Things to Do in Philadelphia This Week & Weekend

Through Friday, April 10, 2026

The finalists are locked in, and it’s your very last chance to vote in the 2026 Liberty Bells, Visit Philadelphia’s annual awards-season celebration of all the Philly people, places and things that you love most. (And seeing as Philly is the birthplace of American democracy, it’s only natural that we leave the voting up to the people.)

So what are you waiting for? Click here to vote for your favorites. You can vote once per day now through Friday.

Through Saturday, April 11, 2026

Wrapping up the spring iteration of its sixth year, the twice-a-year Dine Latino Restaurant Week spotlights local Latino restaurants in Philadelphia and The Countryside.

The list of participating restaurants for the spring 2026 edition continues to grow, featuring over two-dozen of Filadelfia’s best Latino eateries, including Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Colombian, Peruvian and more.

Each spot offers either a buy-two-entrees, get-an-appetizer-or-dessert-free promotion or a special limited-time menu. Participating restaurants this spring include Adelita Taqueria & Restaurant, El Merkury, Casa Mexico, Mixto Restaurant, and more. ¡Buen provecho!

Sticks up, Philly, for the final time. The Philadelphia Wings take to the turf in South Philly for their last game ever, with a swan song against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs this week.

Bad news: With the team’s playoff run wrapped for the season, this’ll be your last chance to see the guys in action, as the franchise has announced its plans not to return to Xfinity Mobile Arena for the 2026-2027 season.

Good news: It’s dollar ice cream day! So turn that frown upside down with a sweet treat and get ready to give the team a warm Philly farewell — hopefully not forever.

Through Sunday, April 12, 2026

Where my Peeps at? The Pennsylvania-made marshmallow treats serve as artistic inspiration for the creation of marshmallow masterpieces — including wall art, dioramas, sculptures and more — at the always-adorable PEEPS in the Village annual event, winding down this week at Peddler’s Village.

2026 marks the seventh year of the beloved springtime tradition at the Bucks County indie shopping haven. View the colorful and extremely Instagram-worthy candy creations inside the Visitor & Event Center.

Note: The popular event attracts crowds each year. Visiting mid-week offers easier parking and peeping at the sugar-coated art.

Through Sunday, April 12, 2026

Two powerful fabric-based exhibitions conclude this week: Lisa Alvarado: Talismans for a Theater of Resilience and The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry.

Lisa Alvarado uses vibrational aesthetics — that is, the pulses of the human body (and the world) — to explore the liminality of movement, history and rhythm. Composed of layers of multicolored bands, Alvarado’s gigantic hanging tapestries mimic natural rock formations and shift in color throughout the course of the day.

Fearless artist and designer Moki Cherry lived her life across continents, working and living in both the United States and her native Sweden. Featuring tapestries, paintings, concert posters, costumes, music and more, Cherry’s retrospective exhibition weaves together a creative mishmash that turns ordinary spaces into bold, joyful happenings.

Catch them before they unravel.

Ongoing (Mondays through Wednesdays)

Your weeknights just got a bit more lively.

This new year-round program, coming straight from the City of Philadelphia, highlights musical artists and businesses citywide with free music performances and activations across the city each week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Catch performances at participating hotels, restaurants and bars in regions around Philly, including parts of East Passyunk (like Pistolas del Sur, Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar and Stogie Joe’s Tavern); Center City (like The Notary Hotel, Loews Philadelphia Hotel and Aloft Philadelphia Downtown); and University City (like Carbon Copy, Renata’s Kitchen and Dahlak).

Performances are free and open to the public, with pay-as-you-go food and drink available at each venue. For the full list of performances and venues, click here.

Now open (Wednesdays through Sundays)

Drink in Philly’s rich history with the return of this Independence Mall beer garden. Hosted right next to the Independence Visitor Center — within sight of the National Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell — the breezy beer garden features picnic tables, cozy hammocks, and a bevy of bites and drinks.

On the menu: eats like loaded hot dogs, cheesesteaks, flatbread pizzas and giant Philly pretzels (!), plus a variety of craft beer, wine and cocktails. The beer garden is free to enter, with weekday happy hours from 4 to 6 p.m.

Begins Tuesday, April 7, 2026 

Consider this your excuse to get outside: The 100% free Firefly Hours bring the fun outdoors with evenings full of free family fun at 17 different sites throughout Germantown.

