Bagay pou Fè nan Philadelphia Semèn sa a ak nan Wikenn nan

Map Black Philadelphia history through its people, places, art and music at this free, pop-up exhibition on Center City’s Suburban Station Concourse. 

Closing this Friday, Preserving Black Presence: The Exhibition brings to life nearly two years of research, two centuries of history, and many, many stories of Black culture and community in the City of Brotherly Love, through bold portraits, map designs and more. 

Good for: Eksplore istwa Black Philly depi arive premye Filadelfyen ki gen desandans Afriken rive jodi a

Dates vary by attraction

October is leafing just as fast as it came — and it’s taking some of our favorite harvest fests with it. Check out these fall fetes before they fade away:

• FallFest at Shady Brook Farm: With the holiday season — and its popular drive-thru light display — now on the horizon, Shady Brook Farm wraps up its spooky season festivities this week. Get your fill of corn mazes, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, live music and more before the Bucks County spot closes up shop on Halloween Eve (through Friday).

• Pumpkin Harvest at Milky Way Farm: Choose your autumn adventure at Milky Way Farm. All season long, the Chester County destination has offered general admission visits with farm animals, a family-friendly cornfield maze and four acres of pickable pumpkins for purchase, with a wagon hayride between patches for an additional charge (weekends through Saturday). Pro-tip: Pumpkin patch strolls and animal visits are free on Friday. 

• Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch and More at Lytle’s Farm: Fall fun abounds at family-owned Lytle’s Farm. The kid-friendly four-acre corn maze typically includes a maze scavenger hunt (for more fun, guess the secret word the maze is shaped as!). Then enjoy a festive hayride to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch at the 40-acre farm, which dates back to the 1740s and was once owned by the family of William Penn (select dates through Sunday).

• Harvest Hayride at Arasapha Farm: Home to the super-spooky Bates Motel (more on that later), Arasapha Farm in Delaware County also offers family-friendly fun during the annual Harvest Hayride days. Hop on the wagon and head out to the four-acre pumpkin garden to pick your own from hundreds of choices, then get lost in the five-acre corn maze that changes themes each year (Saturday and Sunday).

• Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium: And that’s a wrap for Adventure Aquarium’s  Fintastic Pumpkin Glow fall “sea-son.” Peruse the tanks of sea creatures and discover mesmerizing collections of glowing gourds shining above the surface or illuminating the depths among sharks and stingrays. Highlights include an underwater pumpkin patch and a giant glowing underwater octopus (through Sunday).

Dates vary by attraction

AHH! Spooky season in Philly goes out with a bang as terrifying Halloween attractions wind down throughout the region. Don’t miss your last chance for frights at these popular spots:

• Manayunk Ghost Tours: Another new addition for 2026, the Manayunk Ghost Tours take brave souls for a dark walk along the canal towpath with EMF readers in hand to detect any paranormal activity that might pop up. The 75-minute intimate group tour leans into the neighborhood’s haunted textile history as you creep toward the mill that harbors spirits of long ago (through Thursday).

• Sleepy Hollow Haunted Acres: Offering scares since 1990, Sleepy Hollow Haunted Acres features three ghoulish attractions on the 230-acre working Gunser Farm family farm in Newtown: the mile-and-a-quarter Sleepy Hollow Hayride (one of the longest in the region), the terrifying walk through the abandoned Field of Fright village, and the Malfate Manor “House in the Hollow” haunted house. Seek reprieve from the scares and screams with the attraction’s live music series, Bands & Bonfires (through Saturday). 

• The Bates Motel and Haunted House: Hollywood-level special effects ramp up the trilogy of terror at The Bates Motel, consistently named one of the top haunted houses in the nation. Don’t miss your last chance to see the Delaware County attraction’s giant new-for-2026 sets (through Sunday).

• The Valley of Fear: Located at the Phoenix Sport Club in Trevose, The Valley of Fear has offered thrilling Halloween frights for 36 years, with all-new sets for 2026. Explore three varied attractions, including the disorienting Original Haunted Hayride through “America’s Most Horrifying Woods,” a terrifying hunt for One Eye’d Willie’s lost treasure at Escape Shipwreck Cove and the dreaded mansion of evil at the risen-from-the-ashes Miles Manor Haunted House (through Sunday).

• Bloodletting & Burials at the Betsy Ross House: What could be scarier than learning about the gruesome, real-life medical practices of the past? Prepare for goosebumps on the Bloodletting & Burials tour, kicking off at the Kay Betsy Ross. Meet Betsy herself as she stitches a coffin liner, then head out on a walking tour that visits Betsy’s grave, the Christ Church Burial Ground and more as your ghostly guides share stories of bloodletting, disease and death. Wrap up the night sipping on cocktails and mocktails at The Garden at City Tavern  (Saturday).

Through Saturday, October 31, 2026

Haunted hangs and macabre meetups set the stage for achieving all your pumpkin goals. The problem is: You’re running out of time! 

Rest in peace with ghoulish fun like the Frankenstein Putt Putt: A Mad Scientist’s Cocktail Lab, which transforms Libertee Grounds into an immersive cocktail experience with Halloween-themed mini golf. 

Nightmare Before Tinsel serves up scary-good drinks in blood bags and smoking cauldrons while The Pumpkin Press at Newsroom Philly brings Edgar Allan Poe vibes.  Plus, The Enchanted Nightmare at Craftsman Row Saloon turns a favorite neighborhood bar into a haunted forest, while The Haunted Pier at Cavanaugh’s River Deck and Taqueria Amor’s Alien Invasion provide chills and thrills 

Through Saturday, October 31, 2026

This week, Mural Arts — the largest public arts organization in the nation — closes out its annual celebration of Philly’s award-winning murals, the artists who make them and the communities they reflect with a blow-out bash at LOVE Park.  

