For a truly exceptional experience for the entire family, The Battleship New Jersey is hosting an overnight encampment aboard the ship! You can enjoy the start of a New Year together, experiencing an unforgettable night sleeping in the real bunks, getting a full tour, and much more. Dinner and breakfast will be served, and at midnight, you all get to watch the fireworks display directly from the Delaware River!
If you would like to simply see the fireworks from land, the famous show takes place on Penn’s Landing on 121 N. Columbus Blvd at midnight, and it’s completely free. It can get very crowded, but worth the wait and the weather! This is an extremely popular attraction, but it is known in Philly that all “true” Philadelphians go to the Mummer’s Festival and end it with the big Mummer’s Day Parade on New Years Day. Even if you are a visitor of the city, this is a must-see. There is no need to worry about the weather for the Fest, which runs from December 28th until the 31st, because it takes place inside the Kimmel Center, from 10 am until 6 pm. The parade takes place on South Broad St & Washington Ave, at 9 am, lasting all day. It’s a unique experience, celebrating with some 15,000 people, and never a disappointment.
If a parade seems overwhelming, or perhaps you just want a quiet end of 2007, there are still plenty of things to do on New Years in Philly. The Philadelphia Museum of Art will be open on both New Years Eve and New Years day, with the Renoir Landscapes exhibition open from 10 am until 5 pm on both days.
For the stranger side of New Years Eve, Philadelphia offers more than enough “alternative” ideas. The General Meade Birthday Celebration takes place on December 31st at noon, gathering at the Graveside of General George G. Meade, Commander of the Union Army at the battle of Gettysburg. This year will be the 192nd birthday of General Meade, and the party promises to be memorable, with a 21 gun salute and champagne toast before a tour. For more information on the “underground” events of Philadelphia, visit uwishunu.com and igetrvng.com.
There are so many different things to do in Philadelphia during any time of the year, but New Years Eve is certainly part of the most exciting season the city has to offer. PhillyFunGuide.com has plenty of more suggestions and events for you to choose from, making sure you will want to start every year in Philly!