Spots offering free kid-friendly crafts and nature activities include prominent historic estates like Wyck, Stenton and Cliveden, as well as many of the more hidden gems like the Colored Girls Museum, Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion and Historic Fair Hill.

This week kicks things off with three nights of free all-ages fiber arts workshops by Allens Lane Art Center, including stencil printing using native plants, weavings created with natural fibers and a community stitch sesh led by local quilting artist Mama Carla Wiley.

Firefly Hours run at participating sites on select dates from April through October.

Am I the drama? And so what if I am? Cardi B wears the title proudly during her first headlining arena tour, taking over the Xfinity Mobile Arena this Tuesday.

If you’re anything like us and the Bronx rapper’s latest album has gone triple platinum in your home, don’t miss your chance to step outside with Little Miss Drama herself and turn up to hits like Bodega Baddie, WAP and Money.

Begins: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (Wednesdays through Sundays) 

Philly’s beloved roving beer garden, Parks on Tap, returns for 2026 with brews and bites at urban parks and green spaces across Philadelphia, with a new neighborhood featured each week.

Expect cans and drafts from Mainstay Independent Brewing, Conshohocken Brewing, Dogfish Head and more, as well as sippable seasonal cocktails, and bites ranging from cheeseburgers and pulled pork sandwiches to raspberry cheesecake cups and adult Lunchables (!).

First stop: East Fairmount Park’s Azalea Garden, tucked between Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Opens Thursday, April 9, 2026

When the warmer months roll around, the rooftop of South Philly’s Bok Building turns into a spacious beer garden with stellar skyline views.

The seasonal watering hole serves a variety of drinks — with an ever-changing menu of tasty bites — and hosts plenty of events and performances.

Want to add a little spice to your outing? Opening weekend at Bok Bar breaks out the good vibes and live DJs for free dancing (and a free dance lesson!) during Salsa Sunday.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but when beholders sometimes see things through lenses that are reductive, commodifying and all too stereotypical, it might be time to redefine beauty on our own terms.

Brownin’ celebrates Black identity and Black beauty in a curated exhibition by five Philly-based artists. Through visual art, photography, paintings and more, the exhibition uses a spectrum of works to highlight beauty in all its forms — and combat the myth that there’s just one single Black narrative.

Want to learn more firsthand? Meet the artists and curators in person during the free opening reception this Thursday night, from 6 to 9 p.m.

To commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, The Clay Studio — the nation’s largest ceramic arts organization — creates an expansive exhibition showcasing work from 27 artists across 16 arts and culture sites. Artists ground their creative work in historical research conducted at these sites to inspire pieces that explore themes of independence throughout the evolution of America.

Radical Americana kicks off this Thursday with exhibits at places like The Clay Studio, Cliveden, Taller Puertorriqueño and many more. Dates and times vary by location, with the exhibition running through July.

The Giant Heart ain’t the only thing that’s beating. The Franklin Institute’s perennial adults-only event series is in full swing once again — this time with new activities, extra explosions and full-on bass-dropping music fest vibes.

Learn the science behind vinyl records or take a trip to 1940s cinema by playing a real theremin. Dance to up-tempo Brazilian beats or try your hand at Japanese-style drumming. And learn the brewing process behind the event’s Treble Maker lager, or kick back and strum a variety of stringed instruments.

Plus, don’t miss DJs turning the Fels Planetarium into a hypnotic space-themed experience, featuring a custom-designed and fully immersive 360 video art light show.

On top of the live performances and mind-tingling activities, enjoy pay-as-you-go drinkies, full access to the museum’s signature hands-on exhibits and a little rooftop stargazing — as a treat.

Break out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks: The Phillies look to keep the momentum going with another three-game stretch at home this week. Next at bat: the Arizona Diamondbacks.

While the grown-ups shout for the D-Backs’ downfall, kiddos (ages 14 and under) can make out like bandits with a slate of fun promos running this week, including free hoodies during Cavity Busters Kids Opening Day (Saturday) and a Colonial-themed Phillie Phanatic bobble head to honor the Phanatic’s birthday (Sunday).

