It’s an exciting week of things to do in Philly with festivals, big-name concerts, super cool science events, and opportunities for art appreciation.
Your kids will keep busy at the first-ever STEMFest, and then the whole family can get their hands dirty volunteering at Carousel House. Magic Tours are back in Old City, and all-ages are welcome on a moonlight hike and stargazing evening at Lemon Hill. Vegandale, the enormous animal-product-free music, art, and food festival, comes to the Navy Yard this week for a full day of cruelty-free partying.
If you’re unclear what year it is or whether you’re still cool, New Kids on the Block, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Future and Metro Boomin are all performing live this week. Hope that helps.
Parks on Tap is moving into South Philly this week, plus we have ongoing art and museum exhibitions, theater runs, and a French-inspired dinner event like no other. Have a great week!
Is that not enough? Thinking of things to do further head? Check out our year-round calendar about how to be a good citizen.
Moonlight hiking, volunteer work at Carousel House, the inaugural STEMFest, rap icons at Wells Fargo, and teen pop icons at The Mann.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN PHILLY
DO SOME STARGAZING. Join astronomy educator Buddy Muhler on August 13 from 8:30 to 10:30pm for a moonlit hike and telescope observation at Lemon Hill. Novice and experienced astronomers of all ages are welcome, make sure to bring water and snacks and good footwear. $15. Sedgley Drive & N. Lemon Hill Drive
VOLUNTEER AT THE FARM. On August 13, come to Carousel House Farm from 5 to 7pm for Farm Philly Weekly Volunteer Days, happening weekly every Tuesday through October 22. You’ll be planting, weeding, maintaining crops and harvesting for the weekly food distribution. Registration required; make sure you wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! Free. 4300 Avenue of the Republic
TAKE YOUR KIDS TO STEMFEST! The first-ever STEMFest Philadelphia is happening August 14 from noon to 4pm at the Leon Sullivan Human Services Building. This free community event offers over 50 hands-on, interactive activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for K-12 grades youth and is sponsored by OIC of America to help launch its Sullivan Training Network initiative. Free, registration is required. 1415 N. Broad Street
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MANY CONCERTS, SO GO TO THIS ONE. Metro Boomin and Future are at Wells Fargo Center August 14 at 8pm (doors open at 7). $89-$199. 3601 S. Broad Street
ENJOY BEER IN THE PARK. This week, Parks on Tap comes to Dickinson Square Park in South Philly from August 14 through 18 from 4 to 10pm. The roving beer (and cocktail and food) garden provides a great excuse to bring your kids to happy hour. Free admission. 423 N. 19th Street
ATTEND A FANCY SECRET DINNER PARTY. The global movement Le Dîner en Blanc comes to Philly August 15. Guests arrive in white with picnic gear to celebrate an elegant meal in a beautiful announced-at-the-last-minute public space. Sign up to get the invite and be dressed and ready to head to the secret location announced just before dinner. The evening is capped off with dancing. $53. Location TBA
HANG TOUGH LIKE YOU DID IN JUNIOR HIGH. But now you can bring the kids … who are probably also in junior high. On August 15, New Kids On The Block: Magic Summer 2024 comes to the TD Pavillion at The Mann with special guests Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Doors open at 6pm, showtime is at 7pm. $20-$500+. 5201 Parkside Avenue
Hootie, Art Under The Stars, Vegandale, magic in Old City, and the Urban Art Fest and ACAF Community Day block party.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY
DON’T LET HER CRY. TAKE HER TO SEE HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH. Nineties throwback show alert! On August 16 at 7pm the Hootie & the Blowfish Summer Camp with Trucks Tour comes to Freedom Mortgage Pavilion with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain. Yeah. $28-$169+. 1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, NJ
EXPERIENCE ART UNDER THE STARS. On August 17 from 5 to 10pm, Art Under the Stars brings 90s vibes, live music, 14 visual artists, and food and drink to The Sculpture Courtyard for an evening of networking and art appreciation. $20-$28.50. 1714 N. Mascher Street
SPEND A DAY IN A WORLD WITHOUT ANIMAL EXPLOITATION. On August 17, from 11am to 8pm, the Vegandale food, music, and art festival takes over the Navy Yard Marine Parade Grounds. Be on hand for all vegan food and beverage, artists and vendors who are animal product free, and live performances by Rick Ross, Saweetie, and Polo G. $30-$100. 4747 S. Broad Street
FIND MAGIC IN OLD CITY. Join the Old City Magic Show and Walking Tour with award-winning magician, Robert Malissa August 17 at 11am. $32.40. Tour meets behind the Bourse at 4th and Ranstead streets
ATTEND URBAN ART FEST AND COMMUNITY DAY IN WEST PHILLY. Urban Art Gallery and the African Cultural Art Forum (ACAF) are jointly hosting Urban Art Fest 52 and ACAF’s Community Art Day on 52nd Street August 17 from noon to 7pm. More than a block party, the event includes workshops, live bands, artists and craftspeople, and fun activities for all ages. Free, pay as you go. 52nd Street between Walnut and Spruce
ONGOING EVENTS
Art exhibitions, live shows, outdoor activities, and more things to do, until you can’t anymore.