Artists of all ages and abilities can expect a full day dedicated to art-making and family-friendly play. Make and trade affirmation cards, get a custom airbrushed tote bag, growl for the camera with a Halloween photo booth — all while live performances and DJ sets set the scene (Saturday).

Don’t miss: A handful of other Mural Arts Month festivities, including a mosaic dedication in East Passyunk (Tuesday), an artist panel with the creatives behind Kensington’s newest mural (Tuesday), and a mural dedication and celebration in North Philadelphia (Friday).

Through Sunday, November 1, 2026 (Fridays through Sundays)

They can’t keep those poles greased forever! 

La Museum of the Philadelphian ends its limited run inside a cozy Fishtown rowhome, where the “bad behavior” of Philly’s notoriously finicky fans is showcased and honored with the same respect due a Da Vinci. 

Using Jason Kelce’s epic Super Bowl parade speech as inspiration — “No one likes us, we don’t care!” — this “unapologetic micro-museum about Philadelphia’s people” doubles as a tongue-in-cheek time capsule. Look for tributes to HitchBOT, the ill-fated robot who met his demise in Philly, as well as great moments in booing history, like the time football fans threw snowballs at Santa (he had it comin’).

Don’t miss: You can actually grease a pole. Grab a paintbrush from the Crisco can and slather up a papier-mâché traffic light pole.

Through Sunday, November 1, 2026 (Saturday & Sunday only)

Called one of the best food markets in the nation by Food & Wine, Philadelphia’s Southeast Asian Market closes out another wildly successful and delicious season with a bang. 

Hungry marketgoers can expect the traditional dishes, street food, native produce, plants, jewelry and apparel they know and love, plus live entertainment from Khmer, Lao and Vietnamese performers during its Closing Out Celebration (Sunday). As always, be sure to bring cash. Some market vendors do not take card and there are no ATMs on site.

Know before you go: The Southeast Asian Market also hosts a trick-or-treating party on Halloween (Saturday). Look for spook-tacular odes to cultural gems, including face-painting and DJ sets, plus “Adventurous Tastings” by Vientiane Bistro, highlighting rare Laotian delicacies.

Through Sunday, November 1, 2026

They’re creepy and they’re kooky. Mysterious and spooky … and now on stage for one final week. 

The Addams Family: The Musical concludes its five-week run at Walnut Street Theatre on Sunday, so this is your last chance to see Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Lurch, Uncle Fester and the gang before they bury the receipts. 

The plot thickens when Wednesday — the grown-up princess of darkness, played by Abbie Parker — brings home a respectable (read: ordinary) man for dinner. Things unravel from there. 

Did you know?: Charles Addams, the creator of The Addams Family, was born and raised across the bridge in New Jersey and attended the University of Pennsylvania.

Through Sunday, November 1, 2026

Look for the green light on Daisy Buchanan’s dock before it goes out! See the Academy of Music transform into the Roaring Twenties as the classic American tale of unrequited love, wealth and tragedy — The Great Gatsby — takes the stage, part of Ensemble Arts Philly’s Broadway Series. 

The Tony Award-winning musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel immerses the audience in Jay Gatsby’s lavish world as he throws extravagant parties to try to woo back his lost love, Daisy. Nothing is what it seems in new money West Egg and old money East Egg, with materialism and hedonism lurking around every corner. 

Fun fact: Kait Kerrigan, a Doylestown native, wrote the hit musical’s Tony Award-nominated book. 

Expected around this weekend

Each fall, the Philadelphia region puts on a stunning arboreal show as trees across the area turn spectacular autumn shades of red and gold. (In fact, Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than anywhere in the world.) So keep your eyes peeled, because Greater Philly’s foliage is approaching peak color this week. 

Want to know the best spots to peep leaves? Our guide to fall foliage in Philadelphia has you covered. 

Through Sunday, November 1, 2026

Get pure to the core at Philly Cider Week. Now in its eighth year, this citywide celebration peels the apple in a variety of ways, from tap takeovers and birding parties (see: Birds and Birds at Pip’s) to cider karaoke and collab dinners. 

On Sunday, the 2026 Cider Stroll takes over The Headhouse Shambles (2nd Street between Pine Street and Lombard Street). Featuring live music, food stalls, tarot card readings and face painting, plus drinks from ANXO Cider, Embark Craft Ciderworks, Manoff Market Cidery, Ploughman Cider, Oak Tree Orchard and more.

Don’t miss: Cider for a Song on Thursday when Ben Wenk of Ploughman Cider performs any song requested as a reward (punishment?) for each cider purchased. 

Through Saturday, November 7, 2026

Whether we’re talking over a meal or about one, few things go better together than food and conversation. 

During its Cookbook and Convos series (sponsored by yours truly), the Sisterly Love Collective honors chefs and culinary writers with two weeks of author talks, dinners and events. This week:

• join TV food personality and the 2022 James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Katie Button and the owner of Talula’s Daily Aimee Olexy for a scrumptious dinner party at Talula’s (Wednesday);
• celebrate Lebanese culture and hospitality at Room 310 with the founder of Beit Trad and chef Miled Finianos of Philly’s hottest meal ticket, Habbibi Supper Club (Thursday);
• meet New York Times contributor Kay Chun, 2023 Beard Award-winning restaurateur Ellen Yin and chef Christina McKeough at the table for a family-style feast at High Street (Sunday);
• and more!