Celebrating 250 years since the signing of a little-known document called something like, oh, I don’t know, the Declaration of Independence, this brand-new play from East Coast playwrights Miriam Colvin and Jackson Pavlik takes a meta look at the effort it takes to produce great works.

The story follows a group of actors and historians — spanning Baby Boomers and Gen-Z — as they prepare for a Fourth of July celebration at Independence Hall, all under the chaotic scrutiny of a neurotic director and a very stressed-out bureaucrat.

Shop till you drop while supporting local entrepreneurs during the spring edition of the popular Made in Philadelphia Marketplace at Dilworth Park.

This weekend, a curated lineup of artists, makers and crafters from around Greater Philadelphia set up shop to sell a variety of handmade and specialty goods. Look forward to original artworks, home decor, natural skincare products, custom jewelry and other gifts, with bites from various pay-as-you-go food vendors.

The Made in Philadelphia Marketplace is free to attend and open to the public. Looking for more fun around the Market East neighborhood? Say no more.

Rally the Straw Hats and set sail for the fourth annual Philly Otaku Fest, a three-day festival dedicated to all things anime, cosplay and gaming.

The packed weekend features pay-as-you-go Japanese street food, live music (from J-Rock to nerdcore), a cosplay competition, high-energy performances from popular Japanese pop culture idols, over 70 vendors — slinging Japanese art, rare collectibles and anime-themed merch — and so much more.

Philly Otaku Fest is free to enter — and while you’re there, don’t miss Meanwhile, in Philly Otaku: A Retrospective, on display at Cherry Street Pier through April 26, 2026.

The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts ain’t clownin’ around: World Circus Day is now World Circus Week —and it’s bigger and better than ever.

The all-ages celebration features festivities including free performances, free (and paid) circus workshops, and tons of chances to see aerialists, jugglers and acrobats in action. This weekend, don’t miss the free contemporary circus show Test Flights (Friday); participate in free all-ages circus classes (with registration) on hula hoop, trampoline, trapeze, juggling, plate spinning, tight wire and more (Saturday); or sign up for the 18-and-over pole-dancing class (Sunday).

Things kick off with a spectacular Firstival for 52 Weeks of Firsts this Saturday morning (more on that below).

When a family reunion in the Tidewater region of the South turns from playful reminiscing to a tense reckoning, long-buried secrets surface in this world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames’ Wilderness Generation.

Taking place over the course of one summer weekend, the humorous and heartbreaking play explores the laughter, music, memories and the process of healing — all from the perspectives of four cousins struggling to break free from generational trauma.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” right? But arriving at that iconic line in the Declaration of Independence wasn’t so simple.

Unbeknownst to many, the Declaration served many roles and went through numerous drafts before becoming the document we know today. The American Philosophical Society Museum tapped into its vast holdings to tell a fuller version of the document’s history in its latest exhibit, timed to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary.

In addition to the many copies of the Declaration in the free exhibit, visitors can also see a rare first printing of Thomas Paine’s influential Common Sense, as well as the chair Thomas Jefferson sat in while he wrote.

Over the last two and a half centuries, few things have become as synonymous with America’s Independence Day celebrations as the loud crack and colorful sparks of a fireworks display. But the origins of the dazzling light shows are much, much older — going as far back as the second century BCE.

Starting this week, the Science History Institute in Old City illuminates the history and chemistry of fireworks in an explosive new exhibition, featuring historic rare books, fine art, the latest in modern-day pyrotechnic technologies and more.

52 Weeks of Firsts honors 250 years of Philly pioneering by celebrating the city’s many historic achievements — every Saturday, all throughout 2026. Featured Philadelphia “firsts” include inventions like the Slinky, cultural milestones such as Mother’s Day and significant locations like the first African Methodist Episcopal church.

The free celebrations take place at the original location of each first (or in spaces that represent where these significant milestones occurred) and include guest speakers, a sculpture, monthly marquee events and historic deep dives by Once Upon a Nation.

Our favorite show is on! GayBINGO! is back on North Broad this week, and this one goes out to all the mommas. Everyone’s favorite Bingo Verifying Divas — or BVDs — channel the funniest leading ladies of TV, from June Cleaver to Marge Simpson, for an evening of fun and games.

In between rounds of the classic game, the wacky and wild hosts delight the audience with fabulous entertainment, laugh-out-loud jokes and plenty of opportunities to win prizes.

