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There is never a shortage of things to do, places to go and sights to see in Philly.
The City of Brotherly Love is a year-round destination for good food, good times and all-around revelry, including fun festivals, major concerts and brand-new exhibitions.
Below, find our curated guide to the biggest events, festivals and exhibitions in Philadelphia and the surrounding four counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery).
Can’t find your favorite event? Don’t worry. New events are added to this list regularly once they are officially announced.
One important note: Event dates and details can change at any time. Always check ahead with event organizers and/or on official event sites to confirm event dates and times.
Here’s a look at the biggest upcoming events, festivals and exhibitions in Greater Philadelphia.
Through Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Debuting during Pride Month, In Plain Sight is a bold new installation honoring transgender, queer, intersex and asexual members of the community.
Created in collaboration with local artists and creatives, the sculpture incorporates colors from the different LGBTQ+ pride flags, each representing a segment of the community. The piece sends a loud, clear (and proud) message that all LGBTQ+ visitors are wanted and welcomed warmly in the birthplace of liberty.
In Plain Sight is on display at Cherry Street Pier through July 15, 2025, after which Visit Philadelphia will move the sculpture to a long-term or permanent home.
Where: Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, July 27, 2025
Lewis Tanner Moore — great-nephew of Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first African American painter to gain international acclaim — dedicated much of his life advocating for Black artists and challenging institutions, like the Michener Art Museum, not to overlook their work and talent.
The Bucks County museum pays tribute to the collector and curator with an exhibition featuring 35 of the 65 paintings, photographs, sculptures and works on paper that Moore helped it to acquire. The collection includes works by the devoted advocate’s forefather, as well as local artists Moe Brooker, Barbara Bullock and James Brantley.
Where: Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA
Through Sunday, August 10, 2025
Hundreds of flags and banners stitched by colonial Philadelphia flagmakers like Betsy Ross and Rebecca Flower Young were carried by Revolutionary soldiers and militiamen, but only 30 are known to have survived.
The Museum of the American Revolution celebrates the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War and the birth of the U.S. Armed Forces with the milestone exhibit Banners of Liberty: Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags, which showcases over a dozen of these original flags, the largest collection of Revolutionary-era banners seen together in over 200 years.
Where: Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Wednesday, August 27, 2025 (Wednesdays only)
The pay-as-you-go Center City District SIPS series is back for its 21st season with lots of happy hour revelry. The weekly Wednesday night program offers substantial discounts at nearly 100 (and counting) bars, restaurants and beer gardens throughout Center City.
The CCD SIPS promotion is simple: enjoy $5 beer, $6 wine, $7 cocktails and half-priced appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m. at favorites like Franky Bradley’s, Taste Cheesesteak Bar, Harp & Crown, Independence Beer Garden, Square 1682, Bud & Marilyn’s, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Continental Midtown. After happy hour, enjoy 15% off dinner at select locations.
Where: Participating locations including Air Grille at Dilworth Park, 1 N. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, August 31, 2025
Light up the night at historic Franklin Square for the return of the must-see Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Old City. Celebrate the Year of the Snake among dozens of massive, intricate and handcrafted lanterns and installations constructed by Chinese artisans. (Bonus: Many of this year’s displays are whimsically interactive with group games, creative activities and fun moving elements.)
Along with the fantastical light display, enjoy live cultural performances, folk art, dumpling-making, fountain shows, festival-themed crafts and lots of international food and drink, including brews at the popular Dragon Beer Garden. Advanced tickets (timed Fridays through Sundays) are required to attend the event, which starts after the park closes.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
All eyes turn from France to the French-inspired Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the new From Paris to Provence exhibition, highlighting the Barnes Foundation’s own collection. This self-study of over 50 works examines how France itself informed the native impressionist and post-impressionist painters who have a significant presence within the existing gallery.
See how late 19th- and early 20th-century masters like Monet, Renoir, Manet, van Gogh and Cézanne were influenced by La République, from the streets of Paris to the coasts of Normandy to the South of France, through art, culture and personality.
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, September 1, 2025
The latest iteration of the famous three-decade-old traveling exhibition, Body Worlds: Vital has arrived at The Franklin Institute.
