Friends and neighbors who left town for the holidays likely started making plans weeks, if not months, in advance. Whether they are skiing in Vail, soaking up rays in Cancún, or attending Christmas Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, every moment of their vacation has been booked, ticketed, and planned. But what if you are staying home for the holidays and haven’t made any plans beyond painting the kitchen or reading the latest John Grisham thriller? Not to worry. We’ve rounded up a variety of festive Philly pleasures that don’t require a TSA line.

Go Hollywood

Want to walk the red carpet in a top hat and tails? Tickets are still available for Kimmel’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, featuring guest conductor Anthony Parnther leading the Philadelphia Orchestra through iconic film scores, from Sunset Boulevard to E.T. The evening includes a complimentary champagne toast.

Make a night of it with pre- or post-concert cocktails and light bites at the Curtain Call Café & Lounge, or dinner at Leo, serving Mediterranean cuisine, both located on the first floor of the Kimmel Center in Marian Anderson Hall on December 31 at 7:00 pm. Tickets available via Ensemble Arts Philly.

Get Lit

Beyond the usual suspects like City Hall, LOVE Park, and Franklin Square, Philadelphia offers no shortage of holiday light displays. The sweet spot for visiting is now, while college students are out of town, traffic is lighter, and venues are less crowded.

From December through January, the 2700 block of South Smedley Street transforms into Candy Cane Lane with colorful lights and inflatable Santas. For a quieter, more romantic, and highly photogenic stroll, head to the 1700 block of Addison Street or wander through the twinkling paths of Rittenhouse Square.

Prefer an indoor spectacle? Visit the Comcast Center Holiday Spectacular, where on the hour from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm through January 2, you can catch a free 15-minute holiday show on a massive 27-million-pixel LED video wall. Featuring the Pennsylvania Ballet and holiday sing-alongs, it changes every year and never disappoints.

The lower-level food court is perfect for warming up with a bite and hot cocoa from local favorites like Di Bruno Bros.

Get High at the Zoo

While friends are snapping selfies on the London Eye, you can take in sweeping views from the new 110-foot Pherris Wheel at the Philadelphia Zoo. Open from 5:00 to 9:00 pm on select nights through January 3, 2026, the illuminated wheel was created in celebration of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

It’s one of the highlights of LumiNature, the Zoo’s immersive multimedia experience featuring more than one million lights, including a 40-foot penguin and a Christmas tree made entirely of 150,000 pink flamingo lights.

This isn’t just for kids. With reservations, adults can rent private igloos for two to eight guests, complete with fire pits, s’mores, charcuterie, and beverages.

Don’t miss Jambi’s Solstice Saloon, a riverside pop-up bar serving wintry cocktails and mocktails alongside Indonesian pop music and whimsical dancing geckos. Date Night Packages and discounts for college students, seniors, and hospitality workers are available. Tickets can be found via LumiNature Packages and Deals.

Little Luxuries

Philadelphia’s cultural treasures are noticeably calmer during the holidays, making it the perfect time to indulge. Treat yourself to a group or private tour at the Barnes Foundation, currently featuring Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets.

Then stroll over to Calder Gardens, a newly opened space dedicated to the work of Alexander Calder. Both are located along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Calder Gardens has no on-site parking, so consider leaving your car at the Barnes or the Franklin Institute garage.

If you’ve been avoiding crowds at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, now is the time to explore Dreamworld: Surrealism at a relaxed pace.

For the ultimate staycation, check into one of Philly’s luxury hotels, including the Four Seasons Philadelphia, The Rittenhouse Hotel, or the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia.

Never Have I Ever

Whether you’ve lived in Philadelphia your entire life or just recently moved here, there are probably places you “know” about but have never actually visited.

Start with the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a beautifully preserved Italianate library founded in 1845. Just across the street, step into the Curtis Building lobby to experience The Dream Garden by Maxfield Parrish, composed of 100,000 pieces of Tiffany glass.

Book lovers should finish the day at the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia’s shrine to classic literature. The gift shop alone is reason enough to visit.

By the time you’re strutting down Broad Street with the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day, you’ll have plenty of stories and photos to make your jet-lagged friends wish they had stayed home after all.