Field Trip Finder Philadelphia

Homeschool & family fun around Philadelphia, PA

Homeschool days, free outings and family events across Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, each checked with the museum, park or official source. Many picks are indoors for the cold months.

17current listings
10with upcoming dates
6free or no fee listed
15good for little kids (2–4)

Jump to: Homeschool days & classes · Free & low-cost outings · Family & holiday events · Library perks · Halloween events · Trick-or-treating · Calendar · Homeschool groups & resources

Calendar

Tap a date to see that day's events. Only listings with set dates appear here; places you can visit any open day are listed further down.

Resources

Library perks

Library perks for Free Library of Philadelphia cardholders.

Getting a card: Sign up for a card at any Free Library of Philadelphia branch.

Full details, rules and sources (0 passes)
Local homeschool resources & groups
Homeschool co-ops & classesHomeschool days, discounts & library programs
Check before you go. We copy details from each venue's own page and show when we last checked. Where a page doesn't say something, we write "Not listed on source" instead of guessing. Dates sell out and programs change, so confirm with the venue.

The Good for little kids (2–4) marker means the venue's own page lists something for toddlers or preschoolers, such as a toddler storytime or free entry for the youngest kids. It's our planning note, not the venue's.

Coming up (next date for each)

See all upcoming (4 more)

Halloween events (1 listings)

Carnivals, festivals, corn mazes & spooky outings

Halloween and fall events around Philadelphia, checked on the venue's or organizer's page on Oct 23, 2026. Haunted attractions and adults-only events are left out. Look for the Good for little kids (2–4) marker for early, toddler-friendly options.

Halloween Hikes and Hayrides

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education · Philadelphia (Roxborough · Philadelphia)
Halloween festivalNext: Fri, Oct 23Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

An evening of crafts, s'mores by the fire, hayrides, a guided nocturnal-animal hike, a Pumpkin Path and outdoor Halloween movies. Each ticket includes a s'mores kit. Open Friday, Oct 23, and Saturday, Oct 24.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026; Sat, Oct 24, 2026

📅 Add a date to your calendar
Fri, Oct 23Apple / OutlookGoogle
Sat, Oct 24Apple / OutlookGoogle
  • When: Fri Oct 23 and Sat Oct 24, 2026
  • Time: Saturday 3:30–8:30 p.m. (Friday hours not listed)
  • Price: Online sales are closed. Walk-in tickets: $25 members, $35 non-members; children 3 and under free
  • Ages: Families
  • Booking: Not listed on source
Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Trick-or-treating (5 listings)

Trunk-or-treats & Halloween-night neighborhoods

Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct 31, 2026. Trick-or-treat and community Halloween events from Friday, Oct 23 through Halloween, checked Oct 23, 2026.

Trunk-or-treats & trick-or-treat events, Oct 23–31

Safety and tips

Event details

Halloween at the Northeast Family YMCA

Northeast Family YMCA (Greater Philadelphia YMCA) · Philadelphia (Northeast Philadelphia · Philadelphia)
Community eventFree (per source)Next: Fri, Oct 23Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

A free Halloween community event. No registration is needed.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

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  • When: Fri Oct 23, 2026
  • Time: 5–6:30 p.m.
  • Price: Free
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary of the YMCA page. Activities were not listed.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Halloween at the Rocky Run YMCA

Rocky Run YMCA (Greater Philadelphia YMCA) · Media
Community eventFree (per source)Next: Fri, Oct 23Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Delaware, Montgomery & Chester counties)

A free Halloween community event. No registration is needed.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

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  • When: Fri Oct 23, 2026
  • Time: 6–8 p.m.
  • Price: Free
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary of the YMCA page. Activities were not listed.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Halloween at the Willow Grove YMCA

Willow Grove YMCA (Greater Philadelphia YMCA) · Hatboro
Community eventFree (per source)Next: Fri, Oct 23Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Delaware, Montgomery & Chester counties)

A free Halloween community event. No registration is needed.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

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  • When: Fri Oct 23, 2026
  • Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
  • Price: Free
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary of the YMCA page. Activities were not listed.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Barely Scary Halloween

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse · Philadelphia (East Fairmount Park · Philadelphia)
Community eventPrice not listedNext: Sat, Oct 24Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

A not-too-scary Halloween afternoon at the playground. Search summaries mention trick-or-treating, a costume parade, crafts, games and treat trucks.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 24, 2026

