SHOP PENN Playlist for December
The holidays are here and University City is bustling with things to explore and enjoy. Whether you love history, art, music, or sports, there is something for everyone during this festive time of year! The “Shop Penn Playlist” is a snapshot of the top events being offered by institutions, organizations, and venues throughout the district this month.
Mind & Mood Recharge – Penn Museum
December 3
Get your monthly dose of wellness in the Penn Museum galleries with an uplifting array of health-centric happenings. Explore the botanical bar, wellness marketplace, and a monthly rotation of all-levels wellness activities from local practitioners of yoga, meditation, expressive arts, and more. Mind & Mood Recharge offers a moment to pause and escape the week's hustle with immersive, multi-sensory experiences designed to refresh and restore.
Soundworks Presents: Tap Secret – Iron Gate Theater
December 5
Soundworks Tap Factory invites you to uncover Tap Secret! Founded in 2001, Soundworks Tap Factory is the University of Pennsylvania’s one and only strictly tap dancing group. Entirely student-choreographed, the company is thrilled to present their Fall 2025 show, Tap Secret – a thrilling blend of rhythm, mystery, and style that will keep you on your toes.
Off The Beat: Off The Record – Iron Gate Theater
December 5-6
It's almost time for Off the Beat's fall concert, Off the Beat Presents: Off the Record!!
Holiday Garden Railway Nighttime Express – Morris Arboretum
December 6-7, 11-14, 18-21
Take the Holiday Garden Railway to a new level with this magical nighttime viewing event. Enjoy the Holiday Garden Railway lit up and decorated for the season. Lights sparkle along the rails and miniature greens adorn the buildings. The Nighttime Express is a special, ticketed event, separate from the daytime viewing during public hours.
Penn Basketball – The Palestra
December 8, December 31
The Quakers wrap up their non-conference schedule in December with home games against in-state rival Lafayette on December 8, and against NJIT on New Year’s Eve before opening Ivy League play in January.
Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time Is Here – Penn Live Arts
December 7
Celebrate Christmas with jazz diva Dianne Reeves! This five-time Grammy® Award-winner and NEA Jazz Master melds her timeless grace, spellbinding vocals and radiant charisma into an unforgettable evening of holiday favorites including "Let It Snow," "Carol of the Bells," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and more. Ring in the season with “one of our generation’s definitive jazz masters, a vocal stylist of extraordinary skill and vivacity.” (The Huffington Post)
MOMIX: Alice – Penn Live Arts
December 12-14
Go down the rabbit hole with MOMIX! A smash hit with our audiences back in 2022, Alice uses vivid imagery, imaginative costumes and awe-inspiring movement to create a fantastical Wonderland complete with the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit and more favorites. “A marvelously dizzying flow of physical activities and illusions amid expansive, artful projections,” (The Wall Street Journal) experience MOMIX’s mind-bending take on Lewis Carroll’s beloved universe in which the human body has no limits and nothing is as it seems.
American Gold LIVE – Penn Ice Rink
December 13
The Penn Ice Rink will host American Gold LIVE, a holiday figure-skating extravaganza with shows at 1 PM and 6 PM. NBC10 will film and broadcast the spectacle, headlined by Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu, reigning men’s and women’s world champions and top U.S. Olympic contenders. Joining them will be world silver medalist and Philly native Isabeau Levito, along with an array of skating’s brightest, mere weeks before they take the ice at the Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
Holiday Skate – Penn Ice Rink
December 14
Nothing says winter like lacing up some skates and getting out on the ice! The Penn Ice Rink offers public skating times every weekend, but on December 14 they are partnering with Toys for Tots for a special Holiday Skate. Bring a toy to donate and you will get free admission to the rink. Glide across the ice while making someone's holiday brighter.
Irish Christmas In America – Penn Live Arts
December 19
Make merry this holiday season with the enchanting sounds of Irish Christmas in America. Returning to our stage for the first time since 2017, this special 20th anniversary performance will feature vocal star Caitríona Sherlock in her Philadelphia debut as well as the local talent of McAleer-Paulson School of Irish Dance. “Full of exceptional music and dance, relaxed good humor, and interesting historical commentary,” (Irish Echo) celebrate Christmas with Ireland’s finest traditional artists.
Winter Break – Penn Museum
December 26-27
Looking for things to do while the kids are home from school? Head over to Penn Museum for their Winter Break programming. Experience the power of rhythm and explore drumming traditions inspired by cultures around the globe. Carry your hopes and dreams into the new year by creating a vision board, echoing the universal human tradition of imagining and shaping the future. Get up close with artifact reproductions at Cartifacts stations. Ignite your curiosity and create cherished memories together as you journey around the globe in a single day.
Kwanzaa Celebration – Penn Museum
December 29
Celebrate the magic of Kwanzaa with holiday activities for the whole family, in a joyful celebration that honors African heritage and community. Enjoy captivating performances from Karen Smith Drumming and violinist Owen Valentine. Learn about Kwanzaa principles like unity, self-determination, and creativity through engaging, hands-on workshops hosted by Kwanzaa for Me & You. Experience meaningful traditions, explore a marketplace with local artisans, and enjoy storytelling, music, and dance. Plus, handmade Zawadi gifts for all!