Things to do with kids in Philadelphia this weekend, found and checked for you.
Halloween is Saturday, and it’s the last weekend of Boo at the Zoo at both the Philadelphia Zoo and Elmwood Park Zoo. Elmwood adds a trick-or-treat night on Friday, and Spooky Mini Golf in Franklin Square ends Sunday. Libraries from Delaware County to Cherry Hill have costume parades and trick-or-treating. This week has 48 outings, 36 free and 28 indoors.
What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Trick-or-Treat Night at Elmwood Park Zoo, Spooky Mini Golf in Franklin Square and Swarthmore Halloween Tots Parade, plus 17 more.
Last checked · 48 kids events and outings at 43 places · 36 free · 28 indoor · 2 sold out (still listed). Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose
Top 5 picks
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Our plan for Saturday
Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. One thing from this week’s list, plus two of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGBoo at the Zoo: Final Weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo9:30am–5pm · Philadelphia Zoo · Included with zoo admission (prices vary by date; buy online ahead); ACCESS tickets $8
- LUNCHAround townReading Terminal MarketOpen 8am–6pm · Center City, 1136 Arch St. · $$ (opens their site)
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
- AFTER NAPAround townThe Franklin InstituteOpen 9:30am–5pm · Logan Square, 222 N. 20th St. · Kids $23, adults $29, 2 and under (opens their site)
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Our plan for Sunday
Here’s how we’d do Sunday, Nov 1. One thing from this week’s list, plus two of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGBoo at the Zoo: Final Weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo9:30am–5pm · Philadelphia Zoo · Included with zoo admission (prices vary by date; buy online ahead); ACCESS tickets $8
- LUNCHAround townReading Terminal MarketOpen 8am–6pm · Center City, 1136 Arch St. · $$ (opens their site)
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
- AFTER NAPAround townThe Franklin InstituteOpen 9:30am–5pm · Logan Square, 222 N. 20th St. · Kids $23, adults $29, 2 and under (opens their site)
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Find your thing
Holiday season in Philadelphia
- Santa visitsBreakfasts, photos and trains
- Christmas lightsDrive-thru and walk-through
- Thanksgiving weekendParades, turkey trots, what’s open
- Parades & tree lightingsDates and start times
- Christmas trainsPolar Express and Santa trains
- The NutcrackerShows for kids, sensory-friendly flagged
- Christmas marketsMarkets and winter wonderlands
- Christmas breakWhat’s open Dec 24, 25 and Jan 1
- Noon Year’s EveCountdowns at noon
- December with kidsThings to do all month
- Ice skatingHoliday rinks and skate aids
Philadelphia favorites
A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.
Coming up
What to do with kids this weekend in Philadelphia: the FAQ
What can we do with kids this weekend in Philadelphia?
This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Boo at the Zoo: Final Weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo (Sat, Oct 31 and Sun, Nov 1); Boo at the Zoo at Elmwood Park Zoo (Sat, Oct 31 and Sun, Nov 1); Trick-or-Treat Night at Elmwood Park Zoo (Fri, Oct 30); Spooky Mini Golf in Franklin Square (all weekend). That’s four of 33 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.
What are kid-friendly things to do in Philadelphia this weekend?
This week we found 48 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, and 33 of them are this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Boo at the Zoo: Final Weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo, Boo at the Zoo at Elmwood Park Zoo, Trick-or-Treat Night at Elmwood Park Zoo. See the full list.
Where are the Halloween events for kids in Philadelphia this week?
26 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Boo at the Zoo: Final Weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo, Boo at the Zoo at Elmwood Park Zoo, Trick-or-Treat Night at Elmwood Park Zoo and Spooky Mini Golf in Franklin Square. Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.
Are there free things to do with little ones in Philadelphia this week?
Yes, 36 of this week’s 48 picks are free, including library storytimes and Halloween Art Explorers with Bright Day Studio (Paoli Library). Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in Philadelphia in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in Philadelphia. Regular free days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts for 2027 are on free museum days in Philadelphia.
What are good indoor activities for kids in Philadelphia when it rains?
28 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in Philadelphia.
Where is storytime for little kids in Philadelphia this week?
7 storytimes are on this week’s list, including Halloween Story Time and Costume Parade (Vogelson Library, Voorhees) (Sat 10:30–11am), Halloween Story Time and Costume Parade (Blackwood Library) (Sat 10:30–11:30am), Halloween Parade & Storytime in Rittenhouse Square (Fri 11:15am, Philadelphia City Institute (meets in Rittenhouse Square)) and Halloween Storytime and Costume Parade at Charles Santore Library (Fri 10:30am, Charles Santore Library). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Philadelphia.
What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in Philadelphia this week?
5 of this week’s picks are baby or toddler programs or made for ages 3 and under, including Swarthmore Halloween Tots Parade, Messy Makers (Sellers Library, Upper Darby) and Halloween Story Time and Baby Parade at Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library. All of them are free, and 2 are indoors. See them in the list.
How do you pick what goes on the Philadelphia list?
We go through Philadelphia’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we choose and check listings.
How do I get this list every week?
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Running something for little kids in Philadelphia?
If it’s good for the under-6 crowd, we’d like to hear about it. Free events go on the list for free, always. If you want a guaranteed spot at the top or in the Thursday email, there’s a sponsored option too, and it’s clearly labeled. We’re just getting started, so the first 10 local partners in each city get 50% off your first booking.
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Nearby towns
- Things to do with kids in Norristown (6 listings)
- Things to do with kids in Langhorne (5 listings)
Seasonal events and guides
- Things to do with kids in Philadelphia in November
- Things to do with kids in Philadelphia in December
- Santa visits in Philadelphia
- Christmas lights in Philadelphia
- Ice skating with kids in Philadelphia
- Thanksgiving weekend in Philadelphia
- Christmas parades and tree lightings in Philadelphia
- Christmas train rides near Philadelphia
- The Nutcracker for kids in Philadelphia
- Christmas markets in Philadelphia
- Christmas break with kids in Philadelphia
- Noon Year’s Eve in Philadelphia
- Free things to do in Philadelphia
- Free museum days in Philadelphia
- Indoor play places in Philadelphia
- Library storytimes in Philadelphia
- Birthday party places in Philadelphia
- Every year in Philadelphia