Party like it’s colonial times for Ben Franklin’s birthday weekend

The historical friend we like to imagine is still rolling with our own crews (that would be Benjamin Franklin) has a birthday coming up, and Historic Philadelphia is throwing a weeklong party filled with events from Friday, Jan. 15 through Saturday, Jan. 24. Get ready for this one, it's going to be wild.

The Independence Visitor Center (6th and Market Streets) welcomes visitors with tales from Ben Franklin's life between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Thursday, Jan. 15 until Monday, Jan. 19. Make a day of it for Saturday, Jan. 17 for a meet-and-greet with the birthday boy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Brave the cold on Friday, Jan. 16 for an 11 a.m. procession from the American Philosophical Society (105 S. 5th St.) to Christ Church Burial Ground (20 N. American St.) — the spot where Franklin is buried — for a wreath-laying ceremony and to honor the inventor, printer and Founding Father.

The traditional Tippler's Tour — in which history-thirsty drinkers are guided to four locations, Omni Hotel, Victoria Free House, Lucha Cartel or National Mechanics, and City Tavern, for drinks, traditions and history — gets the Franklin treatment when he hops on the tour for historical tidbits about the Founding Father's time in colonial bars. Come ready for a few rounds of adults-only fun for these tours, departing from the Historic Philadelphia Center (6th and Chestnut Streets) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, Saturday, Jan. 17, Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24.

For the ultimate view on the life, activities and legacy of Benjamin Franklin, your one-stop-shop lies in the Benjamin Franklin Museum (317 Chestnut St.) where they'll be offering free admission during regular hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) from Saturday, Jan. 17 through Monday, Jan. 19. Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, the museum's staff will provide musical demonstrations of a Franklin-invented instrument, an armonica — pretty much a glass harmonica — and kids activities will be offered.

Another museum getting in on the action is the National Constitution Center (525 Arch St.) where attendees can take a tour exclusively focusing on Ben and make-and-take activities where tots can fashion their own Franklin-esque outfit. Stop by between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 and noon and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18.

The Liberty 360 3D show at the Historic Philadelphia Center (6th and Chestnut Streets) gets a b-day makeover, honoring Franklin this weekend. See the show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 18, when the man of the weekend will make appearances. There'll also be storytelling, activities and even cake (on Saturday at 1 p.m.).

A visual history of Franklin is told through paintings and sculptures from the Portrait gallery at the Second Bank (420 Chestnut St.). Talks begin at noon on Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 18.