Through Thursday, December 3, 2026

Rocky Balboa, much like his hometown, continues to punch above his weight. 

Rocky Season 2026 honors the 50th anniversary of the first Rocky movie through a series of high-profile events ranging in scope from the practical (bus tours and fitness runs) to the theatrical (meat-punching challenges and look-alike contests). 

Super fans can reserve a spot for Sunday’s official Rocky Bus Tour, which leaves from the Parkway Visitor Center, located at the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, at 10 a.m.

There is one firm rule: you must dress up as your favorite movie character — no ifs, ands or youse about it. Best costume nets you a $50 gift card to The Rocky Shop. 

Know before you go: We’re not kidding about dressing up. No costume, no tour! 

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Translation: We have all weekend to shenanigan — and again and again. Pull out those costumes, hydrate and get ready for a spook-tacular lineup of drag shows, costume balls and grown-up trick-or-treating. (Looking for events for the littles? Read all about those down below.)

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live Shadowcast at City Winery: It’s no secret that Philly loves its Rockys, especially this time of year, and that extends to a certain cult classic. Get ready to do the Time Warp Again at a live shadowcast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at City Winery (Wednesday and Saturday).

• Halloween-Themed Drag Performances: Philly’s favorite Halloqueens bring the mischief, mayhem and healthy dose of hilarity with over-the-top fun with live shows like A Tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Fabrika (through Saturday), Spooky Sunset Drag at Bok Bar (Thursday) and the Big Wig Halloween Brunch at Punch Line Comedy Club Philadelphia. 

• Battle of the Eras: 1776 vs. 1976 at Hill-Physick House: We’re throwing it back, way back, like 1776 back at this epic costume ball. Pick your fighter. Are you donning a fresh waistcoat, hoop skirt or other revolutionary fashions? Or are you going all in on disco-era glamour with styles ripped right from the 1970s? Pick one or the other (or both!) and drop it low on the ballroom floor at the historic Hill-Physick House (Thursday).

• Boo-zed Up Candy Bowl at Attico Rooftop Bar: Dress up (or don’t) and swing by a cocktail party in the sky atop this Center City rooftop. With an expert mixologist as your guide, learn how to make a trio of candy-licious boo-zy cocktails before enjoying light bites and the sips of your labor (Thursday and Saturday).

• Halloween Weekend at Stateside Live!: Stateside Live! gets spooky for its annual Halloween celebration. Shake your groove thang to live music and DJs, compete in a costume contest (with $2,500 worth in prizes on the line), and make the night unforgettable with a ride on the mechanical bull and plenty of spooky photo ops (Friday and Saturday). Plus: a spooky double-feature (Thursday) and brunch crawl (Sunday). 

• Realm & Revel Romantasy Ball at historic Stotesbury Mansion: Is your last name Bridgerton? Because all eyes are on you as you glide across the ballroom floor of the grand Stotesbury Mansion. Don your fantastical best — whatever that means to you — and take your rightful place as the belle of this Romantasy-inspired ball. Expect a night full of surprises: tarot readings with mystics; aerial, drag and burlesque performances; bookish vendors; tasty food and drink; and more (Friday).

Mondays are for the Birds. The Philadelphia Eagles look to break a four-game losing streak under the lights at the Linc. 

Backup quarterback Tanner McKee leads the offense into battle against the hated Dallas Cowboys and the NFL’s third-worst defense. Defensively, the Eagles lean on Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalen Carter to apply pressure on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Oh, and since Halloween is right around the corner, be on the lookout for dog masks and other creepy crawlers in the stands. 

Know before you go: Stay in your seats at halftime: The Eagles plan to induct longtime owner Jeffrey Lurie into the franchise’s Hall of Fame. 

Opens Tuesday, October 27, 2026 

It’s the wood that makes it good! Corte Oven & Bar, a wood-fired oven concept from the hospitality team behind Corio in University City, is a new neighborhood restaurant on Ludlow Street in East Market — the mixed-use development project in Center City. 

Owners David Feola, Ryan Mulholland and James Smith are putting modern twists on traditional Italian dishes, with odes to seasonal ingredients. 

One signature dish is a squid ink risotto with black trumpet mushrooms and Maryland blue crab. Another standout item is wood-fired roasted leeks, served in a vichyssoise puree and lemon aioli. 

Fun fact: The owners are all Vernick alums.

Two huge football games and spontaneous stepping usher in One Philly HBCU Week. This six-day celebration, hosted by the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Eagles, puts Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the spotlight. 

A Clergy Appreciation Event at Community College of Philadelphia kicks the week off, followed by college choir competitions, high school battle of the bands, job and resource fairs, church services, step shows, and so much more. 

Lincoln Financial Field sets the scene for two marquee matchups — Lincoln University vs. Virginia Union University (7 p.m. on Friday) and Delaware State University vs. Norfolk State University (3 p.m. on Saturday). 

Fun fact: Delaware State University head coach DeSean Jackson and Norfolk State University head coach Michael Vick were teammates on the Eagles. 

October 27 & November 1, 2026

Winger Matvei Michkov, nicknamed “Iron Mike,” has been on a scoring tear as the Philadelphia Flyers attempt to rebound from a rocky start. The team returns to home ice for two games: Tuesday vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sunday vs. the Utah Mammoth. 

Head coach Rick Tocchet continues to shake up his lines and hope the injury bug stops biting a team that entered the 2026-27 campaign with heightened expectations after last year’s wild, unexpected playoff run. 

Don’t miss: Cole Knuble, a 22-year-old rookie who recently made his NHL debut for the Flyers. His dad, Mike, played for the Flyers back in the day. 