Featuring 20 whole-body displays and over 150 specimens, the exhibit is an exposition of ethically donated human bodies, animals and other anatomical figures that allows visitors to view complex anatomy structures and functions in an unprecedented way through the innovative preservation process of plastination.
The interactive and immersive exhibition weaves together organic artifacts and video projections; explores the physical and mental health concerns of contemporary times; and celebrates humanity in its optimal state: healthy, vibrant, vigorous and in motion.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA
When warm weather hits, the focus along the Delaware River waterfront is Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest. The open-air festival’s centerpiece is the NHL-sized rollerskating rink surrounded by a double-decker carousel, a 60-foot Ferris wheel, mini-golf, a moon bounce, and a midway with boardwalk games and rides.
Or just chill and indulge in plenty of food and drink alongside soaring views of the river and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Admission is free; everything else is pay-as-you-go.
Where: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, September 1, 2025 (Tuesdays through Saturdays)
Award-winning storytellers return this weekend to offer secrets about the history of Philadelphia and our nation through free three- to five-minute stories told at special benches near several historic sites in Old City.
Uniformed storytellers are on hand from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Where: Various locations including Independence Hall, 520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, September 28, 2025
The popular summertime pop-up festival at 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 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
All late spring and summer, 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)
Play ball! Philadelphia Phillies superstars like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler take the field for another season of bedlam at the bank in South Philly. See the online schedule for dates and times.
Where: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, October 12, 2025 (Wednesdays through Sundays)
Philly’s beloved roving beer garden Parks on Tap brings brews and bites to urban parks and green spaces across Philadelphia, with a new neighborhood to visit each week. Summer stops include: the Schuylkill Banks, Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center and Penn Treaty Park.
Expect drafts from Mainstay Independent Brewing, Conshohocken Brewing, 2SP Brewing and more, as well as cocktails, burgers, cheesesteaks and snacks.
Where: Various locations including Penn Treaty Park, 1301 N. Beach Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Saturday, October 18, 2025 (select dates)
Doop! The Philadelphia Union kick into the warmer weather months as Dániel Gazdag, Kai Wagner, Andre Blake and the rest of the gang continue their run toward the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Head down to the stunning soccer-specific Subaru Park in Delco under the Commodore Barry Bridge to catch all of the action.
Where: Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA
Through Friday, October 25, 2025 (dates vary by event)
The annual PECO Multicultural Series — showcasing diverse culture, dance, crafts and cuisine from across Philadelphia’s neighborhoods — returns for another packed season of free celebrations. This year’s events:
VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (1)
Through Saturday, October 26, 2025 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Don’t miss Philly’s beloved culinary treasure in the heart of South Philly’s FDR Park. A nationally renowned seasonal market, the Southeast Asian Market pops up every weekend (save for during Eagles home games and occasional special events), showcasing some of the best Lao, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisine in the city.
The market has over 70 vendors offering traditional dishes, authentic street food and culturally specific produce, 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.
A great meal is a walk in the park at the Southeast Asian Market. It’s accessible by subway or car, so pack some cash and a blanket, then prepare for a multi-course picnic. The grills fill the air. The fresh juice and fruit offer refreshing flavors for a summer’s day. Start off with a Vietnamese coffee or sugar cane juice before walking around to look at the endless options. After a walkthrough, go back to what stands out to you. Mix sweet and savory the whole way through. My choices (to start): stuffed chicken wings and papaya salad.
Where: Southeast Asian Market, 1500 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Summa, summa, summatimeeee. With an evergrowing list of artists and tours coming through Philadelphia, the city’s concert scene couldn’t get any hotter this summer.
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (8)
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, 1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, NJ
Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Dell Music Center, 2400 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Field Way, Philadelphia, PA
Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA
50 E. Eagle Road, Havertown, PA
Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA
For more than 25 years, Phoenixville — where parts of the campy 1950s horror/sci-fi flick The Blob were filmed — has hosted a wacky three-day festival of film screenings, live stage shows, themed contests and even a recreation of the pivotal movie scene in which local scream queens (and kings) flee The Colonial Theatre.