See, hear and smell rare vintage race cars roar to life during the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum’s popular Demo Day series.

Themed “Carroll Shelby and the Rise of Professional Racing in America,” this month’s edition coincides with the opening of the museum’s newest exhibition, Shelby’s America (running April 11 through 26, 2026) and highlights the champion race car driver and designer’s immeasurable impact on the sport.

Car enthusiasts can witness five cars connected to Shelby — including a 1950 Allard J2, a 1954 Austin Healey 100 and a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Spyder — up close and in action as they take to the museum’s three-acre race track.

Your Philadelphia 76ers have officially clinched the division’s final playoff spot — and this Sunday is your last chance to catch the Sixers’ season-long celebration of the 2001 Eastern Conference Champions as they wrap the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

The Sixers look to keep the energy going with a home-court match against the Milwaukee Bucks, guaranteeing a low-pressure night of fun after a hard-fought season. Bonus: It’s Hoops and Health Night, featuring free 25th anniversary rally towels and 76ers Shaker Bottles with the purchase of a ticket (in limited supply).

Film, video and immersive art installations tell the stories of how Americans of color have helped shape our shared identity throughout the past 250 years at this Barnes Foundation exhibition, timed to coincide with the Semiquincentennial.

Moving-image artists Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary and Tourmaline create a contemporary meditation on the past, present and future, and ask viewers to contemplate how Americans of color have carved out spaces of joy and resistance despite systems that seek to oppress.

Access to the special exhibition comes with regular museum admission, good for two days.

With storied histories of their own, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the 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 Philadelphia Phillies general manager 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.

April 1-30, 2026 (dates vary by event)

Philly’s got a history that no other city can claim, and this April (and beyond!), cultural institutions across the city  — in collaboration with the Histories Collaborative of Philadelphia — have teamed up for the first-ever Philadelphia Histories Month, a citywide celebration featuring special events, tours, exhibitions, talks and more. This week:

• get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a musical retrospective of the life and times of our favorite Founding Father, Ben Franklin, at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia (Friday)
• discover a treasure trove of exhibits and artifacts highlighting Swedish American culture and history with free guided tours at the American Swedish Historical Museum (Sunday), and
• gather ʼround the table saw to talk shop with Independence Seaport Museum’s skilled shipwrights about their latest project: a full-scale, 40-foot replica of the type of vessel General George Washington used to sail across the Delaware in 1776 (Sunday).

As the birthplace and hometown of some of the most notable figures in jazz history, including Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Ethel Waters and Dizzy Gillespie, Philly’s jazz roots run deep — and the city is celebrating this April with Philly Jazz Month. Here are some of the city’s top jazz events this week:

• We Get Requests at Chris’ Jazz Cafe: It’s the luck of the draw (song edition) at Chris’ Jazz Cafe this week. Grammy-nominated trumpeter and composer Josh Lawrence leads the band, but you, the music-loving audience members, are in charge of the setlist. Submit your song request online or in person, and watch Philly’s jazziest musicians reimagine your favorites live before your eyes (Tuesday).
• Arturo Stable Trio at Exuberance: Bienvenidos a Havana, where music paves the streets and dance is a way of life. Led by its eponymous bandleader and acclaimed Cuban-American musician, the Arturo Stable Trio transforms the exclusive listening room at Exuberance into a vibrant Cuban jazz club for an evening of Caribbean-inspired musical fun (Thursday).
• Philadelphia Jazz Kissa: A Deep Listening Vinyl Series at Sook Vinyl & Vintage: Sook Vinyl — Mt. Airy’s hidden gem of a music hub and record store — kicks off its three-part deep listening series this week, dedicating the entire evening to the music of pioneering jazz greats, McCoy Tyner, Lee Morgan and Stanley Turrentine (Friday). Can’t make it this week? The series continues on April 17 and 24, 2026.
• Jazz Vespers at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church: Pay homage to Black culture, community, history, struggle and triumph during this inspiring program at historic Mother Bethel AME Church. Local music mover-and-shaker V. Shayne Frederick curates a program of sacred jazz, soul-stirring hymns, traditional spirituals and inspiring meditative readings performed by an all-star lineup of Philly talents (Sunday).

