Things To Do in Philadelphia This Weekend: Dec. 27-29

Directed by Pete Pryor, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is a unique take on the classic 1940s radio broadcast. This immersive production embodies the magic of the season and brings this heartwarming story to life. With a stellar cast and live sound effects on stage, you're sure to enjoy this captivating theatrical experience.

Embark on an enchanted evening filled with visiting stars from across the galaxy at Astra Lumina. Featuring nine cosmic zones spread across a one-mile celestial trail in a beautiful sculpture park, people of all ages will cherish the memories made at the Abington Art Center. With displays ranging from multimedia projections to a curated musical playlist, this event is sure to make your end-of-year celebrations magical.

While the animals are away, the people get to play with sights, sounds, and surprises galore at LumiNature. Journey through 16 illuminated zones at the zoo, displaying over a million twinkling lights. With plenty of photo opportunities, a 100-foot-long jungle tunnel, and the Septa PZ Express train that travels beneath a canopy of 200,000 lights, you and your family will love the brightest holiday light show of the season.

Closing out the troupe's first-ever holiday show, “'Twas the Night Before...” is the perfect way to spend an evening at The Met. Reconnect with your inner child as you follow the story of a girl rediscovering the magic of the holiday season. This 85-minute show is perfect for the whole family and is filled with exciting acrobatics, a classically reimagined music playlist, and lovable characters. This could be the start of a new family tradition.

Get ready for a night filled with laughter as the Stagecrafters Theater hosts Joe Matarese from “America's Got Talent” for Chestnut Hill Comedy Night. Featured on shows such as “America's Got Talent,” “Last Comic Standing,” and “The Better Half”, you're sure to have a night to remember. Whether you're flying stag, taking your friends along for the ride, or having a picture-perfect date night, this is a show you won't want to miss.

When it comes to holiday movies, nobody does it like the Muppets. These lovable creatures know how to throw Christmas spirit in your face with just the right mix of heart, humor, and complete insanity. They’ve got something for everyone… Comedy, heartfelt songs, and even moments that sneak up and make you go, “Damn, why am I crying over a talking frog?” Muppet Christmas movies are proof that the holidays don’t have to be perfect to be magical. They just have to be full of love, laughs, and maybe a turkey or two running for its life.

The Muppets have mastered the art of taking classic Christmas tales and putting their wild spin on them. And when they’re not reworking Charles Dickens or George Bailey’s life, they’re coming up with their own bonkers holiday stories that somehow still capture the true meaning of Christmas. It’s the kind of joyful chaos you want during the holidays, like when your family is fighting over the last slice of pie, but deep down, you know everyone’s having having a blast doing it. That's a Muppet Christmas movie.,

What makes Muppet Christmas movies stand out is they’ll cast Michael Caine as Scrooge and surround him with singing rats! Or they’ll make Kermit question his existence while Miss Piggy hilariously spirals. Don't we all? And then there’s the catchy tunes that you’ll hum all season long, even if you don’t want to admit it. You love it.

Whether it’s a cozy jug-band in a small town or Gonzo pretending he’s Charles Dickens, every Muppet Christmas movie has something special. Sure they’re silly, but they always remind me that Christmas isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up for the people (or Muppets) you love.

This is the Christmas classic. Gonzo as Charles Dickens? Genius. Michael Caine giving Oscar level acting surrounded by singing frogs and rats? Unmatched.

It’s like the Muppet version of a potluck. You’ve got Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock in one big holiday mashup. And yes, Miss Piggy arrives dramatically late, because she’s a star.

A heartfelt road trip to deliver lost letters to Santa. It’s sweet, it’s silly, and Pepe the Prawn steals the show with his one-liners. This one is special.

The Muppets go full It’s a Wonderful Life here, with Kermit wondering what life would be like if he’d never existed. Spoiler: Miss Piggy becomes a washed-up reality star. Iconic.

This one’s pure, old-school Jim Henson charm. Emmet Otter and his friends bring small-town sweetness and banjo vibes while chasing their dreams. It’s about family, music, and holiday spirit, wrapped up in a jug-band jam session.