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September brings both last-minute summer fun and a healthy dose of early-fall festivities to Philly. So why choose?
Savor the final days of summer at the last regular season games for our beloved Phillies and Union and awesome warm-weather attractions like Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Then kick off harvest and spooky seasons at fall staples like Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards, the Scarecrow Festival at Peddler’s Village and FallFest at Shady Brook Farm.
Outdoor festival season shows no signs of stopping with a jam-packed lineup of open-air cultural events. The start of Hispanic Heritage Month alone brings the Mexican Independence Day Festival to Penn’s Landing and the Puerto Rican Day Parade to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Call us glass-half-full-type people, but September’s all good in our book.
Read on for our guide to the best events, festivals and exhibitions in Greater Philadelphia in September 2025.
Through Sunday, September 28, 2025
It’s your last chance to hit up one of Philly’s most popular warm-weather attractions. Spruce Street Harbor Park on the Delaware River features a boardwalk with concessions and plenty of spaces to chill — in waterside Adirondack chairs, in flat-bottomed net lounges above the river or in cozy hammocks in the meadow.
Returning amenities for 2025 include The Lazy Hammock covered bar and performance stage (with video wall), The Blue Anchor Barge local beer and cocktail bar, and The Trading Post waterside snack and ice cream bodega.
Where: Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Each spring, summer and fall, Longwood Gardens’ glorious fountains jet to life across its Kennett Square campus during the attraction’s annual Festival of Fountains.
Daytime performances include the daily Main Fountain Garden show with its 1,719 jets soaring as high as 175 feet — also viewable from the Conservatory Overlook, part of the new Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience — and the 110-year-old Open Air Theatre’s 750 jets in changing patterns spinning and dancing to music. Nighttime brings the dazzling displays of the spectacular Illuminated Fountain Performances.
Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Through Saturday, September 28, 2025 (select dates)
As the regular season winds down, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler and your 2025 MLB All-Star MVP Kyle Schwarber lead the Fightin’ Phils in the mad dash to Red October.
Citizens Bank Park sees a ton of action this September, starting with a home series against the New York Mets (September 8 to 11, 2025), followed by a three-game stretch against the Kansas City Royals (September 12 to 14, 2025). The team closes things out with back-to-back home series against the Miami Marlins (September 23 to 25, 2025) and Minnesota Twins (September 26 to 28, 2025).
Where: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA
Through Saturday, October 18, 2025 (select dates)
Dooooop! The Philadelphia Union’s MLS playoff push continues this September with Kai Wagner, Andre Blake and Alejandro Bedoya leading the way.
Meet the Boys in Blue at Subaru Park in Chester for an exciting match-up against the New England Revolution on September 20, 2025 — which just so happens to be a certain phang-ed blue snake’s birthday!
Where: Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, 1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, NJ
50 E. Eagle Road, Havertown, PA
Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA
The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA
Fort Mifflin, 6400 Hog Island Road, Philadelphia, PA
Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
August 30 – September 1 & September 6-7, 2025
The 59th Annual Polish American Family Festival transforms the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa’s grounds into one of the country’s oldest Polish cultural fests.
The massive event features traditional music and dancing (including a performance from the Mummers’ Polish American String Band); kids entertainment and carnival rides; shopping; tributes to Polish heritage with demonstrations by historical reenactors and daily shows of Polish traditions; and plenty of pay-as-you-go Polish and American-style festival fare.
Traditional Polish delicacies, like kielbasa and gołąbki (cabbage rolls), and classic American festival eats, like funnel cake and hot dogs, are up for grabs, alongside vodka tastings and beer. Admission costs $15.
Where: The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA
If you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, check out the late-summer version of the semiannual Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, celebrating one of the city’s most popular business boulevards.
The fest offers special $1, $3 and $5 deals from participating vendors and neighborhood businesses, set up at multiple locations — plus a block party with live music and crafts. Also on offer: pay-as-you-go food and drinks (including beer and cocktails).
Where: Baltimore Avenue from 40th Street to 51st Street, Philadelphia, PA
All eyes are on Philly as your 2025 Super Bowl CHAMPION Philadelphia Eagles are back, better and more blinged out than ever before.
