How do we know spring is in full swing? Because Parks on Tap is back, Philly! Your things to do this week include evening drinks in the Azalea Garden, a BYOB comedy trolley tour, and a 2000s-themed rave at Brooklyn Bowl.
If it’s culture you’re looking for, Archduke is opening at the Wilma Theater, 1838 Black Metropolis is holding a Gallery Talk at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Haigh is at the Free Library for the next Author Series event. Benjamin Franklin Hall is hosting Edward Tenner’s Why the Hindenburg Had a Smoking Lounge book launch, and Museum of the American Revolution is opening its latest exhibit on Revolutionary War flags.
For those in the mood for excitement, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul herself, Mary J. Blige, is in town for her world tour. We also welcome the opening of Philly’s first virtual reality playground, Franklin Square’s opening weekend, and Historic Germantown’s Green Space Stamp Rally.
The Philadelphia Union Foundation Legends of Soccer Fundraising Gala is also happening this week, so get those wallets out and support youth sports!
Is that not enough? Thinking of things to do further ahead? Check out our year-round calendar about how to be a good citizen.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN PHILLY
The regional premiere of Archduke, Jennifer Haigh and Elise Juska at the Free Library, Free, As One gallery talk, Parks on Tap at the Azalea Garden, Edward Tenner’s book launch, Mary J. Blige, Legends of Soccer fundraiser
DON’T MISS THE REGIONAL PREMIERE OF ARCHDUKE. Award-winning playwright Rajiv Joseph presents a humanized glimpse into the catalyst of WWI: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Archduke, on stage at the Wilma Theater April 15 through May 4, with matinee and evening shows available. $20-$75. 265 S. Broad Street
SEE A TALK WITH A NYT BEST-SELLING AUTHOR. On April 15 from 7 to 8pm, the Free Library of Philadelphia Author Series presents Jennifer Haigh | Rabbit Moon, In Conversation with Elise Juska. Rabbit Moon is a psychological journey about family, secrets, and sisters. The Philadelphia Citizen is a proud sponsor of the Free Library Foundation. $5. 1901 Vine Street
ATTEND A GALLERY TALK AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. On April 16 at 6pm, join the curators of Free, As One: Black Worldmaking in the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Papers, for Gallery Talk with 1838 Black Metropolis, an in-depth look at some of the compelling stories from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania archives. Free. 1300 Locust Street
ENJOY BEER IN THE AZALEA GARDEN. Parks on Tap comes to the Azalea Garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, April 16 to April 20 from 4 to 10pm. The roving beer (and cocktail and food) garden provides a great excuse to bring your friends and your kids to happy hour in a natural green space. A portion of all proceeds benefits each park. Free admission. Aquarium Drive between Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art
GET IT CRUNK UPON IN THIS DANCERY. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul herself, Mary J. Blige with special guests Ne-Yo and Mario is coming to the Wells Fargo Center April 17 at 7pm. $49-$247+. 3601 S. Broad Street
LOVE CAUTIONARY TALES? COME TO THIS BOOK LAUNCH. On April 17 at 6pm, Benjamin Franklin Hall hosts Edward Tenner’s Book Launch: Why the Hindenburg Had a Smoking Lounge. Enjoy the author discussing his collection of essays on unintended consequences. Free. 427 Chestnut Street
SUPPORT YOUTH SPORTS WITH THE PHILADELPHIA UNION! The Philadelphia Union Foundation will hold its annual Legends of Soccer Fundraising Gala on April 17 at 5:30pm at the Crystal Tea Room in Center City, raising funds for the Philadelphia Union Foundation’s youth sports and wellness programs. The evening will include a VIP cocktail reception, a three-course dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment. $350+/pp. 100 E Penn Square, 9th Floor
MEET DENNE MICHELE NORRIS AT THE FREE LIBRARY. The Free Library Foundation Author Series presents award-winning editor-in-chief of Electric Literature and co-host of the acclaimed podcast Food 4 Thot Denne Michele Norris In Conversation with Emma Copley Eisenberg on her novel When the Harvest Comes April 17 from 7 to 8:30pm. The Philadelphia Citizen is a proud sponsor of the Free Library Foundation. $5. 1901 Vine Street
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY
Virtual reality, BYOB stand-up trolley, 2000s rave, Franklin Square spring kickoff, war flags exhibit at the Museum of the American Revolution, Historic Germantown’s Green Space Stamp Rally