Dates vary by event

Treat yourself at one of these food-related happenings in Greater Philadelphia. Hungry for more? Chow down on our guide to Philly’s newest restaurant openings this spring.

• Animalón x Amá Takeover at Ama: Dreams do come true. The Michelin-starred chef behind Animalón — the bucket-list-worthy, all-alfresco fine dining experience in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico — is coming to Philly for a special two-night stay at Amá in Fishtown. Chef Oscar Torres teams up with host chef Frankie Ramierez for seven (!) unforgettable courses of contemporary Mexican cuisine (Wednesday and Thursday).
• The Spring Supper Society at Glen Foerd: Dearest gentle reader, it is this writer’s greatest delight to invite you to an evening out on the Ton. Glen Foerd — the historic mansion and pastoral estate nestled in Northeast Philly — hosts an exquisite Bridgerton-inspired five-course feast fit for Queen Charlotte herself. Dress in your finest for tea sandwiches, sweet tea pork and more as the sun sets (Thursday).
• Hop Ones at Evil Genius Beer Company: Evil Genius pairs blazing-hot wings with ice-cold brews during this tasty twist on the popular YouTube series Hot Ones. Each table answers a series of questions and the best story wins a free beer. Tickets come with 10 wings (vegetarian options available) and 10 different sauce options — and be sure to dab a little extra on the last wing (Friday).
• Philly Cocktail Fest at 23rd Street Armory: Philly Cocktail Fest immerses you in the world of mixology, with creative cocktail concoctions by some of the area’s finest purveyors and the chance to sample up to 15 cocktails of your choice. Sip your way through some of Philly’s mixxiest restaurants and bars, including R&D Cocktail Bar, Amá, Dear Daphni, Prohibition Taproom, Amina Hospitality Collection and more (Saturday).
• Real Ale Invitational at Yards Brewing Company: Cans and kegs and bottles — oh my! Yards Brewing Company turns into an amber-hued wonderland of beers and brews for the annual Real Ale Invitational. Over 40 of the region’s finest breweries — including Attic, Big Oyster and Broken Goblet — deck out Yards’ brewhouse for an afternoon, offering samples of unfiltered, unpasteurized, naturally carbonated, fermented goodness (Sunday).

Dates vary by event

Soak up these live performances at venues across Greater Philadelphia. Looking for an encore? Pump up the jams with our seasonal guide to Philly’s biggest concerts.

• The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales at the Arden: Think you know what “Happily Ever After” looks like? Think again! The fairytales, folktales and fables we grew up with, like The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Frog, get turned upside-down in this rollicking production for the youngest theatergoers (Wednesday through Sunday, May 31, 2026).
• The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Mozart’s Requiem at the Kimmel Center: Mozart’s Requiem is not only one of the famed composer’s seminal works — it was his last. (Talk about a grand finale.) Led by acclaimed English conductor and Mozart specialist Jane Gloverhe, the Philadelphia Orchestra pays tribute to the master with their take on the dramatic choral piece and his Symphony No. 40 (Thursday through Sunday).
• Floetry With Raheem Devaughn at The Met: This smooth evening of 2000s neo-soul and R&B brings together two Grammy Award-nominated greats for performances of music that helped define a genre. The ladies of Floetry serve warm and laid-back classics like Say Yes and Floetic, perfectly paired with Raheem’s signature slow jams like You and Don’t Come Easy. (Friday)
• Opening: The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow at The Stagecrafters Theater: Whipsmart, vibrant and a genius by all accounts, Jennifer Marcus is unstoppable — now if only she could overcome her crippling agoraphobia and OCD to step outside. This hilarious “techno-comedy” by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Rolin Jones follows the adopted computer genius as she develops a bot version of herself — Jenny Cho — to find her biological mother (Friday through Sunday, April 26, 2026)?
• R&B Afterdark at City Winery: Like a fine wine, R&B just gets better with time. Sit back and relax over dinner and a glass (or two) as the R&B Afterdark band reimagines classics from across the decades, introduces you to new music inspired by the greats and more (Sunday).

Dates vary by tour

Are you with the tour? (You should be.) Check out our picks for some of the top guided tours in Philly this week. Looking for more? Go at your own pace and head out on one of these self-guided tours.

