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🏙️ Billy Penn City Guide
✊🏾 Black history in Philly guide
✏️ Philly Quizzo guide
🍦 Vegan ice cream guide
🥕 CSA farmshare 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
🛍️ 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, August 10
Science on Tap: Untapped Revolution – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Take a break from the Declaration and the 18th century and learn more about revolutionary moments in scientific advancements, from the study of diatoms to our understanding of dinosaurs. At the American Philosophical Society. $20 ticket includes food and drinks.
Community Night: BYO craft – (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.)
Head to Cartesian Brewing for community craft night, supplies available, but BYO craft and supplies, as well! One drink (non-alcoholic available) minimum. $5 tickets.
21st annual Danny Rumph Classic Basketball Tournament – (through Monday, 8/10)
Some of the best of Philadelphia basketball come together in a pro-am tournament honoring the life and legacy of Danny Rumph, the Parkway High School standout and Western Kentucky University point guard who died in 2005 at age 21 after collapsing on the court after a pickup game. The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation raises awareness about heart health and provides screenings and promotes information to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Tickets sold at the door of Drexel University, 3301 Market Street.
Tuesday, August 11
Gumbo Nouveau at FDR Park – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Part of the Not Just Jazz series. The stage is set at a new location next to the American-Swedish Historical Museum and baseball field #4. FREE. BYO chair or blanket.
Wednesday, August 12
Community Engagement Night at MY Market East – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Join Neighbors Across Market and community groups for an evening of engagement and discussion around the future of Market East. The Planning Department keeps the doors open late for you to come in and speak with planning professionals about what YOU want to see for Market East. Organizations will table along the 900 block of Market Street providing even more ways for you to get involved in shaping our communities! Language interpretation will be available for speakers of both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. FREE.
Rittenhouse Square East Tour – (6 p.m.)
Philadelphia’s most fashionable address was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explore today’s ambiance and compare the grand homes designed for the wealthy elite to the understated, elegant residences on Delancey Street. Meet at the large fountain in Rittenhouse Square. Audio equipment is thoroughly sanitized before and after each use. BYO headsets if desired. $18 tickets.
Happy Hour for Runners & Grave Gardeners – (6 to 8 p.m.)
Join members of The Woodlands, the Grave Gardeners, and the West Philly Runners for an outdoor happy hour. Cold beverages (seltzer, water, cider, and beer) await at the stable! These happy hours are a great opportunity to meet the community of runners and Grave Gardeners, while celebrating the best place for walks and runs in the neighborhood. $10 suggested donation for non-members.
Thursday, August 13
Summer Send-Off Family Night – (5 to 8 p.m.)
Join the National Constitution Center for an evening of family-friendly activities, after-hours museum exploration, and hands-on fun before the school year begins. Explore new exhibits like America’s Founding and Governing the Nation, then experience history in a whole new light with a guided flashlight tour of Signers’ Hall. Plus, 18th-century-inspired crafts, games, and interactive activities. Free tickets require registration.
Passyunk Passeggiata – (5 p.m. onwards)
Every Thursday at 5 p.m., all summer long through August 27. East Passyunk Avenue presents an Italian-Style Promenade featuring Happy Hour Specials from participating bars and restaurants, extended retail hours and a music series!
Stroll After Hours – (6 to 10 p.m.)
Light up Thursday nights in Manayunk! Food trucks & pop-up vendors, live music & DJs, interactive art demos, outdoor movie nights and more! See each Thursday’s schedule online. FREE.
Painting with Kyuramen Philly – (7 to 10 p.m.)
Paint, popcorn chicken and a Kyuramen coupon provided. $39.99-$41.99 per person.
11th Annual Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival: “Tell Me A Love Story” – (7 p.m.)
A tale of ripping seams, mending dreams, and the women who help us begin again. In Megan McDermott’s moving play, an aspiring hat designer and a psychology student forge forward as they pursue their passions, protect their children, and find freedom through female friendship. Tell Me A Love Story celebrates the courage to dream again and is a tapestry of the many loves that define us: the loves we mend, the loves we tear ourselves away from, and the loves that help us stitch together a new life. $30 tickets.
Friday, August 14
Gatekeepers of Truth: Artists and Archivists in Paul Robeson’s America – (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
A two-day conference exploring archives as sites of struggle, memory, and cultural power. Rooted in Paul Robeson’s insistence that artists are never neutral, this conference highlights the creative, community-oriented, and interdisciplinary approaches to archival practice, public history, cultural stewardship, and artistic activation. At a moment when African American history is being actively contested and actively dismantled, Gatekeepers of Truth asks how we can preserve past and present struggles to build living archives for future generations. $25-80 tickets.
