Things to Do in Philadelphia This Week & Weekend

Through Saturday, June 8, 2024

This grassroots Bucks County festival celebrates the immense talent found in its own backyard. Each year, the Doylestown Music Fest partners with venues across town and some of the region’s most talented performers for a marathon week of performances. 2024’s edition sees over 30 different acts hitting the stage at local eateries, churches, museums and shops. This year’s lineup dips into a variety of genres and includes the Malcolm Clark Jazz Duo, blues band The Little Red Roosters, rock cover group Breaking Curfew and many more.

Through Sunday, June 9, 2024

Hope you’re hungry! The annual Black Restaurant Week runs through this Sunday, celebrating a selection of over two-dozen Black-owned restaurants in Greater Philadelphia, along with the best of Black, African and Caribbean cuisine across the region. Over the event’s 10 days, participating restaurants — from spots like 48th Street Grille, Jacobs Northwest, Mt. Airy Deli, iMunch Café and Cray Taste Old City — showcase robust flavors through special meal deals — all with the mission of supporting Black entrepreneurs.

Through Sunday, June 9, 2024

The popular annual Philly Beer Week event returns this week with 10 days of events, tastings, happy hours, pub crawls and foamy fun. Pouring brews since 2007, the regional tradition brings together breweries from around the city and countryside and from across the country to show us all why Philly is one of the best beer cities in the world. Events this week include:

• a haunted history bar crawl through Race Street Cafe, Rotten Ralph’s, O’Neal’s and Varga Bar (Monday)
• curated oyster-and-beer flights at Standard Tap (Wednesday)
• the 9th Annual Can Wood Derby at Good Dog Bar (Friday), and
• an outdoor block party with live music and beer pours at Bridget Foy’s (Saturday)

Through Sunday, June 9, 2024

The annual ODUNDE Festival is back for its 49th year with a week of events. The celebration culminates with the country’s largest Black and African cultural street festival on Sunday, which fills 15 blocks of South Philly with over 500,000 attendees. On offer: over 100 African marketplace vendors, pay-as-you-go authentic African, Caribbean and soul food, two stages of live music and performances, and a procession to the Schuylkill River with offerings of fruit and flowers.

The Fightin Phils play hardball against the Milwaukee Brewers during an early series this week. Bonus: Stop by Wednesday’s game to snag a free pair of London 2024 sunglasses in advance of the Phillies’ hop across the pond later this week.

From The Voice to art pop alien woodland creature, cult-favorite vocalist Melanie Martinez embarks on her first stadium tour, performing songs from each of her three albums, including 2023’s Portals.

This contemporary opera at the Avenue of the Arts’ Wilma Theater pulls from a variety of genres — rock, pop, musical theater — and introduces the audience to an unlikely figure: 20th-century Swedish artist and queer mystic Hilma af Klint. This world-premiere production paints an interesting picture of its own using music, dance and theater to explore the life and work of the painter. Now heralded as one of the very first abstract artists, Klint worked in obscurity and saw her art as a divine channel between herself and the universe’s otherworldly forces.

June 5 – August 28, 2024 (Wednesdays only)

No summertime sadness here: June marks the start of Philly’s favorite Wednesday night party. Center City District SIPS features happy hour deals at participating restaurants and bars all summer long, with $7 tequila cocktails, $6 wine, $5 beer and half-priced apps at over 75 establishments like Double Knot and the Air Grille Garden at Dilworth Park. This year, you can also look forward to 15% off dinner at select participating restaurants. Can’t figure out where to go? Our 2024 guide has you covered.

If you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, check out the spring version of the semiannual Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll. The fest offers special $1, $3 and $5 deals from participating vendors and neighborhood businesses at multiple locations like Cedar Park, Clark Park, the 50th Street Triangle, Trolley Portal Gardens and the HMS School, plus a block party along 48th Street with live music and crafts. Also on offer: pay-as-you-go food and drinks (including beer and cocktails).

The Mann Center celebrates Black leaders and visionaries at its annual Voices of Hope event. This year, Visit Philadelphia CEO Angela Val gives the keynote talk, joining emcee Rashaad Lambert and an incredible group of honorees for an inspirational night. 2024’s trailblazers include Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, DiverseForce Founder and CEO Sulaiman W. Rahman, The National Bar and Barristers’ Associations’ Bernard Smalley, and doctors Delana Wardlaw and Elana McDonald.

