Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today.
🏙️ Billy Penn City Guide
🌈 Pride Month events guide
🥳 FIFA World Cup in Philly Guide + World Cup Watch Guide
🛝 Kid-friendly summer guide
☕ Philly coffee shop guide
🚶🏽♀️ Alt Philly history walking tours guide
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
🎭 Philly’s comedy scene
🎤 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.
Monday, June 15
Lady Laughs Philly: Open Mic Night – (6 to 9 p.m.)
Philadelphia’s premier monthly comedy show that features all women and queer comics. Open mic welcomes anyone and everyone. No cover! Hosted by Christa Rivers and Michael Kelly. Enjoy Tattooed Mom’s Meatless Mondays menu, as well!
KPop Demon Hunters Fan Celebration – (Through Saturday; various times)
Calling all HUNTR/X fans! Daily KPop Demon Hunters screenings leading up to the fan celebration on 6/20. On celebration day, enjoy a special screening plus photo ops, coloring sheets, face painting, exclusive merch, food and drinks at Netflix Bites, and more.
Tuesday, June 16
Sarah J. Jackson Author Event – (1 to 2 p.m.)
In Conversation with Sara M. Lomax. Since the nation’s founding, Black Americans have had a unique perspective on the U.S. experience—a “second sight”—that reveals the truth about the nation to itself. Jackson’s book charts this effort, chronicling a cast of Black journalists, photographers, filmmakers, radio hosts, podcasters and other mediamakers who have drawn on the visionary tradition of second sight to advance democracy and broaden our most fundamental American values. At Parkway Central. Free registration.
Not Just Jazz – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Free live music in FDR Park. Back for a fifth season at The Lakes! BYO chair or blanket. Food trucks on site! Curated by Lorraine Yarborough of Jazz & Other Soulful Sounds (JOTSS).
Notebook Talk & Swap – (7 to 8 p.m.)
For notebook, paper planner, bullet journal, and diary enthusiasts–or those who want to become one! Bring your tips, tricks, and blank notebooks. At the Pen & Pencil Club. Free registration.
Amitav Ghosh Author Event – (7 to 8 p.m.)
In Conversation with Brooke O’Harra. The best-selling author speaks on his latest novel, where past and present collide for a girl who might just be a “case of the reincarnation type.” Traveling between late 1960s Calcutta and present-day Brooklyn, Amitav Ghosh’s “Ghost-Eye” is an urgent and expansive novel from one of our greatest living storytellers, about family, fate, and our fragile planet. At Parkway Central Library. $5 registration.
Wednesday, June 17
Reel Perspectives: Stories From The African Diaspora – (2 p.m.)
A monthly film series that celebrates Black life, art, and history through film. Each screening is followed by a community conversation where we share reflections and ideas. At Walnut Street West Library.
From Our Forefathers: Climate Crisis in Chemistry History – (2:30 to 3:30 p.m.)
At Science History Institute. Artist Aislinn Pentecost-Farren and ArtPhilly’s What Now: 2026 festival take a look at the museum through a new lens. Examine a selection of discoveries behind iconic 20th-century inventions. From a nylon stocking to a lightbulb, Pentecost-Farren illuminates our understanding of climate catastrophe by unearthing its origins. Free registration is required.
Orkney Park Kids Nature Workshop – (5 p.m.)
Explore, learn, and get your hands a little dirty in nature with Rebecca Deegan in Orkney Park. Free registration.
Thursday, June 18
Fishtown Currents: A Mural Walking Tour – (5 p.m.)
Get to know the vibrant heart of Fishtown through this freshly curated mural walking tour. Weave between bustling Frankford Avenue and the quiet charm of the surrounding residential streets to explore public art in a neighborhood that beautifully blends past and present. You will learn about its rich industrial history through murals like Scenes from Fishtown by Eric Okdeh, as well as uncover brand new projects such as Henbo’s No Place Like Home that embody Fishtown’s community-driven spirit. Join Mural Arts for an intimate look at how murals help to define community, memory, and home.
Arts on Center Stage – (6 to 7 p.m.)
East Passyunk Opera Project (ePOP), returns during the Philly Pride Arts Festival with a vibrant evening of opera and jazz featuring tenor Teddy Balfour-Austina nd soprano and jazz artist Nia Drummond, along with pianist Aurelien Eulert and Geoffrey Deemer from the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra. BYO blanket or chair. Free. At Dilworth Park.
Conceived In Crisis: Pennsylvania in 1776 – (6:30 to 8 p.m.)
Christopher Pearl will explore the state of Pennsylvania’s radical birth just days before Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Free with registration.
5th annual United We Heal Film Festival, Day One – (7 to 11 p.m.)
Dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black and Brown filmmakers through the transformative power of cinema. Through film, conversation, and cultural programming, we create space for authentic storytelling that challenges systemic oppression while fostering dialogue around mental and public health. Pre-game event is headlined by Kota the Friend and Junglepussy. At Underground Arts. Doors open at 5 p.m. $30-95 tickets for the two-day festival.
