Philadelphia events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Liberty Bell Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rocky Steps, plus Eastern State Penitentiary. December in Philadelphia averages 9°C / 47°F highs, -1°C / 31°F nights, and about 11 rainy days.
Expect 9°C/47°F days and about 11 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Liberty Bell Center★ 4.7 · 1.2k reviewsThe Liberty Bell, cast in 1752 by Whitechapel Bell Foundry and recast in Philadelphia, is displayed in a glass pavilion across from Independence Hall.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rocky Steps★ 4.7 · 14.4k reviewsThe Greek Revival main building opened on Fairmount in 1928, with European, American, Asian, armor, and modern collections inside.
- Underoath with August Burns Red, Atreyu, and EmeryDec 1The Fillmore Philadelphia · Source: SeatGeek
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Philadelphia in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
47°F / 31°F
8.5°C / -0.6°C
RainPrecipitation
11d
3.9in · 100mm
LightDaylight
9.2h
December is cold and festive around City Hall, Dilworth Park, Reading Terminal Market, and South Philly light displays.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Philadelphia Holiday Festival at the Pennsylvania Convention Center
A month-long holiday market featuring local artisans, festive decorations, and seasonal entertainment in downtown Philadelphia.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
A Very Philly Christmas at the Franklin Square
Seasonal light displays, holiday-themed mini-golf, and festive food and drink offerings in historic Franklin Square.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 2
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 2
- Dec 2 – Dec 27
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 4 – Dec 5
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5 – Dec 27
Holiday Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum
A festive display of model trains winding through a winter garden setting at the Morris Arboretum.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5 – Dec 19
Big Wig Queens of Christmas Brunch: The Ultimate Drag Experience
Arts & Theatre · Performance Art.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
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- Dec 6
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- Dec 11 – Dec 12
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- Dec 18 – Dec 24
Philadelphia Orchestra Holiday Concerts
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs a series of holiday-themed concerts at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 18 – Dec 19
- Dec 18
- Dec 20
- Dec 22
- Dec 30 – Dec 31
HiJinx returns to ring in the New Year at Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
Source: festival calendar
- Dec 31
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Philadelphia
City overview
Philadelphia sits between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, with the colonial street grid of Old City, Center City's towers, South Philly rowhouses, University City campuses, and Fishtown's nightlife all close enough for a transit-heavy weekend. The city is strongest where U.S. founding history, art museums, markets, murals, and neighborhood food overlap.
Food & drink
Philadelphia food is sandwich-and-market specific: cheesesteaks griddle shaved beef with cheese on a long roll, roast pork sandwiches add broccoli rabe and sharp provolone, soft pretzels are twisted and salty, tomato pie is served at room temperature, and water ice is the summer dessert stop. Reading Terminal Market is the easiest first stop, while South Philly's Pat's vs. Geno's vs. Angelo's debate, the Italian Market's taquerias, and hoagie shops give the sharper food map.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Eastern State Penitentiary
- 2Barnes Foundation
- 3Philadelphia Magic Gardens
- 4The Franklin Institute
- 5Mütter Museum
- 6Independence Hall
- 7Reading Terminal Market
- 8Italian Market on 9th Street
1Eastern State Penitentiary
4.7★ · 2,308indoorOpen dailyJohn Haviland designed the radial prison, which opened in 1829 and later held Al Capone. The stabilized cellblocks sit in Fairmount, a short walk from the Art Museum area.
Wikipedia
2Barnes Foundation
4.7★ · 4,579indoorClosed Tue/WedThe Barnes moved from Merion to Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 2012, preserving Albert C. Barnes' room ensembles of Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, African sculpture, metalwork, and furniture. It stands a short walk from the Rodin Museum.
Wikipedia
3Philadelphia Magic Gardens
4.6★ · 5,635indoorClosed TueIsaiah Zagar built the mosaic environment on South Street from found tile, mirrors, bottles, bicycle wheels, and folk art. The small site sits between 10th and 11th streets, near South Street restaurants.
Timed tickets prevent the narrow mosaic passages from overcrowding.
Show 3 more sights
- 4The Franklin Institute
- 5Mütter Museum
- 6Independence Hall
Neighborhoods
1Old City and Society Hill
Old City and Society Hill feel historic and walkable, with Independence Hall, Elfreth's Alley, Christ Church, Penn's Landing, galleries, cobblestones, and Federal-era houses.
2Center City and Rittenhouse Square
Center City is the hotel-and-office core, with City Hall, Reading Terminal Market, Walnut Street shopping, Rittenhouse Square, and easy subway access.
3Fishtown and Northern Liberties
Fishtown and Northern Liberties are nightlife-heavy, with Frankford Avenue restaurants, music venues, breweries, boutiques, and the El along Girard and Front streets.
Day trips
35km / 40min by car from Center City
Valley Forge National Historical Park
The Revolutionary War winter encampment has Washington's Headquarters, reconstructed huts, monuments, and bike-friendly park roads.
50km / 50min by car from Center City
Brandywine Valley and Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens adds conservatories, fountains, meadows, and seasonal light shows near Kennett Square.
110km / 70min by Amtrak from 30th Street Station to Lancaster
Lancaster County
The day trip pairs Central Market, Amish farm country tours, covered bridges, and Pennsylvania Dutch food.
Getting around
SEPTA runs the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, trolleys, buses, Regional Rail, and PATCO connections, with SEPTA Key cards or contactless payment on many services. Use the El for Old City-Fishtown-University City, the Broad Street Line for South Philly sports trips, and walking for the dense Center City grid.
Planning a Philadelphia trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Philadelphia in December
- What to pack for Philadelphia in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Philadelphia checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 9°C / 47°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average -1°C / 31°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 11 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Philadelphia
- 4 days covers the main Philadelphia highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Philadelphia worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Philadelphia averages 9°C / 47°F highs, -1°C / 31°F nights, and about 11 rainy days.
Ready to plan Philadelphia?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Philadelphia plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.