We’ll take our witches’ brew to go, please. We’ve got plans. 

East Passyunk Avenue brews up a bewitchingly great time for its annual Witch Craft Crawl. Browse over 30 of the avenue’s bars, restaurants and shops, sipping on seasonal special brews and spirited libations and collecting stamps for your Witch Craft stamp card. Advance tickets run you only $6.66 and include a witch hat or a light necklace (while supplies last). 

Don’t miss: East Passyunk Fall Fest, featuring an 80-plus-vendor market, pumpkin carving, a costume contest, live music and trick-or-treating from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Halloween (Saturday)

Back for its 15th year, FEASTIVAL at FringeArts is one of those foodie events that gets highlighted on the calendar every year the date gets announced. It brings together at least 25 restaurants — we’re talking cutting-edge spots, like Fork, South Philly Barbacoa, Rice & Sambal, Tabachoy, and more. 

That’s not all: FEASTIVAL doubles as a showcase for live entertainment and high-flying acrobatic acts, with quirky, fun acts taking the stage.

Journey said it first: Don’t stop believing, and after five decades, we’re still at it. 

Founder Neal Schon leads the beloved rock band and its legion of fans into the Final Frontier…Tour that is. The Bay Area band’s soaring stadium anthems and timeless classics, like Any Way You Want It, Faithfully and Lights, set the scene for a stellar throwback show at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 

Good for: A rocking and nostalgic night out celebrating the songs and memories that connect generations

Reunite the souls of your deceased loved ones during El Día de los Muertos Ofrenda at the Magic Gardens Museum on Ri Sid.

This traditional Mexican holiday, celebrated for a full week, invites you to pay respects to those souls lost by dropping gifts at an ofrenda, a temporary altar filled with sugar skulls and meaningful mementos that connect you with the dead. 

Also, you can participate in a hands-on painting workshop while creating your very own calavera (skull) using three-dimensional papier-mâché. 

Know before you go: No previous painting experience is required. 

Sibling rivalry takes center stage in Top Dog/Underdog as we meet two adult brothers who can’t seem to break free from their father’s jocular and antagonistic decision to name them Lincoln and Booth. 

Lifelong resentment boils over as they share a dingy, single-room apartment and try desperately to escape their life circumstances. 

Arden Theatre Company partners with People’s Light to produce Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that takes a hard look at how life’s beginnings can sometimes seal a person’s fate.

Good for: Gritty, dark humor and emotional drama

Opens Friday, October 30, 2026 

Missing your go-to source for handmade gifts and goods from the Immigrant Marché? What if we told you the multicultural marketplace is back? 

Known for popping up at places like Philadelphia’s Christmas Village and, most recently, as a temporary storefront along Market Street, Immigrant Marché is a shopping hub founded in 2024 showcasing entrepreneurs with immigrant roots as well as native-born small business owners. 

Shop a wide array of products from coffee beans and jam to vegan nail polish and jewelry at its brand-new home, next door to The Fabric Workshop & Museum. 

Know before you go: The new iteration of the Immigrant Marché storefront is not just a gift shop, but a bookshop featuring reads from Making Worlds Bookstore.

Did you hear the news? LeBron James — he’s from Ohio, by the way — leads the Philadelphia 76ers into Eastern Conference action against the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks. 

The new-look Sixers (don’t sleep on Joel Embiid!) bring unrivaled hype into the 2026-27 season, with longtime PA announcer Matt Cord unretiring just so he can announce James’ inaugural year in Philly. Trust the process? No, complete the process. 

Know before you go: This game is part of the Emirates NBA Cup, an in-season tournament where all 30 teams compete in an eight-game, single-elimination knockout bracket. 

La Museum of the American Revolution celebrates All Hallows’ Eve with a colonial flair. 

Take a page out of the books of our forefathers, who carved turnips instead of pumpkins to ward away evil spirits, and learn about the surprisingly historic origins of the Headless Horseman — was he based on a decapitated Hessian soldier? — during an in-gallery talk from Dr. Tyler Putnam. 

Additionally, the museum’s Semiquincentennial exhibit, The Declaration’s Journey, remains on display through January 3, 2027. In it, you can learn how the ideals written by Thomas Jefferson influenced future independence movements from more than 100 nations (more on that below).  

Know before you go: The museum has eight different pumpkin-carving stencils, Revolutionary-themed and ready for download. 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Agatha Christie? Think again. 

Edgar Allan Poe is credited with writing the first-ever detective story when he introduced eccentric Parisian mystery solver C. Auguste Dupin to the masses in 1841 via his short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue. 

Join the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee in honoring the famed author outside of the residence he once called home. It is believed that Poe penned many books here, including this one as well as The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat. 

Additionally, visual artist Janice Kim created a special #1 Sculpture to honor the occasion, in the form of a dark-and-stormy mural designed in purple hues. 

Know before you go: The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is currently closed for renovation, but check out The Pumpkin Press at Newsroom Philly for a Poe-inspired speakeasy. 

Shivers me timbers! The Gazela Primeiro — a historic ship docked in Philadelphia — hosts a family-friendly Halloween celebration on the high seas of the Delaware River. 

Come aboard, matey, and find out if the pirate’s life is for you with hands-on educational activities and a hunt for hidden treasure. Plus, you can make your pirate crew membership official with a temporary tattoo. And yo-ho-ho: Costumes are encouraged, and tickets are required for everyone ages two and up. 

Know before you go: The ship remains anchored for the duration of the celebration, but landlubbers are encouraged to arrive no later than 2 p.m. to fully enjoy the experience. 

