Kristen Sullivan

Latest posts by Kristen

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Halloween, Day of the Dead, Treats, No Tricks, October 31-November 1

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 10/28/2015 - 11:00pm

Throughout Philadelphia, you can feel the excitement. At long last, Halloween weekend is here! Kids anxiously await their door-to-door journey to gather treats, while parents secretly hope the children return with their favorite candy. But, the best news of all is the extra hour we get from Daylight Savings Time. Make the most of that extra 60 minutes with fun found on our Events Calendar.

Explore Mütter Museum, Penn Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Lancaster Museum of Art as they each celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Watch a show such as The Media Theater's A Tale of Beauty and The Beast or Hedgerow Theatre's Storytime! King Arthur. Or, take the family to see Adventure Aquarium's Weeki Wachee Mermaids do their underwater acrobatics.

Be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter which is delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. And, don't forget to turn back your clocks. I'll be enjoy my extra hour raiding my kids' candy stash.

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Parades, Trick or Treat October 26-30

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 10/25/2015 - 10:00am

Beginning this week, Mommy Poppins Philly provides Philadelphia families with a weekly round up of our top Weekday Picks, to keep the fun at your fingertips in between our weekend event picks. And, with less than seven days before the most exciting night of fall, Halloween, there are many options. Leading up to the big day, kids can participate in activities such as costume parades and trick-or-treat opportunities. Below are our top picks by day, but be sure to check out the Events Calendar for each day's complete listing.

Looking for fun photos at local, kid-friendly places? Check out our new Instagram page and follow us @mommypoppinsPHL! Plus, tag us @mommypoppinsPHL in any of your Instagram photos of adorable kids' Halloween costumes!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Zoo Boo, Pumpkin Carve, Goblins October 24-25

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 10/21/2015 - 11:00pm

With Halloween almost upon us, Philadelphia families must prepare...buying candy for trick-or-treaters, making costumes (or digging through the dress-ups to convince the kids they want to be a princess or a firefighter again, right?) and decorating the doorstep with mums, pumpkins and cornstalks. Once the fall preparations are complete, turn to our Events Calendar to celebrate the season with the family.

Check out The Philadelphia Zoo or The Brandywine Zoo for their Boo at The Zoo events. Marvel at the skill of local artists as they carve pumpkins for The Great Pumpkin Carve in Chadds Ford or try your hand at carving a Shunken Head at Peace Valley Nature Center. Or, see a kids concert at World Cafe Live Philadelphia or Wilmington.

Keep up with the latest Halloween fun by following us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Continue reading below to find all of our top picks for the weekend.

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Shell Show, Harry Potter, Shiverfest October 17-18

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 10/14/2015 - 11:00pm

The chill in the air, colorful piles of leaves and blooming chrysanthemums are all indications that October is here in Philadelphia. But the surest sign of the season is our Events Calendar as it is filled to the brim with fall fun. There are fall festivals, apple celebrations and pumpkin picking opportunities this weekend.

After making your apple pie and picking your pumpkins, consider a visit to the Academy of Natural Sciences for its Philadelphia Shell Show or head to Chestnut Hill College for its Harry Potter Festival & Quidditch Tournament. On the other hand, if you have completed your fall fun list already and want an escape, consider checking on one of the many consignment sales going on in the area.

Read below to find our weekend highlights and be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be delivered directly to your inbox every Thursday morning. Enjoy the weekend!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Festivals, Monster Trucks, Performances October 3-4

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 11:00pm

Due to the predicted rain, please check with venues directly for updated schedules for weekend events.

As the first weekend of October arrives, Philly families look forward to celebrating the season of autumn with apple picking, corn mazes and pumpkin decorating. This weekend certainly doesn't disappoint as our Events Calendar is filled with festivals, festivals and more festivals where families can find these fall activities.

In addition to traditional fall fun, embrace the outdoors by watching the birds at Tyler Arboretum or building a fairy home at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. Or, get an up close view of trucks at Wells Fargo Center's Monster Jam or Winterthur's Truck and Tractor Day. Those looking for indoor activities can consider attending a children's theater production such as Hedgerow Theatre School's The Little Mermaid Jr. or Walnut Street Theatre's Shrek the Musical Jr.

Continue reading for the top picks for the weekend. Be sure to sign up to have our weekly newsletter sent directly to your inbox every Thursday morning. And, don't forget to check out our Halloween Activities Guide to plan out lots of seasonal fun.

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Papal Visit, Smithsonian Museums September 26-27

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Thu, 09/24/2015 - 6:29am

We’ve been hearing about it for weeks, maybe months. The Pope is visiting Philadelphia! Whether you are venturing into the city for the Festival of Families, the Papal Mass or exploring the Religious Liberty exhibit at the National Constitution Center, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed.

However, if you’d prefer to avoid Philly altogether, the suburbs have much to offer this weekend. Explore a Smithsonian Museum such as Glencairn Museum, National Toy Museum or Delaware Museum of Natural History as they celebrate Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live. Or, embrace nature at Linvilla Orchards' Apple Festival, Bucktoe Creek Perserve's Children I-Spy Birding event or Riverbend Environmental Education Center's Play is Natural children's program.

Below are our top weekend picks but be sure to browse through our events calendar to find additional ideas. Whether you spend your weekend in the city or out in the suburbs, enjoy!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Scarecrows, Culture, History September 19-20

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 10:00pm

Dropping temperatures and shorter days make it feel like fall is already here, but in fact, this is the last full weekend of summer. Whether you are savoring every drop of summer or are looking forward to autumn, Philly families can make the most of the weekend with the help of our Events Calendar.

Boat lovers, scarecrow makers, storytellers and future archeologists can all find a festival to enjoy this weekend. In addition, there are cultural events like the Korean Festival and historical celebrations such as Evan-Mumbower Mill's Fall Mill Festival & Revolutionary Encampment. Truly, there is a festival for everyone.

On the other hand, perhaps you want to check out local consignment sales to buy your kids' fall wardrobe. The next few weekends are filled with sales. Our complete listing is constantly being updated with the latest consignment sale information.

Stay ahead of the fun by following us on Twitter and Pinterest. Be sure to like us on Facebook and sign up for our weekly newsletter to be delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday. And, whichever season you prefer, summer or fall, make it a great weekend!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Festivals, Grandparents September 12-13

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 10:00pm

By mid-September, Philly families are getting settled into their new routine. Soccer practices, piano lessons and dance classes begin to fill the family calendar. But, don't forget to add some family fun into the mix.

Nothing says family fun better than a festival! This weekend there are many options such as Philadelphia's Honey Festival, Kennett Square's Mushroom Festival and Devon's Fall Festival. Make sure to include the grandparents in your family time since Sunday, September 13 is Grandparents' Day. Take Nana and Pop Pop to a baseball game, visit a museum or explore an arboretum.

Continue reading below to check out our top picks for the weekend. If you are looking to plan ahead, be sure to investigate our September GO List filled with ideas for the entire family. Enjoy your weekend!