Soulful singer Chris Stapleton is a colorful lyricist, pulling listeners into his whiskey-soaked world with genre-bending songs like You Should Probably Leave, Tennessee Whiskey and White Horse, from his latest album Higher.

June 6 – August 29, 2024 (Thursdays only)

Thursday nights mean live music, street vendors, artists, activities, shopping deals and more during Stroll the Street in Manayunk — with new fun themes each month. June’s theme: Arts Month, kicking off with Stroll the Street’s Plein on Main outdoor painting competition this Thursday.

Masquerade and *gasps* murder? Can you save the day and (literally) unmask the killer before they escape … or worse? Dust off your magnifying glass and step into the Billionaires’ Club Annual Masquerade Ball dressed to the nines (Venetian masks, glitzy jewelry and other billionaire-esque attire are highly recommended) to see if you can crack the case. Your ticket includes dinner at Peddler’s Village Cock ‘n Bull restaurant and an entertaining evening of mystery and intrigue.

On the first Friday of each month, galleries, shops and attractions across Philly invite visitors and locals to experience the best of the city’s arts and culture scene with extended hours, monthly events and special showcases. This month’s highlights include:

• Art and Artisans Market at Cherry Street Pier: Local artists, makers and creative entrepreneurs make the Delaware River waterfront’s Cherry Street Pier their showroom this Friday, perfect for finding a gift or attention-grabbing artwork to add to your collection (Friday).
• Arts & Eats in Chestnut Hill: Philly’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood pulls out all the stops each month with a full day of signature events, live music, restaurant specials, new gallery previews and showcases, and extended hours at several local retailers (Friday).
• Returning for the season: First Friday Movies Under the Stars & Stripes at the Betsy Ross House: This Friday, Betsy Ross House kicks off its series of First Friday movie screenings, which runs through September. Admission is $8 per person and includes an after-hours tour of the house. The best part: The event is BYOB and guests are encouraged to bring food and snacks (begins Friday).

This popular twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country (97 years strong in 2024) — returns to the perimeter of Rittenhouse Square and features works by more than 140 professional artists specializing in media ranging from sculpture to paintings.

Step into Macy’s Center City, located within the historic Wanamaker building, for a musical celebration of the 120 year old Wanamaker Organ. The weekend festival includes free concerts and chamber tours honoring the National Historic Landmark. Special guest Ken Cowan joins Wanamaker organist Peter Richard Conte for a ticketed Grand Evening Concert (Saturday).

Another world premiere hits the Avenue of the Arts this week with Philadelphia Theatre Company’s The Duat. Using spoken word, North African drumming and stirring choreography, the production takes you into the battle for one man’s life — or afterlife. Finding himself in the Egyptian underworld after death, FBI counterintelligence officer Cornelius Johnson unpacks scenes from his time on Earth — his intentions, decisions and actions — and makes his case before Osiris, the god of the dead, for why he deserves to continue onto the next life.

June 7-July 27, 2024 (Fridays and Saturdays)

Summer Nights takes the historic tours, exhibits and art installations that the Eastern State Penitentiary is known for, and mixes in hands-on activities, monthly themes and special events. Plus, cool off with drinks at the Fair Chance Beer Garden on the attraction’s baseball diamond, which offers craft brews from Triple Bottom Brewing Co. Tickets are required and include the Voices of Eastern State audio tour.

Go beyond the Crayola box and dive deep into the world of color. Inspired by the museum’s current exhibition BOLD: Color from Test Tube to Textile, this year’s Curious Histories Fest explores the science and history behind dyes, rainbows and more. The vibrant, family-friendly festival features free hands-on arts & crafts, live performances, DJs, storytimes and pop-up displays from the Science History Institute and other partners. Also, on tap: colorful herbal tea tastings, water ice (the first 150 festivalgoers get a free sample!) and food trucks.