You can’t spell USA without US! This new neighborhood festival, taking over 22nd & South Street, picks up where the Semiquincentennial left off through collaboration, culture and community. 

US Night Market, with support from ODUNDE, brings food trucks, live entertainment (including breakdancing!), children’s games and costume contests, plus hands-on workshops and demos highlighting cultural diversity, to Graduate Hospital. 

Don’t miss: Check out the costume contest on Halloween.

Xfinity Mobile Arena goes full-on dark mode for Motionless in Black’s grand return.  

Led by frontman Chris “Motionless” Cerulli, the shadowy quartet — and Scranton, Pennsylvania natives — celebrates two-plus decades in the game with a major Halloween rager, complete with sufficiently goth ensembles, spooky visuals and new music. Hope you’re not Afraid of the Dark …

Don’t miss: Special guests Dayseeker and The Devil Wears Prada. 

A staple in the D.C. region since 2001, the Heritage India Festival returns to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Hall C) for its second year. Highlighting the culture, cuisine and wares of South Asia, the event allows visitors to revel in the colors and traditions of the Indian subcontinent, from Nepal to Bangladesh. 

The festival’s massive marketplace features over 200 booths with niche vendors  presenting the finest in fashion, jewelry, garments, accessories and handicrafts, plus a food lover’s paradise featuring tastes of India from top area restaurants. Look for special dishes and displays honoring Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. 

Know before you go: Tickets are $5 per person, per day, payable in cash only.

One thing that has continued to ring true for 250 years and counting: The people who call Philly home are what make the city so vibrant, innovative and historic.

This weekend, celebrate Día de los Muertos — the Mexican tradition of honoring ancestors with music, food, art and community — with a supersized South Philadelphia street party spanning four blocks. 

The event is part of the ongoing Ring It On!, a citywide series featuring street fests and cultural celebrations.

Know before you go: The free-to-attend event also offers pay-as-you-go concessions.

October 30 & November 1, 2026

Diya know what you’re doing this weekend? Arts of India Festival at Penn Live Arts celebrates Diwali and so much more as it continues its month-long festival dedicated to the vibrant cultural heritage of India. From dazzling dancers and maverick musicians to the 40th anniversary of Sruti (the India Music & Dance Society), the schedule is loaded. 

On Friday, check out Arun Ramamurthy Trio & Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio, an avant-garde fusion of American jazz and South Indian Carnatic music, with Arun Ramamurthy on violin and Rudresh Mahanthappa on alto saxophone. 

Sunday brings Arts of India Festival Community Day, featuring live performances from percussionists Pitchumani Sivakumar, Ravi Kyer, and Swetha Narasimhan, followed by the Penn Live Arts debut of Niladi Kumaar in The Space Between the Notes. 

Did you know?: The zitar is a five-stringed red electric sitar that was invented by Niladi Kumaar in 1999. 

It’s time for Philly’s suburban dining scene to step into the spotlight. For two weeks only, nearly 40 — and counting — restaurants in Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties serve up more than their fair share of dining deals for Main Line Today Restaurant Week. 

Dig into delicious fixed lunch menus at $25, $30 or $35 price points, while dinner menus clock in at $30, $45 or $55. The list of participating restaurants is just as dynamic as the region it represents, ranging from farm-to-table fare at Terrain’s Garden Cafe to elevated, Southern-cooked comfort food from Southern Cross Kitchen. 

Good for: Multi-course meals and big, big flavors on a wallet-friendly budget.

November is National Native American Heritage Month, and each year Philadelphia honors Indigenous peoples with a number of events, including these:

• Native American Heritage Month at Museum of the American Revolution: Learn about the role Indigenous peoples (see: Oneida Nation) had during the American Revolution. Catch a 3:30 p.m. daily screening of the film The People of the Standing Stone, plus rare artifacts like a letter written to President Abraham Lincoln by Chief John Ross of the Cherokee Nation (through January 3, 2027). 

• Native American Heritage Month at the National Constitution Center: La National Constitution Center hosts a series of programs and activities exploring the history of Indigenous peoples in pre- and post-colonial America. Highlights include artifacts like a wampum belt and hand-crafted moccasins, plus family programming like corn husk doll-making.

• Sky Hopinka’s Red Metal Dust at the Barnes Foundation: The Barnes Foundation commissioned Indigenous artist Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) to create 11 immersive panels for the museum’s Walter and Leonore Annenberg Court. Hopinka’s immersive panels layer emotion-laden landscape photographs on copper sheets and ask viewers to ponder America’s complex history with Indigenous peoples (through January 18, 2027).

Dates vary by event

Early ghoul gets the KitKat: Track down sweet stuff by the buckets this week with tasty trick-or-treating events for kids across the region:

• Trick-or-Treat Trail at Sesame Place: Looking for entry-level spookiness? Sesame Place brings the treats — sans the tricks — this Halloweekend. Join your favorite furry friends for a stroll down Trick-or-Treat Trail. Plus, get in on tons of activities and attractions, all part of The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular festivities. We’re talking Halloween-themed shows and parades, a Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, seasonal dining with Elmo and friends, and so much more. Tickets are required, with additional purchase necessary for Halloween dining (through Sunday).

• Trick-or-Treat Night at Elmwood Park Zoo: A lion goes rawr. A cow says moo. But what goes boo? Gather your littlest party animals and head to Elmwood Park Zoo for an evening of trick-or-treating with the lions, tigers and bears (oh, my) that call the Montgomery County attraction home (Friday).

