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HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC. ANNOUNCES 2023 WINTER IN FRANKLIN SQUARE FEATURING THE ELECTRICAL SPECTACLE LIGHT SHOW PRESENTED BY PECO
Photo: Fountain Light Show 2022 / FireCity Illusion
PHILADELPHIA, October 25, 2023 - Historic Philadelphia, Inc., (HPI) the non-profit organization that manages and operates award-winning Franklin Square, announces sparkling lights and winter magic this winter to celebrate traditions old and new at this beautiful and treasured public space. Winter in Franklin Square featuring the FREE Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO will sparkle from November 16, 2023 – February 25, 2024. Visitors can celebrate the magic of the season both day and night this winter in festive Franklin Square, with evening activities beginning at 5 pm. In the evenings, dazzle in the lights of the Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO, while gathering around the fire pits to warm up with hot beverages (spiked versions for adults) and seasonal food favorites. Franklin Square Street Curling, new this winter in an adaptation of the Olympic team sport, is played on an elevated platform where two teams take turns sliding “stones” across the curling surface. Another highlight of Winter in Franklin Square is Chilly Philly Mini Golf transforming Center City’s only miniature golf course both daytime and evenings.
Media are invited to the Opening Night on Thursday, November 16, 2023, with brief remarks at 5:30 pm and the first Electrical Spectacle show at 6 pm.
“Historic Philadelphia, Inc. is excited to celebrate the holidays and welcome visitors and residents from across the Greater Philadelphia region Franklin Square’s free holiday light show,” said President and CEO of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. Amy Needle. “As we plan for 2026, HPI will be working on several exciting capital and programming projects to enhance the visitor experience in Franklin Square.”
Franklin Square Street Curling – NEW!
Curling, the Olympic team sport where players slide stones of granite towards a target on a sheet of ice, has been adapted into a format called Street Curling for anyone to play in Franklin Square this winter. Street Curling is played on an elevated platform where two teams take turns sliding “stones” (Rocks) across the curling surface toward the target (The House). “Curling” refers to the rotational spin of the curling stone, which causes it to take a curved path. At Franklin Square, people can book a 30-minute session for up to 8 players at each of two rinks for $40 per session. The Street Curling is located next to the Ben On the Rocks heated tent.
Seasonal Philly Mini Golf
One of the highlights of winter fun for all ages is the Chilly Philly Mini Golf (November 16 – January 28), transforming Center City’s only miniature golf course both daytime and evenings. Experience lights, seasonal music, and larger than life wintertime friends throughout the course. The 18-hole game features reproductions of Philadelphia icons and landmarks. The fun continues, with love in the air for the month of February when Philly Mini Golf with Love (February 1 – 25) takes over the course. Tickets are $15 adults/$12 children (3-12); FREE for children under 2.
Hundreds of Thousands of Dancing Lights
The Franklin Square Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO is the key to holiday nighttime fun in Franklin Square. Sparked by Benjamin Franklin’s electrifying genius and themed to his electric discovery with a giant kite and key, the Electrical Spectacle is a free light show that illuminates the Square nightly with shows every 30 minutes from 5 pm until closing. Visitors marvel at the hundreds of thousands of lights (more than ever!) as they shimmer and illuminate the Square to a soundtrack of seasonal classics.
The Electrical Spectacle Light Show features six songs, two songs for each show, on a rotating basis, kicking off on November 16 and running through January 7, 2024. The songs are All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey, Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano; Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Tchaikovsky with Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Russian Dance performed by Charles Dutoit & L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal; Sleigh Ride performed by Peter Nero and The Philly POPS® featuring Ann Hampton Callaway; A Christmas Festival, performed by Peter Nero and The Philly POPS® featuring Ann Hampton Callaway; and Carol of the Bells (Starchild Excaliber Drumadelic Remix) performed by the London Festival Orchestra.
Beginning on January 11, Winter Wonderland by Johnny Mathis will be the solo song for each show running nightly through February 25. Electrical Spectacle shows begin at 5 pm daily and run every 30 minutes until 9 pm, weather permitting.
Ben On the Rocks
Ben On the Rocks will operate nightly beginning at 5 pm (only through January 7) serving a variety of hand-crafted cocktails, classic and spiked hot chocolate, seasonal beers, and wine. Enjoy the outdoor fire pits and seating throughout the Square as well as the beautiful indoor heated tent. SquareBurger also available both daytime and nighttime for comfort classic foods.
