Feb. 1, 2026; The Flyers' Stanley Cup banners hang above a Ferris wheel and carousel during the 2026 Flyers Charities Carnival at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Flyers Charities Carnival is somewhat of a unicorn when it comes to the connection between an organization and its community. The 49th anniversary installment of the event, held Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, gave fans of all ages a chance to meet and play carnival games alongside Flyers players, coaches and executives.
"I just think it speaks to who we are as an organization, what the Flyers have meant for this region for so long," Flyers governor Dan Hilferty said on Sunday's Snow the Goalie podcast, which was streamed live from the carnival.
"People can come out here and have fun, meet the players, watch (the media) do your things, do fun carnival type things, and really do something special for the community."
The event indeed makes a great impact on the wider Philadelphia region; the funds raised at the carnival help Flyers Charities to support local families impacted by cancer and to grow the game of hockey in the region.
The rink transformed into a true carnival for the day, with a Ferris wheel and a carousel as major standouts. All around the arena, Flyers players competed with fans in carnival games, including ping pong, axe throwing, cornhole and a golf simulator.
Fans were able to truly connect with players throughout the day, especially in sign-and-snap sessions. The opportunities to speak one-on-one with fans generated some memorable moments for players.
"Somebody wanted my shoes. That was weird," Flyers forward Trevor Zegras recalled, and then clarified, "But he was a little kid, so it was kind of funny."
Flyers defenseman Cam York has been outspoken about his household's new additions: three cats, all adopted toward the beginning of the season. The carnival gave him a chance to connect with fellow cat aficionados.
"I've had a lot of cat people come up to me and give me some cat stuff," York said. "I love just talking cats, and sharing fun cat stories."
Flyers Charities' initiatives remained at the heart of the festivities. Programs such as SNIDER and the Rink Revive program, both centered around removing financial barriers and widening access to the game of hockey in Philadelphia, will benefit greatly from Sunday's proceeds.
"It's just a great day. Being for Flyers Charities, it's such a great cause," Flyers forward Nick Seeler said.
"It's just fun to see all the support that this organization has. It's like one big family, so to have this event where Flyers players and fans can mingle and play games, it's pretty awesome."
Gritty makes his Flyers Carnival entrance on hoverboard, flanked by hoverboard security😎
(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/6WTIlLSjpR
The Flyers are definitely on a recent skid – the team has lost its last four games, and 11 of its last 13 – but it didn't impact the jovial atmosphere at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday. On Snow the Goalie, Hilferty commended the Flyers fans' longstanding ability to "separate what (the Flyers) mean to the fiber of the community" from the team's performance, and to continue to support the carnival even when the on-ice product isn't up to snuff.
Still, the Flyers remain focused on turning their fortunes around, for their own sakes and for the sake of all the fans they met Sunday.
