Do you smell cherry blossoms? The most fragrant annual festival returns this week, just one more of this great slate of things to do in Philly to get your spring on.
It’s opening day for Citizen Bank Park (Go Phils!) and also opening week for a new adaptation of The Hobbit, Fairmount Park’s Moonwalk and Stargazing parties, the Southeast Asian Market at FDR, Open Streets in Center City, and the recently relocated Revolution Place at The Museum of the American Revolution.
That’s a lot, but there’s more. A four-women Philly-inspired piano suite premieres at Drexel’s Mandell Theater, an environmental film festival kicks off at the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Punk Rock Flea Market returns to the 23rd Street Armory, and the World Oddities Expo returns to the PA Convention Center.
If you’re looking for philanthropy, The Clay Studio is hosting PhilaBowl to benefit Lutheran Settlement House, the Free Library’s annual fundraising gala happens this week, and Rex at the Royal hosts Cocktails for a Cause to benefit the Bethesda Project.
While you’re out and about, make sure you bring your camera with you, because TILT is seeking submissions for its Philly Photo Day exhibit.
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
Phillies home opener, moonwalk at Fairmount Park, The Hobbit, Eight Eight Time, Confluence Film Festival, Cocktails for a Cause, Punk Rock Flea Market
SEE THE PHILLIES HOME OPENER. On March 31 at 3:05pm, our beloved Philadelphia Phillies kick off their season at Citizens Bank Park against the Colorado Rockies. You can still find tickets, or enjoy the game with friends at your favorite sports bar or from the comfort of your home (on NBC 10, 94 WIP and WTTM 1680). Go Phils! $103-$455+. 1 Citizens Bank Way
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 Hil Mansion
TAKE THE FAMILY TO SEE THE HOBBIT. The Arden Children’s Theater production of The Hobbit opens April 2 and runs through May 25 on the Arcadia Stage. Bilbo Baggins’s epic journey there and back again is adapted for families and children ages 7 and up. Late morning, afternoon, and early evening shows available. $25-$46. 40 N. 2nd Street
SEE A UNIQUE PERFORMANCE INSPIRED BY PHILLY STORIES. Journey Arts presents Eight Eight Time, a suite inspired by real-life stories shared by Philadelphians written for eight hands on four grand pianos, with poetry by Yolanda Wisher, April 3 and 4 at 7:30pm and April 5 at 2pm at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater. $10-$40. 3220 Chestnut Street
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, April 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 5 to 8:30pm. $10-$35. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
DO COCKTAILS FOR A GOOD CAUSE. On April 4 from 6 to 8pm, Rex at the Royal hosts Cocktails for a Cause to benefit the Bethesda Project. This guided cocktail class will teach you to craft quality drinks while supporting folks experiencing housing insecurity. $60 per person or $100 for two. 1524 South Street
BE PUNK GO SHOP GET JUNK. It’s back! The Punk Rock Flea Market returns to the 23rd Street Armory April 4 from 4 to 10pm and April 5 and 6 from 10am to 5pm. Find awesome clothing, records, crafts, art, and old punk junk. Admission is good for the entire weekend! $10. 22 S. 23rd Street
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY
Revolutionary Place reopening, Southeast Asian Market, the Free Library annual gala, PhilaBowl, Temple Made Fest, World Oddities Expo, Cherry Blossom Festival, Open Streets, TILT Philly Photo Day
BRING THE FAMILY TO THE REOPENING OF REVOLUTION PLACE. After a relocation and revamp, the Museum of the American Revolution’s Revolution Place will reopen to the public on April 5, promoting more opportunity for object-focused discovery, intergenerational learning, and the building of historical empathy among visitors by bringing to life the Museum’s lively, diverse Old City neighborhood during the 1700s. Ideal for families with children ages 5-12. Hours are 10am to 5pm. $19-$59. 101 S. 3rd Street
SHOP THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN MARKET AT FDR PARK. The Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park returns April 5. Featuring 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 South Broad Street
BE A LIBRARY PHILANTHROPIST. On April 5 at 6:30pm, The Free Library Of Philadelphia Foundation holds its 2025 Annual Gala: Wonders Beyond Words. This year, the premier fundraising event also honors the leadership and contributions of A. Morris Williams, Jr., Emeritus Board Member, and includes a chef-curated dinner, live entertainment, and an epic after-party. $150+. 1901 Vine Street
GET POTTERY, SUPPORT LOCAL FAMILIES! The Clay Studio hosts its annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, PhilaBowl, April 5 from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Find a hand-made bowl that speaks to you, and also enjoy a local food tasting. Proceeds benefit Lutheran Settlement House and their mission of helping families in the neighborhood. $10-$35. 1425 N. American Street
CELEBRATE TEMPLE’S TALENT. On April 5 from noon to 3pm, Temple University hosts Temple Made Fest, the first annual celebration of the university’s entrepreneurial spirit and talented community. The street festival features businesses owned and operated by Temple alumni, current students, and former students offering jewelry, artwork, apparel and food. Pay as you go. 1900 N. 13th Street
GET YOUR FREAK ON. At the 2025 World Oddities Expo, happening April 5 and 6 from 11am to 7pm at the PA Convention Center. This traveling, all-inclusive artisan and small business fueled mega-convention features macabre and magical artists, vendors, performers, educators, and guest speakers covering everything weird, from taxidermy and insect-theme jewelry and decor to tattoos, burlesque, and live painting. $20-$25. 1101 Arch Street
ATTEND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL’S SAKURA WEEKEND. The centerpiece of the 2025 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival is Sakura Weekend, April 5 and 6 from 10am to 5pm, featuring music performances, cultural activities, a vendor market, beer garden, and more. Additional events are scheduled throughout late March and the month of April at venues across the city, including cultural demonstrations, performances, and children’s activities. $5-$15. Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum in West Fairmount Park
STROLL THE STREETS OF RITTENHOUSE. Open Streets: West Walnut returns April 6 and 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
CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS! TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image (TILT) opens submissions for its annual Philly Photo Day April 7 through 13. Tourists, residents, or commuters with a camera or smartphone are invited to capture images of “both the grand and the mundane that make our city so special.” Participants can submit their photos online by April 13 for inclusion in the Philly Photo Day exhibition, which will be displayed free to the public in TILT’s Project Gallery from May 8 to May 31. Free. Citywide. Submit here.
SPEND THE WEEK CELEBRATING THE NAVY YARD! Navy Yard Week begins runs through April 6, with a daily lineup of giveaways, food and fitness. It’s first-come, first-served for soft pretzels, coffee, and cupcakes, so check the schedule and plan ahead. Free and pay as you go. Locations vary.
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
MEET THE JULIET WE ALWAYS KNEW EXISTED. Ever wonder what would have happened if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Find out when the hilarious hit Broadway musical & Juliet comes to the Academy of Music from March 25 through April 6. Evening and afternoon performances available. $85-$209. 240 S. Broad Street
SEE A STUDENT ART EXHIBITION. Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery presents Storyburst, an exhibition by After School Arab Arts students from John Moffet and Samuel Powell schools, on view to April 11. The students created mixed-media projects drawing inspiration from Arabic folktales and artists like Iasmin Omar Atta and Diana Al-Hadid. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10am to 5pm. Free, registration required. 310 Master 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
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 EXHIBIT. 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
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
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
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
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, registration required. 141 N. 3rd Street
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
