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See Ben Franklin put electricity to work in his Historic Philadelphia square, readying it for a festive holiday season.
(Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the ceremony has been moved indoors to the Historic Philadelphia Center at 6th & Chestnut Streets. Same date and time.

With so much to do this holiday season in Philadelphia, November is the perfect time to get a jump on the festivities.

On Tuesday, November 29, Philadelphia’s history meets tradition when Santa Claus and Ben Franklin help to ring in the holidays during the annual Franklin Square Holiday Celebration Grand Lighting, from 5–7 p.m.

Come for the Grand Lighting of Franklin Square when the park will be ceremoniously lit up and adorned with festive lights and decorations. There will be holiday crafts and treats, cookie decorating and of course, a chance to meet Santa, all for free!

Families will be able to play a round of mini golf and ride the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel. The first 25 children to arrive will be able to ride for free! Stop by Square Burger for a bite to eat, and a seasonal Candy Cane Shake, during the holiday season.

Franklin Square is open to the public during the holidays from 6 a.m.–9 p.m., each day, weather permitting. And though the Square isn’t officially lit until November 29, Santa will be stopping by on November 25, and every Saturday and Sunday from November 26–December 18 from 2–5 p.m, and on December 24 from 2–4 p.m.

Ring in the holiday season with this time-honored tradition.

Franklin Square Holiday Celebration & Grand Lighting
Where: 200 N. 6th Street Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets
When: Tuesday, November 29, 5-7 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.historicphiladelphia.org

Comcast Emmy-Award winning television journalist and photographer Arthur Fennell exhibits 25 photos that capture in sharp relief and breathtaking color the people of Maasai Mara in East Africa. (Photo by Arthur Fennell)

Comcast’s Emmy-award winning journalist Arthur Fennell is known for having a nose for a good story.

He’s also got a great eye, and you can see just how sharp his vision is at The People of Maasai Mara, a photo exhibit and fundraising event for the Art Sanctuary, happening on November 30.

The exhibit features 25 images Fennell took while on a trip to East Africa, where the native Maasai tribe is recognized for its distinctive culture, traditions and nomadic lifestyle.

The Maasai Mara is a large game reserve in Kenya, named after the Maasai and the word “mara” which means spotted, a reference to the fact that the area is dotted with clusters of trees, savanna and cloud shadows. You can also spot stunning landscapes, gorgeous sunsets and wild animals.

The Maasai, who still live according to age-old customs and rituals, are known for colorful attire, woven and beaded jewelry and body paint. You’ll see all that and more in Fennell’s striking photos, which capture the essence of these special ethnic people.

At the evening’s reception Fennell will give a gallery talk about his experiences capturing the images as well as his homecoming. There will be live music by Dolomite and the Signifying Monkeys, drinks, snacks and the opportunity to procure signed and numbered prints of Fennell’s photos. The latter will surely make for an extra special holiday gift.

Proceeds benefit the Art Sanctuary, which promotes the power of black art in the inner city.

The People of Maasai Mara at Art Sanctuary
Where: 628 S. 16th Street
When: Wednesday, November 30, 7-9 p.m.
Cost: $25
More info: www.artsanctuary.org

Small Business Saturday is the quintessential opportunity to support the robust population of shops and boutiques throughout Philadelphia, many of which are hosting great events and sales like a lot of the small businesses in Midtown Village, pictured above. (Photo by C. Gabello for GPTMC)

If you must, get all the store chains, department stores and shopping malls out of your system on Black Friday so that by Saturday you’re ready to shop and support local small businesses on the now-annual holiday shopping event called Small Business Saturday.

It’s a national initiative that declares the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a day dedicated to supporting the local small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.

And Philadelphia’s a great place to exercise your Small Business Saturday dollar, given the plethora of awesome local shops here. It’s also the first of Center City District’s four Shopping Saturdays. (P.S. you can also support local shops on Black Friday, using our guide.)

As a bonus, get a one-time $25 statement credit when you register an eligible American Express® Card and use that card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26. Details here.

For the many retail events and store happenings around the city this Saturday, check out our guide:

Old City

• J. Karma: These are the last few remaining days before J Karma closes for good. Sad as that may be, you can take advantage of big deep discounts and stock up on holiday presents now. Everything is 50% off, including pretty sterling silver jewelry, ornate wooden jewelry boxes, belts, Havaianas flip flops and more. Display pieces are also on sale.

• Three Sirens: Shop before 1 p.m. and receive complimentary gift wrapping on your purchases. Take an extra 30% off already-reduced clearance items, 20% off current clothing and 15% off accessories (excluding typhaneyb & jillellen jewelry).

