From bowling parties to breakfast with Santa, here is a stocking full of free or low-cost in-person activities to enjoy the season of joy and jingles. So, don’t be late, tis’ the season to participate or donate! (But be sure to contact the event organizers for their updated in-person visiting pandemic-related precautions and protocols. Some events require proof of vaccinations.)

December 16, 2021. Get your lecture cap on! Immigrants have played large roles in the revitalization of cities and suburbs in the Philadelphia area and nationwide, but not always in the ways that popular narratives suggest. This conversation, titled Immigration and Metropolitan Revitalization in Philadelphia and Nationwide, with two leading scholars of local immigration and urban history professors, A. K. Sandoval-Strausz and Domenic Vitiello, will explore the impact of immigration and immigrants on the places we live. Discussions will focus on how immigration turned around decades of urban decline in the U.S. Co-author Vitiello has worked with diverse immigrant communities in cities and helped lead the boards of organizations in Philadelphia’s African communities. 

$10; free for members. From 6 pm. to 7 p.m.
Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 219 South 6th St.,
philaathenaeum.org 
Register at eventbrite.com.

December 18, 2021. Make it a Santa Saturday. Spend time at Santa’s Annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by aspiring firefighters and paramedics -- the Philadelphia Fire/EMS Explorers. Children can browse at Santa's gift shop and visit Santa's workshop where elves can help young ones build wood toys. Phila. Fire Department Explorer elves will take your breakfast order and assist you at Santa's North Pole gift shop. Take pictures with Santa, have fun with arts and crafts, and face painting. Tickets start at $10. There are two time slots: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 12:30 p.m.to 2:30 p.m. 

Philadelphia Fire/EMS Recruitment Training Center, 7800 Ogontz Ave., philafireexplorers.org
Register at eventbrite.com.

December 18, 2021. A great holiday stress relief is bowling. Yes, bowling. Get your friends and family together or church group for the NPHC SEPA Bowling Party, And don’t forget your most unfashionable sweater. Sign up for the event’s Ugly Sweater Bowling Party. When you win the ugliest-sweater title, you get a cash prize for your holiday stocking.

Tickets start at $35. 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Your holiday host is the National Pan Hellenic Council of Southeastern PA., V & S Elmwood Lanes, 7235 Elmwood Ave.
Register at eventbrite.com.

December 18, 2021. Volunteer or donate food and other items to local homeless individuals in Center City. Together We Can Change, Inc. is hosting this annual human-service event. Food and other basic items will be distributed at noon in Center City. Bring 5 to 10 bags of food in brown paper bags. Sandwiches and chips are favorites. If you do not want to distribute food, donations of food and bottles of water are welcome and can be dropped off, between 11:30 a.m. to noon, at 9th and Market streets, 215-398-29117, or e-mail: [email protected]
Register at eventbrite.com.

December 31, 2021- to January 1, 2022. Start off the year with fun and an open heart at the semi-formal, the 100BLACKMENPHILLY New Year’s Eve Fundraising Party. Proceeds assist 100 Black Men of Philadelphia, Inc.’s mentoring and leadership programs for men of color. Live DJ, raffle, open bar, fabulous food, and dancing. For folks 25 years and older. Inquire about ticket prices. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Register at eventbrite.com.

December 21, 2021. Mingle and sing a jingle! Meet new friends at the NAMI Philly Holiday Open House. Refreshments and holiday joy! Free, 2 to 4 p.m., 

Friends Hospital, 4641 Roosevelt Blvd. RSVP at Eventbrite.com

Details for all of these events can be found on eventbrite.com