Daytime in Franklin Square
During the day, delight in playing 18 holes of wintery splendor while playing Chilly Philly Mini Golf, spin with holiday music on the Parx Liberty Carousel ($4 per person, adult or child. Guests 2 years of age and younger are FREE with paid accompanying guardian.), dine on comfort food and special seasonal fare at SquareBurger, operated by Cooperage, and slide, swing, and climb in the two playgrounds.
Franklin Square is open November 16 – January 7, 2024, daily (closes 8 pm on December 24 & 31; closed November 23, December 25, and January 1), 10 am - 9 pm; January 11 – February 25, Thursday – Sunday, 10 am - 7 pm (also open January 15 and February 12 for holiday Mondays). The nighttime festivities run 5 pm until closing each day the Square is open. All hours are weather permitting.
Special Events at Winter in Franklin Square
· Active-ities with YoYo (November 18, December 2 and 9) – FREE games, giant bubbles, live music, fitness fun, and play party for children with YoYo.
· Nutcracker Night with Philadelphia Dance Academy (November 19)
· Jingle and Mingle with Santa presented by Customers Bank (November 24 and 25, December 2, 16, and 23) – Keep an eye out for Santa near the Franklin Square Fountain, double-checking his naughty and nice lists and posing for elfie-selfies. FREE.
· Gift-Making (December 8) – Children can create gifts for their families with area arts organizations. FREE.
· Hanukkah Celebration with Old City Jewish Arts Center (December 10)
· Santa Paws (December 16) – Bring four-legged friends decked out for the holidays for a pup-tastic time and take a photo with Saint Nick. Dress your furry companion in their best holiday outfit or ugly sweater. FREE.
· Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Museum in Philadelphia (December 29)
· A Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown (December 31) will ring in the New Year with the most family-friendly celebration in town. Crafts and the famous Square Drop at 6 pm plus the New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront, viewable from the Square. Franklin Square will close on New Year’s Eve at 8 pm.
· Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Weekend (January 13-15)
· Ice Princess Night (January 27) – Frosty fun comes to Franklin Square with ice carving, face-painting, children’s activities, and everyone’s favorite royalty.
· Chinese New Year Celebration (February 10)
· Philly Mini Golf with Love Date Night (February 14)
Winter in Franklin Square is the perfect setting for corporate and social gatherings this holiday season. Looking for a unique way to engage guests? Book a slot to enjoy the only Street Curling in Philadelphia with firepits and heated tent as options to add. On select days, bookings are available before Street Curling opens to the public. Book today at [email protected]. The Franklin Square Pavilion can also be rented for birthday parties, corporate events, and special events. For information on booking special events or parties each year in The Pavilion or the outdoor locations in Franklin Square: http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/parties-and-facility-rentals/.
In 2022, PATCO began construction to renovate the Franklin Square Station with a planned completion for spring 2024. This $30 million project will allow the station to become fully functional and in-line with existing PATCO stations. The project will address improvements to the station’s civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems and will provide access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Franklin Square PATCO Station was originally opened in 1936 as part of the Bridge Line operation between 8th & Market in Philadelphia and Broadway in Camden. Ongoing construction can be seen along the 6th Street and 7th Street sides of Franklin Square.
Funders and partners for Franklin Square are PECO, William Penn Foundation, Parx, Board of Directors of City Trusts, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
Franklin Square, Philadelphia’s original green space, is a beautiful oasis in Historic Philadelphia. Historic Philadelphia, Inc. is the non-profit that renovated, funds, manages, and operates Franklin Square. First created as an open space by William Penn in 1682, the seven-and-a-half acre Franklin Square offers family fun in one of the city’s most charming historic parks filled with expansive lawns and shady trees. Award-winning Franklin Square features one of the country’s oldest public fountains featuring a daytime and nighttime water and light show, Philly Mini Golf, Parx Liberty Carousel, two playgrounds, and SquareBurger, operated by Cooperage. After a day of experiencing the treasures of Philadelphia’s history, putt through some of the city’s most famous icons, take a ride on hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex or Smarty Jones aboard the carousel, swing along with the dancing water of the fountain, and dine on the finest burgers and shakes in town. Franklin Square is located at 6th & Race Streets.