• Moko: Use your American Express card to purchase $25 or more of Intelligent Nutrients organic beauty products, gift sets, chocolates, essential oils or more and receive a $25 gift voucher for a haircut with one of Moko’s rock star stylists (redeemable for you or for a friend).

• Sugarcube: This Old City gem is embracing local shoppers with open arms; they are fully stocked to meet all your holiday gift needs. Check out their huge selection of hats and scarves of all shapes and sizes, as well as beautiful cashmere sweaters and super stylish holiday dresses.

• SMAK Parlour: Enjoy a champagne shopping spree at their storewide sale. Take advantage of a special sample sale of one-of-a-kind pieces for only $20. Score a fab giveaway (a beautiful gold or silver rose ring) with a purchase of $50 or more.

• Third Street Habit: Enjoy a 40% discount on all Isabel Marant. Yes, we said 40%.

• Bus Stop Boutique: All AmEx customers get 15% off any purchase from their fabulous collection of autumn and winter shoes and boots.

Plenty more below, including Small Business Saturday events throughout Center City, Manayunk and more.

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Holiday traditions are aplenty in Philadelphia, and this one is a don't-miss special celebration. (Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC)

UPDATE: The tree lighting is postponed to Wednesday, November 30.

The much-anticipated annual Rittenhouse Square Tree Lighting, one of the holiday season’s most special events, is just around the corner on Tuesday, November 29, 5 p.m. presented by Rittenhouse Row and the Friends of Rittenhouse Square.

The ceremony, hosted by CBS3′s Kathy Orr, will illuminate Philadelphia’s largest Christmas tree with more than 5,000 brilliant lights.

Stop by the Friends of Rittenhouse Square tent to get your free pair of reindeer antlers, and be sure to bring along an unwrapped new toy for the Salvation Army’s Joy of Sharing collection.

Pick up a complimentary elf hat and hot chocolate with cookies from TD Bank, where you can also snap a photo with Santa, at 18th and Walnut.

Other festivities include children’s ornament-making, and games and holiday entertainment from Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School.

Afterwards, look out for Rittenhouse Row merchant specials, with vendors stretching from the Avenue of the Arts to 21st Street, between Spruce and Market Streets.

Make a night of it by enjoying dinner and drinks at nearby hot spots Parc, Twenty Manning Grill, Rouge, Zama, Tria, Pietro’s, Franklin Mortgage, Square 1682 and more.

Rittenhouse Square is one of Center City’s most festive public spaces for the holidays, and Tuesday’s ceremony kicks it all off.

Rittenhouse Square Tree Lighting
When: Tuesday, November 29, Wednesday, November 30, 5 p.m.
Where: near the guardhouse in the center of the square
Cost: Free
More info: www.rittenhouserow.org

This weekend marks the official beginning of the holiday season in Philadelphia, and what a weekend it's going to be. The 92 annual Thanksgiving Parade kicks things off tomorrow morning, followed by the openings of the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, Mcay's Light Show and other traditions. (Photo credits clockwise from top left: courtesy 6abc, J. Holder for GPTMC, bottom two G. Widman for GPTMC)

On account of the long holiday weekend, Weekend Picks is here a little early. This weekend is the springboard for the holiday season in Philadelphia. And it’s going to be a great one.

Tonight is Thanksgiving Eve; enjoy it with our suggestions for where to head out on the town, below. Tomorrow is, of course, the biggest foodie holiday of the year. Then we’ve got you covered for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, in addition to our all-out holiday gift guide.

And this weekend is also the kick-off of some of Philadelphia’s most prized holiday traditions, including the Comcast Center Holiday Spectacular, Macy’s Holiday Light Show, Blue Cross RiverRink and Macy’s Holiday Light Show.

Of course, as with every weekend, there’s plenty to do aside from holiday merriment, including thought-provoking theater, must-see museum exhibitions, craft shows and more.

Our top picks for this long Thanksgiving weekend, below:

Wednesday, November 23

A few suggestions for where to enjoy Thanksgiving Eve: Frankford Hall; SoleFood at the Loews; “Jive Turkey” at the Trestle Inn; Stogie Joe’s Tavern on East Passunk; “Raging Thanksgiving Eve” at Mad River. You can also sign up online to get $.50 well drinks & $.50 Bud Light drafts from 8-10 p.m. at all Drinker’s locations, Lucy’s Hat Shop and Noche.

