FRANKLIN SQUARE’S ELECTRICAL SPECTACLE:
A HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW FACT SHEET
Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle: A Holiday Light Show: A brand new tradition for the holidays
sparked by Benjamin Franklin’s imagination will be the key to holiday fun in Franklin Square this
season. Winter time fun envelops all of Franklin Square to celebrate the holiday season from November
14 – December 31, culminating in the traditional family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. Franklin
Square celebrates the holiday season in grand style with entertainment, attractions, holiday music
playing on the Parx Liberty Carousel, warming stations in Philly Mini Golf, and seasonal fare.
Schedule
Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle: A Holiday Light show is a free light show that will illuminate
the Square from November 14 - December 31. Each night at 4:30 pm, a young guest will be chosen
from the crowd to “ignite” the first show.
• The Square’s nighttime magic and attractions begin at 4 pm
• First Electrical Spectacle show: 4:30 pm
• Final Electrical Spectacle show: 8 pm
• Reoccurring every half hour every evening (weather permitting)
• Two different seven-minute shows will alternate throughout the evening
Franklin Square, 6th & Race Streets, Philadelphia
November 1 – November 13: 10 am - 5 pm, daily
November 14 – December 31: 10 am - 8 pm, daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
All hours are weather permitting
Entertainment and Attractions
• Lightning Bolt Holiday Express: Take a festive train ride around the Square with the Lightning
Bolt Holiday Express to enjoy the sights of the season. Tickets are $5 adults/$4 children. The train
comes to Franklin Square on Saturdays and Sundays, November 16 - December 29, 4:30 - 7:30 pm.
• Santa Saturdays: Santa will be in the Square with free appearances to pose for photos and collect
wish lists on Friday, November 29 and Santa Saturdays, November 30 – December 21, 4 - 7 pm.
• Seasonal Fare from Philly Food Trucks: Sweet and savory seasonal selections provided by food
trucks from the Philadelphia Mobile Food Truck Association will provide a rotating variety of
favorites from 4 - 8 pm daily.
• Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown: Enjoy music, crafts, and dancing in The Pavilion with a free
countdown and Square Drop at 6 pm, followed by showings of Franklin Square’s Electrical
– more –
Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle Fact Sheet * Page 2 of 3
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Spectacle until 8 pm, December 31, 3 - 8 pm. Sponsored by Adventure Aquarium.
B101 B Crew Holiday Fun Days: B101 Buzzbee and the B Crew will provide fun in the Square
including music, games, and appearances by on-air personalities from 4 - 6 pm on the days listed
below. B101 is the official radio partner of Holidays in Franklin Square.
♦ Saturday, November 16 – Dave Moore
♦ Sunday, November 24 – Jessie Jordan
♦ Saturday, November 30 – Andrea Duffy
♦ Saturday, December 7 – Bill Tafrow
♦ Saturday, December 14 – Blaire Galaton
♦ Sunday, December 22 – Margo Marano
♦ Saturday, December 28 – Dave Moore
♦ Tuesday, December 31 – Andrea Duffy
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides: Pull up a blanket and experience the elegance and simplicity of 76
Carriage Company carriage rides departing from and returning to Franklin Square. November 29 –
December 22, Mondays – Fridays, 6 - 8 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 4 - 8 pm. Up to five people per
carriage ride for $40 for 15-20 minute ride and $50 for 30-35 minute ride.
Promotional Partners: Special attractions, guests, and holiday traditions including Hannukah,
Christmas, and Kwanzaa will be highlighted throughout the season. Promotional partners who will
provide entertainment and family activities on various nights include African American Museum in
Philadelphia, Arden Theatre Company, Brandywine Conservancy, Fairmount Park Conservancy,
Independence Seaport Museum, Lantern Theater Company, Philadelphia History Museum, Please
Touch Museum, and WHYY. For a complete schedule, visit historicphiladelphia.org.
Philly Mini Golf: Putt around the city on this Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course with
warming stations for the season! $9 adults/$7 children (3-12), FREE for children 2 and under
Parx Liberty Carousel: A zebra, a lion, an eagle, horses and more! Hop on this spectacular allAmerican style carousel with hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones. $2.50 per
person (adult or child), FREE for children 2 and under
Playgrounds: Slides, swings, and spinners…bring the kids and enjoy two playgrounds! Open yearround and free.