Put on your dancing shoes and do the Jitterbug at the 1950s-themed Blob Ball (Friday, July 11, 2025), enjoy scary-good music and 70-plus vendors at the free Blobfest Street Fair (Saturday, July 12, 2025), or blob for your life at the Blob Run 5K/10K/half marathon (Sunday, July 13, 2025). Check the official website for ticket requirements.
Where: The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA
World famous alt-circus Cirque du Soleil returns to Xfinity Mobile Arena with its cherished production OVO, including all the acrobatic performances, high-energy acts, colorful visuals and elaborate costumes you’d expect from the French-Canadian troupe.
The romantic, family-friendly story immerses audiences in the bustling world of insects on the arrival of a quirky bug known as The Foreigner and his mysterious egg (“ovo” in Portuguese), which becomes a symbol of life and transformation within the insect community. The vibrant production includes foot-juggling ants, hand-balancing dragonflies, and contorting spiders on slackwires.
A striking adaptation of the Yann Martel’s book of the same name, Life of Pi enthralled audiences on Broadway and the West End with its larger-than-life puppetry and enchanting tale of survival and faith.
Shipwrecked 16-year-old Pi Patel floats through the Pacific Ocean all alone, save for his unlikely travel companions: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning play transforms the Academy of Music stage, bringing to life Pi’s fantastical account of his 227 days at sea.
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Just off the main drag in West Powelton, the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival at Saunders Park Greene draws thousands of revelers each year to celebrate jazz music in all its flavors.
The free festival typically features performances by some of Philly’s funkiest jazz musicians, community vendors selling locally made goods, and pay-as-you-go cool treats and summer eats at the food trucks. For updates and this year’s lineup, keep an eye on the festival’s Instagram.
Where: Saunders Park Greene, South 39th Street and Powelton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Party animals, take a sip on the wild side at the Philadelphia Zoo’s Summer Ale Festival.
This adults-only shindig in the center of America’s first zoo features live music and entertainment, food trucks, animal exhibits, and over 100 award-winning craft beers, hard ice teas, seltzers and ciders. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and include a souvenir tasting cup.
Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
A West Philly tradition celebrating 20 years, the Bard takes center (outdoor) stage as Shakespeare in Clark Park Presents Midsummer, a “psychedelic new musical” adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The vibrant show is set in a whimsical forest as four young lovers’ romantic entanglements become increasingly convoluted with meddling from magical beings like fairy king Oberon and mischievous Puck, infused with musical styles from psychedelia and folk and punk to disco. The free professional productions begin at 7 p.m. each night inside “the Bowl.” Don’t forget snacks, blankets and lawn chairs.
Where: Clark Park, 4300-4398 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
July 26 & 27, 2025
This ain’t your grandfather’s baseball team.
The TikTok-famous baseballers take the field in South Philly for nine innings of trick pitches, choreographed dances and epic entrances against their opponents, the Texas Tailgaters.
Last year’s game featured some only-in-Philly surprises, like a special guest appearance from former Phillie Ryan Howard.
It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s cult classic film, Beetlejuice follows the darkly humorous story of a ghost couple trying to haunt the strange inhabitants of their former home — of course, not without the help of a certain stripes-loving demon.
Equal parts funny, heartwarming and indecent, “the ghost with the most” puts on a performance that’ll knock you dead. (Just don’t say his name three times.)
Showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world, the BlackStar Film Festival brings features, shorts, documentaries, panel discussions and parties to venues around the city.
Stay tuned to the official website for more details about the 2025 festival’s programming, including the full slate of genre-defying films.
Where: Various locations including Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
This August, Peddler’s Village will have you feeling peachy with its annual kickoff to National Peach Month.
This free-to-attend, pay-as-you-go peachy paradise offers peach treats, live entertainment and scenic summer strolls through the gardens. Plus, while you’re savoring stone fruit, don’t miss the chance to check out the brand-new village-wide Safari in Sand sand sculpture installation.
Where: Peddler's Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA
The first Sunday in August is Northern Liberties’ time to shine.