• Trunk-or-Treat Lane at Peddler’s Village: There’s no shortage of pumpkin-flavored fun in Peddler’s Village come Friday, so gather your costumed crew of kiddos for a candy crawl along Trunk-or-Treat Lane. Hit up kooky, creepy cars, decorated in their Halloween finest, for snackies before heading to the village shops for round two (Friday).

• Halloween on South Street: Ri Sid rolls out the orange carpet for sugar-seeking trick-or-treaters this weekend. Come early for the vintage car and costume promenade, then it’s go-time. Local shops and those souped-up rides are on candy duty all afternoon, before The Headhouse Shambles — having undergone a haunting makeover — takes over for the evening (Saturday).

• Boo at the Zoo at Philadelphia Zoo: Boo! Did we scare you? Good. Little ones can go on the prowl through the Philadelphia Zoo, collecting delicious treats, but trick-or-treating isn’t the only spooky-licious activity on the schedule for the final nights of Boo at Zoo. The annual rite of revelry also features Pumpkin Putt, a six-hole mini golf course on Impala Lawn; a high-energy dance party at the Trick-or-Tree House; and a costume parade around Bird Lake (Saturday and Sunday).

Dates vary by screening

Thought outdoor movie season was over? Think again! Bust out the popcorn and BYO blankets and chairs for a lineup of scary flicks on screens across Greater Philadelphia:

• Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. (Thursday)
• Insidious (2010) at Jet Wine Bar (Thursday)
• Hocus Pocus (1993) & Halloween (1978) at Stateside Live! (Thursday)

Dates vary by event

Treat yourself at one of these food-related happenings in Greater Philadelphia. Hungry for more? Chow down on our cheat sheet to late-night Philly eats. 

• Spooky Wines & Spooky Stories at Bloomsday: Fire up the old broomstick and look to the Western sky: We’re going on a whirlwind, wine-fueled journey around the globe. The vino experts at Bloomsday conjure up a wine tasting, featuring six to eight global sips and paired with a festively spooky family-style dinner inspired by the tastings of the night. Costumes are optional but highly encouraged (Tuesday).

• Flight Night: Fright Night at People’s Light: People’s Light got some witchy fun bubbling in the cauldrons for the first Flight Night of the season. Taking a page out of a horror novel, the Chester County theater pairs a trio of bite-sized dramas  — aka 5- to 10-minute plays — with a flight of three wines inspired by what’s happening onstage (Wednesday).

• American Vice at the Science History Institute Museum & Library: Science, meet comedy. Left-side brain, meet right-side. The Science History Institute teams up with its funny friends at Crossroads Comedy Theater for an edu-taining live show combining science-y fun facts about cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks and more, with improv. Listen in on micro-talks about subjects covered in the museum’s podcast (but likely not your high school chemistry class), before Philly’s most talented improvisers get to work, turning what they learn into a scene (Thursday).

• Halloween Brunch at Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square: Start your spooky day shenanigans off strong with a festively spooky brunch at Patchwork. After devouring stacks of ricotta pancakes, chicken and waffles, and other brunch staples, indulge in kid-friendly fun, like balloon twisting, face painting, magic tricks and games. Plus, get some one-on-one face time and photos with your friendly neighborhood web-slinger (Saturday).

• Haunted House of Blues at The Twisted Tail: The Twisted Tail enters its Southern Gothic era, transforming into the spookiest juke joint in this world or the next. Just follow the music and prepare to give yourself over to the blues and smoky spirits for the night. Costumes are so encouraged. (There are prizes!) Drinks are pay as you go, with specials available during witching hour. The party is free to attend, but RSVP in advance to guarantee entrance (Saturday).

• Dirty Rocks Cocktail Competition at Franky Bradley’s: The games are on as a new lineup of seven local mixologists go sip-for-sip for the crown at the Dirty Rocks live cocktail competition. Who’s the judge? You! Sip your way through handcrafted libations by experts repping the city’s finest watering holes — like Friday Saturday Sunday and a.bar. Your general admission ticket includes one complimentary cocktail, a live DJ and access to pay-as-you-go drinks. Or grab yourself an all-access ticket for tastings from all the contestants (Sunday).

Dates vary by event

Soak up these live performances at venues across Greater Philadelphia. Looking for discounted performing arts tickets? Don’t forget to check out the TKTS booth. 

• The Betsy Ross Book of the Dead at Carpenters’ Hall: This magnificently macabre journey into the underworld reimagines Betsy Ross as a Revolutionary War specter talking to her AI Chatbot assistant, scheming on how to prepare modern democracy for its trip down to Hades. This dramatic stage reading of Paula Cizmar’s short play is presented by Theatre Exile (Monday).

• Philoween: A Halloween Opera Pop Up at Tired Hands Mt. Airy Biergarten: Opera on Tap Philadelphia returns to Tired Hands for Halloween-themed opera and craft beers under the stars on Germantown Avenue. Thursday’s free pop-up performance stars Rebecca Shimer, Robert Flora and John T.K. Scherch, accompanied by Irene Moretto. Donation suggested (Thursday).

• Afro-Cuban All Stars at the Miller Theater: Born out of the Buena Vista Social Club movement, legendary bandleader Juan de Marcos brings a soul-shaking, sound-shattering, spirit-shifting vibe as part of the 2026-27 Jazz Series. The Afro-Cuban All Stars continue to preserve and expand the music of Cuba better than anyone before or after them (Friday).

• Yebba at The Fillmore: Out-sing, Yebba? We’d like to see you try. The whole world goes quiet when the powerhouse vocalist — one of the most sought-after voices in soul — opens her mouth. Fresh off the release of her sophomore album, Jean, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter headlines her first major North American tour, coming to The Fillmore (Friday).