The Pavilion in Franklin Square: Host a birthday party, family reunion, and corporate or special
event in this charming space adjacent to the carousel and fountain. Enjoy the Pavilion heated, airconditioned, or open-air all year long. Made possible by the William Penn Foundation.
Franklin Square Gift Shop: Stop in for a selection of holiday gifts, ornaments, and LED novelties
and Franklin Square-themed souvenirs.
Fun Facts
• The Show is made of 50,000 LED lights, plus thousands more lights around the Square
• The display features a sculptural 12-foot tall kite flying 16 feet above the fountain reenacting
Benjamin Franklin’s famous electricity experiment
• LED lights will dance to music down a custom 250-foot sculpted kite string with a 6-foot key at the
base
• Hundreds of feet of holiday garland cover the Square along with projected snowflakes made of light
• The displays utilize over 10 miles of copper wire
• The sound system plays over 4,000 watts of holiday music
• The historic Franklin Square Fountain is incorporated into the show with programmed LEDs under
water, adding a magical flair.
• Five mature trees surrounding the fountain have their trunks encased in lights extending over 20 feet
into the air
• Over 40 staff and volunteers were involved in installation of the show
– more –
Franklin Square’s Electrical Spectacle Fact Sheet * Page 3 of 3
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The show operates on the typical power available in a U.S. home and took two weeks to program by
hand
The programmer’s mouse traveled the equivalent of over 3 miles to set all the cues and blinks for the
Spectacle
Music
Two alternating shows will feature two of the following songs:
“Sleigh Ride” and “A Christmas Festival” by The Philly POPS® conducted by Music Director Emeritus
Peter Nero
“Carol of the Bells” remixed by Starchild Excalibur
Show Designer
Parker 3D of Scotch Plains, New Jersey – Creative Director, John Carter; Industrial Designer, Gregg
Nelson
Funder and Partners
Franklin Square’s Holiday Celebration thanks the following: The William Penn Foundation, The Philly
POPS®, B101, PECO, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, George Peltz and MJK
Electrical Corporation, Visit Philadelphia™, and Econsult Solutions.
Franklin Square Information
Fun family entertainment and a beautiful park are just steps away from the Liberty Bell, in one of
William Penn’s original five squares, and the only one dedicated to fun. Award-winning Franklin
Square, managed and operated by Historic Philadelphia, Inc., is a family-friendly play place located
in the heart of Historic Philadelphia, featuring Philly Mini Golf, a renovated vintage marble fountain,
playgrounds, and the Parx Liberty Carousel. After a day of experiencing the treasures of Philadelphia’s
history, putt through some of the city’s most famous icons, take a ride on hometown racehorse heroes
Afleet Alex or Smarty Jones aboard the carousel, and enjoy a rest next to the refreshing fountain.
Awarded Best of Philly® two times by Philadelphia Magazine and one of the Five Coolest Playgrounds
in the United States by Yahoo! Also named Best of Four Square 2012 for Philadelphia Entertainment
and Best of Style 2013 by Philadelphia Style for “Philly’s Best Photo Op.” The Philadelphia Inquirer
recently called Franklin Square, “One of the city’s great public spaces.”
Convenient parking for Franklin Square is available at EZ PARK, 9th & Race Street, just blocks from
Franklin Square. Historic Philadelphia, Inc. guests enjoy an exclusive price of just $7 for up to six hours
by asking for a voucher at Franklin Square’s ticket office.
Franklin Square is an initiative of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. (HPI). HPI makes our nation’s history
relevant and real through interpretation, interaction, and education, strengthening Greater Philadelphia’s
role as the destination to experience American history. Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s programs include
the Betsy Ross House, Once Upon A Nation storytelling and immersive walking tours, Franklin Square,
and Lights of Liberty. For more information, (215) 629-4026 or visit www.historicphiladelphia.org or
buy tickets in person at the Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets. Follow Franklin Square
at twitter.com/FranklinSqr or on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/FranklinSquare.
Contact
Cari Feiler Bender, Relief Communications LLC (Press Information Only)
(610) 416-1216 or [email protected]
Public Information: 215-629-4026 or www.historicphiladelphia.org
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EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution photographs are available for media usage at:
http://tinyurl.com/HPIphoto. Email [email protected] for login information