The last month of summer in Philly brings plenty of things to do indoors and outdoors for music lovers, art lovers, party people, and especially if you’re into all of that.

We are celebrating Latino and Hispanic culture with Mexican Independence Day at Penn’s Landing, Uncovering and Preserving Puerto Rican Stories (a new exhibit at The Historical Society of Pennsylvania), and Dine Latino Restaurant Week, which this year coincides with Center City Restaurant Week, so pace yourself!

We have political comedy and stand-up comedy, a new photography exhibition on the impact of mass incarceration, and an avant-garde dance theater cabaret premiering this week in Philly.

Plus a few new hiking events to spend quality time in our parks, art festivals, night festivals, and more. Enjoy the great weather in the waning days of summer!

• • • Things to do this week
    • Things to do this weekend
    • Ongoing things to do

Is that not enough? Thinking of things to do further head? Check out our year-round calendar about how to be a good citizen.

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN PHILLY

Discover the Puerto Rican experience in Philly, do a guided nighttime hike, see a play, see a dance-theater cabaret, go to the Navy Yard for a night festival, and hang out in Spring Garden with a beer.

EXPLORE THE PUERTO RICAN EXPERIENCE IN PHILLY. Through October 11, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in partnership with Taller Puertorriqueño present Uncovering and Preserving Puerto Rican Stories. Revisiting a 1970s oral history project that documented Puerto Rican migration to Philadelphia, this exhibit explores migration and community, culture and identity, and preservation of memory through an intergenerational lens. HSP is open to the public Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10am to 4pm, and Wednesday from 1 to 7pm. Free. 1300 Locust Street

GO STARGAZING AT LEMON HILL. On September 10 from 7:30 to 9:30pm, join astronomy educator Buddy Muhler for a moonlit hike and telescope observation at Lemon Hill. The two-mile guided moonwalk and telescope observation is ideal for anyone six and up. $15. Lemon Hill Drive

SEE AN ORIGINAL WORK OF DANCE-THEATER CABARET.  Pig Iron Theatre Company, OBIE-winning creators of interdisciplinary performance, present Poor Judge at the Wilma Theater opening September 11 and running through September 22. This live-music mix tape performed by a local supergroup of actor-musicians features the music of Aimee Mann. Evening and afternoon shows, times vary. $35. 265 S. Broad Street

ENJOY BEER IN THE PARK. This week, Parks on Tap returns to The Spring Gardens September 11 through September 15 from 4 to 10pm. The roving beer (and cocktail and food) garden provides a great excuse to bring your kids to happy hour. Please note this particular location is dog-free. Free admission. 1832 North Street

FIND SOME HUMOR IN POLITICS FOR ONCE. Catch the Philly premiere of the all-female farce POTUS: Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive at the Arden Theater from September 12 to October 6. Evening and afternoon shows, times vary. $32-$68. 40 N. 2nd Street

VIEW A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION ON THE IMPACT OF MASS INCARCERATION. Wherever There is Light features photography by four formerly incarcerated artists sharing their experiences in the U.S. penal system. The exhibition opens at TILT September 12 with a reception from 6 to 9pm and runs through December 21. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6pm. Free. 1400 N. American Street, Suite #103

 GO TO A NIGHT FESTIVAL AT THE NAVY YARD. On September 12 from 4 to 8pm, the Philadelphia Navy Yard’s Crescent Park hosts its second annual Navy Yard Night Festival, with live music, food trucks, games, and, to celebrate the Eagles home opener, Swoop and Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders! Pre-registration is encouraged. All registrants get entered to win door prizes. Free. 13th Street & Crescent Drive

HIKE FOR BEER. Fairmount Conservancy presents Trails to Ales, a two-mile guided hike covering the history of Lemon Hill and brewing and beer gardens in what is now East Fairmount Park, followed by a visit to Cosmic Cafe’s Water Works Cider and Beer Garden. Happening September 12 from 5 to 7pm. $15. Lemon Hill Mansion, Lemon Hill Drive

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY

See art that celebrates free speech, live music from PJ Harvey, more live music from The Lemonheads, hike the Trolley Trail, get a taste of Philly’s Black wine makers, and “fall for the arts” in Germantown.

CELEBRATE FREE SPEECH. This month the National Liberty Museum kicks off a yearlong initiative, The Year of Free Speech, with the first of three exhibitions exploring freedom of speech as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of our society. Free Speech: Our Right, Our Responsibility opens September 13. Museum hours are Thursday through Monday 10am to 5pm. $6-$12. 321 Chestnut Street

SPEND AN EVENING WITH PJ HARVEY. On September 13, PJ Harvey comes to The Met bringing her genre-defying singer songwriting skills and 30 year-long-discography. Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 8. $65-$141. 858 N. Broad Street

HIKE THE TROLLEY TRAIL. Get a guided tour of Philadelphia’s “Best New Hiking Trail” when you Take a Hike on the Trolley Trail on September 14 from 10am to 12:30pm. $15. Chamounix Drive, parking lot across from Ridgeland Mansion

NURTURE YOUR MIND AND BODY WITH ART AND WELLNESS. Forbidden Fruit’s Root2Fruit Festival promises just that on September 14 from 2 to 7pm at One Art Community Center. Open to all ages, Root2Fruit is a free day of mini Reiki, meditation, and Yoga sessions, live music, dance, and painters, art and craft workshops, immersive art, kava and massages, plus local food vendors and giveaways. RSVP is requested as space is limited. Free. 431-39 North 52nd Street