Pink Pub Crawl

Dom Irrera from “The Tonight Show” and “Seinfeld” at Helium

Bugs … Outside the Box: Discover the Art Within Science at The Academy of Natural Sciences

Let Me Tell You About A Dream I Had at Philadelphia Art Alliance

Theatre Exile’s Gruesome Playground Injuries

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I at the Walnut Street Theatre

Thursday, November 24

Happy Thanksgiving!! 2011 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

Our guide to dining out in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving

Comcast Center Holiday Spectacular — Opening Day!

Longwood Gardens Christmas — Opening Day!

Friday, November 25

Holiday shopping: Uwishunu’s Holiday Gift Guide and Black Friday shopping guide

Adventure Aquarium’s Christmas Celebration — Opening Day!

Manayunk’s “White Friday”

Conshohocken’s Annual Tree Lighting

Reading Terminal Market Holiday Railroad — Opening Day!

Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway Display — Opening Day!

National Constitution Center’s Thanksgiving festivities (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Christmas Village in Love Park — Opening Day!

Macy’s Holiday Light Show — Opening Day!

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

here. at Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts

Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn’s Landing — Opening Day!

Dinosaur Days at the Academy of Natural Sciences (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Saturday, November 26

Our guide to Small Business Saturday

Winter Beerfest at Union Transfer

Spring Garden Indoor Antique & Vintage Flea Market

“Bags and Bubbles” at Oyster House — Opening Day!

Kulu Mele at the Painted Bride Art Center (Sat, Sun)

Human Evolution: The First 200 Million Years at the Penn Museum

Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens

Wacky Walks at Morris Arboretum

Handmade in Philadelphia Art Exhibit and Sale

Sunday, November 27

Our guide to viewing gorgeous fall foliage in the Philadelphia region

Einstein’s Brain at the Mütter Museum

Tristin Lowe: Under the Influence at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We the People”? at the National Constitution Center

CSI: The Experience at The Franklin Institute

Center City is definitely one of the best holiday shopping destinations in Philadelphia.

You’ve got Rittenhouse Row packed with coveted shops and boutiques, Midtown Village lined with uber-trendy stores, The Shops at Liberty Place and Gallery at Market East providing city-dwellers with an urbanized version of a one-stop-shop suburban shopping mall.

And in honor of the holidays, Center City merchants are offering great specials and events every Saturday starting this weekend, November 26, through December 17.

Each day a different neighborhood will be highlighted, and that area’s shops will host special holiday parties, huge sales and more.

Plus, each week, you’ll find the special Shopping Saturday team in that Saturday’s featured neighborhood from noon-2 p.m., handing out hot chocolate, shopping bags and offering you a chance to enter to win a $500 Center City shopping spree.

Here’s the lineup:

• November 26: Midtown Village
• December 3: The Shops at Liberty Place
• December 10: The Gallery at Market East
• December 17: Rittenhouse Row

Check out a complete list of specials right here.

Plus: you can take advantage of FREE and discounted parking city-wide, every Saturday after 11 a.m. from November 26-December 31!

For specific ideas for local holiday gifts in Philly, check out our comprehensive Holiday Gift Guide.

Center City District “Shopping Saturdays”
When: November 26-December 17
Where: Around Center City
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.centercityphila.org

The Holiday Light Show takes the audience on an hourly journey through popular Christmas stories including The Nutcracker, Frosty the Snowman and a magical Christmas Tree. (Photo by J. McWilliams for PCVB)

The Macy’s Holiday Light Show, a Philadelphia holiday tradition dating back to 1956, returns for the season this Friday, November 25 and runs through New Year’s Eve.

The time-honored spectacle makes for the perfect seasonal family outing.

During the show, which runs at the top of each hour, more than 100,000 energy-efficient multicolored LED lights create dazzling holiday images on the four story high velvet curtain of the Grand Court atrium.

Festive music from the world-renowned Wanamaker Grand Organ is a complementary audio accompaniment, which also includes Julie Andrews’ narration. Visitors of all ages will enjoy fun characters like Frosty the Snowman and Santa’s reindeer.

Also be sure to visit Dickens Village on the third floor of Macy’s, where 100 fully animated figures enact the most memorable moments of Charles Dickens’ classic novella A Christmas Carol.

Bonus: just in time for the Macy’s holiday celebrations, the Wanamaker Building in which the store is housed celebrates its 100th anniversary this December!

Macy’s Holiday Light Show
When: November 25–December 31, shows begin on the top of each hour
Where: 1300 Market Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.visitmacysphiladelphia.com

Adresse is helping make your holiday gift shopping a little more seamless this season. (Photo courtesy Adresse)

This holiday season, Adresse, a high-end women’s designer clothing and accessories boutique located in Rittenhouse Square, is hosting not one, but two events: one for the ladies and one for the gents.