• Garden Highlights Tour at Morris Arboretum & Gardens: Peak cherry blossom bloom is just the beginning for local green spaces and lovers of spring. Throughout the year, Morris Arboretum & Gardens — Northwest Philly’s oasis of flora and fauna of all kinds — whisks guests around its grounds for free guided tours tailored to their interests. During the spring, tours are offered once a day and are included with general admission (daily).
• Ancient Alcohol: A Taste of Bygone Booze Tour & Tasting at the Penn Museum: There’s nothing new about booze. Mankind has been partying it up for millennia. Sip your way through history during this tour and tasting event at the Penn Museum. Keep an eye out for early drinking vessels, ancient Greek drinking games and sampling of a beer inspired by an ancient recipe discovered by a Penn biomolecular archaeologist (slight flex) (Saturday and Sunday)!
• Second Saturday Guided Hike: Birding and Fair Amount Food Forest Tour in East Fairmount Park: With wildlife photographer Troy Bynum as your guide, venture through Fairmount Park’s gardens and green spaces in search of migratory and year-round birds during a tranquil birding hike. End your excursion by surveying the fruits, veggies, nuts and herbs of the Fair Amount Food Forest, an educational public garden that mimics a natural ecosystem (Saturday)
• Trolley Trail Hike in Fairmount Park:  Explore remnants of the Fairmount Park Trolley Network on this four-and-a-half-mile guided hike. Operating from the late 19th to early 20th century, the network — which once offered an easy and reliable means of getting to the park — now exists as a scenic hidden trail, sprinkled with massive stone tunnels and 100-year-old bridge abutments. Dress for the hilly terrain, and bringing your own water and snacks is recommended (Sunday).

Dates vary by event

Can we get a “whoop whoop”? Can we get an “oh yeah”? Philly nightlife is looking cooler than cool with these dance parties this week:

• COLONIAL 54: An Immersive Disco Experience at The Colonial Theatre: Teleport to glitzy 1970s New York for a hot night of throwback DJ sets, flashy outfits and shiny disco balls. Plus, catch local drag queen Roxanne Rohls as THE Liza Minnelli (Friday).
• Better Off Alone: A 90s/2000s Dance Rave at Kung Fu Necktie: Rave like you’ve never raved before at this all-night dance party, 100% powered by your favorite throwback tunes. Madonna, Spice Girls, NSYNC — the crew’s all here (in spirit) as you groove the night away (Saturday).
• Shut Up x Dance at NOTO Philadelphia: Step 1: Suit up in your best white fit. Step 2: Avoid spillage of every kind (coffee, chocolate, fruit punch — all off-limits). Step 3: Shut up and dance. This massive all-white, 21-and-over fete is taking over NOTO for a night of nonstop afrobeats and amapiano. You’ve got the game plan (you’re welcome). All that’s left to do is get your ticket and go (Saturday)
• ​​Reggaetón Bowl at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia: Going through ​​a serious reggaetón withdrawal since February? Have no fear, the doctor is here and prescribing you a heavy dose of Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee and Karol G at ​​Reggaetón Bowl. Expect DJs spinning your favorite Latin music hits all night long, bowling, dancing, giveaways, and maybe even a special performance from an up-and-coming star (Saturday).
• The Main Event Philly’s Spring Fling at Marsha’s: The springtime vibes come in at an all-time high at this grown-and-sexy day party at Marsha’s. Let loose with happy hour specials, a laid-back atmosphere, and a soundtrack of throwback, Afrobeat, reggae and house classics by DJ Deluxx. Advance tickets are available at a discount — and highly recommended. The party’s likely to sell out (Saturday).

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 Philly theater and performing arts shows within 72 hours of the performance.

Tickets must be purchased in person at the Independence Visitor Center and include shows by Ensemble Arts, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Wilma Theater and many more. Want the full scoop? Read on in our guide.

Ongoing

Now that Philly has officially thawed for springtime — or as we like to call it, outdoor dining season — you can’t let the warm-weather days, sultry nights and moments of sunshiney bliss go to waste.

Take your meal alfresco at one of Philly’s uber-popular outdoor venues, like Rittenhouse Square’s buzzy escape Walnut Garden, or PHS Pop Up Gardens’  lush urban oases on South Street and in Manayunk.

Ongoing

Visitors to the National Constitution Center can now experience the highly anticipated America’s Founding gallery, offering high-tech snapshots of Revolutionary America in dramatic detail.