Head to rollicking Lincoln Financial Field and cheer your head off as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith defend their title this season, beginning with this match-up against their oldest rivals — the Dallas Cowboys.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way, Philadelphia, PA
This annual month-long celebration showcases hundreds of alternative, cutting-edge and avant-garde performances throughout the city — ranging from theater and dance to film screenings and immersive gallery installations.
The festival’s 300-plus events, experiences and workshops are spread out across the region at venues large and small. This year’s lineup includes Family Vacation, a hilarious comedy show at The Trestle Inn; Beautiful Human Lies: Chapter 4, a breathtaking dance piece at the FringeArts building; and La Otra, a magical bilingual comedy at the Arden. Check out the official website for the full calendar of events.
Where: Various locations including The Proscenium at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street, Philadelphia, PA
Did you know that the “Mushroom Capital of the World” is located just outside of Philadelphia?
Every September for the past four decades, the charming town of Kennett Square has celebrated its unusual claim to fame by hosting a two-day Mushroom Festival, full of fungi-themed food and local restaurant vendors, live entertainment, special exhibits, shopping, and family-friendly activities.
Where: State Street, Kennett Square, PA
Spotlighting the bustling arts scene in Bucks County, the Doylestown Arts Festival is a two-day juried art, music and food showcase along the streets of Doylestown.
Celebrating its 34th year in 2025, the festival features over 160 vendors, including artists specializing in glass, pottery, wood and printmaking; live art demonstrations; five stages of live music; and a food court.
Where: Centered around State Street & Main Street, Doylestown, PA
Now in its 41st year, La Feria del Barrio is one of the biggest Latino arts and culture festivals in the Greater Philadelphia area.
The annual fiesta takes place in the heart of North Philly, El Centro de Oro (“the Golden Block”), home to a vibrant Latino community. The free festival celebrates Latino culture and heritage through delicious cuisine, live music and dance performances, arts and craft vendors, community resources, and family-friendly activities.
Where: North 5th Street between Lehigh Avenue and Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, PA
Celebrating its 11th anniversary, the annual Brazilian Day Philadelphia festival honoring Brazil’s arts, culture and beauty returns to Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Taking place on Brazilian Independence Day, the free event (organized by Project Capoeira) is a high-energy experience designed to engage, educate and inspire attendees. Traditionally, the day’s schedule includes live capoeira, samba and batucada performances, plus pay-as-you-go food.
At ease, soldier — it’s chow time! Come support local vets from across America’s armed forces as VetFest returns to Malvern in Chester County.
The family-friendly food-truck-and-craft-brewery festival features a variety of veteran-owned businesses and nonprofits offering delicious food, local beer, craft distilled spirits, apparel, veteran services and more, along with live music. Plus, you don’t have to be a vet or a military family to attend; as the festival is open to all (including leashed pets).
Where: 400 Chesterfield Parkway, Malvern, PA
Dedicated to cultivating an appreciation of diversity in the wine and spirits industry, the Philly Black Wine Festival offers attendees an immersive experience integrating wine culture, music and food for Philly area oenophiles and wine connoisseurs.
Held at a secret location (this year, a legendary Philly landmark revealed when you purchase your ticket), the festival features sample tastings of Black-owned wine brands, spirits, cocktails and curated food vendor selections. Along with great food and drink, the festival also offers live entertainment, DJ sets, installations, and lots of community and culture.
Where: Location TBA, Philadelphia, PA
¡Viva México! Taking place at the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, this free Mexican Independence Day Festival is a fun-filled annual event featuring traditional Mexican artisan crafts, authentic music and dance, kids’ activities, food trucks and more.
Traditionally, the highlight of the day is the Grito de Independencia ceremony from the Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia, commemorating the beginning of the Mexican Independence movement.
Where: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Over 20 locations in Montgomery County — like Elmwood Park Zoo, Human Robot Brewery and more — celebrate the living legacy of jazz, hosting performers all weekend during the fourth annual Montco Jazz Fest.
With more than 30 different events taking place throughout the week, music lovers can expect artist collaborations, tribute concerts, and showcases of styles from big band to jazz funk.
Where: Various locations including Human Robot Jenkintown, 208 York Road, Jenkintown, PA
The fall edition of this twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country — brings paintings, glassware, sketches and more to Rittenhouse Square for an outdoor gallery featuring work by over 100 talented artists and crafters.
