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It's hard to believe you can catch inspired programming at one of the nation's most acclaimed performing arts centers for free, but it's true! (Photo courtesy Kimmel Center)

As part of its 10th Anniversary Celebration, the Kimmel Center is hosting free programming this year that is even more exciting than seasons past.

The “Free at the Kimmel Series” officially begins December 16 with free plaza performances December 17, 18, 23, 24, 30, 31 and January 1.

The programming features diverse regional artists, including many family-friendly offerings. “Free at the Kimmel” then continues throughout the season with weekly Saturday afternoon concerts, 5:30-7 p.m.

A few performances to look out for: The Ukuladies, a twin-sister, aunt, and one tap-dancing-cousin act from Regina, Canada, Saturday, December 17 at 11 a.m.; and the annual TubaChristmas show featuring more than 100 regional tuba, sousaphone and euphonium players performing holiday classics, Saturday, December 17at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.

And a heads up: organ enthusiasts will also be invited to attend a free Community Organ Day on Saturday, June 9, 2012, held in honor of the Kimmel Center’s 10th Anniversary Season.

Check out the full “Free at the Kimmel” calendar online.

Free at the Kimmel Series
When: December 16-January 1
Where: Broad and Spruce Streets, Commonwealth Plaza
Cost: Free!
More info: www.kimmelcenter.org

Eastern State Penitentiary is even more beautiful in the stark months of winter. (Photo by E. Feist courtesy Eastern State Penitentiary)

This Thursday, December 1 marks the opening of the latest installment of seasonal fun at Eastern State Penitentiary: the annual Winter Adventure Tours.

This year’s tours provide an hour-long look at the historic prison, including a glimpse at Death Row, the massive central surveillance hub and a walk through Al Capone’s infamous cell.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to unlock one of the Penitentiary’s “escape-proof” cells and check out murals painted by actual inmates. And new this year will be a “Hands-On History” interactive experience to keep you and your friends and family on your toes.

If you reserve your spot for Thursday, December 15 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., you’ll be treated to special holiday performances by the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club. Visitors will also be able to donate new or used books to Books Through Bars, an organization that provides reading material to inmates.

Parts of the tour can get a bit chilly, so you’ll want to dress for the weather. But, back by popular demand will be the complimentary hot chocolate, so you should stay nice and toasty.

Advance tickets are strongly recommended for Saturday and Sunday tours, and are available online.

Winter Adventure Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary
When: Opens Thursday, December 1 and runs through March, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 2027 Fairmount Avenue
Cost: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students and children
More info: www.easternstate.org

The museum's gorgeous Great Stair Hall will be made even more resplendent for the holiday season.
(Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29 at 10 a.m., the Philadelphia Museum of Art will join in the citywide holiday cheer underway by illuminating 90 Norway Spruce trees as part of a grand holiday season kick-off event in the Great Stair Hall.

Join in the tree lighting ceremony, which will also feature holiday culinary treats (a preview of the museum’s seasonal offerings); hot chocolate, coffee and tea; holiday music from a special Art After 5 guest; and an exclusive curator-led tour of Dutch Treat: A Glimpse of Holland’s Golden Age.

Executive Director Timothy Rub will also speak about the museum’s many holiday offerings.

For more on holiday lights in the Philadelphia area, click here.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Tree Lighting
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Great Stair Hall (east entrance off the Rocky steps)
When: Tuesday, November 29, 10 a.m.
Cost: General admission
More info: www.philamuseum.org

Get ready for a gourmet greasefest, an all-you-can-eat latke extravaganza. (Photo courtesy Gershman Y)

Latkepalooza, Philadelphia’s hugely popular Hanukkah foodie tradition, is back for its 8th year.

The event features gourmet lip-smacking latkes, all with an inventive twist, from some of Philadelphia’s hottest restaurants.

Complemented by live music from The West Philly Orchestra as well as programming just for kids, this is the perfect way to celebrate the greasiest and most festive of Jewish holidays.

Plus, new this year, a Holiday Bazaar will feature wonderful gifts for the holiday season.

Confirmed restaurants offering latkes include: Bar Ferdinand, Delicatessen, Estia, Federal Donuts, Sabrina’s Café, Singapore Chinese Kitchen, Talula’s Garden and Tashan.

Get tickets online.

8th Annual Latkepalooza
When: Sunday, December 11, 2-4 p.m.
Where: Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad Street
Cost: $15 for adults, $5 for kids
More info: www.gershmany.org

Mural artist David McShane puts the finishing touches on adding Charlie Manuel into a crowd scene on the mural. (Photo courtesy Phillies)

Phillies fans of all ages are invited to join the Phillie Phanatic and make their mark (literally) on the new Phillies Mural during a special community paint day at the Please Touch Museum on Wednesday, November 30 from 10 a.m.-noon.

You’re invited to paint a portion of the 3,750 square-foot mural, which will be unveiled next summer and feature more than 30 prominent players depicting historical moments from the team’s record-long history.

Overseeing the event will be the mural’s artist, award-winning David McShane.

The event will also celebrate the first day that fans can cast their online ballot for the final Phillies great (player, coach or manager) to be immortalized on the Phillies Mural.

Get tickets to the event online; enter promo code PHILLIES prior to checkout to receive 10% off of up to 4 general admission tickets.

The eight-story Phillies Mural will be located on a building at 24th & Walnut Streets at the base of the Walnut Street Bridge, facing the I-76 Schuylkill Expressway for thousands of daily passersby to see. Make sure your own brushstrokes are a part of it!

Get a video sneak peek of the mural’s progress, below.