First held in 2018, Philly VegFest is a celebration of the love for vegan and whole-food plant-based eats and lifestyles. The free local event in the Newbold neighborhood of South Philly brings together the Philadelphia vegan community, plant-based gourmands and non-vegans alike. Expect food vendors, craft artisans, vegan cultural and communal organizations, live music, panel discussions, speakers, vegan historians and food scientists — all promoting the wellness of living plant-based

One of America’s oldest animal shelters celebrates 150 years with a block party and mural unveiling — and you’re invited! In partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia, Morris Animal Refuge “off-furs” a full afternoon of food, face painting and plenty of cuddly kittens. The block party is free to attend, but purchasing a $20 raffle ticket enters you in for a chance to win cool prizes — including the chance to have your pet featured in the mural.

Celebrate love, equality and pride at this festival located just a few miles outside of the city. Hosted by the LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County, Chester County Pride Fest invites LGBTQ+ community members and allies to Bridge Street in Phoenixville for a day filled with live music, art, entertainment, shopping and games.

Stoop culture runs deep in Philadelphia: Relationships began, milestones marked and secrets shared on Philly steps, patios and porches. Each June, West Philly Porchfest takes it up a notch, encouraging the neighborhood’s music lovers to activate their front porches with free performances for crowds of onlookers traveling from house to house. 2024 is going to be a big one for the self-proclaimed “do-it-yourself music festival,” with over 100 performances slated to take place.

Get groundbreaking art without breaking the bank during this annual art sale, organized by local art nonprofit InLiquid and featuring original work all priced under $250. Plus, look forward to free craft-making demonstrations, workshops and more. All proceeds from sales directly benefits the artists.

The East Coast’s only urban winery kicks off its summer season with its 4th Annual Rosé Soirée. Mom-Mom’s Kitchen is on deck with its signature Polish delights, so stop by the Fishtown spot’s wine garden to vibe to live music, shop with local vendors, and enjoy fresh and tasty pierogies with a glass of Mural City Cellars’ finest rosé. Cheers!

It’s a celebration of Celtic culture in Havertown during this free daylong festival highlighting Irish music, food and fashion. More than 20 acts hit two stages, and over 70 local makers and crafters sell handmade goods. An on-site beer garden serves up adult beverages for the 21-plus crowd, plus a Kids Fun Zone is available for the littles. The event is free to attend, and food and drink are pay as you go.

Celebrating the communities surrounding West Fairmount Park, dancers, artists, musicians and vendors of all flavors join in the free West Park Arts Fest. While filled with handcrafted goods by local artists, kid-friendly activities and a bevy of food vendors and trucks, the festival is known for its live music and performances across two stages. This year’s event features Jahwula Seapoe, Blues Reincarnation Project, Mobbluz, Isa Latin Rhythms, Breia Smalley, danceLogic, the Philadelphia Dance Academy, Womba Africa Drum and Dance and more.

Delaware County celebrates Pride Month with its fourth annual Delaware County Pride Festival in Upper Darby, the culmination of a week of events. The festival features over 120 vendors, joyful music, a live DJ, dancing, food vendors, face and nail painting, kid-friendly activities, and more, including programming that will expand across the county. The event is free to attend, but donations are suggested.

Curated by Philly’s nationally recognized radio station WXPN, this family-friendly music festival shuts down part of Wayne Avenue to traffic and welcomes over 10,000 music fans and a stacked lineup of local, regional and national acts each June. This year’s lineup plays across three stages and includes popular rock act Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy, Philadelphia funk band Snacktime, and more. You can also expect 75 local restaurants to keep you full, beer gardens and plenty of activities for the whole family.

Music booms and brews flow all afternoon and evening long at this annual music festival. Showcasing talented local musicians and bands, the Northern Liberties Music Fest fills Liberty Lands Park with stellar tunes while supporting the neighborhood association. This year’s lineup features performances for music lovers of every age and persuasion including kid-centric singer Music with Gina, soulful songstress Shirley Lites and instrumental rock band I Think Like Midnight, among others.

Raise a champagne toast to this beautiful, 50-acre riverfront property in Bucks County before horticulturalist Kristin Biddle leads a tour through the formal gardens. Tickets are required and include champagne and light refreshments.

Two of the biggest acts in country music play the biggest venue in town: The Linc. Kenny Chesney handles the country-meets-beach vibe and Zac Brown Brand has the Chicken Fried on lock. Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker round out the bill.

Party it up with everyone’s favorite grumpy-yet-somehow-still-loveable giant with a heart of gold. Inspired by the 2000s classic movie, this touring party series brings Shrek and the rest of the far far away gang to Philly for a night of singing and dancing. Grab your group and head to South Street’s Theatre of Living Arts for some good, clean, green, dumb fun.