TAKE THE FAMILY TO LEARN SOMETHING AT THE PARK. Through August 15, Parkway Pals at Sister Cities Park offers free educational programming for families every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning with the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Fabric Workshop and Museum, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Philadelphia Ballet, and on select days, Design Philadelphia. Sister Cities Park features the Earth Fountain and Children’s Discovery Garden and pebble-bottomed boat pond, open daily. The Sister Cities Café is also open and offers beverages, snacks and grab-and-go meals. See the full schedule of events at sistercitiespark.org. Free. 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
DON’T MISS THE ANNUAL CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Franklin Square at the Chinese Lantern Festival. View astounding illuminated displays, authentic Chinese food, cultural performances, a fountain show, and the iconic 200-foot-long dragon. The (extended!) festivities run through August 31. Timed tickets are required on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. $16-$28. 200 N. 6th Street
SLIP INTO A SPEAKEASY IN A SHIP. A couple Fridays a month, the historic cruiser Olympia, docked at Penn’s Landing, turns into an admission-only party, with a different theme every week. Celebrate the 90s on August 23 from 6 to 9pm. $35. 211 S. Columbus Boulevard
DON’T JUST SEE A PLAY, ROLE-PLAY! Now through August 25, Sidequest Theater’s production Roll Play: An Improvised Adventure is at The Adrienne Theater Fridays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. This fully-improvised and interactive D&D-inspired show is fun for all ages and BYOB. $25. 2030 Sansom Street
EXPERIENCE THE ART OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. Now through August 26, the Barnes Foundation and Mural Arts Philadelphia present Visions, an exhibition of original work created by artists from Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Guild program and artists at the State Correctional Institution Phoenix. $5-$30, children under 12 free. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
SIP IN CENTER CITY. Back for its 20th anniversary, Philly’s “favorite happy hour’ Center City SIPS continues every Wednesday through August 28. Dozens of bars and restaurants are offering exclusive discounts weekly from 5 to 7pm: $7 cocktails, $6 wine, $5 beer, and half-price appetizers. Select locations will offer 15 percent off dinner after 7pm. Pay as you go
TAKE AN IMAGINED UNDERSEA TOUR OF NORTH BROAD STREET. Sea aBroad is the latest addition to the North Broad Renaissance mobile AR experience along North Broad Street that lets you envision the Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust and its surroundings 50 feet out as if you were swimming with the fishes. In a good way, not in the mobster way. The Summer aBroad AR Tour app is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store and the Under the Sea experience is live now through August. Free. 1415 N. Broad Street (but once you’re in the app you may as well enjoy all the stops between the Rail Park and the Uptown Theater)
HANG OUT IN THE OVAL. Now through August 25, The Oval offers eight acres of fun on the Parkway for the whole family. Food, drinks, games, activities and special events like live music and quizzes are on deck. Hours: Thursdays from 4 to 9pm, Fridays 4 to 11pm, Saturdays noon to 11pm and Sunday noon to 9pm. This Thursday features Community Yoga with Yoga Habit from 6 to 7pm, remember to bring your own gear. Free. 2451 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
COOL OFF AT WILLIAM WAY. Beat the heat through the summer at William Way Community Center’s Cooling Center, available Mondays through Thursdays from 10am to 7pm. Enter the lobby, where you can literally chill out, grab a bottle of water, and charge your electronic devices. Free. 1315 Spruce Street
TELL YOUR STORY. Bring yourself, your family, your friends, and your grandma to the Mobile StoryCorps Airstream at Temple University through September 6 for StoryCorps Mobile Stop: Philadelphia. Your recorded story will go to the U.S. Library of Congress and an online archive — now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. Appointments are available mornings and afternoons, and you must schedule in advance, even if you’re doing a virtual recording. Free. 1715-1719 N. Broad Street
GO CONJUR UP SOME JOY THROUGH ART AND DANCE. Conjuring Joy, a new community-centered artist residency at The Bride in West Philadelphia, is open through September 8 with workshops in dance, movement theater games, interactive performance, film screenings, and digital art-making. Some events have limited spots available and require registration. See the whole calendar here. Free. 5212 Market Street
TOUR INDEPENDENCE PARK IN THE EVENING TWILIGHT. Now through September 8, Twilight Tours are happening in Independence National Historical Park. One-hour guided tours highlighting great events in American history depart daily at 5:15 pm and at 6:00pm Thursday thru Sunday through August. Free. Meet at the Liberty Bell Viewing Window (near Chestnut Street, across Independence Hall)
Art of the Brick at the Franklin Institute.
EXPERIENCE LEGOS LIKE YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. Through September 22, the world’s largest display of LEGO art returns to the Franklin Institute. The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya is a critically acclaimed collection of artworks made exclusively in plastic bricks that snap together, including original pieces and re-imagined versions of famous masterpieces, a multimedia exhibition of LEGO-infused photography by Dean Wes, and a 9,000-square-foot brick play space. Museum hours are 9:30am to 5pm daily, with evening hours to 8pm, Thursday through Saturday. $20-$43. 222 N. 20th Street
DANCE IN LOVE PARK. Siempre Salsa Philly presents a Salsa & Bachata Dance Party Friday nights through September 27 at LOVE Park, featuring DJ Kevin Ngo. Dance lessons start at 7pm followed by live music at 8pm. Free. 15th and Arch streets
GET FIT IN DILWORTH PARK. Center City Fit is happening every Tuesday at 6pm through October 1 with professional trainers from City Fitness holding free outdoor workouts in Dilworth Park. Bodycombat will be the focus in July. BYO mat and water! Free. 1 S. 15th Street
MORE GOOD THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY
Vegandale's Chicago Stage