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  • When: Sat Oct 24, 2026
  • Time: 3–6 p.m.
  • Price: The page does not list a price
  • Ages: Young children and families
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The official page gives the date, time and address. The activities and "free" came from a family-events listing.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Trick-or-Treat Trail and Harvest Fest

Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center · Philadelphia (West Philadelphia · Philadelphia)
Community eventFree (per source)Next: Sat, Oct 24Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

A trick-or-treat trail with a harvest festival. The trail begins at Spruce Street and Cobbs Creek Parkway.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 24, 2026

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  • When: Sat Oct 24, 2026
  • Time: 1–4 p.m.
  • Price: Reported as free
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This is from the center's ticket page and a search summary, not the center's own page. Confirm before you go.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Homeschool days & classes (4 listings)

Free natural history museum and homeschool group field trips

Wagner Free Institute of Science · Philadelphia (North Philadelphia · Philadelphia)
Natural history museumFree (per source)Next: Sat, Nov 7Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

A Victorian-era natural history museum with free admission (donations are suggested). Field trips for Pre-K to grade 12 groups run 90 minutes and need a reservation.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Nov 7, 2026; Sat, Dec 5, 2026

📅 Add a date to your calendar
Sat, Nov 7Apple / OutlookGoogle
Sat, Dec 5Apple / OutlookGoogle
  • When: Tue–Fri 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; first Saturdays (Feb–May, Sep–Dec) noon–4 p.m.
  • Time: Noon–4 p.m. (first Saturdays)
  • Price: Free; suggested donation $25 family, $10 adult, $5 student
  • Ages: All ages (groups: Pre-K–12)
  • Booking: Groups of 10 or more need a reservation; the museum asks for 15 or more students on a field trip.

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The hours and group sizes came from search summaries of the museum's pages. The pages do not mention homeschool groups by name, so ask whether yours can book.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Homeschooler Days

Bartram's Garden · Philadelphia (Southwest Philadelphia · Philadelphia)
Garden & science programPrice not listedNext: Wed, Nov 11Philadelphia

Monthly lessons for homeschool students and their caregivers covering science and botany, arts and crafts, history and geology. The same lesson repeats on both days, so sign up for the date you prefer. Sessions are limited to 15 students and their caregivers.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Nov 11, 2026; Wed, Nov 18, 2026; Wed, Dec 9, 2026; Wed, Dec 16, 2026

📅 Add a date to your calendar
Wed, Nov 11Apple / OutlookGoogle
Wed, Nov 18Apple / OutlookGoogle
Wed, Dec 9Apple / OutlookGoogle
Wed, Dec 16Apple / OutlookGoogle
  • When: Second and third Wednesdays of every month
  • Time: Not listed on source
  • Price: Price not listed on the page. $2 tickets are offered to Southwest Philadelphia neighbors and ACCESS cardholders; Family-level membership includes free admission
  • Ages: 5–11 with a caregiver
  • Booking: Advance registration is recommended.

⚠️ The dates follow the page's "second and third Wednesdays" rule. The page does not give a time or a non-member price.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Group visits and a live science show

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University · Philadelphia (Parkway · Philadelphia)
Natural history museumOngoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

Group reservations include the museum, a live science show and free required chaperones. Student admission is $15.

  • When: Wednesday–Friday group reservations
  • Time: Not listed on source
  • Price: $15 per student; chaperones free
  • Ages: Pre-K–12 groups
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The prices and group details came from a search summary of a field-trip page that is not online right now, and it does not mention homeschool groups. Ask whether a homeschool group can book.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Guided field trips for at-home and hybrid learners

Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill · Philadelphia)
Botanic gardenPrice not listedOngoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

Guided field trips for school groups, including at-home and hybrid instruction groups. The Arboretum asks for at least three weeks' notice.

  • When: By reservation
  • Time: Not listed on source
  • Price: See the Arboretum's field trip page
  • Ages: Grouped by grade
  • Booking: Book at least three weeks ahead.

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary. The price was not in the text we read.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Free & low-cost outings (3 listings)

Pay What You Wish and free for 18 and under

Philadelphia Museum of Art · Philadelphia (Benjamin Franklin Parkway · Philadelphia)
Art museumFree (per source)Next: Sun, Nov 1Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

Visitors 18 and under are always free. Adults pay what they wish on the first Sunday of every month and on Friday evenings after 5 p.m. (through June 25, 2027). ACCESS/EBT cardholders get free admission with photo ID.

