and more than 50,000 spectators each year. However, the Marathon isn’t the only event in town the third weekend of November. If you’re heading to Philadelphia November 15-17, below are a few other events you won’t want to miss.
1. The Philadelphia Orchestra: From Vienna to the New World – November 15-16. The renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, under the direction of Manfred Honeck, performs selections by Dvorak, Mozart and Johann Strauss Jr. at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Verizon Hall. Concerts begin Friday at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets start at $48.
2. ELF: A Holiday Musical – November 15-17. The charming Santa’s helper captivates audiences of all ages at the Walnut Street Theater (825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.) Curtain is 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from $10 to $95.
3. One Day in Pompeii – November 15-17. See more than 150 artifacts from the doomed Italian city of Pompeii are on display at the Franklin Institute (20th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway), an exhibit that makes the daily life of the city really come alive. Open Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission (includes admission to the rest of the museum) is $27.50 for adults and $21.50 for children. Evening admission (after 5:00 p.m.) is $18 for adults and $11 for children.
4. Craft Festival: Gifts in the Galleries – November 15-16. The Penn Museum (3260 South Street) hosts dozens of local craft vendors in the galleries with assorted gift items for sale. The sale is open Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
5. Leger: Modern Art and the Metropolis – November 15 – 17. The Philadelphia Museum of Art (2200 Benjamin Franklin Parkway) hosts an exhibit of more than 120 works by the French, early 20th century modernist Fernand Leger. The exhibit is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $20 for students and $12 for children.
6. Dinosaurs Unearthed – November 15-17. The Academy of Natural Sciences (19th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) is hosting dozens of life-size interactive dinosaurs with a display that is fun and educational for the whole family. The exhibit is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5.
In addition, the city will be just starting to adorn itself for the holidays, with decorations, festive shop displays and thousands of lights.