Since 2008, the annual 2nd Street Festival has brought thousands of revelers to the neighborhood to enjoy live music, merchants, cocktails and the finest fare NoLibs (and beyond) has to offer.
Where: 2nd Street between Girard Avenue and Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA
The massive annual Philadelphia Folk Festival returns with a fresh lineup of contemporary and legendary folk artists and bands. This year’s slate of performers includes John Gorka, Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, SONiA disappear fear, Solas and more.
The 62nd annual event, produced by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, also offers camping, craft vendors, festival food, family activities, workshops and more at the 40-acre Old Pool Farm site in Montgomery County. Stay tuned for additional performance announcements and details.
Where: Old Pool Farm, 1212 Barnbridge Drive, Collegeville, PA
Part music festival, part foodie paradise, North America’s largest vegan fest brings the best-in-plant-based food and drink to The Navy Yard.
Dozens of vegan food, drink and dessert vendors, including both local favorites like Rice and Sambal and national names like The Dhaba in Texas, set up alongside Insta-ready interactive art installations, stages for musical performances and live DJs, and other plant-based merch vendors and brands.
Where: The Navy Yard, Marine Parade Grounds, 4747 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
This is the stuff of dreams for bookworms and BookTok enthusiasts. Back for its third year, The Philly Bookstore Crawl challenges book lovers to explore the Philadelphia region’s ever-growing collection of independently owned shops.
There is no trail or route to follow, but there are plenty of perks — surprise giveaways, discounted new reads, meet-and-greets with respected authors — to pick up at 40-plus local bookshops. Check the official website for the full list of participating stores and additional details as the event gets closer.
Where: Participating locations including A Novel Idea, 1726 E. Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
The biggest names in motorsports entertainment — including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Bone Shaker, Bigfoot (obviously) and the villainous new Skelesaurus — rev up the night as the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-n-Fire show roars into Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Competitions and battles light up with neon, blacklight and glow-in-the-dark effects and laser light shows, while attendees can look forward to a transforming robot, the high-flying Freestyle Motocross team and the brand-new Power Smashers pre-show party.
Ukrainian folk music and dance, authentic food, and traditional arts and crafts are hallmarks of the Ukrainian Folk Festival in North Wales, which returns for its 34th year in late summer.
Tickets are required (sold at the gate), and a portion of proceeds go toward humanitarian aid for victims of the war in Ukraine.
Where: Ukrainian American Sports Center, 1 Lower State Road, North Wales, 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 food.
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
A reintroduction is in order: The longtime home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers — not to mention a top venue for hundreds of concerts and special events each year — recently underwent a major $400 million transformation. And now, the state-of-the-art arena has a brand-new name to match.
This September, the South Philly entertainment destination (formerly known as the Wells Fargo Center) is officially christened the Xfinity Mobile Arena, debuting fresh, shiny signage and digital displays to match.
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.
Stay tuned for more information about this year’s lineup.
Where: Location TBA, 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
One of Bucks County’s favorite autumnal happenings, Scarecrows in the Village at Peddler’s Village is back for its 46th season.
For six weeks, more than 150 creative and colorful locally handmade scarecrows (ranging from silly to spooky, and even some famous faces) line the grounds’ brick pathways, part of an annual competition during which you can vote for your faves.
The free display’s apex is the annual Scarecrow Festival (September 13 &14, 2025), with scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin painting, live music and kids’ activities.
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; the festival is open to all (including leashed pets).
Where: 400 Chesterfield Pkwy, Malvern, 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, and 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
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
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
That autumnal chill can’t stop the music. Check out these performances coming to area venues this fall.
Where: Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, 1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, NJ
VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (4)
The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
¡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
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.
Produced by the Center for Architecture and Design and celebrating its 21st year, DesignPhiladelphia is a multi-day fest highlighting the brilliance and creativity of Philadelphia’s design community — from the youngest designers to the most seasoned — with a host of events and installations.
Be on the lookout for panels, parties, hands-on family-friendly activities and tour announcements.
Where: Locations TBA, Philadelphia, PA
Break out your favorite flannel for this fall celebration on the streets of Downingtown.
