Behold our wintery and wonderful list of TOP TEN family events this weekend, full of dinosaurs and dragons, Elmo & Friends, ice skating, wizarding, magic and MORE!

Please be sure to check with the host location about their health and safety protocols, as well as their registration requirements, prior to heading out!

Looking for more ideas of what to do in the Main Line area? Check out our COMMUNITY CALENDAR at mainlineparent.com/events. To see MORE events happening in Philly and Bucks County visit phillyfamily.com/events and buckscountyparent.com/events.

Find MLK Day Volunteering Activities here: Volunteering on MLK Day and Beyond

Go straight to: Friday Saturday Sunday

Friday

“The Wizard of Oz” Exhibit at Please Touch Museum
January 14, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Please Touch Museum 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia

The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibit, a traveling exhibit based on the beloved movie classic, opens on Oct. 8 in Philadelphia. Visitors of all ages are invited to come along with Dorothy and Toto on a multi-sensory exploration of the Land of Oz.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
January 14, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Wells Fargo Center 3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia

In what might be the NBA’s most storied rivalry, the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics go back decades—all the way back to 1949, to be exact, when the Sixers were still in Syracuse, NY and being referred to as the Nationals. Don’t miss your chance to see Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics take on Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and the Sixers this season!

Saturday 

Dino & Dragon Stroll at Philly Expo
January 15, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center The Fairgrounds at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks

Dino & Dragon Stroll is the only North American Tour that lets up walk-thru and get up close to life-like and life-size dinosaurs AND dragons—one weekend only at Philly Expo Center! Nowhere else can you encounter colossal sized dinosaurs ranging from babies to the huge Brachiosaurus standing 20 ft. tall and 36 ft. long, and many more! Dino & Dragon Stroll features the newest dinosaurs and dragons produced with advanced animatronics and sound technology that brings these amazing creatures to life. As you stroll throughout, you will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and enter the Dragon’s Den which is surrounded by some fantastical, legendary fire-breathing dragons. Children under 2, military and veterans are free. See event link for schedule to purchase timed tickets. A sensory friendly session is at 8:30 am, on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Labyrinth (PG, 1986 movie)
January 15, 11:00 am
Bryn Mawr Film Institute 824 Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr

When a rash wish accidentally summons goblins to whisk off her baby brother, Sarah (a young Jennifer Connelly) must venture into a magical labyrinth to rescue her sibling from the Goblin King (a mulleted, leather-clad, crystal-ball-juggling David Bowie). With iconic songs like “Magic Dance” and “As the World Falls Down” from Bowie himself and a menagerie of unforgettable characters (played by puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop), this musical fantasy abounds with storybook wonder. Recommended for ages 8+.

Family Friendly Magic Show!
January 15, 1:00 pm
Comfort Inn and Suites Glen Mills 1110 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills

Join Comedy Explosion at 1pm on Saturday, January 15th for a Family Friendly Magic Show featuring magician Jake Swartz from the TV Stations Fox, CBS, NBC, and Fox Sports Networks and Good Day Philadelphia and magician Derek Lee from BET Comic View, Dr Oz Show, Q Show on Fox, and Good Day Philadelphia. Hosted by the princess of comedy, Ms. Darkchild. Tickets are $25.

Winter Wizarding One-Nighter at Brandywine School of Wizardry
January 15, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Brandywine Learning Center 849 Newcomen Road, Chester Springs

Ready for some magic? Both new and returning fans of our Wizarding programs will love these one night events for ages 6-15. It begins with a sorting ceremony of our first-years, then move on to wand selection for first years while returning students engage in advanced magic. Spells, Quidditch (weather permitting), and potions come next all while the night’s UNIQUE MYSTERY unfolds. Food and drink are not provided during this event, so ensure your witches and wizards eat prior to arriving and bring a water bottle. Cost is $50 per child.

Sunday

Jurassic Quest
January 16, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm 
Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia

Jurassic Quest is North America’s largest and most realistic Dinosaur event. Guests walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic Periods and experience for themselves what it was like to be among dinosaurs of all kinds. Jurassic Quest is the only interactive dinosaur event that has over 100 true to life-size animatronic dinosaurs in each of its indoor touring shows from the very small to the gigantic. In collaboration with leading paleontologists, each dinosaur has been painstakingly replicated in every detail. Whether their prehistoric counterpart had skin that was scaly, had feathers or fur, Jurassic Quest has spared no expense in bringing the dinosaurs to life. Jurassic Quest exhibits also allow future paleontologists to dig up fossils, ride their favorite life-sized dinosaur, enjoy walking dinosaur and baby dinosaur shows, and enjoy a dinosaur themed play land in addition to face painting, crafts and much more.

Elmo’s Furry Fun Fest
January 16 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sesame Place 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

On weekends from January 8th through March 20th, join Elmo for birthday parties galore as he celebrates his favorite furry friends! You won’t want to miss the all-new Winter Family Zone featuring fire pits, s’mores, and yard games! See website for more details and schedule. […]

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs
January 16, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 
The Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia

What did the world look like before the dinosaurs? Step back 290 million years to when bizarre-looking creatures dominated life on land and sea, and dinosaurs had not yet evolved. Permian Monsters blends vivid artwork, amazing fossils and scientifically accurate models of moving beasts to recreate this relatively unknown period when the greatest mass extinction wiped out creatures that will never be discovered. Explore odd-looking sharks, strange reptile-like precursors of mammals, and the vicious predator the giant Saber-Toothed Gorgonopsid. Play paleontologist and dig for fossil casts, enjoy interactive games and more.

Flight on Ice! Outdoor Skating & Entertainment Center
January 16, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Energy Transfer Veterans Memorial Rink 4901 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square

Flight on Ice is an outdoor ice skating rink and entertainment center in Delaware County. New this year, you can expect fun for the whole family including ice skating sessions, a lounge area, a heated tent, and great food and beverages.

DISCLAIMER: HEY PARENTS, AS WE WELL KNOW, THINGS CHANGE DAY TO DAY… EVEN HOUR TO HOUR SINCE WE HAVE ENDURED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC TOGETHER. PLEASE CHECK THE SPECIFIC EVENT WEBSITE FOR TIME CHANGES, RAIN DATES, COVID POLICIES, AND EVENT CANCELLATIONS BEFORE YOU PACK UP THE WHOLE CREW OR GATHER AROUND THE LAPTOP TO LOG ON.

Lead photo courtesy of Wizarding World.