The new permanent gallery tells the story of how early Americans fought for independence, created the U.S. Constitution, drafted the Bill of Rights and ultimately laid the groundwork for our democracy. Visitors can explore immersive corridors, interact with tactile installations, watch engaging videos and view real-life artifacts.

In addition to other artifacts, the new space includes an original copy (!) of the U.S. Constitution — one of only 14 surviving — on display throughout 2026, along with rare first printings of 17 constitutional amendments.

Ongoing

Two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter’s work takes center stage at the African American Museum in Philadelphia’s latest exhibit, Afrofuturism in Costume Design, which explores how Carter’s hand-drawn costume images helped define iconic film characters.

The modular exhibition — which features interactive elements — showcases award-winning costumes and artifacts from Carter’s esteemed career, including a rare glimpse of the artist’s personal sketches and costumes from Carter’s private collection.

Carter — aka the most nominated Black woman in Oscar history — won Oscars for her costume designs for the Black Panther films and is the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category.

Through Sunday, April 26, 2026

Seeking to “represent the people around [him],” Noah Davis spent his career capturing the intricacies and beauty of everyday Black life in Los Angeles.

Though he was known for his visually interesting — often dreamlike — paintings exploring politics, race, mythology and more, Davis’ practice included photography-collecting, experimental sculpture-work, collage- and website-making, and, eventually, the opening of his own museum.

This landmark retrospective pays homage to the full breadth of the acclaimed artist’s life and work. After stops in LA, Germany and England, the incredible collection of over 60 pieces comes to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Through Sunday, May 3, 2026

Spring has officially sprung at Longwood Gardens, Philly’s largest horticultural display garden.

The familiar colors and fragrances of the season are ready to be experienced during the annual Spring Blooms event, offering opportunities to take in the world-renowned thousand-acre attraction’s early spring bulbs, vibrant blooms of aromatic tulips, beloved wisteria, flowering trees and more.

Pierre du Pont’s tranquil botanic oasis showcases nearly 10,000 varieties among its indoor and outdoor grounds. Timed admission tickets are required.

Through Sunday, May 17, 2026 (Sundays only)

Roam the streets and shop till you drop. For seven Sundays this April and May, one of Philadelphia’s top shopping and dining destinations transforms into a car-free oasis.

During Open Streets: West Walnut, pedestrians can shop, dine and mosey along seven car-free blocks while enjoying acoustic music, strolling performers and family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Music — more specifically, jazz — is in the air as the outdoor fest joins the Philly Jazz Month festivities. Four talented local musicians are popping up throughout the day to serenade guests with swinging melodies and jazzy riffs (Saturday).

The Open-Streets zone runs on Walnut Street between Broad Street and 19th Street, and on 18th Street between Locust Street and Chestnut Street. Check out the official website for an entertainment schedule and a list of retailer and restaurant happenings.

Through Sunday, May 24, 2026

The tiniest creatures come alive in Eric Carle’s iconic children’s books, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The illustrations of these Small Living Things take center stage at the Michener Art Museum’s latest exhibit, showcasing the author-illustrator’s art.

The exhibit at the Doylestown museum features original art from beloved Carle titles like: The Very Quiet Cricket, The Very Busy Spider and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Visitors also have the opportunity to see Carle’s early sketches along with a peek into the artist’s process.

Through Sunday, July 12, 2026

When the world tried to erase them, their work and their subjects, these Philly-based artists claimed their space — on their own terms, through their own work.

Unfolding across not one, but two Philly museums — Woodmere and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts — Bodies and Souls explores how artists’ work asserted the complexities of the human experience, tackling gender, sexuality, relationships and more; cultivated compassion; and imagined a better world.

The powerful exhibition showcases over 130 paintings, drawings and sculptures, by artists such as Barbara Bullock and Marta Sanchez, and from Philadelphia art collectors Robert and Frances Coulborn Kohler’s collection.

Through Sunday, August 9, 2026

You can tell a lot about a person from their home. For the Shakers — a religious community that originated in 18th-century England and flourished in the United States — their strong beliefs around community, labor and equality extended to every facet of life, including their furniture, architecture and everyday goods.

