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👟 Broad Street Run weekend guide
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
❤️ Mother’s Day guide
🎤 Philly Record Store Guide
⚽ Billy Penn’s FIFA World Cup Guide
🛍️ Thrifty in Philly guide
📚 Book lovers’ guide to Philly
🍹 Non-alcoholic Philly
😋 Dining in Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
Note: this list will be updated throughout the week.
Tuesday, April 28
Night Market at East Market – (3 to 7 p.m.)
Every Tuesday evening through June 16, Chestnut Walk transforms into a glowing, open‑air marketplace filled with live music and local vendors selling food, handcrafted goods, seasonal produce, plants. Happy hour vibes!
Powerful Together: A Fishtown Feast – (6 to 8:30 p.m.)
At the Event Center at Rivers Casino. Guests will enjoy small plates from some of Fishtown’s finest restaurants, while making a difference in the lives of Philadelphia families through Lutheran Settlement House’s work. $150 tickets.
Budget Town Hall: Public Safety and Justice
Free RSVP to learn about and share your voice on these issues. Full schedule here.
Wednesday, April 29
2026 Old City Wedding Stroll – (5 to 8 p.m.)
40+ Old City wedding businesses will open their doors for an exclusive evening of meet and greets, demos, tastings, tours, and more! Free RSVP.
Budget Town Hall: Planning, Housing and Economic Development
Free RSVP to learn about and share your voice on these issues. Full schedule here.
Profs & Pints Philadelphia: The Neanderthals Among Us – (6 to 8:30 p.m.)
A social seminar on the genetic legacy of our ancestors’ pairings with Homo neanderthalensis and what such genes tell us about prehistoric life, with Alexander Platt, evolutionary geneticist and senior research scientist at University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. $14.77 tickets in advance; $17 at the door. At Black Squirrel Club.
Budget 101: Germantown – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Join this interactive workshop to learn about Philadelphia’s city budget, who makes decisions, and how to make your voice heard. Hosted in partnership with Germantown Info Hub. At the Crossroads Womens Center. Free RSVP.
Thursday, April 30
Curtis Opera Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – (7 p.m.)
Magic and mischief intertwine in Benjamin Britten’s enchanting adaptation of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy. Critically acclaimed director Sarah Ina Meyers and dynamic international conductor Vinay Parameswaran lead a dazzling cast of young opera stars and members of Curtis Symphony Orchestra in this production. Prepare to be transported to a twilight world where feuding fairies meddle with mortals, hearts are led astray, and the surreal world of dreams blurs the edges of reality. $43 to 88 tickets.
Kiss Me Goodnight: Poetry Reading, Book Signing & Discussion – (7 to 9 p.m.)
METAL & DVST is an independent art space curated by award-winning multidisciplinary artist Kelly Korzun. At Indy Hall. $10 tickets; $35 for admission+book.
Philly Book Launch: FAT SWIM – (7 to 9:30 p.m.)
Join H&H Books and Philly-based author Emma Copley Eisenberg at the Philadelphia Ethical Society for a night of literature, performance art, and community, as we celebrate the launch of Emma’s newest work of fiction, Fat Swim. Beer and hard cider will be available for purchase courtesy of Succession Fermentory. $34.12 ticket includes book.
Thursday Trivia at Olde City – (7 to 10 p.m.)
Weekly on Thursdays. Register your team in advance to earn an extra 50 points for your team. Hosted by DJ Jeanna Renee. Kitchen open all night.
Friday, May 1
Sing Us Home Festival – (4:30 to 10:30 p.m.)
At Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk. $63+ daily and weekend passes.
Remember the Ladies: After-Hours Tour – (5 to 6 p.m.)
Every Friday evening in May: Join this intimate look at the lives and legacies of the remarkable women laid to rest at Christ Church Burial Ground. You’ll meet trailblazers like Julia Stockton Rush, Sarah Franklin Bache — women whose courage and contributions helped shape Philadelphia and the nation. $12.51 tickets.
