Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

It’s the time of year when visitors wander the cobblestone streets of Historic Philadelphia and ask the question, are they or aren’t they…haunted. Halloween offers lots of “Poe-tential” for literary encounters with spooky characters, as well as family-friendly ghosts and goblins who some think still inhabit the centuries-old neighborhood.

Halloween enthusiasts who book one of the 80 featured hotel packages on gophila.com/withlove will receive a special treat at check-in. The giveaway includes a Philadelphia Privileges coupon book, a five-pack of With Love postcards, a With Love pin and Philly Fill-Ins word games, along with other brochures, coupons and maps. After

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, sporting events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2010*:

January:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2010. phillymummers.com

February:

• The Pennsylvania Convention Center is the site of the Philadelphia International Flower Show, the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind. The annual

A major art exhibition, a Puerto Rican parade and grassroots community events are all in the works for Philadelphia’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, taking place from September 15 to October 15, 2009. Those wishing to experience the culture and charisma of the city’s large Latino community will find plenty of fun events and activities to choose from throughout the month.

As part of the new With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ tourism marketing campaign—a series of 60+ love letters addressed to travelers and penned by the city itself with a bit of Philly “atty-tude”—visitors who book one of the 80 featured packages

As summer’s high temperatures subside and leaves turn red, orange and yellow, Philadelphia and The Countryside® welcomes autumn with special exhibitions, Halloween haunts and all-ages annual events. Princess Diana, Jim Henson, Henri Matisse, George Washington Carver and Barkley L. Hendricks lead the lineup, which also includes Body Worlds 2 at The Franklin Institute Science Museum, tattoos galore at the Independence Seaport Museum, Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls, fall festivals and much more.

Fall Into A Philadelphia Hotel:
As part of the new With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ campaign, fall-loving visitors who book one of the 80 featured packages

After exploring the Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy exhibition, appearing only in Philadelphia, only in 2009 (April 4 through September 7, 2009 at The Franklin Institute Science Museum), visitors are encouraged to spend a night or two and enjoy other exhibitions and events in the region. Here’s a look at what’s going on while Galileo’s in town:

Fun Art And Culture:

• The popular three-day West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival—now in its sixth year—features all types of jazz alongside visual artists, craft vendors and more. This year’s lineup features WAR, Jeffrey Osbourne, Average

When it comes to visiting Philadelphia, some of the best things to see and do are free—or close to it. For families and budget travelers eager to explore the region, that’s great news. Check out the city’s many low-cost or no-cost attractions, including historic Independence Hall, free student recitals at the Curtis Institute of Music, the hi-tech production line of Herr’s Potato Chip Factory and the always-colorful Mummers Museum.

Historical Sites:

• Snuggled behind the east wing of Independence Hall is Philosophical Hall, a brick building erected in the late 1780s that was the nation’s first museum, national library and

Thanks in part to the popularity of TV shows like The Amazing Race and movies like National Treasure (filmed partially in Philadelphia) that send people around the world on the search for clues, prizes and hidden treasures, Philadelphia attractions are mapping out creative ways to help visitors get to know the region. City-wide scavenger hunts, card games that rely on knowledge of historic buildings and participatory re-enactments of Colonial playtime allow both kids and adults to learn more about the city while jumping right into the action. Here’s a look at some of the fun and games taking place in

This summer, Historic Philadelphia is home to brand-new attractions, activities and events, including the provocative new exhibition at The African American Museum in Philadelphia, Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia, 1776-1876. After undergoing an extensive renovation, the city’s premier African-American museum will unveil its stunning permanent display on Juneteenth (June 19).

To discover Audacious Freedom and all of the other affordable—or free—attractions in Historic Philadelphia this summer, visitors will have to spend at least two nights. gophila.com lists dozens of affordable hotel packages, including the popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, a two-night offer that comes with free hotel parking.

Summer 2009 in Philadelphia is gearing up to be festive, affordable and full of family-friendly fun. New exhibitions and attractions indoors and out let visitors explore the stars, walk along the treetops, frolic in cooling waters and come face-to-face with historic figures. Free activities, including mural tours, historic storytelling and a multi-day celebration of America’s birthday are delightful ways to stretch a budget. And with dozens of packages available at hotels throughout the region and on gophila.com, including the affordable two-night Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, visitors can enjoy maximum fun with minimum funds.

Here’s a look at what’s happening in

Eat And Drink Your Way Through Philadelphia:

1. It’s hard to say whether kids or adults have more fun at the fudge-and-candy parties at Betty’s Speakeasy. Large or intimate groups can schedule time to cut fudge, make candy, decorate cookies and gobble them up at the end of the party. Bakery owner Liz Begosh uses only organic, local and fair-trade ingredients in her sweet confections. For a slightly less messy culinary adventure, Liz also schedules private, instructional, prix-fixe dinners that explore the landscape of artisanal eating for $40 per person. 2241 Grays Ferry Avenue, (215) 735-9060, bettysfudge.com
2. Bring Belgium to

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, sporting events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2009:

January 2009:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2009. phillymummers.com
• Making its world debut in Philadelphia, America I AM: The African American Imprint celebrates African-American contributions across 400 years of American history at the National