VISIT PHILLY’S OWN HOLODECK! You want to experience a “real life” sci-fi adventure? Fantasy? Pirates? Superheroes? Ultimate Fighting? You name it: thanks to motion capture cameras, 3D precision body trackers, custom hardware, and haptic suits, you’re there. Sandbox VR Philadelphia opens April 18. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 10am to 10pm, and 10am to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Bring a group of up to six people. $60+/person. 1712 Walnut Street
STAND UP AND DRINK ON THE TROLLEY. Actually, it’s a stand-up comedy trolley tour where you BYOB. Stand Up and Drink BYOB Trolley Tours are scheduled for April 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 7pm, featuring two comics splitting a 45-minute set across a two-hour tour. The tour takes off and ends at Punchline Philly. $45+. 33 E Laurel Street
PARTY LIKE IT’S 2003. (But only if you’re over 18.) Come to the Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia on April 19 starting at 9pm for the 2000s Rave. Dance to the finest EDM Limewire had to offer! $16-$29. 1009 Canal Street
CELEBRATE FRANKLIN SQUARE’S SPRING SEASON. On April 19 from 11am to 1pm, Franklin Square welcomes visitors to Opening Day, featuring the hop-along candy egg trail, fountain show, Earth Day activities and more. Pay as you go. 200 N. 6th Street
VISIT A BRAND-NEW MUSEUM EXHIBIT. Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags opens April 19 through August 10 from 10am to 5pm daily at the Museum of the American Revolution. Part of the museum’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War, the exhibit features the largest gathering of rare and significant Revolutionary War flags in more than two centuries. $19-$59. 101 S. 3rd Street
COLLECT STAMPS VISIT GREEN SPACES GET PRIZES! Historic Germantown presents the Green Space Stamp Rally, kicking off on April 19 and running through June 21. Exploring becomes a community adventure where 18 Northwest Philadelphia sites, including historic gardens, museums, urban farms, and cultural institutions, are part of a scavenger hunt for participants to track down and collect stamps to win prizes. Free. Various locations.
ONGOING EVENTS
Art exhibitions, live shows, outdoor activities, and more things to do, until you can’t anymore.
LEARN TAI CHI. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:30am, Franklin Square Tai Chi Group meets next to the fountain (or in the Pavilion on chilly or wet days) for the ancient practice during Tai Chi in the Square. Free. 200 N. 6th Street
WEST PHILLY RESIDENT? GET THOSE TAXES HANDLED! The Campaign for Working Families (CWP) and ACHIEVEability are partnering to offer free tax preparation and services to West Philadelphia residents. Appointments are available now through April 15 from 10am to 3pm through the CWP website. Free. 5901 Market Street, Suite 410
ATTEND AN ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL. The Academy of Natural Sciences in partnership with BlackStar Projects, cinéSPEAK, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, and the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival presents Confluence Film Festival, an environmental film festival happening on Thursdays in April: April 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 5 to 8:30pm. $10-$35. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
STROLL THE STREETS OF RITTENHOUSE. Open Streets: West Walnut returns every Sunday through April 27 from 10am to 5pm. Nearly seven blocks around 18th Street and Walnut Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for Open Streets: West Walnut. In addition to shopping and eating, CCD will provide entertainment with acoustic musicians, strolling performers, dance groups, a family-friendly zone of sidewalk chalk, games and activities for kids, and more. Free. 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut and Walnut Street from 15th to 19th
SEE SHAKESPEARE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Running through April 27, Quintessence Theater Group presents the Reckless Love Repertory with 12 actors performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Antony & Cleopatra. Evening and afternoon shows available. $25-$40. 7137 Germantown Avenue
SEE A UNIQUE SOLO ART EXHIBITION. Studio 105 at Ray Philly hosts While You Were Sleeping, a solo exhibition by Philadelphia-based oil painter Elizabeth Bergeland, on display through May 10. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6pm. Free. 1525 N. American Street
COME TO AN ART CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH. The Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia celebrates Women’s History Month with an art exhibition curated by InLiquid. The Edge of Abstraction features celebrated artists Diane Pieri and Erin Elman and will be on display through mid-May. Free. 1620 Chancellor Street