Stay tuned to the event’s official website for upcoming details about featured artists.
Where: Rittenhouse Square, 1800 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, brings together musical legends and rising stars — including many local names — along the Camden waterfront for this can’t-miss annual fest at Wiggins Waterfront Park.
Over the last 30 years, the XPoNential Music Festival’s eclectic lineup has included everyone from Bob Dylan and Sarah McLachlan to Kurt Vile and The War on Drugs. This year’s performance slate features over 20 acts, including WAR, SNACKTIME, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, and Black Buttafly.
Where: Wiggins Waterfront Park, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
Each fall, Eastern State Penitentiary opens its cell blocks after dark for Halloween Nights, which transforms the abandoned prison into one of America’s largest haunted houses.
During the annual fall festival, the legendary facility (which once housed infamous criminals from Willie Sutton to Al Capone) plays host to about a dozen different attractions, ranging from pure terror behind its walls to spooky storytimes around a campfire.
Along with prison tours and multiple haunted houses, this year features a bone-chilling lineup of brand-new attractions, including Dark Tides — an abandoned fishing village-style haunted house — and the high-octane Apocalypse Pass. Also debuting: new characters, expanded food offerings, enhanced sets and a redesigned layout. Tickets are required.
Where: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Carrying the theme “The World in One Place,” the eighth annual Upper Darby International Festival celebrates the diverse Delco community, the sixth largest in Pennsylvania. The township’s signature event, the festival celebrates the dozens of native heritages of its residents and its multitudes of first languages, held around Five Points and along Garrett Road.
The event features international food vendors, community resources, cultural performances (including dancing, martial arts, and music) and the traditional Parade of Flags with colors representing the scores of home countries of Upper Darby’s residents.
Where: 100 block of Garrett Road, Philadelphia, PA
The two-day We Are The Seeds Philly Festival celebrates Indigenous arts and culture through music, dance, art and storytelling, plus Indigenous eats, apparel and craft vendors. This year’s schedule includes a Pow Wow featuring dancers and singers from over 40 tribal nations, live interactive art-making, panel discussions and film screenings.
Held at Cherry Street Pier, the event is curated by Native-led resident artists We Are the Seeds of CultureTrust.
Where: Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Opens Sunday, September 21, 2025
A new cultural destination is coming to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the opening of Calder Gardens, a gallery and garden dedicated to native Philadelphian Alexander Calder, one of the 20th century’s most influential artists (and the inventor of the mobile).
The site will feature an 18,000-square-foot reflective metal building housing a rotating selection of the artist’s masterworks — including mobiles, stabiles, sculptures and paintings — illuminated by natural light, and a tree-filled meadow-like landscape surrounding it. Deep Philly roots abound, as Calder’s grandfather crafted City Hall’s William Penn statue, and his father designed Swann Memorial Fountain.
Where: Calder Gardens, 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
The Loews Philadelphia Hotel — located inside Philly’s first skyscraper — is the home of this annual September shindig.
Curated by the team at the luxury hotel’s modern American restaurant, Bank & Bourbon, the highly anticipated annual culinary experience features a Cape May salt and tuna poke raw bar, carving stations with dry-aged meats, barrel-aged beer, specialty cocktails and, of course, whiskey pairings from Beam Suntory.
Where: Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
A quick-witted and ultimately heartbreaking story about family, love and loss, Falsettos finds a family in turmoil.
Marvin leaves his wife and son for his lover, setting off a chaotic chain of events. The musical follows the father as he pieces his life back together, against the odds. Set in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, the admittedly unconventional family faces the worst of the worst, together.
Where: Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Fearless artist and designer Moki Cherry lived her life across continents, working and living in both the United States and her native Sweden. Alongside her longtime partner, the legendary composer Don Cherry, the artist was known to “turn ordinary spaces into bold joyful happenings,” bringing together a creative mishmash of music, theater, performance and visual art.
Featuring tapestries, paintings, concert posters, costumes, music and more, this retrospective exhibition at The Fabric Workshop and Museum celebrates her bold, beautiful life and boundary-breaking work.
Where: The Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Spanning two states and two beautiful waterfronts, the Delaware River Festival is a day full of free fun celebrating the vital waterway separating Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Co-located at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia and Wiggins Park in Camden, the day features numerous free, family-friendly activities, including entry to Independence Seaport Museum, RiverLink Ferry rides, live bird shows, views of the Philadelphia Cup Regatta and more.