Neighborhood Jawnts Tour Series: Jazz in North Philly – (2 p.m.)
Follow the story of North Philadelphia’s golden age of jazz as you visit the legendary clubs, theaters, and gathering places where icons like John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, and Pearl Bailey performed, lived, and helped shape American music. Along the way, discover how this vibrant neighborhood also became a center for Black culture, Civil Rights activism, and community institutions whose influence continues to resonate throughout Philadelphia today. FREE registration required. Meet at Independence Visitor Center.
After Hours Book Fair – (6 to 9 p.m.)
Join your favorite Philadelphia bookstores (and booksellers!) for this special after-hours event in the Proscenium Theatre at the Drake! Beloved shops and new shops come together for a few special hours of drinks, beats, and books. Participating bookstores: Big Town Books – specializing in international translations; Binding Agents – specializing in cookbooks; Giovanni’s Room @ Philly AIDS Thrift; Midsummer Books – specializing in children’s books; Mavey Books. $15 tickets.
From Page To Screen – (6:30 p.m.)
Esperanza Arts Center presents a Dominican Arts & Film Series. Tonight: “Gran Salon & Plaza.” Features screenings, artist conversations, local vendors, Latin food, Merengue music, and interactive dance lessons. FREE tickets.
11th Annual Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival: “Tell Me A Love Story” – (7 p.m.)
A tale of ripping seams, mending dreams, and the women who help us begin again. In Megan McDermott’s moving play, an aspiring hat designer and a psychology student forge forward as they pursue their passions, protect their children, and find freedom through female friendship. Tell Me A Love Story celebrates the courage to dream again and is a tapestry of the many loves that define us: the loves we mend, the loves we tear ourselves away from, and the loves that help us stitch together a new life. $30 tickets.
Movie Night at Liberty Lands Park – (8:30 p.m.)
Grab your snacks and chair and head to Liberty Lands. Screening “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” FREE.
The Lawn at UCity Square x cinéSPEAK present “Elio” – (8:30 p.m.)
FREE outdoor family friendly screening series. For August, the screening is of charming sci-fi animated adventure, Elio (2025), from Disney and Pixar. Rain date is Saturday, August 15. Happy hour from 5-7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m., film at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 15
Delaware River Heritage Trail Loop Walk – (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
A full exploration of the lower loop of the Delaware River Heritage Trail in Philadelphia and New Jersey, with two scenic bridge crossings. Start and end at the south end of Franklin Square Park, with optional endpoints in Pennsauken, Tacony. Total: 26 miles. This walk is part of the 2026 celebration of the Delaware River Heritage Trail. FREE registration.
Other dates:
Aug. 29: Lower Bucks Loop Walk, Levittown to Bristol, Fairless Hills
Sep 5: Roebling Ramble, Roebling to Trenton
Sep 26: Burlington Heritage Trail Walk, Burlington to Palmyra
Oct 3: 17.76 mile Heritage Trail Freedom Walk, Philly and Camden
Oct 17: Bristol Stomp, Bristol to Trenton
Gatekeepers of Truth: Artists and Archivists in Paul Robeson’s America – (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
A two-day conference exploring archives as sites of struggle, memory, and cultural power. Rooted in Paul Robeson’s insistence that artists are never neutral, this conference highlights the creative, community-oriented, and interdisciplinary approaches to archival practice, public history, cultural stewardship, and artistic activation. At a moment when African American history is being actively contested and actively dismantled, Gatekeepers of Truth asks how we can preserve past and present struggles to build living archives for future generations. $25-80 tickets.
Neighborhood Jawnts Tour Series: Jazz in North Philly – (10 a.m. + 2 p.m.)
Follow the story of North Philadelphia’s golden age of jazz as you visit the legendary clubs, theaters, and gathering places where icons like John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, and Pearl Bailey performed, lived, and helped shape American music. Along the way, discover how this vibrant neighborhood also became a center for Black culture, Civil Rights activism, and community institutions whose influence continues to resonate throughout Philadelphia today. FREE registration required. Meet at Independence Visitor Center.
Don’t Try This at Home Day – (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Franklin Institute transforms its programming into a live-action event where chemistry and physics unfold in real time through sometimes-literally explosive demonstrations. Includes hands-on experiments in a controlled environment! $23-29 tickets.
