A 300th birthday party for Ben

FOUNDING father Benjamin Franklin always enjoyed a good party, but here’s one that the celebrated raconteur will miss: his 300th birthday blowout in Philadelphia.

No matter. An impersonator will stand in.

The life of the 18th century statesman, inventor and writer is being celebrated this year and next with dozens of exhibits, performances, tours and more in the City of Brotherly Love and surrounding spots.

The centerpiece, which opened last week at the National Constitution Center at 525 Arch St. on Independence Mall, combines hundreds of artifacts from Franklin’s life with video animations and interactive displays.

The items, from 90 public institutions and private collectors in the U.S. and Europe, include a copy of the U.S. Constitution with Franklin’s handwritten annotations, plus his chess set, tankard, French tea service and daily household-account ledgers. Visitors can also climb aboard a 25-foot-long model of a ship to study Franklin’s method of charting the Gulf Stream, typeset their names and re-create some of the inventor’s experiments at workstations.

“Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World” runs through April 30. Admission is $14 for adults and $12 for children ages 4 to 12, seniors and college students. Information: (215) 409-6600, www.constitutioncenter.org.

Among other happenings:

* A party at the National Constitution Center on Jan. 17, Franklin’s birthday, will feature a cake and 300 people portraying the many facets of this Renaissance man. Advance tickets are required for the free 10 a.m. event. Call (215) 409-6700.

* The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., will also celebrate the birthday with an appearance by Franklin impersonator Ralph Archbold, a cake, games and children’s activities, all day Jan. 14. Information: (215) 448-1200, www.fi.edu.

* The new live show “Sparks” portrays and explains Franklin’s experiments with lightning and electromagnetic forces. Performances, through 2006, are at the Franklin Institute at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. on weekends; they will also be held on weekdays Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

* “Franklin Court,” a revival of a ballet by Christopher d’Ambroise, former artistic director of the Pennsylvania Ballet, that focuses on Franklin’s inventions, will be performed in conjunction with Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” from March 3 to 11. The performance is at the Academy of Music, at Broad and Locust streets. Information: (215) 551-7000, www.paballet.org.

* A self-guided walking tour stops at Christ Church, Franklin Court, the American Philosophical Society and other sites important to Franklin. Log onto www.gophila.com/itineraries and choose “Walking in Benjamin Franklin’s Footsteps” under “Itineraries.”

* Dozens of restaurants and other places will host on-the-spot parties Jan. 13 through 17. In a whimsical adjunct to the birthday celebration, some restaurants and bars are serving special recipes and menus. At McGillin’s Olde Ale House, 1310 Drury St., for instance, you can imbibe a Printer’s Pickle Martini ($5), made with pickle juice and garnished with a petite pickle.

“Ben was big pickle fan,” said McGillin’s owner Chris Mullins.

For a full schedule of Franklin events, visit www.benfranklin300.org.