ATTEND THE OPENING OF AN IMPORTANT BLACK HISTORY EXHIBIT. Free, As One: Black Worldmaking in the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Papers highlights Black self-determination and leadership from the 1770s onward in the abolition movement of the Mid-Atlantic region, on view through May 23. Library and exhibit hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm and Wednesday from 1 to 7pm. Free. 1300 Locust Street
TAKE THE FAMILY TO SEE THE HOBBIT. The Arden Children’s Theater production of The Hobbit opens runs through May 25 on the Arcadia Stage. Bilbo Baggins’s epic journey there and back again is adapted for families and children ages seven and up. Late morning, afternoon, and early evening shows available. $25-$46. 40 N. 2nd Street
TAKE AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR AND TASTING. Every Tuesday and Thursday from through May, Carpenters’ Hall will stay open late for A Toast to History — Behind the Scenes at Carpenters’ Hall, a small group Scotch tasting tour that features access to its normally-closed second floor and 19th-century library. Tours begin at 4pm. $45. 320 Chestnut Street
SEE THE LATEST EXHIBIT AT THE MAGIC GARDENS. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) hosts a new immersive exhibit, Stone Soup: Works by Eustace Mamba, which will be open through June 1. $8-$15. 1020 South Street
SHOP THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN MARKET AT FDR PARK. The Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park features over 80 vendors offering native cuisine dishes, culturally specific produce, plants, clothing and jewelry, as well as services provided by entrepreneurs speaking multiple languages. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Pay as you go. Picnic Area 17, near FDR Park Drive and S. Broad Street
SEE THE LATEST EXHIBITION AT THE CLAY STUDIO. The 19th annual Small Favors exhibition with nearly 400 reduced scale and unique works from nationally known artists and some of Philadelphia’s best new artists in four-inch cubes on display and for sale in the Jill Bonovitz Gallery through June 29. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 11am to 5:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Free. 1425 N. American Street
ATTEND A GALLERY TALK ON THE LATEST IN FINE WOODWORKING. The Museum for Art in Wood presents Katie Hudnall: The Longest Distance Between Two Points, featuring a series of sculptural works and a large-scale interactive installation created from salvaged wood that captures the artist’s eye for “the absurdly mechanical and uncanny.” The exhibition runs through July 20. Museum hours are daily from noon to 5pm. Free. 141 N. 3rd Street
GO MOONWALK AT LEMON HILL. Fairmount Park Conservancy welcomes back astronomer and educator Buddy Muhler for another season of one-mile guided moonwalks and telescope observation starting April 1 at 7:45pm. Park After Dark: Moonwalk + Stargazing Party happens every first Tuesday from April through August. $15. Lemon Hill Drive
HANG OUT IN THE GARDEN. The PHS Pop Up Gardens are now open at Manayunk and South Street. This season brings crafted cocktails, a lineup of hands-on workshops and events, food and beverage, and treats for your furry friends. Hours are Monday through Wednesday 5 to 10pm, Thursday 5 to 11pm, Friday and Saturday noon to midnight, and Sunday noon to 9pm. Pay as you go. 1438 South Street and 106 Jamestown Avenue
SEE THE HUMAN BODY LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Through September 1, The Franklin Institute welcomes BODY WORLDS: Vital, an extraordinary collection of real human specimens preserved through Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ revolutionary plastination process. This is the third such exhibit for The Institute since 2005. Museum is open daily 9:30am to 5pm, with special evening hours exclusive to the exhibit Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 8pm. $20-$65. 222 N. 20th Street
CONTINUE THE YEAR OF FREE SPEECH WITH A NEW EXHIBIT. On display at the National Liberty Museum through September 8, Word Powered: Exploring Free Speech Through Art is a juried exhibition of sculptures, paintings, video installations and more exploring censorship, freedom of expression and diverse perspectives. Museum hours are Wednesday through Monday 10am to 5pm. $0-$12. 321 Chestnut Street
SEE THE NEW EXHIBIT AT THE MÜTTER. Through February 2, 2026, The Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia present Trusted Messengers: Community, Confidence, and COVID-19, a special exhibition that marks five years since the onset of the pandemic and considers how to build trust in public health. Initially developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Museum in Atlanta, the Philadelphia version features materials used in the development of the mRNA vaccine at Penn and spotlights local healthcare workers and organizations. Museum hours are Wednesday through Monday 10am to 5pm. $15-20. 19 S. 22nd Street
MORE GOOD THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY
