Charlotte’s Web tops our list of family-friendly events

Before pitching the multitude of holiday weekend ideas, I’ll share the latest hit with our family.  I highly recommend that you take the kids (or even skip that step) and go see Charlotte’s Web at the Arden Theater downtown.  It’s fabulous.  The Arden does such a wonderful job of engaging children while still making the productions enjoyable for their chaperones (that would be you).  Not to be missed!  The show runs from now through Feb. 3.  Check out our kid-powered review for more information here.And now back to our regularly scheduled holiday programming:

Hanukkah foodies unite! It’s Latkepalooza!  They’ll be serving up latkes from some of Philadelphia’s mouth-watering restaurants (including Federal Doughnuts!). Kids will enjoy a concert from Music Monkey Jungle, and everyone can delight in the sounds from The West Philly Orchestra.  We reviewed them last summer here. http://germantownavenueparents.com/2011/07/pastorius-concert-review-west-philly-orchestra/

Or stay hyper-local and enjoy the celebration at Mishkan Shalom’s Chanukah Fair and Gift Show.  Enjoy food, gifts, dreidel, arts & crafts on Sunday from 9:301m-1:30pm at 4101 Freeland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128.If you’re looking for Santa, he’s popping up all over the place…Spend Saturday in Germantown at the Grumblethorpe Holiday Open House from 1-4 PM.  Enjoy craft workshops, cider, gingerbread and pictures with Santa.  Cost is $5 per person, $12 for a family OR two non-perishable food items per person for a local food cupboard. Small fee for crafts and gingerbread houses. www.philalandmarks.org.Party in style later that day at the Dickens’s Christmas Party from  2- 5 PM at the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion on Saturday.  Listen to Christmas readings from Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott and Clement Moore. See the mansion all decked out in Victorian Christmas decorations. Enjoy luscious Christmas cookies and punch. Children can buy items from the gift shop and art teacher, Antoinette, will help them wrap purchases and make holiday cards. Cost: $18.  Reservations suggested.  www.ebenezermaxwellmansion.org.Or hang out with the Dickens crew at the very tippity-top of the Hill for “A Dickens of a Christmas” at Northwestern Stables.  The Holiday Bazaar will run on Saturday from 11am-3pm.  Photos with Santa & Horse, Carriage Rides, Pony “Reindeer,” Crafts, Silent Auction, Baked Goods, Raffles, and games. http://northwesternstables.com/Also at the tippity top of the hill, calling all Gleeks!  The world-class University of Pennsylvania Glee Club will be performing their holiday concert at Morris Arboretum on Saturday December at 2pm.  Free with regular admission Hot cocoa and cookies to keep you feeling warm and festive during the concert.http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml“A Dickens of a Christmas” continues all along the Avenue in Chestnut Hill this weekend:Outdoor Punch & Judy Show featuring Scrooge host @ 3 p.m. FREECaricature artist Ramon Monteiro  ”Dickens style” caricatures @Has the December weather been too balmy for your holiday taste?  The head on over to Manayunk to cool off with Santa on Ice!  Not skating, but sitting on an actual throne of ice… with your child, for photos, from 10am-2pm (bring your own camera). Come see the ice sculptor carve the throne with a chainsaw… not exactly your everyday Santa photo op!  And for a true Christmas miracle, enjoy free metered parking in Manayunk on Saturdays starting at 11am.So, you decide.  Do you want the annual Santa picture with a horse? On ice? Strolling along the avenue?  In the midst of historical splendor?  Or are you more of a Latkepalooza kind of family?  Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the weekend!Germantown Avenue Parents is content partner with NewsWorks.