Where: Penn's Landing, 301 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
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Wiggins Waterfront Park, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
¡Wepa! Thousands of spectators line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for this annual parade and celebration of Latino culture.
More than 1,500 marchers make their way down the Parkway each year, featuring traditional Latino music, poetry, dance performances, floats and more.
Where: Eakin's Oval, 2451 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Contemporary artist Jerell Gibbs pays tribute to Black culture and community through his paintbrush. Intimately taking viewers inside the beautiful, everyday moments that shape the lives of his subjects, his paintings celebrate Black families, Black friendship and Black joy.
This new exhibition — the artist’s first one-person museum show — features 34 large-scale works drawn from both museum and private collections across the country, displayed alongside real-life family photographs that Gibbs looked to for inspiration.
Where: Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffmans Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA
Henry VIII’s former wives — all six of ’em — step out of his shadow and onto the stage in this Tony Award-winning Broadway production that channels 500 years of heartbreak into 21st-century empowerment.
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Break out the dirndl and lederhosen, folks, Philly gets in on the Oktoberfest-ivities (which traditionally begin the first Saturday after mid-summer) with events throughout the region.
Where: Sly Fox Brewing Company, 331 Circle of Progress Drive, Pottstown, PA
VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (2)
West Chester, West Chester, PA
Brauhaus Schmitz, 718 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
Pumpkin spice and everything nice, that’s what fall is made of. Sites, farms and orchards across the region turn the autumnal vibes up to the max with a great slate of seasonal fests.
Where: Wyck Historic House & Garden, 6026 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
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Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, PA
Peddler's Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA
Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA
Dates vary by attraction
Halloween is a scream in Philadelphia. Each fall, Philly takes spooky season to the next level as creepy haunted houses pop up throughout the region, scaring up new and over-the-top Hollywood production-level experiences set inside some of the creepiest places you can imagine. Here are just a few (in addition to Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary, see above)who have announced opening dates in September.
Where: The Bates Motel, 1835 Middletown Road, Philadelphia, PA
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Pennhurst Asylum, 601 N. Church Street, Spring City, PA
Lincoln Mill Haunted House, 4100 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Valley Of Fear, 301 W. Bristol Road, Trevose, PA
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Acres, 881 Highland Road, Newtown, PA
Just because the name says “Oktoberfest” doesn’t mean you have to wait for the new month to start the party.
At sites around Philadelphia from bierhalles and open fields to harvesting farms and historic landmarks, September marks the kickoff of fall beer festival season and Oktoberfest celebrations (which traditionally begin the first Saturday after mid-September).
Get your beer festival fix at volksfests typically held in September like the Delaware River Festival, Sly Fox Can Jam Tournament and Oktoberfest West Chester.
The close of summer means the beginning of autumn harvest at family farms and sprawling orchards across the Philadelphia countryside.
Not only does that mean fresh fall produce stands, but it also signals the start of fall farm and harvest festival season at over two dozen open-to-the-public farms throughout the region.
From deep in Chester County to the tip of upper Bucks County, find a harvest celebration for you and your family with pick-your-own vegetables, wagon-pulled hayrides, pumpkin carving, farm games, corn mazes, bonfires, baked goods, fresh food and lots of fun.
Get classy, Philly: September marks the beginning of cultural season in Philadelphia as performing arts venues kick off their fall theatrical calendars.
Some of the city’s most treasured cultural organizations shift into gear in September, including season opening weeks for The Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia, as well as new season previews for the Philadelphia Ballet.
But that’s just the start as live theater seasons traditionally hit stages throughout the region in September, including at Arden Theatre, Penn Live Arts, Bristol Riverside Theater and more, plus the annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Let the music wash over you on a September evening as the season’s last remaining shows hit the outdoor stages at Philly’s favorite amphitheaters.
West Fairmount Park’s The Mann Center for the Performing Arts holds 14,000 on the lawn and in its covered bowl, with stunning skyline views from one of the city’s highest points.
Across the Delaware River, Camden’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion holds 26,000 between reserved seats and the general admission lawn, with equally gorgeous vistas of Center City.
National Hispanic Heritage Month starts in mid-September, and where better to celebrate than Philly?