Celebrate early childhood education with an afternoon of family-friendly activities courtesy of Federation Early Learning Services. Musical performances, a petting zoo, character appearances, face painting, food vendors and more make this an enriching and kid-tastic festival. The event is free with RSVP.d

Chester County brings the food and the fun with this elegant summertime festival. Kick back and enjoy sips in the sunshine with live music, a curated assortment of artists and vendors, pay as you go meals, and unlimited Brandywine Valley wine tastings and food samples. Tickets are required and include a very fancy wine-tasting glass.

21 Savage brings his raw storytelling, deadpan delivery and rap finesse to the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion this week. Hits from Bank Account to A Lot have solidified his place as a major player in hip-hop’s trap genre and made him a frequent collaborator with other hip-hop heavyweights like producer Metro Boomin and Drake. Don’t miss your chance to turn up with the Atlanta hitmaker to fan favorites and new songs from his latest release, American Dream.

This weeklong celebration of the stars and stripes features daily 10 a.m. flag-raising ceremonies, flag-making workshops, meet-and-greets with costumed Once Upon a Nation History Makers and an afternoon curator’s corner highlighting rarely seen items from the museum’s collection. Flag Fest leads up to Flag Day on June 14, 2024 when the courtyard hosts a concert and naturalization ceremony with music by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet. Bonus: Flag Fest events are free to attend.

Through Sunday, June 30, 2024 (dates vary by event)

Philly is loud and proud all year long, but things are taken to a whole ’nother level each June. Here are a few ways Philly is celebrating its LGBTQ+ communities this week: 

• Pride Drag Brunch at Izlas Latin Cuisine: Savor Pride all month long with this weekly series of drag brunch performances. Tickets are required, and food and drink are pay as you go (Saturdays through June 29).
• Pride Month at the National Constitution Center: Learn about the American changemakers who fought for the freedoms of LGBTQ+ individuals, plus enjoy Pride-themed make-and-take crafts daily (through June 30, 2024).
• Pride Month Exhibition and Programming at the Museum of the American Revolution: Explore American gender expression throughout the centuries with this Pride Month series, featuring pop-up talks, discovery carts and Whiskey Rebellion, a new artifact installation that recontextualizes masculinity, heroism and diversity (through June 30, 2024).
• Sip City Mixer: Trans Pride at Tattooed Mom: Come out and live your truth at T-mom’s. This special pop-up mixer celebrates Pride with a fun and inclusive party for trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming folks (Thursday).
• Opening: Blood Baby by Painted Bride: This sensual and moving multi-disciplinary dance project explores gender identity, sexuality and the meaning of family with performances at venues throughout Philly (June 7-23, 2024).
• QUEERAPALOOZA Block Party and Music Festival at Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room: Part block party, part free music festival, QUEERAPALOOZA features non-stop performances from LGBTQ+ bands, DJs and drag performers in front of the country’s longest-running LGBTQ+ bookstore. Also on deck: vendors selling artwork, vintage items and books (Saturday).
• The Real Housewives of GayBINGO Ultimate Girls Trip! & Back to School Drive at Congregation Rodeph Shalom: Channel your richest and pettiest self at this Real Housewives-themed during Philly’s most famous bingo night. Tickets are required, and proceeds go to support the AIDS Fund (Saturday).
• Philly Pride Run at the Navy Yard: Now in its eighth year, the Philly Pride Run lets its colors fly with a 5K race and a 1 Mile Fun Run (non-timed) across the City of Brotherly Love. 5K prizes are awarded for the top three female, male, non-binary and wheelchair competitors, Fun Run prizes are awarded for the most festive competitors, and all proceeds support The William Way LGBT Community Center (Saturday).
• Pride Day at the Philadelphia Zoo: Celebrate Pride with your pride. Pride Day returns to the Philadelphia Zoo with Pride-themed decor throughout the grounds, adorable Pride-themed enrichment activities for the animals, and reps from local LGBTQ+ and allied organizations (Sunday).