May Day Flower Bar & Crown, Brooch, Fascinator (with Jamie Campbell) – (5 to 7 p.m.)
Buy, design, and make silk flowers from recycled textiles and leave with your own fascinator, floral brooch, flower crown, bouquet, and more. At Cherry Street Pier. $12 to $40 depending on bouquet size and trinkets desired.
First Friday (May) at Arch Enemy Arts – (5 to 9 p.m.)
Join the opening of five new exhibitions led by BRINGS MAY FLOWERS III, AEA’s lush, botanical-themed group show, alongside four brand new solo exhibitions: Dewi Plass’s HEARTBEATS, Holly Jean Studios’ [PLACE]HOLDER, Vasilisa Romanenko’s FLORA & FLIGHT, and Michael Koehler’s BUGS IN THE CODE. For anyone craving some renewed spring energy! Free reception included.
Eraserhood Fest – (5 to 11 p.m.)
In memory of David Lynch. Packed streets, awesome performances, and artists sharing stages across the neighborhood. At the Rail Park, entrance near 10th and Wood streets.
First Friday Game Night – (6 to 8 p.m.)
A laid-back game night at American Vegan Center in Old City. Games available on-site, but BYO welcome. Free.
Sappho’s Salon: An Evening at the Temple of Friendship – (7 to 9 p.m.)
An immersive, multi-floor theater experience honoring the radical sapphic artists who gathered at Barney’s legendary Temple of Friendship. Downstairs, you’ll be a guest at the salon itself, witnessing readings, performances, philosophical debates, and the kind of conversation that only happens when queer women and artists gather in a space that shouldn’t exist according to the world’s rules. Upstairs, wander through rooms where extraordinary women come alive: a burlesque tease from Marlene Dietrich, a philosophy lesson from Hypatia, a Charleston dance lesson with Bricktop, Virginia Woolf’s interactive writing room, and more. $25-45 tickets.
2nd Hand Circus Scrap Night – First of May – (7:30 to 10:30 p.m.)
On May 1st, International Workers’ Day and the first day of Bicycle Month, 2nd Hand Circus invites you to celebrate making, trying, building, and beginning. Scrap Night features circus sartists transforming a secondhand item into a brand new act. At Thunderbird Hall. $37 to $79 tickets.
Saturday, May 2
Wild Horizon Festival – (all day)
A FREE circus and play festival for young people and families. At Cherry Street Pier.
Eastern State Penitentiary Vintage and Antique Flea Market – (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Local makers gather around the historic penitentiary in Fairmount for this outdoor market — right across the street from the Bache-Martin Elementary School Flea Market on the same day! Pay-as-you-go.
Plant Sale – (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Hosted by volunteers with the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association, with funds upporting their work managing Liberty Lands Park. From herb and veggie starts to flowering shrubs, come get your garden started with plants raised by your neighbors.
13th annual Sojourner Truth Walk – (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
More than just a 5K, this annual West Philadelphia event is a celebration of community resilience and girls’ and women’s leadership and activism. This year’s theme is “We The People… Build Sanctuary,” and honors Councilmember Jamie Gauthier for her efforts to bolster environmental protections and immigrant rights. The walkathon serves as a fundraiser for Camp Sojourner/Girls’ Leadership Camp for Philadelphia girls/youth ages 8–17. 5K route begins and ends at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore Ave).
Point Breeze Neighborhood Sidewalk Sale – (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Have you been meaning to declutter the basement? Clear out those closets? Sell your items at the comfort of your own home. Free to shop. View the map here.
13th Annual Maifest by Brauhaus Schmitz – (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
An all-day, all-ages celebration with one of the tallest maypoles in the U.S., plus German food and beer, outdoor live music, dancing, games and traditions like the Liter Lift Competition, Flower Crowns, Maypole Dance, Pig Roast and other activities.
Sing Us Home Festival – (11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
At Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk. $63+ daily and weekend passes.