Historic Philadelphia, Inc. makes our nation’s history relevant, real, and fun by enlivening historic sites through storytelling, interactions, and education. HPI operates, maintains, and improves the Betsy Ross House, Once Upon A Nation storytelling and immersive walking tours, and Franklin Square. For all Historic Philadelphia, Inc. event information, visit historicphiladelphia.org to buy tickets online. Follow HPI at twitter.com/HistoricPhilly and twitter.com/FranklinSqr, on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/HistoricPhila or http://on.fb.me/FranklinSquare, or on Instagram at instagram.com/historicphilly or instagram.com/franklinsquarephilly/.
Media are invited to the Opening Night on Thursday, November 16, 2023, with brief remarks at 5:30 pm and the first Electrical Spectacle show at 6 pm.
“Historic Philadelphia, Inc. is excited to celebrate the holidays and welcome visitors and residents from across the Greater Philadelphia region Franklin Square’s free holiday light show,” said President and CEO of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. Amy Needle. “As we plan for 2026, HPI will be working on several exciting capital and programming projects to enhance the visitor experience in Franklin Square.”
Franklin Square Street Curling – NEW!
Curling, the Olympic team sport where players slide stones of granite towards a target on a sheet of ice, has been adapted into a format called Street Curling for anyone to play in Franklin Square this winter. Street Curling is played on an elevated platform where two teams take turns sliding “stones” (Rocks) across the curling surface toward the target (The House). “Curling” refers to the rotational spin of the curling stone, which causes it to take a curved path. At Franklin Square, people can book a 30-minute session for up to 8 players at each of two rinks for $40 per session. The Street Curling is located next to the Ben On the Rocks heated tent.
Seasonal Philly Mini Golf
One of the highlights of winter fun for all ages is the Chilly Philly Mini Golf (November 16 – January 28), transforming Center City’s only miniature golf course both daytime and evenings. Experience lights, seasonal music, and larger than life wintertime friends throughout the course. The 18-hole game features reproductions of Philadelphia icons and landmarks. The fun continues, with love in the air for the month of February when Philly Mini Golf with Love (February 1 – 25) takes over the course. Tickets are $15 adults/$12 children (3-12); FREE for children under 2.
Hundreds of Thousands of Dancing Lights
The Franklin Square Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO is the key to holiday nighttime fun in Franklin Square. Sparked by Benjamin Franklin’s electrifying genius and themed to his electric discovery with a giant kite and key, the Electrical Spectacle is a free light show that illuminates the Square nightly with shows every 30 minutes from 5 pm until closing. Visitors marvel at the hundreds of thousands of lights (more than ever!) as they shimmer and illuminate the Square to a soundtrack of seasonal classics.
The Electrical Spectacle Light Show features six songs, two songs for each show, on a rotating basis, kicking off on November 16 and running through January 7, 2024. The songs are All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey, Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano; Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Tchaikovsky with Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Russian Dance performed by Charles Dutoit & L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal; Sleigh Ride performed by Peter Nero and The Philly POPS® featuring Ann Hampton Callaway; A Christmas Festival, performed by Peter Nero and The Philly POPS® featuring Ann Hampton Callaway; and Carol of the Bells (Starchild Excaliber Drumadelic Remix) performed by the London Festival Orchestra.
Beginning on January 11, Winter Wonderland by Johnny Mathis will be the solo song for each show running nightly through February 25. Electrical Spectacle shows begin at 5 pm daily and run every 30 minutes until 9 pm, weather permitting.
Ben On the Rocks
Ben On the Rocks will operate nightly beginning at 5 pm (only through January 7) serving a variety of hand-crafted cocktails, classic and spiked hot chocolate, seasonal beers, and wine. Enjoy the outdoor fire pits and seating throughout the Square as well as the beautiful indoor heated tent. SquareBurger also available both daytime and nighttime for comfort classic foods.
Daytime in Franklin Square
During the day, delight in playing 18 holes of wintery splendor while playing Chilly Philly Mini Golf, spin with holiday music on the Parx Liberty Carousel ($4 per person, adult or child. Guests 2 years of age and younger are FREE with paid accompanying guardian.), dine on comfort food and special seasonal fare at SquareBurger, operated by Cooperage, and slide, swing, and climb in the two playgrounds.