Through Sunday, June 30, 2024 (dates vary by event)

Many music legends got their start in Philly: Marian Anderson, Patti Labelle, Jill Scott, Meek Mill, Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff, Beanie Sigel, Tierra Whack, and the list goes on. Philly heavily celebrates the Black music scene, and with so much home-grown star power, it’s no wonder that Black Music Month was started here — in Philly, by Philadelphians. This June marks the 45th anniversary of Black Music Month, honoring Black musicians and culture with events and performances including:

• Ms. Lisa Fischer at World Cafe Live: Grammy Award- and Oscar-winning vocalist Ms. Lisa Fischer — known for collabs with some of the best in the biz, including The Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, Sting, Tina Turner and Nine Inch Nails — brings her powerful, cross-genre tunes to Philly (Thursday).
• Nourished by Time at Johnny Brenda’s: Bridging new wave, R&B and dance, Baltimore-based Nourished by Time takes over Johnny Brenda’s this week with songs exploring existentialism, love and more (Saturday).
• Jazz Cultural Voices Concert Series: George Cables at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts: Modern jazz composer George Cables shares the works that made him a prominent voice in jazz today. Pieces include fresh arrangements and innovative interpretations of classical compositions (Saturday).
• Rhythms of Liberations from Juneteenth to Beyond: Country & Folk at The African American Museum in Philadelphia: Yeehaw! The African American Museum’s weekly music series continues, with this week’s theme highlighting Black country and folk artists. Plus, look forward to a DJ, live entertainment, pay-as-you-go refreshments and more. Black Music Month events at the museum are free and open to the public (Saturday).
• Eric Roberson at City Winery: Soul vocalist and Grammy Award-nominated songwriter-producer Eric Roberson boasts a rich 30-plus year career, with songs written for big names like Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild alongside plenty of his own melodies (Sunday).

Dates vary by event

Soak up these live performances at venues across Greater Philadelphia this week and weekend. Looking for an encore? Check out our updated guide to Philly’s biggest concerts and music fests.

• Opening: Lovesong by Abi Morgan at The Drake: Take a leap of faith. This hauntingly beautiful story of love and hardship spans 40 years of marriage as a couple struggles to reconnect with their younger selves (opens Wednesday).
• Fied at the Wells Fargo Center: Whether you know him from his viral TikToks or from his collabs with artists like Bad Bunny, Fied — a Colombian-born reggaeton artist and seven-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter — showcases his magnetic energy in Philly this week during the FerxxoCalipsis Tour (Thursday).
• Peso Pluma at the Wells Fargo Center: Relative newcomer to música mexicana, Peso Pluma — known for Billboard Top 200 hits like El Belicón, Siempre Pendientes and AMG — gained enormous success mixing elements from traditional Mexican music with heavy-hitting, modern trap production styles (Friday).
• Bonnie Raitt at The Met Philadelphia: She can’t make you love her, but chances are you probably already do. Blues singer and guitarist Bonnie Raitt follows a prolific two years of touring with a stop at The Met this week (Friday).
• Great Stages Concert at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts: Celebrating the Ensemble Arts’ newly dedicated Marian Anderson Hall, this concert brings together legendary performers from around the country for a night of spectacular performances. The star-studded lineup includes Queen Latifah, Grammy Award-winning vocalists Angel Blue and Audra McDonald, and more (Saturday).

Dates vary by event

Treat yourself at one of these food-related happenings in Greater Philadelphia. Hungry for more? Check out our guide to Philly’s best new restaurants.

• MESA BOLO Presents Chef Douglas Rodriguez at Bolo: Bolo’s series of monthly collaboration dinners kicks off this week with a special multi-course menu by Bolo’s own Yun Fuentes and by chef Douglas Rodriquez, widely considered the godfather of Nuevo Latino cuisine. Reservations are required (Tuesday).
• Annual Afternoon Drag Tea at Sofitel Philadelphia: This lavish afternoon tea party welcomes Pride Month with big drag personalities and teeny, tiny cakes. Can’t make it? Catch the event one more time on June 22, 2024. Tickets are required — and that’s the tea (Saturday).
• Brunch & Bachata at Triple Bottom Brewing: ¡Wepa! Bust a move with a side of brunch during this foodie-centric dance event. Following a 45-minute bachata lesson, enjoy small plates, a dance social and live performances. Tickets are required, food and drink are pay as you go (Saturday).