Pairing historical Shaker-made artifacts straight out of the Testament of Ann Lee with contemporary artworks inspired by the community, this new exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art explores how the group developed a distinctive visual language marked by simplicity, innovation and purpose.

Wanna learn even more? The exhibition was recently featured in this article from The New York Times.

Through Monday, September 7, 2026

No need to leave the city to enjoy a Universal theme-park experience. This world-premiere exhibition, brought to you by The Franklin Institute and Universal Destinations & Experiences, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and world-building that goes into each Universal amusement park.

Spanning 18,000 square feet and eight immersive galleries, the interactive experience showcases more than 100 vehicles, props and other original artifacts from world-famous rides, attractions and live shows. And, in true Franklin Institute form, the display has an educational focus, playing up all the technology, engineering and artistry involved in theme park design.

Through Fall 2026

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.

Through Saturday, October 31, 2026

This beloved culinary treasure returns to the heart of South Philly’s FDR Park, ushering in outdoor market season. A nationally renowned seasonal market, the Southeast Asian Market pops up every weekend (except for occasional special events), showcasing some of the best Lao, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisine in the city.

Last year’s market saw over 70 vendors offering traditional dishes, authentic street food and culturally specific produce, plus plants, jewelry and clothing. Pack a picnic blanket and don’t forget to bring cash — some vendors are cash-only, and there’s no ATM on site.

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.

March 28, 2026 – February 14, 2027

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with exploring the nation’s western territories following the Louisiana Purchase. But did you know that Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences holds nearly all the explorers’ original journals and preserved specimens related to their botanical research in its Lewis & Clark Herbarium?

The museum’s new Botany of Nations exhibition reexamines that rich collection through an Indigenous lens, blending botany (the study of plants) with ethnobotany (the study of how people use plants) to reshape the way we interpret the colonial journey.

Through Monday, January 3, 2028

We all know how the American Revolutionary War ended. Now, a brand-new exhibition — timed to coincide with the year-long Semiquincentennial celebration — at the Independence Seaport Museum explores how our new nation built its economy back up in the aftermath.

Featuring roughly 150 rarely seen objects and artifacts, Seeking Profit and Power: Philadelphia, China Trade and the Making of America examines how the dream of America survived (and thrived) through new economic relationships and international trade alliances — and how China helped build America into the global superpower it is today.

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:

• Yes! Here are Philly’s seven finalists in the 2026 James Beard Awards.
• Meet the Philly entrepreneur building a Black-owned “mini-Reading Terminal Market.”
• Check, check: A new program brings live music to Philly neighborhoods three nights a week.
• Block Party Bonanza: Here’s what you need to know about Philly’s super-sized summer block party series.
• Franklin Fountain is launching 26 new ice cream flavors. You won’t believe some of them.

Hey, bestie! If you made it this far, you get a gold star — and even more awesome content from visitphilly.com. Have at it:

• Want to know a secret? Philly has scores of hidden gems for curious travelers to discover — and you, friend, are in for a treat. Explore 30 of Philly’s best-kept secret places in our newly updated guide to Philly’s under-the-radar attractions.
• Don’t know if you’ve heard, but FIFA World Cup 26 is coming to the city this summer — and it’s kind of a big deal. Both legendary heavy-hitters, like France and Brazil, and exciting rising squads, like Ecuador and Haiti, will take the field in Philadelphia. What better way to experience these cultures than through food? Seize your chance to dine along with the players, try something new or enjoy a taste of home with our brand-new World Cup-inspired culinary guide.
• May is right around the corner, meaning it’s time for both locals and visitors to get outside — and time for festival season to ramp up. The outdoor calendar is filled with massive music fairs, annual foodie gatherings and a plethora of neighborhood street festivals across the region. Get the scoop with our guide to the top things to do in Philly this May.
• Millions of people zip through the Southwest Philadelphia area that Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) calls home each year, but with miles of green space, a rich history, a vibrant international community serving up diverse (and delicious!) eats, and an abundance of comfy hotel options, Southwest Philly deserves a visit in its own right. Wondering where to begin? Start here.
• Extra, extra, read all about it: The birthplace of modern democracy (Philly, obvs) is hosting a global homecoming this summer at TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures. The inaugural event features brand-new TED Talks by some of the world’s brightest thinkers, and fresh off the presses, you can read all about the speakers in our updated event guide.