Check out information on holiday hours and closings at some popular local stores and supermarkets + SEPTA’s holiday service schedule.

SEPTA’s Holiday Service Schedule

Saturday, Dec. 24: Bus routes will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Sunday, Dec. 25: Bus routes will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. Bus Routes 204, 310, 311 and LUCY will not operate.

Dec. 26–30: Bus routes will operate on a weekday alternate schedule.

Saturday, Dec. 31: Bus routes will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Mummers’ Parade, Sunday, Jan. 1: Special holiday service on the Market-Frankford and Broadstreet Lines with Bus Owl service beginning at 12:00 a.m.. Surface Transportation will operate on a Sunday schedule. Bus Routes 204, 310, 311 and LUCY will not operate. Continue Reading

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There are several opportunities to support local families and youth during this holiday season. Local non-profit organizations working with families as well as West Philly-elected officials are currently holding holiday gift and toy drives:

• Third District Councilmember Jamie Gauthier is hosting a Holiday Toy Drive at her office at 1400 JFK Boulevard, Room 586. You can drop off donations there through Thursday, Dec. 15 or purchase toys online – browse 3rd District wish lists on Target and Amazon.

• People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and Youth Service, Inc., are collecting gift cards for local families and youth experiencing homelessness:

“Providing gift cards offers people experiencing homelessness who are about to move to permanent housing an opportunity to select housewares, cleaning products, toiletries, self-care products, and decor items that really make a house a home. For other families and youth, selecting their own clothing, shoes, outerwear to increase the confidence of children going to school, youth with no family support, and parents going on a job interview or beginning employment. Gift cards to local fast-food restaurants and stores can bring cheer and offer teens and parents the opportunity to participate in social activities with their peers.” Continue Reading

The annual Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Basket Drive has kicked off. CPN, in collaboration with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, will again prepare and distribute food baskets for neighbors in need during the holiday season.

A suggested donation is $45. This amount will help the organizers feed two families in their commitment to “neighbors helping neighbors.” In the year before the pandemic, CPN was able to raise enough money to reach over 200 local families (800 people total).

As always, volunteers are an integral part of this event. Help is needed on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore), where the baskets will be packed and distributed. Please feel free to contact CPN at mlewis1071@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or donate bulk items for the drive.

For more information and to submit your donation, go here.

Get in the holiday spirit with the first ever uCity Square Holiday Fest! The uCity Square Holiday Fest features a local artisan marketplace, great for holiday shopping, alongside food trucks El Tlaloc and Grilled Salmon Stand and a beer and wine garden by Wissahickon Brewery and Chaddsford Winery.

Holiday Fest also offers FREE family-friendly activities including live music performances and DJs, holiday karaoke, a pop-up ice skating rink, photos with Santa, a kids ornament craft workshop, hot chocolate giveaway, and more.

Vendor fees benefit Theatre in the X, a neighborhood theater for the West Philadelphia and African-American community.

uCity Square Holiday Fest takes place at The Lawn at uCity Square (37th & Filbert) on Friday, Dec. 9 from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Rain date is the following week on December 16 and 17.

For the full schedule and list of vendors, visit www.thelawnphl.com/events. If you’re coming, please register here.

SEPTA is bringing back festively decorated vehicles to some routes to help bring holiday cheer to riders. Throughout this month, you can catch decorated “jolly trolleys” on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36.

In addition, SEPTA is holding a competition for decorated buses. There will be several chances to check out the buses participating in this year’s competition and even vote for your favorite one.

At least one of the buses will be in West Philly, at the Trolley Portal Gardens (40th and Woodland), on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will include crafting activities, photos with the Grinch, and complimentary hot chocolate from Renata’s Kitchen from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by University City District. Continue Reading

@thelawnphl is hosting the inaugural @ucitysquare Holiday Fest on Dec. 9th + 10th! Two days of FREE fun for all, including live music, artisan vendor marketplace, pop-up ice skating rink, a beer and wine garden, crafts, photos with Santa, food and so much more! Let us know you’re coming, register today!