Upcoming dates: Sun, Nov 1, 2026; Sun, Dec 6, 2026

📅 Add a date to your calendar
Sun, Nov 1Apple / OutlookGoogle
Sun, Dec 6Apple / OutlookGoogle
  • When: First Sundays; Fridays after 5 p.m. through June 25, 2027
  • Time: After 5 p.m. (Fridays)
  • Price: Free for 18 and under; Pay What You Wish for adults on those days
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from search summaries of the museum's pages. Check the museum page for current free hours.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

First Wednesday: $2 admission

Please Touch Museum · Philadelphia (West Fairmount Park · Philadelphia)
Children's museumNext: Wed, Nov 4Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

On First Wednesdays admission is $2 per adult or child. The next one is Nov 4, 2026.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Nov 4, 2026

📅 Add to calendar
Apple / Outlook (.ics)Google Calendar
  • When: Select first Wednesdays
  • Time: 4–7 p.m.
  • Price: $2 per person
  • Ages: Young children and families
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary of the museum's ticketing page. The December date was not listed.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Independence Hall tours

Independence National Historical Park (National Park Service) · Philadelphia (Old City · Philadelphia)
Historic siteOngoing / by arrangementPhiladelphia

Independence Hall tickets are free, but each ticket has a $1 reservation fee. Reserve through Recreation.gov.

  • When: Daily, timed tours
  • Time: Not listed on source
  • Price: $1 reservation fee per ticket
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Reserve on Recreation.gov.

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary of the Park Service pages. Check the park page for current tour times.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Family & holiday events through Jan 10, 2027 (4 listings)

Holidays in Franklin Square

Franklin Square · Philadelphia (Old City · Philadelphia)
Holiday lightsPrice not listedOpens Thu, Nov 19 · through Sun, Jan 3Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

A holiday season at the park with a nightly light show.

📅 Add the date range (Thu, Nov 19 – Sun, Jan 3)
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  • When: Nov 19, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
  • Time: Light show 5–9 p.m.
  • Price: Light show reported as free; other attractions may cost
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The dates, hours and "free" came from a holiday-lights guide, not the park's own page. Check the park page.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

A Longwood Christmas

Longwood Gardens · Kennett Square
Holiday gardenOpens Fri, Nov 20 · through Sun, Jan 10Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Delaware, Montgomery & Chester counties)

Indoor and outdoor holiday displays at the gardens. Tickets are timed.

📅 Add the date range (Fri, Nov 20 – Sun, Jan 10)
Apple / Outlook (.ics)Google Calendar
  • When: Nov 20, 2026–Jan 10, 2027
  • Time: Not listed on source
  • Price: Adults about $45–$52 and youth about $25–$32, depending on the date
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: Dates and prices came from a search summary of the Gardens' page. Prices vary by date.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

LumiNature

Philadelphia Zoo · Philadelphia (West Philadelphia · Philadelphia)
Holiday lightsPrice not listedOpens Fri, Nov 20 · through Sat, Jan 9Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

A holiday light spectacular on select evenings. Advance reservations are required.

📅 Add the date range (Fri, Nov 20 – Sat, Jan 9)
Apple / Outlook (.ics)Google Calendar
  • When: Select evenings through Jan 9, 2027
  • Time: 5–9 p.m.
  • Price: See the zoo's page
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary. The start date and prices were not in the text we read.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.

Christmas Village in Philadelphia

Christmas Village (LOVE Park/City Hall) · Philadelphia (Center City · Philadelphia)
Holiday marketPrice not listedOpens Sat, Nov 21 · through Sun, Dec 27Good for little kids (2–4)Philadelphia

An outdoor German-style holiday market. A preview runs Nov 21–22, the official opening is Nov 26, and the market is closed Nov 23–25 and Dec 25.

📅 Add the date range (Sat, Nov 21 – Sun, Dec 27)
Apple / Outlook (.ics)Google Calendar
  • When: Nov 21–Dec 27, 2026
  • Time: Noon–8 p.m. Sun–Thu; noon–9 p.m. Fri–Sat
  • Price: Not listed in the text we read
  • Ages: All ages
  • Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Not fully confirmed: Dates and hours came from search summaries of the market's pages. Entry cost was not stated.

Source:Last checked 2026-10-23.