The annual street festival features a day full of great food, handmade crafts and the fan-favorite Victory Beer Garden — serving up seasonal brews from Victory Brewing Company, the beloved brewery that was founded in the borough in 1996.
Where: Green Street & East Pennsylvania Avenue, Downingtown, PA
October 9-16 & November 10, 2025
The U.S. Armed Forces kick off America’s 2026 Semiquincentennial in late 2025 with The Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration, honoring the 250th birthdays of both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
The celebration will feature a historic gathering of ships at Penn’s Landing, events and a veterans’ reunion on Independence Mall, a large concert, an air show featuring the Blue Angels, the Navy Gala and Marine Ball and more, plus exhibits at museums like the American Swedish Historical Museum, Independence Seaport Museum and aboard Battleship New Jersey. The Marines will also christen a recreation of the historic Tun Tavern.
Where: Various locations including Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Hold it steady! The 8 Seconds Rodeo, a traveling showcase of the “bravest riders, nastiest bulls, tastiest food” and livest entertainment in rodeo, rides into Philly for one night only. Come early for shopping, mechanical bull riding, line dancing, rope lessons, food vendors and a beer garden.
Don’t miss a single twist, turn or buck once the main event kicks off. Contemporary cowboys and girls pay tribute to the long legacy of Black rodeo — while throwing their (10-gallon) hat in the ring for the $60,000 grand prize. Featured events include mutton bustin’, bareback riding, barrel racing and bull riding, plus dancing on the dirt. Tickets are required.
Where: The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Transport yourself to Germany without leaving Bucks County when Peddler’s Village hosts its annual OctoberFeast.
Over the course of two days, visitors can sample beers in the beer garden, enjoy fare from food trucks, and delight in live entertainment and family-friendly activities.
October 11-12 & 18-19, 2025
Hundreds of artists and community spaces open their doors to the public during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), an annual tradition that seeks to make workshops, galleries and other creative spaces more accessible.
Expect free self-guided tours, live demonstrations, exhibitions and more to pop up in more than 26 neighborhoods across the city, making POST one of the largest open-studio events in the nation. Studios east of Broad Street are open October 11 and 12, 2025, while studios west of Broad Street are open October 18 and 19, 2025.
The Philly Bike Ride invites cyclists of all skill levels to cruise through 20 miles of car-free streets. The closed-course route takes bicyclists from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and back, ending with a festival featuring music, food and activities.
Registration is required to participate in the Philly Bike Ride, but the finish-line festival is open to the public and free to attend.
Where: Route begins at North 22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
”When in the course of human events …” The centerpiece of the Museum of the American Revolution’s 2026 programming, The Declaration’s Journey exhibition traces the history of one of America’s founding documents over the 250 years since its adoption in 1776.
Utilizing artworks, documents and artifacts, the exhibition explores the Declaration’s complex legacy and its role in inspiring more than 100 independence movements across the world.
With 18 works by Henri Rousseau in its galleries, the Barnes Foundation is home to the world’s largest collection of works by the artist.
Explore Rousseau’s genius in this new exhibition — a collaboration between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway museum and the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris — bringing together paintings from the Barnes’ permanent collection and pieces from around the world.
Have you ever been determined to find happiness against all odds?
This uplifting Tony Award-winning musical explores growing up — and growing old — while navigating a dysfunctional family, first loves, crime schemes and a condition that causes rapid aging.
Rowers of all levels — high school, college, elite and world champions — converge on the Schuylkill River for the two-day Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.
Drawing 8,000 rowers and 20,000 to 30,000 spectators, the race winds along Kelly Drive, which offers optimal viewing points to enjoy the festive atmosphere and watch 260-plus clubs, high schools and colleges race.
Where: Centered around Kelly Drive & Fountain Green Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Fall’s premier fruit steals the scene during this annual fall festival at Peddler’s Village. From fresh apple cider to apple pies, no apple delicacy is off-limits for tasting and purchase.
Pro tip: Bring cash — some vendors do not accept cards.
Among the largest festivals of its kind, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival celebrates and showcases the stories of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in film, performance art, music and other creative expressions during its 10-day run.