Thrive Philly presents: Flourish Fest – (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
A free community block party at N. 5th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. FREE.
Corgi Meet-Up – (12 to 3 p.m.)
Pay homage to one of our favorite breeds, the Corgi! BYO dog out whether it be mixed or purebred, a puppy or a senior, and meet other four-legged friends! At Evil Genius Beer Co.
Reading Terminal Market’s Ice Cream Festival – (12 to 4 p.m.)
The annual Ice Cream Festival is back! FREE to attend, pay-as-you-go. Features dozens of ice cream-themed treats, Philly favorites, entertainment, contests, kids activities, ice cream specials and more! Rain or shine. Under cover on the 1100 block of Filbert St. as well as through the Market.
EcoFest Block Party at The Water Shed – (12 to 6 p.m.)
A day of sustainability, creativity and Germantown pride on the 5300 block of Wayne Avenue! Connect with your climate and community as you explore hands-on activities, art-making, community resources, and more. Plus food trucks, a DJ and activities. FREE.
Oval MiniFest Marketplace + Movie Night – (12 to 10:30 p.m.)
At Eakins Oval. From 12-6 p.m., shop the Summer Scorcher Market with live music and a phone-free Parkway Puzzle Hunt. Then, at 8 p.m., watch a free screening of “Project Hail Mary.” Snacks available to purchase all day from local food trucks, plus lawn games and outdoor toys!
End of Summer Festival – (1 to 4 p.m.)
Backpack giveaway and Patch Bar Truck, carnival fun, food vendors, a play bus, face painting and more in Allegheny West/Manayunk at 2800 Fox Street.
Festival of India – (2 to 8 p.m.)
Celebrate India’s Independence Day at Cherry Street Pier! Enjoy Northern and Southern-style Indian cuisine, Bollywood performances, music, shopping, and tons of fun. The festival is presented by Indian Organizations in Greater Philadelphia (CIO). FREE/Pay-as-you-go.
9th annual Philadelphia Taco Festival – (2 to 8 p.m.)
An action-packed weekend filled with tacos, margaritas, a nacho station, kids piñata smashing, taco-themed fun, plus live bands on multiple stages and more. Tickets start at $14.
“Olamina” story circle – (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. Take the role of an ancestor of a girl in the deep future named Olamina; together, we inspire or challenge her as we play through a day in her life. Every conflict is resolved with a dice role, and every resolution is turned into call-and-response song. If you love TTRPGs, storytelling, improvising, and play, this is for you. At Black.Bird.Rising at 5838 Germantown Avenue. Pay-what-you-can.
Beach Street Landing Night Market – (6 to 10 p.m.)
Live music, local vendors, food and beverages and a 9 p.m. comedy show. FREE. At 33 Fairmount Avenue in Northern Liberties.
11th Annual Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival: “Tell Me A Love Story” – (7 p.m.)
A tale of ripping seams, mending dreams, and the women who help us begin again. In Megan McDermott’s moving play, an aspiring hat designer and a psychology student forge forward as they pursue their passions, protect their children, and find freedom through female friendship. Tell Me A Love Story celebrates the courage to dream again and is a tapestry of the many loves that define us: the loves we mend, the loves we tear ourselves away from, and the loves that help us stitch together a new life. $30 tickets.
Write About Now Poetry Live – (7:30 to 10:30 p.m.)
One of the best live poetry events comes to Philly. Sign up for the open mic; lines to sign up begin forming early. First-come, first-served. Lines move fast. Featured poet: Ken Jones. + host Jay Smoov and a house DJ. At Penn’s Landing, 1301 S Christopher Columbus Blvd. Full bar and food available. Tickets start at $33.15.
Street Movies! Strawberry Mansion – (7:30 p.m.)
Join Scribe Video Center outdoors at The Yard on John Coltrane Street for a curated night of local, international, and award-winning short films, plus discussion and live music! This event is presented in partnership with the Strawberry Mansion CDC. Feat. “Black Journal: Alice Coltrane” (USA / 1970 / 16 MIN), “Fletcher Street” (USA / 2026 / 35 MIN), “Back of House” (USA / 2025 / 12 MIN), “Why I Love You: Meet The Ultimates” (USA / 2026 / 15 min). FREE registration.
Wild at the Lakes (Bats!) – (7:45 p.m.)
Come out to learn more about the bats that call FDR Park home. Bat programs take place after dark, when bats are most active. Meet at the Boathouse.
