Wake up Philly, new festivals dropped. It’s a big week for celebrating music, culture, food, and more in a huge happy crowd, so if that’s your thing, get ready for your list of things to do!
The Philadelphia Folk Festival returns to the Old Pool Farm in Montgomery County, while the Philadelphia Caribbean Festival and the Festival of India are coming to Cherry Street Pier in the same weekend (save room for dessert, trust me).
Alt-rock-post-grunge-power-trio Dogstar is live at Union Transfer, the Foo Fighters are rocking The Linc, and SNACKTIME are headlining the Summer Sounds Concert Series at Spruce Street Harbor Park. Local Noise promises a battle of the bands for the ages at Brooklyn Bowl.
If all of that sounds great but your back hurts, come to City Winery to see “The Professor” Nick Harrison remind you why being GenX is so cool even though no one else thinks so and frankly you don’t care anyway. He’s super funny.
Parks on Tap is on the Belmont Plateau this week, but perhaps more important than anything else on your calendar is Goat Story Time at Chestnut Hill Library. I REPEAT, GOATS AT CHESTNUT HILL LIBRARY!
Finally, you can practice good citizenship, mutual aid, education, and social justice this week with a children’s school supply, food, and clothing distribution at the Grocery Outlet in West Philly, Don’t Try This at Home Day at Franklin Institute, and a campaign taster session with ReparationWorks.
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
Goat Story Time, Dogstar, Parks on Tap, Foo Fighters, “The Professor” Nick Harrison, SNACKTIME, Local Noise
READ WITH GOATS. Join the Philly Goats in Chestnut Hill for a goat walk, a silly audience-participation play, and story reading. It’s Goat Story time at Chestnut Hill Library August 11 from 2 to 4pm. Free. 8711 Germantown Avenue
AS IT TURNS OUT, KEANU REEVES IS ALSO A PRETTY GOOD BASS PLAYER. Catch him and his legendary bandmates when Dogstar: ALL IN NOW TOUR with special guests The Backfires comes to Union Transfer August 12 at 8pm. $62.90-$69.60. 1026 Spring Garden Street
DRINK BEER IN WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK. Parks on Tap comes to The Belmont Plateau August 12 through August 16 from 4 to 10pm (noon to 10pm Saturday and Sunday). 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. 1800 Belmont Mansion Drive
SEE LOCAL BANDS MAKE LOCAL NOISE. Local Noise Philadelphia presents eight rising stars from our community competing for a chance to play live at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. Fans can attend for free and take part in the live judging process at the Brooklyn Bowl. The semi-finals are August 13 and August 14, and the final round is August 20 (doors at 7, shows at 8pm). Free, first-come-first-serve. 1009 Canal Street
STICK AROUND, AND LEARN ALL THAT COMES FROM IT! If you’re looking forward to shouting “I don’t owe you anything!” at the top of your lungs alongside several thousand other cool people, then you must be planning to be at The Linc August 13 at 5:30pm for the Foo Fighters Take Cover Tour 2026. $72-$264+. 1 Lincoln Financial Way
CALLING GENX! Don’t pretend you can’t hear me. Retired teacher, storyteller, wrestling enthusiast, music lover, and comedian “The Professor” Nick Harrison is bringing his Pour Decisions with The Professor to City Winery for two shows on August 14 at 6 and 9:30pm. $48-$72. 990 Filbert Street
DON’T MISS SNACKTIME. Philly’s own SNACKTIME will perform free at Spruce Street Harbor Park for a special concert August 14 at 7pm alongside PrismaPhonik, the park’s music-plus-art installation. Free. 301 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY
Philadelphia Folk Festival, Festival of Indian, Children’s food, clothing, and school supplies giveaway, Don’t Try This at Home Day, Rise up for Reparations campaign, Caribbean Festival
BRING YOUR THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH … to the 63rd Philadelphia Folk Festival August 14 through 16 at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township (that’s Montco). See dozens of today’s folk music masters live like Leftover Salmon, Tom Rush, Damn Tall Buildings, Big Richard, Lazy Villains, and Ben Arnold & The 48 Hour Orchestra. Passes are available for single days, all festival, and camping! $14-$326. 1323 Salford Station Road, Harleysville
IF YOU’RE IN NEED, PICK UP THE ESSENTIALS. The nonprofit It Takes a Village to Feed One Child (ITAVTFOC) is partnering with Grocery Outlet to host a free backpack, food, and clothing distribution event August 15 from 10am to noon. Up for grabs is a mix of fresh produce, shelf-stable items, gently used clothing donated by The Nesting House, and school supplies. No ID required. Free. 4301 Chestnut St
SATISFY YOUR INNER CHILD AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE. The Franklin Institute hosts Don’t Try This at Home Day August 15 from 11am to 3pm. Experience high-energy large-scale experiments you absolutely don’t want to try in your kitchen, including liquid nitrogen, launching stuff, and amazing chemical reactions. $23-$29. 222 N. 20th Street
EAT ICE CREAM ON FILBERT STREET. August 15 from noon to 4pm, Reading Terminal hosts its annual outdoor Ice Cream Festival on Filbert Street! It’s free to attend, family friendly, and promises special demonstrations and deals on eats from market vendors. Pay as you go. 1100 Filbert Street
CELEBRATE INDIAN CULTURE. The Council of Indian Organizations in Greater Philadelphia presents the annual Festival of India at Cherry Street Pier August 15 from 2 to 7pm. Enjoy Indian cuisine, art, music and performances, including Bollywood-style acts. Free entry. Pay as you go. 121 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
RISE UP FOR REPARATIONS. If you believe Black liberation can support the liberation of all people, and your mostly white congregation wants to engage more deeply in grassroots reparations efforts, wants to learn about cultural organizing, tracing complicity, resource redistribution, forming solidarity partnerships with Black grassroots organizations, and what local, transformative reparations looks like? Then come to the Rise Up for Reparations Campaign Taster Session at Kol Tzedek Synagogue August 15 from 4 to 8pm. Dinner will be provided. Free, registration required. 5300 Whitby Avenue
CELEBRATE CARIBBEAN CULTURE. On August 16 from noon to 8pm, Cherry Street Pier hosts the 40th Annual Philadelphia Caribbean Festival, featuring history, food, fashion, crafts, music, and family activities. Free entry. Pay as you go. 121 N. Columbus Boulevard
ONGOING EVENTS
Art exhibitions, live shows, outdoor activities, and more things to do, until you can’t anymore.
