Giant puppets will again bring joy and civic awareness to the neighborhood as Peoplehood Parade returns on Saturday, Oct. 29, thanks to West Philly-based Spiral Q Puppet Theater. Everyone is welcome to join in this annual event celebrating diversity, communities’ creativity and unity. This year’s theme is about collective power and be(com)ing GIANT together.

The parade will kick off at the Paul Robeson House (50th and Walnut) at 1 p.m. (line-up starts at Noon) and will end at Clark Park at 45th and Chester (see map below). The parade will be followed by a participatory group art-making activity in Clark Park at around 2 p.m.  Continue Reading

Here’s some useful info for those who are celebrating Thanksgiving in the neighborhood. Also, if you’re looking for something to do today, there will be Holiday Tree Lighting with hot cocoa and live music in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art beginning at 5 p.m. On Friday morning, Nov. 27, special “Santa Express” trains will operate (see more details below).

• Public schools will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27.
• Post offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivery on Thursday.
• Trash/recycling collections will be one day behind schedule starting Thursday for the rest of the week.
• Public libraries will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and remain closed through Thursday, Nov. 26.  Continue Reading

We hope you’re already getting into the Halloween spirit. Here’s an assortment of spooky and fun events happening this Saturday. If you know of any other events that are not included in the list please email: editor@westphillylocal.com or use the comment section below. Also, don’t forget to submit a photo of your carved pumpkin or jack-o’-lantern for our Pumpkin Carving Contest. UPDATE: On Friday, Oct. 30, The Woodlands Cemetery and Curio Theatre are inviting everyone to spend a Mischief Night with them. The event starts at 6 p.m. Go here for more information.

Saturday, Oct 31 – Halloween!

• The annual Spruce Hill Halloween Parade starts at 45th and Larchwood at 3:30 p.m. (gathering begins at 3 p.m. near 45th and Baltimore). The parade is followed by a party on the 4200 block of Osage Ave.

• The Locust Moon Comics Festival, which will be held at The Rotunda (40th and Walnut) from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., coincided this year with Halloween celebrations. The annual festival, organized by West Philly’s own comic shop, is a celebration of comics, illustration, and the graphic arts.

            Photo courtesy of Penn Museum.

• The Mexican Cultural Center, the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, and the Penn Museum present a Day of the Dead celebration at the museum (3260 South St.), from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.. Enjoy Mexican culture and the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos at this family-friendly afternoon filled with music and dance, puppetry and storytelling, and arts and crafts.

• International House Philadelphia (3701 Chestnut St.) is offering two “spooktacular” films. The first is a special Family Matinee showing of “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” at 2 p.m. Tickets are just $5 for kids and adults and free for IHP members. For adult moviegoers, the second film is “Vampyr“, a 1932 horror classic from Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer that screens at 7 p.m. ($9).  Continue Reading

Each year, dozens of little monsters, princesses, supermen, cowboys, Mickey Mice and other Halloween costume-clad kids and parents, gather near 45th and Baltimore for the Spruce Hill Tot Parade, followed by a party on the 4200 block of Osage (“Little Osage”). This year is no exception to this great neighborhood tradition. More details, provided by the event organizer, Spruce Hill Community Association, are below. Also, check out photos from last year’s parade and party.

The 18th annual Spruce Hill Halloween Tot Parade and Party, organized in a joint effort between the Spruce Hill Community Association and neighbors on the 4200 block of Osage Avenue, will start at 45th and Larchwood at 3:30 p.m. with a rousing drum and cymbal band provided by the University of Penn DrumLine.

The parade and ‘trick or treating’ will then proceed East over Larchwood Avenue, ending on the 4200 block of Osage Avenue where the neighbors throw their annual block-party style Halloween celebration treating the children to cider and baked goods provided by neighbors and local businesses.

Later on, be sure your trick-or-treating route includes the Spruce Hill Center (257 S 45th St), where SHCA board member and Mel-Lo Townwatch leader Jackie Waiters will continue the long standing tradition of delighting trick-or-treaters with hand assembled goodie bags.

Where: Parade starts at 45th and Larchwood, ending on the 4200 block of Osage.
When: Saturday, Oct. 31. Assemble begins at 3 p.m. Parade starts at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Halloween Party

With the Fourth of July festivities and increased number of visitors in Center City in mind, SEPTA has prepared some subway and bus service changes for tomorrow. Here are some of them that may be of particular interest to West Philly residents:

• The Broad Street & Market Frankford Lines will operate an additional night of overnight subway service beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 4.

•  Beginning at 4:30 p.m., service frequencies on the Broad Street & Market Frankford Line will increase to offer trains every 5 to 7 minutes until 1:15 a.m. to accommodate holiday event travel.

•  Holiday events in Center City and on the Parkway will force dozens of bus detours. Passengers traveling through Center City should consider rail travel alternatives. Detailed bus detour information is available online at http://www.septa.org/realtime/status

And here’s some more information on tomorrow’s parade, party and fireworks. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at 6th and Chestnut Sts. It will feature marching bands, floats, military groups and performance teams. Party on the Parkway is from 12 – 7 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 20th St to Eakins Oval. The 4th of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks will take place at 7 – 11 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Roots will perform with Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, and Vicci Martinez. Click here for more information.

Happy Fourth of July!

So another Halloween has come and gone in West Philly. We have a photo slideshow and video below from the parade and we will be announcing the winners of our Pumpkin Carving Contest a little later today. We hope everyone had an awesome and safe Halloween.