Spring Walking History Tour – (12 to 2 p.m.)
Join Tacony CDC for a Walking History Tour focused on “The Town Before the Company: Pre-Disston Family Tacony.” Meet at the parking lot at the K&T Trailhead along Princeton Ave. The rain date for this event is Saturday, May 9. Free.
Spring Fling Makers Market – (12 to 4 p.m.)
Handmade goods by Black Hound Clay Studio Members, plus food by A Truck Called Sandoz, pressed flower activities by Pressed with Pride and more! At 715 S. 50th Street in West Philly.
Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival – (12 to 5 p.m.)
Cheesesteak eggrolls, champagne jello shots, live music, local shopping, family activities and more at this annual celebration of Rittenhouse businesses and community from 15th to 19th Streets along Walnut Street.
South Street Spring Fest – (12 to 7 p.m.)
A community rooted experience with different themes for each block, featuring live performances, immersive art, local vendors, and cultural experiences! Includes: Queen & Rook’s Ren Faire, Twisted Tail’s Derby Day, a Kids Zone, food trucks, Passyunk Avenue’s Nocturnal Takeover, Record Riot’s Vinyl Block Party with Repo Records, Atomic City Comics’ Free Comic Book Day, and Brauhaus Schmitz’s Maifest.
Queen & Rook Fantasy Faire Block Party – (12 to 8 p.m.)
A day of fantasy-themed fun over the 100 Block of South Street between S 2nd and Front streets. A medieval, magical escape with costumes, mead tasting, wax sealing and dipping, tarot card readings, themed food and cocktails for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, and lots of nerdy crafts and art. Enjoy sword fighting and fire performers alongside comedians and musicians! This year, enchanting performances will take place on multiple stages both inside and out.
Borski Bash: Welcome Back to the Park – (1 to 6 p.m.)
Borski Park reopens on the waterfront with this family-friendly event featuring food trucks, local vendors, games and more. Free to attend; pay-as-you-go.
4th annual Fishtown Music & Arts Festival – (12 to 10 p.m.)
Takes place under the El at Front & Palmer. Showcases local talent across all trades, including 100+ local food & craft vendors, bands, DJs, artists and more. Partially free (food/craft vendors, children’s play areas), but tickets start at $35 for musical acts.
Curtis Opera Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – (2 p.m.)
Magic and mischief intertwine in Benjamin Britten’s enchanting adaptation of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy. Critically acclaimed director Sarah Ina Meyers and dynamic international conductor Vinay Parameswaran lead a dazzling cast of young opera stars and members of Curtis Symphony Orchestra in this production. Prepare to be transported to a twilight world where feuding fairies meddle with mortals, hearts are led astray, and the surreal world of dreams blurs the edges of reality. $43 to 88 tickets.
Sappho’s Salon: An Evening at the Temple of Friendship – (2 to 4 p.m + 7 to 9 p.m.)
An immersive, multi-floor theater experience honoring the radical sapphic artists who gathered at Barney’s legendary Temple of Friendship. Downstairs, you’ll be a guest at the salon itself, witnessing readings, performances, philosophical debates, and the kind of conversation that only happens when queer women and artists gather in a space that shouldn’t exist according to the world’s rules. Upstairs, wander through rooms where extraordinary women come alive: a burlesque tease from Marlene Dietrich, a philosophy lesson from Hypatia, a Charleston dance lesson with Bricktop, Virginia Woolf’s interactive writing room, and more. $25-45 tickets.
Philadelphia: A Walk Through History: Walking Tour and Reception – (3 to 5 p.m.)
Join Carpenters’ Hall and journalist Natalie Pompilio for an hour-long walking tour of Old City followed by a tour of historic Carpenters’ Hall, host of the First Continental Congress in 1774. Light refreshments available. Register online.
Love City Presents: Spring Sing – (5 p.m.)
