The Most Exciting Events Happening in Philly in 2021

October 31, 2020 – April 2021 (dates vary by attraction)

There’s plenty of winter fun to be had at Dilworth Park. Guests can take a spin around the popular Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink underneath beautiful twinkling lights at City Hall while listening to a mix of holiday tunes and bouncing beats. Visitors also marvel at the gorgeous greenery of the Wintergarden on Greenfield Lawn, then head to the open-air Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin to enjoy spiked hot chocolate and other warm treats.

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest continues to delight socially distant visitors with ice skating, fire pits, seasonal food and drinks, and — new this year — a Ferris wheel. The riverside attraction — with awesome views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge — sells timed tickets and offers advance sign-ups for private cabins and fire pits.

Longwood Gardens treats visitors to an indoor/outdoor oasis full of stunning colors and dramatic displays during its Winter Wonder programming. In place of the attraction’s annual orchid display, visitors will find textured grasses, cape-primrose and fragrant jasmine along their stroll through the tranquil gardens and conservatory.

The 29th annual African American Children’s Book Fair — one of the oldest and largest single-day events for African American children’s books in the country — goes virtual this year. The event features nationally known authors and illustrators, representatives from the multicultural literary community, enriching children’s books, and activities that promote the power and joy of reading.

Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park is the surest sign of spring, and the Phillies are ready to deliver on Thursday, April 1 as fans return to the stadium. The afternoon home game against the Atlanta Braves kicks off a six-game series in South Philly, hopefully with a few home runs.

April 2021

Major League Soccer returns in the spring with the Philadelphia Union’s home opener at Subaru Park, kicking off a busy season. The Union will play 34 regular-season matches before the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs begin on November 19. Check back on the team’s official website for the announcement of the full 2021 schedule.

This $60 million, 40,000-square-foot immersive experience debuts on Independence Mall to explore the nation’s founding tenets in relation to the Bible. The space will include interactive galleries, a 3D theater and an education center. Among the highlighted Americans: civil rights and Baptist leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Catholic anti-war activist Dorothy Day and Quaker William Penn, founder of colonial Philadelphia. The Center will also direct visitors to explore the Faith and Liberty Heritage Trail, including some of the nation’s early religious institutions such as Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, home to the denomination’s founding congregation, and Mikveh Israel, home to Philadelphia’s oldest Jewish congregation.

Starting May 7, 2021

Just before the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art debuts its much-anticipated interior expansion and renovation by Frank Gehry, the museum inaugurates the Daniel W. Dietrich II Galleries for contemporary and modern art and the Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Galleries, dedicated to American art from 1650 to 1850. The new space accomplishes many things:

• displays the first major reinstallation of the American art gallery since the nation’s bicentennial in 1976
• shows off the work of the Peale family of artists, presidential china, American landscape, works by German and British immigrants and more
• encourages visitors to think broadly about art, history and geography as it presents the work of many groups — Indigenous, European and African
• displays New Grit: Art & Philly Now in the new Daniel W. Dietrich II Galleries, featuring five brand-new commissions and work by 25 artists in ceramics, glass, painting, sculpture, photography, video and other mediums reflecting on Black Lives Matter, immigration, incarceration and other timely societal issues

Once the Gehry renovation is complete later in the spring, visitors can also enjoy a renovated Lenfest Hall; views that show off the city skyline from inside the building; and an outdoor portico overlooking the Schuylkill River.

According to Forbes, Philly Tech Week “is quickly becoming known as the fiercest and most comprehensive week of technology and leadership events on the East Coast.” Organized by tech news site Technical.ly, the festival features panels, conferences, cocktail parties and more engaging, tech-centric events during its nine-day run.

Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest transforms a spot on the Delaware River waterfront into the ultimate summer hangout with Center City’s only roller rink, a boathouse-style lodge, a Ferris wheel and midway, and plenty of playful spaces to chill out.

Enthusiasts of riverside chilling enjoy hammocks, patio games, an arcade, mini-concerts and tasty treats while strolling the boardwalk on Philly’s waterfront. Spruce Street Harbor Park is the perfect summer escape for visitors looking to relax and locals hoping to unwind. This season, look for new eateries French Toast Bites, Philly Taco, Dre’s Water Ice & Ice Cream and a boardwalk-style concept; a recurring Makers Market kicking off on Memorial Day weekend and the return of The Barge Bar. Visitors can also rent hammock lounges on the weekend by visiting the Spruce Street Harbor Park website or emailing [email protected].

Film fans can find works by established and emerging Latino and Latin American filmmakers — a virtual lineup that includes feature films, shorts, animations and documentaries, along with workshops and discussions. In addition to the robust list of official film selections, viewers can check out winners of the festival’s LOLA Awards, which this year focus on women- and womxn-centric stories. Stay tuned to the festival website for scheduling details.

This popular twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country (94 years strong in 2021) — goes virtual for its summer edition, featuring works by more than 140 professional artists, live events on social media and digital studio tours.

