Family Fun in Philly for Spring Break

1. First Friday at Cherry Street Pier

On the first Friday of every month, pay a visit to the Delaware River and view work by dozens of local artists. And best of all, it's free! 

2. Philadelphia Union Game

Take your sports fans out during spring break for a soccer game at Subaru Stadium on the Delaware riverfront in Chester. 

3. Philadelphia Phillies Game

Grab your kids and your mitts and head out to the ball game this April for the first games of the season! 

4. Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia hosts this annual, free celebration of cherry blossoms at the Fairmount Park Horticultural Center and the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center on April 5 and 6, though the gardens are also open Wednesdays through Sundays all spring and summer.

5. Indoor Play Places

They say April showers bring May flowers, but rainy days can be tough with small kids, especially when you're trying to figure out how to keep kids busy during spring break in Philadelphia. The good news is we have a whole list of the best indoor play places in Philadelphia, all designed to keep your kids busy and entertained. And if the weather really has you down, we've got you covered with 50+ indoor activities to do on a rainy day in Philadelphia.

Franklin Square is known for its playground, but make sure to take a ride on the carousel, too! Photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia

Get Outside in Philadelphia During Spring Break

6. Try out a new playground

Maybe your kids have gotten tired of your favorite Philadelphia neighborhood playground, or maybe you just want to check out a playground featuring a pirate ship. Try out Smith Memorial Playground, which is perfect for spring's uncertain weather, offering indoor play spaces, as well as the classic Giant Wooden Slide and innovative play structures for sunnier days. Or visit the playground at Franklin Square, and get in a round of mini golf and a trip on the Parx Carousel while you're there. Check out our round up of the best playgrounds in Philadelphia and the suburbs, including tot lots for the littlest ones! 

7. Have a picnic

Sometimes when the weather is beautiful and your kids have a lot of energy to burn off, a picnic in a park can be the perfect thing to keep everyone happy. Try out Wissahickon Valley Park, which also boasts miles of trails for a spring hike. Or visit Ridley Creek State Park, which has a popular circular trail as well as multiple playgrounds throughout the park. For more ideas, we've rounded up our favorite picnic parks in Philadelphia and its suburbs.

Visit Museums in Philadelphia During Spring Break

8. Sail into Spring Weekends at the Museum of the American Revolution

Wave hello to spring at the Museum of the American Revolution during Spring Break, April 12–27, 2025, with a new special exhibition, family-friendly crafts, in-gallery talks, and more.

9. Body Worlds Vital

Body Worlds Vital at the Franklin Institute celebrates the potential of the human body and the body in motion. The exhibition is uniquely curated by Dr. Angelina Whalley to show diseases and ailments that affect individuals most frequently and to show the fragility, resilience and strength of the human body.

10. Voyage To The Deep – Underwater Adventures

Dive into an underwater adventure at Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures at the Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum. This hands-on exhibit brings the exciting world of submarines and sea exploration to life, inspired by the classic story 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne.

11. Museum of Illusions

You won't believe your eyes at one of Philadelphia's newest family museums located in the heart of historic Philadelphia. An anti-gravity room, infinity tunnel, and kaleidoscope are just a few of the illusions you'll find at this museum.

12. Historic Philadelphia

Go back in time and be a tourist in Philadelphia by visiting the top sites in historic Old City Philadelphia. From Ben Franklin to Betsy Ross to the Liberty Bell and much, much more, historic Philadelphia has so much to explore.

13. Woodmere Art Museum

Head to Chestnut Hill for Woodmere Art Musuem's latest family-friendly exhibition "Flourish" featuring artwork by kids in middle school. After viewing the exhibition, kids will enjoy a romp through the outdoor sculpture garden.

14. Ice Dinosaurs at Academy of Natural Sciences

Explore paleontology’s final frontier in Ice Dinosaurs, the Academy of Natural Science's exciting new special exhibit. Transport yourself to the Late Cretaceous period in the Arctic Circle, where dinosaurs actually lived year-round in extreme polar environments.

15. Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Head to the Rocky Steps and wander the Art Museum as a family. The Art Kids Studio is open for drop-in art making during much of spring break week! 

Celebrate Easter in Philadelphia During Spring Break

16. Enjoy Easter Activities

Whether your family prefers mall pictures or festive brunches, farms, or train rides with Mr. Easter Bunny himself at the helm, there are plenty of options throughout the Delaware Valley this season.

17. Hunt for Some Easter Eggs

From pathways at parks to farmland searches and even artist-designed treasure hunts, kids will have so many choices with creative ways to find treasures galore.

The 4th annual PEEPS in the Village is now on display at Peddler's Village through April 17th. Photo courtesy of Peddler's Village

Fun Activities During Spring Break in the Philadelphia Suburbs

18. Peeps in the Village

At Peddler's Village, get your family together for an arts and crafts night and create a unique Peeps display. Then enter Peddler's Village Peeps display competition. From March 24 through April 27 (except for Easter Sunday), visit the village and tour all the submissions. Vote on your favorite while you stroll through the many shops in this super cute and quaint Lahaska destination. Then head over to Giggleberry Fair, where your kids can enjoy riding a carousel as well as shooting balls and running through obstacles at Giggleberry Mountain. An arcade is also onsite.

19. Easter Eggstravaganza

From April 12 - 20, Bucks County's Shady Brook Farms will feature spring break activities that kids of all ages are sure to enjoy. From go-karts and inflatables to play areas and obstacle courses, how can you go wrong? Be sure to bring a basket to collect eggs, too, then watch a live chicken show (and think about what came first). Don't forget to grab a photo opp with the Easter bunny! 

20. Big Kahuna's

This indoor water park is about a half-hour's drive outside of Center City Philadelphia, located in West Berlin, New Jersey. Spend the day relishing 80-degree temperatures, imagining it's summer instead of spring. Tube along a lazy river, try your hand at balance surfing, or plunge down the various water slides. 

21. Dutch Wonderland

Up for a drive with your little ones? Take the car out to Lancaster and spend the day in the sun touring this amusement park, featuring more than 30 rides and live shows. While there are a couple of coasters, the rides at this theme park generally target a younger crowd, with non-intimidating attractions like bumper cars, train rides, fun slides, and kite flights. 

22. Take a Hike

The Philadelphia area has lots of great trails and hikes that are perfect for families, even toddlers in strollers. Lace up your shoes, grab some snacks, and hit the trails. Bring a hammer and try out the natural sounds of Ringing Rocks Park or bring binoculars and spot the many water birds and other animals who frequent the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, which offers easy trails, with wheelchair and stroller accessibility in parts.

23. Go Fishing

What better way to make memories with your kids than reeling in some quality time on a local lake? Try your luck at places like French Creek State Park, where 88 species of fish have been identified. Or head to Neshaminy State Park, which also provides boating access to the Delaware River.

24. Go Down the Shore

New Jersey has 130 miles of shoreline, with beautiful beaches, boardwalks, and unique plant and animals. Hit your favorite beach or check out a new one before the crowds get unbearable this summer. 

This article was updated for 2025 by writer Nicole O'Donnell.