Join the Love City Cabaret for a musical bouquet of selections that conjure the spring. Featuring a setlist of sprightly, blooming melodies that help us all welcome the better weather. Love City Cabaret is an all-volunteer musical theatre ensemble established in 2023 for the purpose of raising funds for local nonprofits. This event is part of 2026 Philly Theatre Week. At Sawubona Creativity Project. Pay-what-you-can.
Sunday, May 3
Wild Horizon Festival – (all day)
A FREE circus and play festival for young people and families. At Cherry Street Pier.
Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival – (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Historic Germantown Avenue transforms six blocks into a vibrant marketplace featuring 300+ vendors showcasing everything from garden décor and heirloom plants to handcrafted furniture and artisan goods. Stretches from the 8100 to 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue.
Sing Us Home Festival – (11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
At Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk. $63+ daily and weekend passes.
“American Peril” Book Tour – (12 to 2 p.m.)
Join local community activists Debbie Wei and Wei Chen in conversation with award-winning scholar Scott Kurashige as he discusses his new novel, which takes an expansive dive into anti-Asian violence and connects domestic and global events that have been erased from the official record. The book also traces the rise of Asian American community protest and activism and argues that hope lies in grassroots activism for multiracial solidarity. Part of APA Heritage Month. At FACTS Charter School, 1023 Callowhill Street. Free RSVP.
Art Deco Walking Tour – (2 p.m.)
Preservation Alliance walking tour highlighting this popular early 20th century style, synonymous with the Jazz Age. Described as having one foot in the past and one foot in the future, its appearance foretells the debut of Modernism while its use of Mayan and Aztec motifs echoes the past. $18 tickets.
Mother’s Day Art Market – (2 to 6 p.m.)
Punch Buggy Brewing hosts this art market featuring local artists with one-of-a-kind wares, handmade goods, live music, and of course… cold beers. At 1445 N. American Street.
2026 Haiku Dojo Head-to-Head: First Invitational – (3 to 5 p.m.)
This ONLINE event features 8 poets and 3 judges, hosted by national and world haiku head-to-head champion, Tazuo Basho Yamaguchi. As our Gyoji, Tazuo will guide transitions, moderate audience engagement, and perform the traditional Ceremony of Flags. $5 ticket.
Sappho’s Salon: An Evening at the Temple of Friendship – (7 to 9 p.m.)
An immersive, multi-floor theater experience honoring the radical sapphic artists who gathered at Barney’s legendary Temple of Friendship. Downstairs, you’ll be a guest at the salon itself, witnessing readings, performances, philosophical debates, and the kind of conversation that only happens when queer women and artists gather in a space that shouldn’t exist according to the world’s rules. Upstairs, wander through rooms where extraordinary women come alive: a burlesque tease from Marlene Dietrich, a philosophy lesson from Hypatia, a Charleston dance lesson with Bricktop, Virginia Woolf’s interactive writing room, and more. $25-45 tickets.
Through April
Confluence Film Festival – (5:30 to 8 p.m.)
A month-long environmental film series held each April in celebration of Earth Month, with screenings every Thursday evening. This year’s theme is “Seeding the Future.” $10 tickets.
Through June 9
Healing Verse Germantown: The Streets Are Talking, Launch Celebration – (2 to 5 p.m.)
The exhibition features 19 public art poems by Germantown community members about healing from the impacts of gun violence. Celebrate these poets with remarks, food, poetry activations, guided tours, and community. At the Friends Free Library (5418 Germantown Ave) and Ubuntu Fine Art (5423 Germantown Ave), directly across the street from each other. Art includes a collage poster series, video installations, augmented reality constellations, interactive floral offerings, a stained glass panel installation on a SEPTA bus shelter, a wrapped SEPTA bus, and more.
Occasional Saturdays through July 11
El Mercado Cultural at Cherry Street Pier – (11 a.m. to 5 p.m)
A series of spring and summer markets presented in collaboration with Fleisher Art Memorial. Shop from vendors, savor tasty bites, and enjoy the rotating entertainment. April 18, May 30 and July 11.