DON’T MISS THE 200-FOOT LONG DRAGON. You’d think that’s impossible, but you will if you don’t hit the 2026 Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square, open through August 16 from 6 to 11pm nightly. In addition to the spectacular light displays, there’s food, fountain shows, and live performances. $16-$29. 200 N. 6th Street
SIP IN CENTER CITY. Philly’s “favorite happy hour’ Center City SIPS begins June 3 and continues every Wednesday through August 26. Dozens of bars and restaurants are offering exclusive discounts weekly from 5 to 7pm: $8 cocktails, $7 wine, $6 beer, and appetizers under $10. Select locations will offer 15 percent off dinner after 7pm. Pay as you go.
VIEW YOUR VISIONS OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Printmaking by the People: Posters for a Reimagined Declaration of Independence is an exhibition of hundreds of posters created by Philadelphians sharing their visions of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This special exhibition at the Parkway Central Library is part of Printmaking by the People, Philadelphia’s largest 2026 public art and community engagement project inspired by the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. The exhibit is open through August 2026. Free. 1901 Vine Street
KICK OFF SUMMER ON THE WATERFRONT. Spruce Street Harbor Park and Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest are open for the season. Enjoy roller skating, outdoor boardwalk games and rides, mini-golf, and great food and drinks seven days a week through September 1 (and later for Spruce Street Harbor Park). Pay as you go. 101 and 301 S. Columbus Boulevard
SEE 1,000 WORKS OF ICONIC AMERICAN ART. Whispered about among art aficionados for years, the Middleton family’s (yes, those Middletons, who own the Phillies) massive, dating-back-150-years collection makes it public debut at two venues, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA is open Thursdays through Sundays only). A Nation of Artists is on view through September 5. $10-$30. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 128 N. Broad Street
SIT DOWN FOR SOME STORYTELLING. Historic Philadelphia proudly celebrates the 20th anniversary of Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches. Professionally trained, costumed interpreters deliver 3- to 5-minute stories filled with historical insights and facts from eight (mostly) outdoor benches all summer until September 7. Free. Various locations in Old City
SEE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF A UNIQUE EXHIBIT. The Franklin Institute’s new Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition explores theme parks through the lens of Universal’s greatest attractions like Jaws, NINTENDO WORLD, Jurassic World, and more. Open through September 7, museum hours are 9:30am to 5pm daily with added evenings Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 8pm. $23-$65. 222 N. 20th Street
NEED AN ALTERNATIVE TO SIPS? Fishtown TAPS takes place every Tuesday from 5 to 7pm through September 29, offering a select list of $5 beers, $6 wines, and $7 cocktails, along with appetizer specials to neighborhood favorites across Fishtown. Pay as you go. Various locations throughout Fishtown
SEE A MOVIE IN THE PARK. More than 20 Philly parks will host Park Friends Movie Nights this summer and fall through October 16. Bring a blanket, snacks, and arrive before dusk. Check with your local Park Friends Group for updates and schedule changes. Free. Various locations
VIEW SELECTIONS OF JESSIE KRIMES’S WORK. Mural Arts Philadelphia and The Fabric Workshop and Museum present Jesse Krimes: Elegy Quilts, on view through November 1. Museum hours are noon to 6pm Wednesday through Friday and noon to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Free, donations suggested. 1214 Arch Street
FIND MAGIC IN OLD CITY. The Great Philadelphia Comedy Magic Walking Tour returns for the 2026 season through the fall tours at 1pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Attendees are treated to fun, mind-bending magic relevant to the historic and off-beat Old City locations on the tour. Philly Magic tours also partners with local charities on passes and group outings for fundraisers and free tours for deserving school classes. $32.40. Tours meet behind the Bourse near 4th and Ranstead streets
EXPLORE THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The American Philosophical Society’s These Truths: The Declarations of Independence tells the story of America’s founding through early Declaration printings and treasured artifacts. Open through January 3, 2027. Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. Free, donations welcome. 104 S. 5th Street
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
TAKE A FOOD JOURNEY THROUGH SOUTHWEST PHILLY. Stuff your face with Jamaican, West African, and Southern African American cuisines while walking it off on Woodland Avenue during your Africatown Food Tour, scheduled Wednesdays through Saturdays starting at 10:30am and 1:30pm. $56. 5741 Woodland Avenue
MORE GOOD THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation Summer Sounds Concert Series. Photo by BeauMonde Originals