Phillies Mural Community Paint Day
Where: Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic
When: Wednesday, November 30, 10 a.m.-noon
Cost: Tickets start at $15
More info: www.mlb.mlb.com

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Set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker has become a beloved tradition, attracting more than 50,000 people each year. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

Philadelphia is bursting with holiday cheer throughout the fall and winter, and you can follow our coverage of must-do holiday traditions right here.

At the top of that list? The Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker, which opens its three-week run on Saturday, December 10.

For 43 years, families have created unforgettable yuletide memories with Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of this classic tale. The simple story of a girl and a gift is made magical by opulent sets and costumes, plus the accompaniment by the renowned Philadelphia Boys Choir and Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, bringing Tschaikovsky’s iconic score to life.

The performance’s setting at the crystal-encrusted Academy of Music makes the holiday experience even more spectacular. The hall is the country’s oldest known opera house, modeled in 1857 after Milan’s La Scala.

The Nutcracker is one of the city’s most poignant holiday traditions, made special to Philadelphia by our own elite dancers and historic Academy. Don’t miss it.

Bonus: watch behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage before you see the performance live.

Tickets are available online. Today, Cyber Monday, you can get 25% off tickets!!

Below, we’ve included a video trailer of the performance.

Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Where: Academy of Music, 1420 Locust Street
When: December 10-31
Cost: Tickets start at $20
More info: www.paballet.org

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This season, if you’re looking to find unique and unusual gifts for your loved ones in a one-stop-shop setting, look no further than Tattooed Mom on South Street.

You read correctly. South Street’s iconic bar is hosting a holiday trunk show on Sunday, December 4 from 1-7 p.m. with vendors from all around the city.

Only local retail businesses are participating in this event, most of which are super cool resale and vintage shops, like Addiction Studios, Decades Vintage and Rockers Closet. All items will make great holiday gifts.

As if this event weren’t sweet enough, Cookie Confidential will be on-site selling some of their tastiest creations.

And Tattooed Mom is getting even more into the holiday spirit by offering half-priced drafts from 5-7 p.m. They’ll also be serving holiday treats so you can keep up your strength during this event.

Keep in mind that due to the nature of these stores, many of these items are one-of-a-kind. So you’ll want to stay focused and keep your eye on the prize. Or someone else’ll be getting that gift this year.

Holiday Trunk Show at Tattooed Mom
When: Sunday, December 4, 1-7 p.m.
Where: 530 South Street
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.facebook.com

See Longwood landmarks recreated in gingerbread, and stand beneath towering trees adorned with gingerbread ornaments. This is a holiday outing the entire family will eat up! (Photo courtesy Longwood Gardens)

Longwood Gardens has transformed into a gingerbread fantasy in honor of the annual Longwood Gardens Christmas, which opened this past Thursday, November 24 and runs all the way through January 8.

The Liz Marden Gourmet Cakes & Desserts Bakery in Kennett Square baked 9,000 gingerbread cookies for the festive display, in addition to intricately decorated gingerbread houses modeled after the Conservatory and Perice-du Pont House. Get a behind-the-scenes look from this video preview.

Fun fact: for the gingerbread replica of the Conservatory, the bakers used 32 pounds of flour, 18 pounds of corn syrup, 8 pounds of butter, 10 pounds of brown sugar, 16 tablespoons of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of ginger.

You can stand beneath towering trees adorned with gingerbread ornaments, revel in the candy-laden Music Room overflowing with sweet holiday cheer, and enjoy the more than 400,000 twinkling lights and spectacular fountain shows composing a brilliant wonderland perfect for the holidays.

Longwood Christmas is both indoors and outdoors, so dress accordingly. And look out for special events all season long, including organ concerts, Christmas choirs and more.

You must get timed tickets for Longwood Gardens Christmas this year; you can purchase them online.

Longwood Gardens Christmas
When: November 24-January 8
Where: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square
Cost: Tickets range from $8-$25
More info: www.longwoodgardens.org

There are lots of great opportunities this weekend to support Philadelphia's exciting retail scene. (Photo courtesy PCVB)

Posting will be light today on account of the long holiday weekend.

But we wouldn’t leave you stranded without some guidance on how to spend the next few days.

Check out the following handy guides:

• Weekend Picks: our top selections for stuff to do through Sunday

• Black Friday: Our guide to tackling local sales and promotions throughout the city.

• Small Business Saturday: Support the awesome shops and boutiques in every neighborhood of Philadelphia on this now-annual holiday toasting to small businesses.

• Center City District’s first “Shopping Saturday”: Tomorrow is the kick-off of this new series of events, with Midtown Village as the day’s focus. Click here to check out all the specials and events on tap for the day.

• Uwishunu’s holiday gift guide: Need some guidance on where to shop for locally crafted gifts? We have you covered.

Have a great rest of the holiday weekend! We’ll be back Monday morning with more exciting holiday events on the horizon, cool theater coming up, more restaurant openings and more.

Happy Thanksgiving from uwishunu! Start the day off with the country's oldest Thanksgiving Parade, then enjoy a delicious feast with friends and family. (Credit: Getty Images)

It’s finally here: that one day of the year it’s socially acceptable, if not encouraged, to positively stuff yourself with stuffing.

Enjoy your feast, be it at one of Philadelphia’s fine restaurants or in a warm home; enjoy the company; and enjoy the kick-off of a wonderful holiday season in Philadelphia.

Be sure to take in today’s 92nd Annual Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade; all the details are right here.

Bonus: look for the Dunkin’ Donuts sampling truck for free samples of Hot Coffee, Mint Hot Chocolate and Pumpkin Hot Coffee!

Happy Thanksgiving from uwishunu!

2011 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade
When: Thursday, November 25, begins at 8:30 a.m and ends around noon
Where: begins at 20th Street and JFK Boulevard and ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Cost: Free!
More info: www.dig.abclocal.go.com