Congrats on finishing the semester, folks!

If you’re headed back toward Philadelphia for winter break, there’s plenty of fun stuff to do with your family and friends. Whether you’re in Center City or beyond, we compiled a list of the best activities and events to attend in the City of Brotherly Love over winter break.

Events & Festivals

Center City Festivals

There are two great winter festivals right in Center City. The Winter Festival by City Hall in Dilworth Park features a variety of vendors, some festive holiday gardens, and an ice skating rink. Across the street in Love Park, the Philadelphia Christmas Village is a German-style market with lots of good food, drink, and homemade gifts. Both markets are open through the holiday season.

Zoos: Holiday-Style

Two Philadelphia-area zoos are decking the halls this holiday season to add some extra flare. The Elmwood Park Zoo has brought back its popular “Wild Lights” exhibit, while the Philadelphia Zoo returned its “LumiNature” event, which requires a timed entry ticket.

Holidays at Peddler’s Village

A bit outside of the city sits Peddler’s Village, an outdoor shopping and entertainment area decked out every year in millions of twinkling lights. While the village is dotted with boutique stores and some of the best restaurants in Bucks County, the area itself is free to walk around and enjoy the lights.

The Mummers Parade

One of the oldest traditions in Philadelphia, the Mummers Parade takes place on New Year’s Day every year. An event like no other, the Mummers Parade is one of the toughest Philadelphia events to explain to someone who isn’t from Philly. The event will be televised, but many people also go and watch along the parade route.

The Arts

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the Walnut Street Theatre

What better way to celebrate the holidays than seeing a live performance of a Disney classic? Luckily for you, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is showing at the Walnut Street Theater. The production will run through Sunday, December 31, and tickets are available online.

Trans Siberian Orchestra “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” Tour

Want to get into the Christmas spirit? The Trans Siberian Orchestra is coming to the Wells Fargo Center and will perform two shows on Sunday, December 17. The first show is at 3 p.m. and the second is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online.

George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” at the Academy of Music

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit but would prefer a theater experience rather than a concert, George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” is showing at the Academy of Music. Performances run through Saturday, December 30, and tickets are available online.

Sports

College Basketball

This winter break, there will be a lot of great college hoops in Philly, including a Penn State “home” game at The Palestra. To have everything in one place, we’ve compiled the following list of college basketball games in and around Philadelphia over break:

• St. Joe’s vs. Loyola Maryland at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 29
• Villanova vs. Xavier at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3
• Villanova vs. St. John’s at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 6
• Penn vs. Dartmouth at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 6
• Penn State vs. Michigan at noon on Sunday, January 7
• Temple vs. Wichita State at 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 7

Philadelphia Eagles

Despite a great start to the season, the Eagles are on a two-game losing streak. Maybe the recent stumble will lower ticket prices for the Birds’ two home games over winter break. The Eagles will take on the Giants at 4 p.m. on Christmas Day and the Cardinals at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Philadelphia 76ers

If you’re planning to see a Sixers game over break, you’re in luck, because there are many home games during winter break. Tickets are available online for the following games:

• Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 15
• Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 18
• Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20
• Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 22
• Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2
• New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 5
• Utah Jazz at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 6

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are…good? The Sixers’ roommate is off to the best start it’s had in a while. The Flyers have a few home games during break, too. Tickets are available online for the games listed below:

• Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 14
• Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 16
• Nashville Predators at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 21
• Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 4
• Calgary Flames at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 6