• This Much I Know at Interact Theatre Company: This time-traveling odyssey follows a psychology professor’s search for his missing wife, crisscrossing the space-time continuum, while interjecting stories of Josef Stalin’s daughter’s defection to America and the son of a white supremacist growing to doubt his beliefs (opens Friday).

Dates vary by tour

Crispy weather is so back! Grab your favorite fall sweater and fuel up on pumpkin spice before hitting the streets for expert-led tours and self-guided strolls. 

• Garden Walks at Calder Gardens: Piet Oudolf is just as much an artist as Alexander Calder, except his medium of choice is seasonal blooms. After massive design successes in New York and across the globe, the world-renowned garden designer turned his creative eye to Calder Gardens, creating a deeply meditative perennial masterpiece along the Pakwèy Benjamin Franklin. Unlock a deeper appreciation for the garden’s design and the visionary’s genius with a 45-minute tour of his work. Tickets are required and include attraction admission (Thursday to Monday).
• Soul Crawl & Nevermore: Edgar Allan Poe Connections Tours at Laurel Hill Cemetery: They say the veil between the realm of the living and the dead gets thinner this time of year. Find out as you hear haunting tales of restless spirits at Laurel Hill East. Hear all about master of horror Edgar Allan Poe’s creepy connections to cemetery residents during the Nevermore walking tour (Saturday). Or creep through the dark, winding paths of the cemetery with nothing but flashlights (and a knowledgeable guide) leading the way during the after-dark Soul Crawl.

Dates vary by party

Philly nightlife is looking a little ~ spooky ~ this week with a lineup of Halloween-themed dance parties:

• dance down the rabbit’s hole at an immersive Wonderland-themed party at Midnight & The Wicked, featuring six DJs, live performers, vendors and more (Wednesday)
• take up a side in the age-old battle — vampire vs witch —  at this Supernatural Dance Party at Underground Arts (Friday)
• monster mash well into the night at Philly’s favorite Halloween-themed dive, McGillin’s Olde Ale House (Saturday)
• music of two of the world’s biggest names — Drake and Bad Bunny — battle it out on the dance floor at Noto (Saturday)
• it’s a private party with dancing, drink specials, a photo booth and the witchiest of vibes at this LGBTQ-focused party at Rosy’s East Taco Bar and Club 624 (Saturday)
• find out whether the undead perreo this zombie tiki party at La Jefa (Saturday), and
• party till you can’t party no more at this double header at Broad Hall, starting with an early evening get-down with DJ Diamond Kuts at the helm, before DJ Na$h transitions to her signature Afro-Caribbean vibes (separate tickets are required) (Saturday).

Dates vary by attraction

Not so fast! Halloween’s not over till these haunted houses say it’s over.

Along with faves like Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary (more below), you keep getting your fill of thrills and chills at nightmarish attractions like Lincoln Mill in Manayunk, the Fright Factory in South Philly and Pennhurst Asylum in Bucks County. 

Vibe: A spooky encore

Ongoing

Arts and culture take center stage with the Philly Arts Event Finder, a brand-new, easy-to-use tool, brought to you by yours truly. 

Discover concerts, performances, exhibitions and more from over 180 local arts organizations — all in one place, personalized just for you. Browse the calendar, filter by performance type and plan your next night out right now. 

That, friend, deserves a standing ovation. 

Good for: Discovering everything from big Broadway musicals to experimental comedy shows and under-the-radar gallery exhibitions 

Ongoing

Give the City of Brotherly Love a standing ovation: The internationally renowned TKTS ticket booth service is now here in Philly. Joining the ranks of New York City, Tokyo, and London, TKTS Philadelphia offers an unbeatable deal: 30% to 50% off tickets to select Broadway musicals and theater performances on stage in Philly within 72 hours of the performance.  

Want the full scoop? Read on in our guide.

Know before you go: Tickets must be purchased in person at the Sant Vizitè Endepandans and include shows by Ensemble Arts, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Wilma Theater and many more.

Through Sunday, November 15, 2026 

Painted a palette of rich reds, bewitching browns and oranges, this award-winning botanical garden in Chester County is especially enchanting this time of year, all on its own.  

Add in festive harvest displays by day, ooky-spooky fountain shows by night and the nostalgia of the garden railway, and what do you have? The perfect recipe for a magical autumnal adventure.  

Catch fall’s fleeting beauty — plus pumpkins and gourds galore — at one of the region’s best destinations for leaf-peeping and autumn’s finest blooms, Longwood Gardens. 

Don’t miss: Longwood Gardens’ Chrysanthemum Festival, running now through November 15, 2026. 

Through Saturday, November 7, 2026 (select dates)

I scream, you scream, we all scream … because we’re inside an abandoned prison at night. Eastern State Penitentiary has opened its cell blocks after dark each fall for 35 years for Halloween Nights, one of Philly’s most beloved Halloween attractions.

The legendary prison offers numerous frightful attractions across its 10 acres, including the lair of some thirsty vampires at The Crypt, expanded for 2026; an eerily abandoned fishing village; a creep-filled carnival; and much more. Get express entry with the new Quick Pass admission, and add on premium experiences for even more scares.

Don’t miss: Not-so-scary sips at Triple Bottom Brewing’s Fair Chance Beer Garden

Through Thursday, November 19, 2026 

Follow in the footsteps of Latino changemakers across Philly — literally — with this brand-new self-guided (and 100% free) audio trail brought to you by your friends at Visit Philly (hey!). 