Nearly one in eight Philadelphians are of Latino or Hispanic heritage, including large populations originating from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia and Central America.
With September comes two big fiestas: the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with 1,500 participants and thousands of spectators, and the Mexican Independence Day Festival at Penn’s Landing with crafts, music, food trucks and more. And don’t forget Philly’s scores of amazing Latino-owned shops and restaurants.
September marks ends and beginnings in the Philly sports scene.
First, it’s the last chance to catch Philadelphia Phillies regular season baseball at Citizens Bank Park on the eve of Red October. But across the street, passionate renditions of Fly Eagles Fly reemerge at Lincoln Financial Field as the Philadelphia Eagles literally kick off the new season.
And the Philadelphia Union push toward the end of the MLS season at soccer-specific Subaru Park in Chester.
Whether you favor an urban park or secluded green space, a hidden trail or riverside path, there are countless ways to get out and enjoy the waning days of summer and the kick off of fall in Philly.
Hikers and bikers can find amazing trails through the woods at Wissahickon Valley Park. Joggers and strollers can witness fantastic views from Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. Aquaphiles can tool around in a personal watercraft at Penn’s Landing. And residents and visitors alike can relax with an amble through Longwood Gardens.
For some fantastic ideas, check out our new Ultimate Guide to Philly’s Outdoor Experiences.
As soon as Labor Day weekend has passed, Spooky Season begins in Philly with scary sites and freaky fun across the city leading up to Halloween.
Even before the calendar flips to October, fright fests and creepy celebrations get underway across the city. With over a dozen public haunted houses and terrifying tours to choose from each year, Philly has a ghoulish good time ready to go at a number of both indoor and outdoor eerie attractions that kick off their fall schedules during the last week of September.
As summer comes to a close, the weather and temperatures in Philadelphia reflect the change in seasons.
Daytime high temperatures average 78 degrees Fahrenheit with overnight lows at 60 degrees. September remains sunny even as days get shorter, averaging over seven hours of sunshine per day, and is the driest month of the year in Philly with only just over eight days experiencing at least some rain.
The modern-day record high temperature for September is a balmy 100 degrees, achieved during the heat wave of 1953.
Weekend street festival season in Philly transitions from summer’s food and music fests to early fall’s beer festivals, Oktoberfests, harvest festivals and arts fairs.
Looking for farm fun? Hit up the Peddler’s Village Scarecrow Festival, Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards or Shady Brook Farm FallFest.
Celebrate the arts at Doylestown Arts Festival or the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show.
Find your fun-gi at Kennett Square Mushroom Festival to round out your month.
September may just be the best month for sports in Philly.
The month marks the end of the Philadelphia Phillies regular season at Citizens Bank Park ahead of Red October playoff mania.
Meanwhile across the street at Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Eagles kick off the new NFL season under cheers of “Go Birds.” College football takes the stage in September as well, as Philadelphia’s three Division I teams —Temple, Penn and Villanova— roll into their new seasons.
And down in Chester, the Philadelphia Union push toward the finale of the MLS season.
Don’t wait until September ends to wake me up. Then you’ll miss the last outdoor amphitheater concerts of the season as Fairmount Park’s Mann Center and Camden’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion wrap up their summer sessions with fall’s best headliners.
And just because fall is encroaching doesn’t mean festival season is over, as September brings the XPoNential Music Festival in Camden and Montgomery County’s Montco Jazz Fest. On top of that, The Philadelphia Orchestra begins its season with performances on Opening Weekend.
September is a great month to celebrate multicultural events in the city.
Discover cultural events like the Philly Black Wine Festival, Upper Darby International Festival and the Puerto Rican Day Parade.
And enjoy free weekend festivals honoring diverse communities as part of the PECO Multicultural Series, including Brazilian Day Philadelphia and the Mexican Independence Day Festival.
Philly is a great destination any month, but September is one of the best, as visitors take advantage of cooler temps while still enjoying a bevy of outdoor events.
Fall harvest and beer festivals begin to pop up this month, as well as early-season haunted houses and spooky hayrides. School is back in session, so be sure to take the kiddos to visit some of Philadelphia’s myriad of outdoor landmarks and historical sites.
And the last long weekend of summer wraps up the season, so celebrate Labor Day weekend around the city.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?