Sunday, August 16
Old City Tour – (10 a.m.)
Explore colonial Philadelphia and walk some of its original streets. See famous Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied street in the US, and experience the walking/mercantile city, as well as a later generation of Victorian structures. Learn how this area remained the center of Philadelphia’s commercial, retail and governmental activities until the city finally moved “westward” to Center Square in the mid/late 19th century. Meet at the tables in the pocket park at 2nd and Elfreth’s Streets. $18 tickets.
Neighborhood Jawnts Tour Series: Jazz in North Philly – (10 a.m. + 2 p.m.)
Follow the story of North Philadelphia’s golden age of jazz as you visit the legendary clubs, theaters, and gathering places where icons like John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, and Pearl Bailey performed, lived, and helped shape American music. Along the way, discover how this vibrant neighborhood also became a center for Black culture, Civil Rights activism, and community institutions whose influence continues to resonate throughout Philadelphia today. FREE registration required. Meet at Independence Visitor Center.
Creating Magical Masks – (12 to 2 p.m.)
Following the traditions of ancient ancestors, create masks that invoke protective powers such as channels to the supernatural, amplifiers of personal strength, or connections to culture. Using materials including collaged pictures, stickers, words, and colors, we will imbue our masks with the energy to comfort, inspire, and empower us. At Da Vinci Art Alliance. FREE for kids, $5 for adults.
40th annual Caribbean Festival – (12 to 8 p.m.)
A celebration of the region’s music, food, fashion and cultural traditions. Expect to hear performances in multiple genres including reggae, roots, soca, steel band, jazz and dance that reflect the diversity of the Caribbean. Food and apparel vendors will serve up the best of what the region has to offer, and there’s plenty for kids, too, including a Caribbean Children’s Village with face painting, bead making, balloon animals and games. FREE.
Women Wine & Words – (3 to 7 p.m.)
The all-female open mic that “feels like home and hits like a movement.” Founded and led by Jay Smoov, WWW is the official home of “Where the women spit and the men sit!” and Philly’s favorite space for women’s voices to take the lead. Expect dope features, heavy-hitting poets songstress/vocalist, comedians, raw storytelling, laughter, healing, and a room full of real energy and real connection. Every 3rd Sunday. $17.49 to $28.49 tickets.
Miss Gay Philadelphia 2026 – (6 p.m.)
From the iconic energy of South Street to the elegance of the Avenue of the Arts, an evening filled with show-stopping performances, exciting raffles, exclusive merchandise, high-caliber pageantry, and unforgettable moments. 2025 crown-holder Lady E takes her final walk and passes the crown at Franky Bradley’s.
11th Annual Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival: “Tell Me A Love Story” – (7 p.m.)
A tale of ripping seams, mending dreams, and the women who help us begin again. In Megan McDermott’s moving play, an aspiring hat designer and a psychology student forge forward as they pursue their passions, protect their children, and find freedom through female friendship. Tell Me A Love Story celebrates the courage to dream again and is a tapestry of the many loves that define us: the loves we mend, the loves we tear ourselves away from, and the loves that help us stitch together a new life. $30 tickets.
Street Movies! South Philadelphia – (7:30 p.m.)
Join Scribe Video Center outdoors at the boathouse lawn at FDR Park for a curated night of local, international, and award-winning short films, plus discussion and live music! This event is presented in partnership with the Friends of FDR Park and the Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park. There will be vendors with food, snacks, and desserts available throughout the night. Come early to catch an ethereal jazz vibraphone performance by Hudson River, 7-8pm.
Feat. “Bittersweet Survival: Southeast Asian Refugees in America” (USA / 1982 / 30 MIN), “Sandcastles” (Singapore, USA / 2024 / 17 MIN), “Sound of Silence” (Bangladesh / 2025 / 12 MIN). FREE registration.
Through October
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival – (6 to 11 p.m.)
Now extended through August 30! The popular annual festival in Franklin Square Park features live performances, snacks including $1 dumplings, and free carousel rides and free mini golf offered on select weekdays. Tickets range from $16 to $32 daily; children under 2 are free.
Let’s Do Lunch!
Center City’s new lunch promotional deal, offering $10, $15 and $20 pre-fixe lunch menus at participating restaurants.
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.
Through November 8
Dia de los Muertos tribute to Isaiah Zagar
“Viviendo a través de la Muerte” will remain on view at the Philadelphia Magic Gardens through the Day of the Dead, Nov. 1, before closing on Nov. 8.