Ongoing

Springtime in Philly means good times with good friends, preferably with a breeze at your back and a cold drink in your hand. Many of Philly’s most popular outdoor venues are now open for the season, including waterfront destinations like Morgan’s Pier and Liberty Point; lush beer gardens like Walnut Garden in Rittenhouse Square, Independence Beer Garden in the Historic District, the Garden Bar at the Rodin Museum, Uptown Beer Garden in Center City, and the PHS Pop Up Gardens on South Street and in Manayunk; and ever-popular rooftop attractions like Sunset Social at Cira Green and Bok Bar in South Philly. Looking for even more outdoor options? Check out our 2024 guide to the city’s best rooftop bars and restaurants. Cheers!

Ongoing

Wanna borrow a banned book? Visit Philadelphia’s Little Free(dom) Library initiative encourages residents and visitors in Philadelphia to explore banned fiction and non-fiction texts at over a dozen locations throughout the city. The initiative features new banned titles added during heritage months and observances throughout the year, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month. This June, dive into brand new additions from LGBTQ+ authors, including Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender, The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson. Spread the love by leaving a book of your own (optional).

Through Sunday, June 30, 2024

The warm weather brings roller-skating to Dilworth Park’s Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink in the heart of Center City on the west side of City Hall. Grab an advanced ticket for hour-long skating sessions on the retro-inspired checkerboard rink (available afternoons and evenings seven days a week). When you’re done, enjoy eats and drinks at the adjacent Air Grille Garden and Dilworth Park Café for roller rink-inspired snacks and cocktails. Work up a sweat? Splash through the park’s dancing ground-embedded fountains. Plus, the rink is on a roll this week with the start of its Rhythm & Roll nighttime skate party, featuring food and drink discounts, crafts, and different DJ themes each week. Who’s up first? Taylor Swift, of course (Thursday).

Through Sunday, July 7, 2024

Film buffs and fans of Latino culture can celebrate a dozen years of cinematic grandeur from established and emerging Latino filmmakers at the annual Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival. The lineup includes feature films, shorts, animations, web series and documentaries, along with workshops and discussions and more. Happening this week:

• PHLAFF Lounge at PhillyCAM: PhillyCAM hosts a series of short film screenings including action LOLA Award-nominated Brotherly Blood, thriller Hermanita and LGBTQ+ flicks Trans_CCS, My Queerceañera and My Fierce Aunt Bianca (Thursday).
• Guachinangos and Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival at the Barnes Foundation: This month’s installment of the Barnes Foundation’s First Friday series features Guachinangos — known for their signature fusion of Colombian cumbia, Mexican son jarocho and other Latin American sounds — alongside a curated short film program screening Wishful Thinking and LOLA Award-nominee Peccadillo (Friday).

Through Sunday, August 4, 2024

IMPRINT: Dox Thrash Black Life, and American Culture at The African American Museum in Philadelphia takes a journey through the life, legacy and groundbreaking artworks of renowned printmaker Dox Thrash. The exhibition draws from every major arc of Thrash’s life — from his experiences as a soldier, to his time as a performer on the Black vaudeville circuit, to his years as an art student in Chicago — and showcases rare works that offer new perspectives on his personal story. General admission tickets to The African American Museum are required.

Through Monday, September 2, 2024

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University presents a new immersive exhibit spotlighting the world of rainforests and the flora and fauna that inhabit the most diverse ecosystem on the planet. The Under the Canopy exhibition, for students of all ages and presented in both English and Spanish, features plants and rainforest ecology including an encounter a live sloth, boa constrictor and other animals that call these habitats home, plus life-size climbable animal sculptures (including a gorilla, tortoise, crocodile, red-eye tree frog and Banyan tree), interactive discovery stations, dynamic displays and engaging programming. Plus, this weekend guests can come by for calm, sensory-friendly morning with smaller crowds, tranquil sounds, quiet space, noise-canceling headphones and more (Sunday).

Through Monday, September 2, 2024

Everything’s clicking into place. Returning to The Franklin Institute for the first time since 2015, The Art of the Brick displays more than 100 works all made completely of LEGO — from recreations of masterworks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to original works of LEGO sculpture, including a 20-foot-long T. rex dinosaur skeleton and many pieces that are just plain fun. Every sculpture in the hugely impressive display is the handiwork of contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya, the first artist ever to create an exhibition solely of LEGO art.

Through Sunday, September 8, 2024

The Mary Cassatt at Work exhibition celebrates the Philadelphia-raised impressionist artist who explored gender, labor and feminine agency via more than 130 prints, paintings and pastels. Also included: new findings about the advanced processes and materials the painter — who began studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at age 15 — used in the early 20th century. This is the first major showing of Cassatt’s life’s work in over 25 years.

Through Sunday, September 29, 2024 (Wednesdays though Sundays)

Philly’s beloved roving beer garden Parks On Tap is back for 2024 with brews and bites at urban parks and green spaces across Philadelphia, with a new neighborhood featured each week. Expect drafts from Mainstay Independent Brewing, Conshohocken Brewing, 2SP Brewing and more, as well as cocktails, burgers, cheesesteaks and snacks. This week’s stop: Pastorius Park in Chestnut Hill, from June 5 through June 9, 2024.

Through Sunday, September 29, 2024

Enthusiasts of riverside chilling, rejoice: Spruce Street Harbor Park reopens this season with the same floating hammocks, technicolor lights, tasty grub and live music you know and love — but this year introduces some fancy new additions. Brand-new for 2024:

• The Lazy Hammock covered bar and performance stage, featuring a 20-foot stage and 16-foot video wall ripe for movie nights and watch parties
• The Blue Anchor, showcasing local beer, handcrafted cocktails and new food offerings (TBA), and
• The Trading Post, a bodega on the water with locally made ice cream pints, snacks, and merch from Philly artists and vendors

Through Sunday, October 27, 2024 (Saturdays & Sundays)

Attention foodies: The nationally renowned seasonal Southeast Asian Market pops up on the weekends at FDR Park. At this massive culinary treasure, visitors can discover over 70 vendors offering traditional dishes, street food and produce native to Asia, plus plants, jewelry and clothing. For the best experience, pack a picnic blanket and don’t forget to bring cash — some vendors are cash-only and there’s no ATM on site. Pro tip: You can find the market near the Broad Street exit of FDR Park from the beginning of May through June. Bonus: This week, FDR Park hosts its very first Pride Month celebration — with music, cold drinks, games and more — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the American Swedish Historical Museum (Saturday).

Through Sunday, January 5, 2025

In the fascinating new Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent exhibition, visitors discover rare documents, inspired works of art and historical objects that paint a fuller picture of the shelter used as George Washington’s headquarters throughout the War for Independence. The tent — the Museum of the American Revolution’s signature artifact — served as the battlefield home, strategic meeting place and office quarters for General Washington, and the exhibition tells the stories of the many individuals who worked to preserve and pass down this vital symbol of the American republic. Looking for a more sensory-friendly day? This Sunday features a relaxed experience morning at the museum, with quiet rooms, sensory kits, free admission (for pre-registered guests) and accessibility-trained staff on hand (Sunday).

It’s true: Philly is an award-winning, headline-grabbing kinda town. Need help keeping up with all the buzz? Get the scoop with this weekly roundup of our favorite Philly stories. Hot off the presses:

• Aw, Shucks: Esquire says this Philly oyster bar is among the best in the nation.
• National Treasure: Does your perfect day in Philly look anything like National Geographic’s perfect day in Philly?
• Loud & Proud: Here’s where you might have spotted Philly’s record-breaking Pride flag around the city last weekend.
• So Fresh: Nike drops a new Philly-inspired sneaker. And a certain mascot scored a super-sized pair of his own.
• Adventure Awaits: The best aquarium on the East Coast is just across the bridge, says USA Today.

Take a deep dive into some of Philly’s biggest summer fests with the latest event guides from visitphilly.com:

• ODUNDE — the nation’s largest Black and African cultural fest — wraps off with a fun (and massive!) festival around Philly’s Graduate Hospital neighborhood this Sunday. Here’s everything you need to know.
• Philly anchors its Juneteenth festivities with the massive Juneteenth Parade and Festival in West Philly on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Read on for everything you can expect this year.
• Wawa Welcome America — Philly’s annual 16-day Fourth of July festival — returns this year with Free Museum Days, netting guests free or pay-what-you-wish admission to some of the city’s best museums and attractions. Updated for 2024, our guide tells you where to go — and when.