JAM ON THE GRASS. The 11^th Jam on the Grass festival brings a jamming music lineup, art and craft vendors, fabric dyeing workshops, hula sessions, and eats and drinks to Cannstatter Volksfest Verein. Celebrate music, friendship, and community. $25-30. 9130 Academy Road

ATTEND A BLACK WINE FESTIVAL. The Penn Museum hosts Black winemakers and spirits brands for the Philly Black Wine Festival, a chic soiree on September 14 at 6:30pm. Dress to impress, and drink demurely. $40-$100. 3260 South Street

SEE A MASTER COMEDIAN LIVE. Philly welcomes stand-up comedian and actor Eddie Griffin at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia September 14 at 8pm (doors open at 7pm). $39.99-$49.99. 900 Packer Avenue

SCRATCH THAT SWEET AND SOUR ITCH WITH THE LEMONHEADS. I know a place you can go. It’s Underground Arts, where The Lemonheads will be live on September 14 and 15 at 8pm playing both It’s A Shame About Ray & Come On Come On Feel the Lemonheads in their entirety, both nights! Doors open at 7, 21+ only. Single and double-night passes available. $44.81-$80.86. 1200 Callowhill Street

CELEBRATE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY. On September 15 from 2 to 4pm, Penn’s Landing hosts a traditional Grito de Independencia and a couple hours packed with good things to eat, great music to hear, excellent dancing to watch, and superb arts and crafts to purchase. Free. 101 S. Columbus Boulevard

INDULGE IN LATIN FOOD. Dine Latino Restaurant Week returns September 15 through 21 with 30 Latino-owned restaurants participating in celebration of authentic flavors and traditions. Guests enjoy a free dessert appetizer with the purchase of two entrees. Pay as you go. Various locations citywide

ATTEND A HUGE FALL ARTS FESTIVAL. The 40th annual Fall for the Arts Festival returns to Chestnut Hill September 15 from 11am to 5pm with over 200 diverse and talented artists from across the region, plus live music and shopping specials. Pay as you go. 8000 – 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue

ONGOING EVENTS

Art exhibitions, live shows, outdoor activities, and more things to do, until you can’t anymore.

STUFF YOUR FACE IN CENTER CITY. Center City Restaurant Week returns through September 21 with over 100 participating eateries. Feast on three-course, prix-fixe dinners for just $40 or $60, and two-course lunches for $20. Drink and parking specials are available. Try not to mix those. $20-$60+. Various locations

HAVE A COFFEE BREAK IN CENTER CITY. Center Center City Sunrise returns Wednesdays through September 25 from 8 to 9am at locations around the neighborhood starting with The Shops at Liberty Place. Get treated to coffee giveaways and live music on your way to the office. Events are weather-dependent. Coffee is available while supplies last. Free. Various locations in Center City

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

ARE YOU A SPACE COWBOY? (BET YOU WEREN’T READY FOR THAT.) Whether you are or not is irrelevant, check out the Space Cowboys Exhibition at Mission in Arts Gallery from through September 28 to see a striking series of oil portraits that vividly depict the most iconic sci-fi heroes, villains and aliens by artist Terrence Laragione. MiA Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 4 to 7pm or by appointment. Free. 1720 N. 5th Street, G3

JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL FRINGE MOVEMENT. The annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival is happening through September 29. The FringeArts fest features over 1,000 performances by national, international and Philadelphia-based artists of all disciplines in spaces across the city. More than 40,000 attendees are expected. Visit the festival calendar here. Tickets, venues, and genre of performances vary greatly. $5-$50. Locations citywide

WALK THE OPEN STREETS. Sundays through September 29 from 10am to 5pm, seven blocks of 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

ENJOY JAZZ IN THE PARK. On Sundays through September 29 from 4 to 6pm, relax to the jazz stylings of Vibe-A-Delphia while you sip at Cret Park’s Capriccio Café and Bar, or just take a seat on the lawn and chill. Free. 110 N. 16th Street

BLAZE YOUR OWN TRAIL AT CANNONBALL FEST! Through September 29, Cannonball Festival, the largest hub of the FringeArts Fest, brings over 120 productions, including “rebellious circus, delicious dance, fearless theater and activist art to workshops, parties, and more” to five venues across Philly. Ticket prices vary by event. See the list here. Spend September experiencing Art for the Adventurous. $5-$50. Various locations

VISIT A CHEERFUL OUTDOOR ART INSTALLATION. Through the end of September, Group X and the Philadelphia Navy Yard present Seated Little Cloud, a 35-foot tall outdoor art installation by Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist duo FriendsWithYou. The work is free for the public to experience from sunup to sundown in Crescent Park. Free. Crescent Park, just past the campus’ main entrance on Broad Street

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

PATRONIZE YOUR LOCAL MAKERS. On Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6pm through October 5, Philadelphia Marketplace at Dilworth Park brings a rotating lineup of local small businesses and makers with jewelry, skincare, art, home goods, stationery, specialty foods and other handmade goods and gifts. Pay as you go. 1 S. 15th Street

SEE THE ESSENCE OF PHILLY IN A PHOTOGRAPHY EXBIBIT. Brotherly Lens: A Portrait of Philadelphia takes place at inLiquid from through October 12, presenting a nuanced exploration of the city through the eyes of three distinguished photographers: Eric T. Kunsman, Joseph Labolito, and Ron Tarver. A reception takes place September 12 from 6 to 9pm. Gallery hours are noon to 6pm. Free. 1400 N. American Street

VOLUNTEER AT THE FARM. Carousel House Farm hosts Farm Philly Weekly Volunteer Days, 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

EXPERIENCE LEGOS LIKE YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. Extended through November 17, the world’s largest display of LEGO art is on display at 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

MORE GOOD THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY