Grinches, locally powered markets, jazz, and more this holiday weekend

With good ol’ Kris Kringle making his yearly gift drop in less than a week, we’re hitting a critical mass with holiday-themed events. If you’re still in need of things to do now that the kids are out of school (or if you’re dropping the kids off with your parents), Philly’s ready to jingle-bell rock-and-roll.

Shopping at Bok

If you’re finishing your gift-buying and looking for ways to shop local, head over to Bok in South Philly. Cold Turkey, the artisan shopping event hosted by local inclusive-employment program Ideate, will feature vendors selling handmade aromatherapy products, cards, jewelry, and more. The Ideate program specializes in providing trauma-informed support for individuals who meet barriers while trying to join the workforce.

Bok will also be housing the ever-popular Liberty Flea Market, and with both markets open from 10am to 5pm, there’s plenty of time to hop from one to the other for all of your vintage and handcrafted gift needs. Nothing says holiday cheer quite like supporting local craftspeople, shop owners, and inclusive organizations.

Charlie Brown and The Grinch

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is keeping up the month of holiday spirit with Classic Cartoon Jazz Party, the latest in their weekly Friday Nights series. Showcasing the musical stylings of the Cartoon Christmas Trio and the Cartoon Christmas Chorus, guests will hear music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and enjoy access to the galleries after hours.

All PMA Friday Nights start at 5pm, so you can make a night of it by starting at the museum and then trekking out into the chilly night for another Christmas classic. The Kimmel Center hosts Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. Even though you can see the latest animated Grinch movie in a local theater, you really can’t beat catching the green meanie with a “heart three sizes too small” in the flesh — er, I mean fur. The family favorite will run at the Merriam until December 29, so you can also save these tickets as a present for the Who-at-heart in your house.

Holiday laughs and trolleys

If you’re looking to end a long day of gift-wrapping with a smile, Philly Improv Theater promises a full weekend of holiday-centric, gut-busting comedy shows. You can catch the N Crowd’s weekly improv game show, or see Cold as Hell, a sketch comedy show “about the highs and lows of the winter holiday season.” There's also Stirring the Pot, a comedy show inspired by the experiences shared around holiday meals, and more. And with most PHIT shows an hour long, you can create your own comic combo to make the most of your night.

Wherever you land on the love/hate spectrum with SEPTA, you might consider giving them a chance to transport themselves into your heart via the SEPTA Holiday Celebration at Trolley Portal Gardens. After being rained out on the event’s original date last weekend, SEPTA is decking their trolleys (with boughs of holly?) and teaming up with University City Arts League for a day of hot chocolate, coaster painting, and picture taking. The coaster painting will go from 2pm to 4pm, but the bedazzled trolleys will be around and available for rides (free for kids with one paying adult) from 10am to 5pm.