Franklin Square is open November 16 – January 7, 2024, daily (closes 8 pm on December 24 & 31; closed November 23, December 25, and January 1), 10 am - 9 pm; January 11 – February 25, Thursday – Sunday, 10 am - 7 pm (also open January 15 and February 12 for holiday Mondays). The nighttime festivities run 5 pm until closing each day the Square is open. All hours are weather permitting.
Special Events at Winter in Franklin Square
· Active-ities with YoYo (November 18, December 2 and 9) – FREE games, giant bubbles, live music, fitness fun, and play party for children with YoYo.
· Nutcracker Night with Philadelphia Dance Academy (November 19)
· Jingle and Mingle with Santa presented by Customers Bank (November 24 and 25, December 2, 16, and 23) – Keep an eye out for Santa near the Franklin Square Fountain, double-checking his naughty and nice lists and posing for elfie-selfies. FREE.
· Gift-Making (December 8) – Children can create gifts for their families with area arts organizations. FREE.
· Hanukkah Celebration with Old City Jewish Arts Center (December 10)
· Santa Paws (December 16) – Bring four-legged friends decked out for the holidays for a pup-tastic time and take a photo with Saint Nick. Dress your furry companion in their best holiday outfit or ugly sweater. FREE.
· Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Museum in Philadelphia (December 29)
· A Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown (December 31) will ring in the New Year with the most family-friendly celebration in town. Crafts and the famous Square Drop at 6 pm plus the New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront, viewable from the Square. Franklin Square will close on New Year’s Eve at 8 pm.
· Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Weekend (January 13-15)
· Ice Princess Night (January 27) – Frosty fun comes to Franklin Square with ice carving, face-painting, children’s activities, and everyone’s favorite royalty.
· Chinese New Year Celebration (February 10)
· Philly Mini Golf with Love Date Night (February 14)
Winter in Franklin Square is the perfect setting for corporate and social gatherings this holiday season. Looking for a unique way to engage guests? Book a slot to enjoy the only Street Curling in Philadelphia with firepits and heated tent as options to add. On select days, bookings are available before Street Curling opens to the public. Book today at [email protected]. The Franklin Square Pavilion can also be rented for birthday parties, corporate events, and special events. For information on booking special events or parties each year in The Pavilion or the outdoor locations in Franklin Square: http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/parties-and-facility-rentals/.
In 2022, PATCO began construction to renovate the Franklin Square Station with a planned completion for spring 2024. This $30 million project will allow the station to become fully functional and in-line with existing PATCO stations. The project will address improvements to the station’s civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems and will provide access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Franklin Square PATCO Station was originally opened in 1936 as part of the Bridge Line operation between 8th & Market in Philadelphia and Broadway in Camden. Ongoing construction can be seen along the 6th Street and 7th Street sides of Franklin Square.
Funders and partners for Franklin Square are PECO, William Penn Foundation, Parx, Board of Directors of City Trusts, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
Franklin Square, Philadelphia’s original green space, is a beautiful oasis in Historic Philadelphia. Historic Philadelphia, Inc. is the non-profit that renovated, funds, manages, and operates Franklin Square. First created as an open space by William Penn in 1682, the seven-and-a-half acre Franklin Square offers family fun in one of the city’s most charming historic parks filled with expansive lawns and shady trees. Award-winning Franklin Square features one of the country’s oldest public fountains featuring a daytime and nighttime water and light show, Philly Mini Golf, Parx Liberty Carousel, two playgrounds, and SquareBurger, operated by Cooperage. After a day of experiencing the treasures of Philadelphia’s history, putt through some of the city’s most famous icons, take a ride on hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex or Smarty Jones aboard the carousel, swing along with the dancing water of the fountain, and dine on the finest burgers and shakes in town. Franklin Square is located at 6th & Race Streets.
Historic Philadelphia, Inc. makes our nation’s history relevant, real, and fun by enlivening historic sites through storytelling, interactions, and education. HPI operates, maintains, and improves the Betsy Ross House, Once Upon A Nation storytelling and immersive walking tours, and Franklin Square. For all Historic Philadelphia, Inc. event information, visit historicphiladelphia.org to buy tickets online. Follow HPI at twitter.com/HistoricPhilly and twitter.com/FranklinSqr, on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/HistoricPhila or http://on.fb.me/FranklinSquare, or on Instagram at instagram.com/historicphilly or instagram.com/franklinsquarephilly/.
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