In Las Huellas (meaning “the footprints” in English), the journeys of award-winning chefs like Cristina Martínez, artists like Diego Rivera, and community advocates and civic leaders like Rev. Luis Cortés Jr. come to life with colorful footprint-shaped art installations at 11 stops — including familiar restaurants, museums and cultural institutions. 

Embedded in the vibrant illustration is a scannable QR code to hear (or read) the trailblazer’s story in Spanish or English — often in their own words. 

Don’t miss: A bonus story exclusively available online, highlighting Luis “Lou” Castro, the first Latino player in Major League Baseball

Through Sunday, December 13, 2026 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays only)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the Philly PHLASH! Everyone’s favorite way to conveniently travel from one iconic Philadelphia attraction to another is back for a brand-new season. 

All-day passes run just $5 (free for SEPTA Key holders), and stops include Reading Terminal Market, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Zoo and many more. For the first time ever, the distinct purple bus also stops at 30th Street Station, the Mütter Museum and the Fashion District.

Vibe: Paul Revere took over SEPTA. 

Through Thursday, December 31, 2026

Stamp your ticket for LGBTQ+ history — and really neat swag — with the Pride Passport, a brand new collaboration between the Philly Pride Visitor Center, right here in the Gayborhood, and the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City. How does it work? Glad you asked! 

Step 1: Pick up your free passport from either site.

Step 2: Visit both locations before the end of the year and collect a stamp at each.

Step 3: Show your completed passport to staff at either visitor center location to score a limited-edition Baron von Steuben tote bag and rock it with pride. 

Don’t miss: Head over to Valley Forge National Historical Park to see the General Baron von Steuben statue, erected in 1915. 

Through Sunday, January 3, 2027

“When in the course of human events …” The document from which that seminal phrase originates is the centerpiece of the Museum of the American Revolution’s 2026 programming. The Declaration’s Journey exhibition traces the history of America’s founding charter and its continuing influence, inspiring over 100 independence movements worldwide.

The Declaration’s legacy is explored through records, art and artifacts, including Thomas Jefferson’s chair, a Marquis de Lafayette-annotated draft of the French Declaration of Rights, the prison bench where Martin Luther King Jr. penned “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” a spinning wheel presented by Gandhi and more.

Don’t miss: George Washington’s war tent, aka the First Oval Office. 

Through Sunday, January 10, 2027

Part of the Barnes Foundation’s America 250 programming is this groundbreaking exhibition highlighting Asian American artists affected by forced relocation and incarceration during World War II and their subsequent art that helped establish American aesthetic trends.

Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America showcases the works of six artists: designer and sculptor Isamu Noguchi, world-renowned furniture designer George Nakashima, sculptor Leo Amino, graphic designer S. Neil Fujita, weaver and fiber artist Kay Sekimachi, and sculptor Ruth Asawa.

Know before you go: Access to the exhibition comes with regular museum admission.

Through Sunday, January 31, 2027

Ta-Dada! Marcel Duchamp, one of the leaders of the Dadaist movement, has landed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

This new retrospective exhibition  — the largest in the world in more than 50 years — showcases art in various mediums, from paintings and sculptures to film and photography. Arranged chronologically to see Duchamp’s evolution through cubism, dada and surrealism, the exhibit features 300 works, including Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2), The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even, Fountain, L.H.O.O.Q. and many more. 

Know before you go: Timed tickets are required for entry into the exhibition and include general admission to the rest of the museum.

Through mid-2027 (dates vary by museum)

With storied histories of their own, the Philadelphia Museum of Art ak Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (the country’s very first art school and museum) delve into the richness and diversity of American art history for this blockbuster exhibition, timed to coincide with the Semiquincentennial.

Threading together 300 years of American art, the collection — which includes pieces from Phillies Owner John Middleton and his wife Leigh’s incredible personal collection — features over 1,000 portraits, sculptures, furniture, photographs and more across both museums. Viewers find some of art’s biggest names — including Mary Cassatt and Charles Willson Peale — exhibited side-by-side with oft-overlooked Black, Indigenous, immigrant and historically underrepresented artists and contemporary talents.

Know before you go: The exhibit is included with general admission at both museums. Purchase a full-price ticket to either museum for 50% off admission to the second museum (valid within seven days). 

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:

• You can you find some of the best pizza in America at these two Philly spots, according to Food & Wine. 
• Got beef? Here’s how you can punch it out, Rocky style. 
• Kapow! A new Philly exhibition honors the birthplace of the first Black superhero. 
• Mic drop: A rapper with Philly roots announces a one-night-only performance next month.

And we have one more sweet treat (or trick, depending on how you see it) up our sleeves: the newest content from visitphilly.com: 

• From Rocky to Abbot Elementary, Philly shines on screens big and small — and seeing the city’s realness immortalized on film is part of what makes watching them so fun. Check out our newly updated guide to some of our favorite films and shows set or shot in the Philadelphia area. 

• Who doesn’t love DJs, dancing and drinky-drinks on Friday or Saturday night? But what is a night out without a post-party meal? Lucky for us, Philly has plenty of options for late-night eats — if you know where to look. That’s why you need this Philly insider’s cheat sheet to the best in late-night food.

• Every season is the season for love in Greater Philadelphia, aka the City of Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection with plenty of great date spots for foodies, adventurers, history buffs, and hopeless romantics. Get planning with our updated guide to fun, dreamy and inventive date nights in the city and the countryside.

• The longest-running Thanksgiving Day parade in the country, the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade soars over Center City for its 107th year on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Get all the deets in our 2026 guide.