Friday, June 19
Cocktails & Congress – (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
Relive the First Continental Congress where it actually took place! Step back in time to 1774 and take a front-row seat for the debates that shaped a nation. Held in the historic Carpenters’ Hall — the actual site of the First Continental Congress. Enjoy cocktails and snacks as you witness the Founding Fathers debate independence. See how representatives from diverse colonies forged a new American identity. Witness the heated exchange between John Adams and John Dickinson – as well as members of the enslaved and free Black communities, as they wrestle with the fate of the colonies behind closed doors. Every Friday through August 28. $50 tickets include two cocktails or mocktails.
5th annual United We Heal Film Festival, Day Two – (6 p.m. to midnight)
Dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black and Brown filmmakers through the transformative power of cinema. Through film, conversation, and cultural programming, we create space for authentic storytelling that challenges systemic oppression while fostering dialogue around mental and public health. At Underground Arts. Doors open at 5 p.m. $30-95 tickets for the two-day festival.
Cedar Park Jazz Series – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Live music, community vibes, and great energy on 49th and Baltimore. Every Friday through the end of July — 9 local bands perform at this free, family-friendly event. BYO lawn chairs, cooler snacks and dancing shoes!
2026 Weekly Performance Schedule:
June 19: MJE Marston Jazz Experience
June 26: Garfield Fleming & Friends
July 3: Bobby Zankel’s Wonderful Sound Six
July 10: The Jazz Crew Big Band
July 17: Bert Harris and the AfroJazz Collective
July 24: Tia & The Connection
July 31: Fyrestorm
Saturday, June 20
PRIDE AF Jam Sesh featuring GPS – (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Hosted by Mobbluz, this event preserves the part of Philly culture where & when musicians & the community come together to improvise and celebrate Pride! Bring your instrument, your bars, your verse and be ready to get integrated into the Jam. $10 door, $5 drink specials, $5-10 plates by Chef Marcus, enjoy music inside or relax in the private outdoor courtyard. At BodyRock Boot Camp, 3858 Lancaster Ave.
Neighborhood Jawnts Tour Series: Lower Bustleton / Castor Gardens – (10 a.m. or 2 p.m. tours)
Experience the vibrant future of Philadelphia in Lower Bustleton and Castor Gardens. This multicultural journey showcases a neighborhood shaped by international influences and immigrant energy, taking you from the natural beauty of Pennypack Park to a stunning array of spiritual landmarks like the Kai Yuan and Phat Bao Temples. Guided by a local voice, you’ll explore the historic Verree House and the community hubs of Oxford Circle before diving into a world of flavor at Don Pedro Meats, al-Jana Halal Market, and Bells Market. This unique opportunity gives you a front row seat to witness how the Northeast serves as a global gateway. Free registration. Tour starts and ends at Independence Visitor Center.
Olamina Storytelling Game – (6 p.m.)
Why dream of a new world when we can build one together? Futurefull is hosting a live, multicultural storytelling event every third Saturday this summer! With drums, song, music, and dice, come play in our circle and tell the story of a brighter future inspired by traditional Jamaican storytelling. If you love TTRPGs, storytelling, improvising, and play, this is for you! Bring your weird theatre kid energy and tell a communal story in a way that is brand new, impossibly old, and instantly familiar. This is event is open to queer people of color and the people who love them. At Black.Bird.Rising, 5838 Germantown Ave. Tickets are pay-what-you-can.
Sunday, June 21
Neighborhood Jawnts Tour Series: Lower Bustleton / Castor Gardens – (10 a.m. or 2 p.m. tours)
Experience the vibrant future of Philadelphia in Lower Bustleton and Castor Gardens. This multicultural journey showcases a neighborhood shaped by international influences and immigrant energy, taking you from the natural beauty of Pennypack Park to a stunning array of spiritual landmarks like the Kai Yuan and Phat Bao Temples. Guided by a local voice, you’ll explore the historic Verree House and the community hubs of Oxford Circle before diving into a world of flavor at Don Pedro Meats, al-Jana Halal Market, and Bells Market. This unique opportunity gives you a front row seat to witness how the Northeast serves as a global gateway. Free registration. Tour starts and ends at Independence Visitor Center.
3rd annual Summer Solstice Festival – (12 to 7 p.m.)
Celebrate the longest day of the year on S. 4th Street (from Lombard to Catharine) on the historic corridor also known as Fabric Row, a longtime cultural hub for fashion, creativity, and design. This vibrant outdoor market brings together the best of Philly’s arts and culture scene with local shopping, live music, hands-on workshops, games, activities, delicious food, and so much more.
Through July 5
Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival
Six weeks of programming across the city, showcasing the extraordinary and innovative work of emerging and established Latine/x/a/o filmmakers. Programming includes the activation of community spaces with screenings of groundbreaking works from all genres: short film, narrative, documentary, animation, emerging media and more. Our programs focus on offering community centered spaces in the Philadelphia region and beyond. Prices and locations vary.
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. Occasional Saturdays: April 18, May 30 and July 11.
No Arena: Making a Movement – (2 to 6 p.m.)
On the occasion of America’s 250th Anniversary, “No Arena: Making A Movement” highlights a decentralized grassroots movement that was led by people of color, serving as a model for what our democracy can be. Interactive with events programming through July. Gallery is open Thursdays through Saturdays.
Through October
A People’s Exposition!
Join us for a citywide exhibit and engagement series to take a critical and honest look at key issues shaping Philadelphia today, to envision a more just and equitable future for our city, and to act on solutions that address our greatest challenges. At the Kensington Engagement Center.