The 2024 festival featured 14 feature films, 80 short films, and multiple premieres from both homegrown talent and international filmmakers from as far away as Kazakhstan. Details about the 2025 festival are forthcoming, so stay tuned for updates.
Museum-quality handmade jewelry, textiles and mixed media are on display and for sale during this juried show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Now in its 49th year, the show features 195 artists representing 13 different categories of art and design.
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
With more than 60 specialty shops perfect for holiday shopping, picturesque Peddler’s Village rings in the holiday season with festive events and plenty of decorations.
The celebration starts with Holiday Kickoff Weekend (November 14 to 16, 2025) featuring live performances, pay-as-you-go food and drink, and a Grand Illumination celebration (November 14, 2025) where the village is set aglow with 1 million twinkling lights. Plus, don’t miss the Gingerbread Competition & Display (November 14, 2025 to January 18, 2026), featuring dozens of handcrafted gingerbread creations on display for free, and Holly Jolly Weekend (December 6 to 7, 2025), with two days of free Santa-themed festivities and parades.
Philly arrived as a certified culinary capital a looooong time ago. James Beard Award-winning restaurants and chefs? We got ʼem. Viral sensations? We have those, too. And the acclaimed Michelin Guide has officially come calling.
Philly’s piping-hot food scene deserves an equally blazing bash to celebate it. Enter: The Inquirer Food Fest, a brand-new food and culture fête brought to you by our hometown newspaper. Sink your teeth into exclusive dishes, delicious craft cocktails, one-day-only chef collabs, live entertainment and interesting discussions with the folks who know Philly’s food scene best.
Where: The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA
Great Scott! Marty McFly and Doc Brown find themselves in a race against time following a mishap involving a certain time-traveling DeLorean in this Broadway adaptation of the classic film Back to the Future.
Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, the show features original music by multi-Grammy Award winners Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, plus hit songs from the film like The Power of Love and Earth Angel.
One of the country’s premier — and most scenic — running events sends thousands of athletes through historic Center City, past the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, while spectators (some with cheeky signs) cheer them on.
The weekend also includes an 8K race, a half-marathon, a Children’s Run and more.
Where: Begins at North 22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and spectacular fountain shows combine to create an incredible winter wonderland at A Longwood Christmas.
Visitors can stroll the grounds of Longwood Gardens — recently named the best botanical garden in the country by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and one of the world’s greatest places by Time — to marvel at miles of lights glowing in the trees, seasonal plants decorated with ornaments, a festive outdoor mini railway, and colorful fountains dancing to holiday music.
The iconic LOVE Park transforms into an open-air European marketplace during the annual Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Traditionally, dozens of vendors set up shop in wooden stalls offering local and international gifts, ornaments, accessories, and wintry apparel.
After shopping up an appetite, indulge in tasty treats, which in years past have included raclette sandwiches, spiced wine, apple cider, strudels and more. Stay tuned for more info about this year’s goings-on.
Where: LOVE Park, North 15th & Arch streets, Philadelphia, PA
Acrobats, jugglers and aerial performers dazzle audiences during this 90-minute Broadway-style production.
The fantastical show features plenty of holiday elements — like reindeer, sugarplums and toy soldiers — plus an original score with fresh takes on classic seasonal tunes.
Where: Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
January 1 – December 31, 2026
Hosted by the Philadelphia Historic District, 52 Weeks of Firsts honors 250 years of Philly pioneering by celebrating the city’s many historic achievements all year long.
Featured Philadelphia “firsts” include inventions like bifocals; cultural milestones such as Mother’s Day; and significant locations like Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the home of the AME faith and the oldest piece of land continuously owned by African Americans.
On the dockert: special guest speakers, free giveaways, historical tales told by professional storytellers, scavenger hunts and monthly main events.
Where: Various locations including Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, 419 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
The nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event brings a stunning display of flower power to the Pennsylvania Convention Center with immersive walk-through gardens, picture-perfect landscapes, hands-on activities, shopping and more.
Stay tuned for information about 2026’s theme and exhibitors.
A college basketball hotbed for a century, Philadelphia will feel the March Madness firsthand in 2026.