The nation’s longest-running horticultural event is making history in 2021 by moving its show outdoors for the first time in its 192-year history. The 2021 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, themed “Habitat: Nature’s Masterpiece,” uses South Philadelphia’s expansive and lush FDR Park as the setting for its breathtaking displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. As always, the annual gardening celebration features top-of-the-line horticulture and landscape design, demonstrations, entertainment, themed nights and a marketplace.

Opens Spring 2021 (Dates TBA)

This year, the Please Touch Museum debuts an all-new, 5,000-square-foot permanent gallery that seeks to inspire creativity by telling the story of the innovation at the Centennial of 1876, which took place in Fairmount Park right outside of the museum. The gallery’s centerpiece is a scale model of the Centennial exposition created by dozens of artisans in 1889 that depicts exactly how it looked on July 4, 1876.

Dates vary

A slew of talented musicians are due to take the stage in Philadelphia this year, with some major acts lined up for the summer. Many concerts are rescheduled from 2020, while others are fully new lineups bringing tunes to dedicated fans. Slated to perform in Philly this year: Kenny Chesney at Lincoln Financial Field (June 19, 2021); Justin Bieber at the Wells Fargo Center (July 11, 2021) and the Backstreet Boys at BB&T Pavilion (July 15, 2021), Plus, HoagieNation, presented by Daryl Hall and John Oates, is scheduled for August 7, 2021, at The Mann Center.

The East Coast’s largest African American street festival rings in the Yoruba New Year with a week-long virtual festival. ODUNDE takes place June 16-13, with pop-up T-shirt and mask giveaways kicking off a series of digital happenings that include cooking demonstrations and head wrapping lessons. All 2021 ODUNDE events will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.

Philadelphia marks the anniversary of African Americans’ emancipation from enslavement with entertainment, a virtual cultural marketplace and a Juneteenth Freedom Float House tour.

Featuring artists from around the country, along with crafts, food and music, this two-day festival runs along Main Street in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood.

This Fourth of July festival in the nation’s birthplace includes several days of multicultural, family-friendly programming. The event, expanded in 2021 to incorporate Juneteenth celebrations, culminates with a stunning fireworks display over the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The hills of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania come alive every summer with the sound of folk music during the long-running Philadelphia Folk Festival, where attendees gather to sing along, clap or just enjoy the music of new and favorite performers. The annual fest celebrates its 59 1/2 anniversary with a hybrid in-person/virtual “pocket” event this year with a jam-packed lineup, workshops, activities and events for all ages. The festival is the longest-running outdoor music festival of its kind in North America, with plans to return fully in person in 2022.

Did you know that the “Mushroom Capital of the World” is just outside of Philadelphia? Kennett Square is also home to an excellent, two-day Mushroom Festival every September, full of mushroom-themed food, music, exhibits and activities. This year’s event takes place at an all-new location on South Broad Street.

Philadelphia honors this national event with the Feria del Barrio in El Centro de Oro, a Mexican Independence Day Festival on Penn’s Landing and the Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, among other civic occasions.

WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, brings together musical legends and new performers along the Camden waterfront at this can’t-miss fest at Wiggins Waterfront Park and BB&T Pavilion. This year’s lineup includes Tedeschi Trucks, Dawes, Los Lobos, The Record Company, Ani DiFranco and more.

The fall edition of this twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country — brings paintings, glassware, sketches and more art to Rittenhouse Square for an outdoor gallery featuring work by talented artists and crafters. Stay tuned to the event’s website for more details about featured artists.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s landmark circa 1928 partners with the Whitney Museum of American Art on simultaneous exhibitions of the work of Jasper Johns, considered the country’s most significant living artist. Originally scheduled to show in 2020, the unprecedented collaboration will chronologically show paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, books and costumes that mirror the other’s display, creating an immersive exhibition that itself, is a study in Johns’ fascination with reflections.

October 16-24, 2021 (select dates)

Hundreds of artists and community spaces open their doors to the public (for free!) during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), an annual tradition that seeks to make workshops, galleries and other creative spaces more accessible. In addition to virtual events on October 20, the 2021 event includes several in-person experiences across the city. Check POST’s website for the list of participating artists and galleries on each date.

• October 16, 2021: Northeast Philadelphia
• October 17, 2021: South Philadelphia
• October 23, 2021: Northwest Philadelphia
• October 24, 2021: West Philadelphia

Rowers of all levels — high school, college, elite rowers and world champions — converge on the Schuylkill River for the two-day Head of the Schuylkill Regatta on October 30 and 31. The race winds along Kelly Drive and Boathouse Row, which offer optimal race-viewing points and a festive atmosphere made up of rowers and viewers alike.

One of the country’s premier — and most scenic — running events is known to send 30,000 athletes through historic Center City, past the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row. The weekend includes an 8K race, half-marathon, a Kids Fun Run and the Health & Fitness Expo.

December 2021

The holidays are a magical time in Philadelphia. As the temperature dips and the year nears its end, the city is aglow with shimmering light shows, can’t-miss pop-up markets, festive decorations and stellar only-in-Philly attractions. Then, the city usually rings in the new year with two epic fireworks displays and the Mummers Parade, an event that’s been Philly New Year’s Day tradition for more than a century.