Starting with the women’s, Adresse is hosting a holiday “wish list party” on Wednesday, November 30, from 5-8 p.m.

While you shop for the gals (girlfriends, sisters, mom) on your list, the staff of Adresse will help you compile your own “wish list” of items that you’d truly like to receive from your beau this year. (A little something from Derek Lam or Stella McCartney is always acceptable.)

Then a week later on Wednesday, December 7, from 5-8 p.m., have your guy pop in for an event of his own. He’ll be presented with your wish list so he can shop without hesitation, uncertainty and, most of all, stress. It will completely take the guess work out for him, and provide you with a return-free holiday.

Additionally, ladies can enter to win a sparkly clutch with any purchase during their event, while guys will have a chance to win a custom shirt from Commonwealth Proper.

Of course cool cocktails and delectable nibbles (provided by Supper) will be provided at these chic parties. To top things off, a DJ will spin some holly jolly tunes.

It’s a victory all around, men can effortlessly shop for the holidays and women will actually get what they want this year. Thanks, Adresse.

Adresse Holiday Shopping Parties
When: Wednesday, November 30, 5-8 p.m. for women; Wednesday, December 7, 5-8 p.m. for men
Where: 1706 Locust Street
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.adressephiladelphia.com

Catch the master chef in person tonight at the Free Library as he discusses his latest cookbook. (Photo courtesy Vetri)

[Fall evenings in Philadelphia are always action-packed, and we want to help you cherry-pick from all the events and activities going on. On certain days that promise particularly bustling evenings, we round up our selections for the most can't-miss pursuits with which to fill your schedule. See you out there!]

With the short week this week on account of the Thanksgiving holiday, tonight, Tuesday night, is like this week’s Thurday night. How will you take advantage?

• Fried Chicken Fever: Meme’s popular Thursday-only lunch fried chicken will be served tonight for the first time. Fried chicken, a biscuit with chicken gravy, two sides and a Miller High Life bottle will be just $20. Call (215) 735-4900 to reserve your spot.

Plus, the nearby Pub & Kitchen is hosting its 3rd Annual Country Delight fest, featuring a Country Music Dj and fun Southern fare from Chef Jonathan Adams like Texas-style barbecue platters and Fried Chicken sandwiches.

Meme Fried Chicken Evening Special
Where: 2201 Spruce Street
When: Tuesday, November 22
Cost: $20 for meal

Pub & Kitchen Country Delight
Where: 1946 Lombard Street
When: Tuesday, November 22, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Cost: Pay as you go

• Marc Vetri at the Free Library: You can catch Vetri talking about his brand new cookbook Rustic Italian Food, live, for free tonight at the Central Branch of the library.

Where: 1901 Vine Street
When: Tuesday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

• Dock Street special fall beers and live music event: Tonight Dock Street releases 750 ml bottles of their Barleywine Style Ale from 2009, 2010 Barrel Aged Prince Myshkin Russian Imperial Stout, and this year’s batch of Prisoner of Hell Belgian Strong Ale. A small quantity of gold logo Munique glasses are on sale for the first time as well. One sixtel of Dock Sreet Flemish Red Sour Ale will also be pouring from the taps. Plus, West Philly’s On the Water performs at 9 p.m.

Where: 701 S. 50th Street
When: Tuesday, November 22, starting at 6 p.m.
Cost: Pay as you go

• White Pine Productions: Katie Eagleson at the Elkins Estate: Enjoy an evening of jazz standards at this gorgeous Elkins Park historic estate, a magnificent 42-acre oasis that was once home to the Elkins family, one of the most influential Philadelphian families of their time.

Where: Elkins Estate, 1750 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park
When: Tuesday, November 22, 8 p.m.
Cost: Free

• Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I at the Walnut Street Theatre: The timeless story of king-schoolteacher love comes to the Walnut Street Theatre in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s colorful, fun and touching The King and I.

Where: 825 Walnut Street
When: Tuesday, November 22, 8 p.m.
Cost: Tickets range from $10-$75

Instead of the traditional Black Friday, Manayunk is celebrating “White Friday” on November 25.

Canal View Park will be host to the city’s first Christmas Tree lighting, caroling, Santa Claus and an outdoor bridal gown show by Nicole Miller.

There will be hot chocolate, treats and music from B101.

It’s all happening from 6-8 p.m. this Friday, November 25.

Rain or shine, it’ll be a wonderful way to mark a conclusion to a great Thanksgiving and a beginning to the rest of a joyous holiday season in Philadelphia.

Manayunk’s “White Friday”
Where: Canal View Park, Main & Cresson Streets
When: Friday, November 25, 6-8 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.manayunk.com