Philly’s Xfinity Mobile Arena was the first site named to host six games during the first and second rounds of the 87th NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, featuring dozens of the top basketball programs from around the nation fighting for a spot in the Sweet 16.
This will mark the 29th time Philadelphia has hosted men’s tourney games since 1939, including the 1976 and 1981 Final Fours.
It’s not a pop quiz. (Or is it…?) What do you remember about Lewis and Clarke?
You probably remember that President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with exploring the United States’ western territories after the Louisiana Purchase. But did you know that Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences is home to almost all of the explorers’ original journals and preserved specimens? And that the Corps of Discovery has the Indigenous peoples living out west to thank for much of the plant knowledge that they brought back?
This exhibition traces the explorers’ journey and highlights the stories, cultures and sciences of the Indigenous nations they met along the way.
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Beginning Thursday, April 16, 2026
For the first time in over 15 years, The Port of Philadelphia on the Delaware River will be back open to a major cruise line.
Come 2026, the port welcomes two Norwegian Cruise Line ships for new routes steaming across the sea from Philly to nearby and international destinations and back, including Bermuda and Canada.
Where: PhilaPort (The Port of Philadelphia), 3460 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Following 2025’s grand introduction, the second annual Germantown Jazz Festival brings three electrifying days of music, art, culture and community — all celebrating Germantown’s jazz history and paving the way for the future of jazz.
Along with music performances all festival long, attendees can join workshops, refuel with local food vendors and enjoy rich cultural experiences.
Where: Various locations including Vernon Park, 5800 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
The PGA Championship — one of the PGA’s four major men’s golf tournaments — and over 150 professional golfers hit the links for four days of play at Delaware County’s Aronimink Golf Club.
Dating back to 1916, the premier event has seen major A-list champions, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus, compete for the coveted Wanamaker Trophy (named after the famed Philly-born department store operator Rodman Wanamaker) and typically draws 200,000 spectators.
Where: Aronimink Golf Club, 3600 Saint Davids Road, Newtown Square, PA
The best city for street art in America knows a thing or two about nurturing creators and making a space for art. But what’s it like to live and create in the City of Brotherly Love?
What Now — a brand-new festival presented by the arts and culture organization ArtPhilly — features 10 days of multidisciplinary arts showcasing what it’s like to live and create in Philly. What Now focuses on Philly’s history, neighborhoods and artistic legacy, placing each at the center of important civic dialogues about our country’s past, present and future.
June 14 – July 4, 2026 (select dates)
The eyes of the world will be on Philadelphia as Lincoln Financial Field (home to the NFL’s Eagles) becomes one of just 11 U.S. stadiums to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, with five pool play matchups plus a July Fourth round-of-16 Knockout Stage tilt.
Group stage matches — featuring nations from semi-randomly assigned groups — take place between Sunday, June 14, 2026 and Saturday, June 27, 2026 at The Linc. Philly will also host a FIFA FanFestival at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park featuring giant screens, food, music, parties and more.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way, Philadelphia, PA
Mid-July 2026
The Midsummer Classic returns to Philly for the first time in 30 years as the 96th Annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game comes to Citizens Bank Park in 2026.
Stars from across the National and American leagues descend on Philly for the fifth time in the event’s near-century of existence — and first ever at “The Bank” — with the game having been played here previously in 1943, 1952, 1976 and 1996.
All-Star Week also includes the Home Run Derby, Futures Game, Celebrity Softball Game, MLB Draft and All-Star Village fan festival.
America marks a huge anniversary in 2026: its 250th birthday. As the birthplace of America, Philadelphia serves as the heart of the celebration. And we gotta say, it’s shaping up to be a pretty amazing year filled with festivals, fireworks, freedom and fun.
From major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game to dynamic festivals like ArtPhilly What Now and Red, White, & Blue To-Do to thought-provoking cultural events like the inaugural TED Democracy, you can expect nonstop happenings for all ages, all year long.
It’s never too early to start your Semiquincentennial planning. Check out our guide to 2026 in Philadelphia for the lowdown on how you should celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. Be sure to check back often: There is so more to be announced in the coming months and year.
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?