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Fun Things to Do in Philly this Week and Weekend

This week in Philly, we welcome back the Dish it Up fundraiser for Women Against Abuse, plus Cedar Park Jazz, Space Opera, Clay Fest, Daniel de Jesús at Bartram's Garden, TERRA at the Schuylkill Center, Ringo Starr, and more

Fun Things to Do in Philly this Week and Weekend

This week in Philly, we welcome back the Dish it Up fundraiser for Women Against Abuse, plus Cedar Park Jazz, Space Opera, Clay Fest, Daniel de Jesús at Bartram's Garden, TERRA at the Schuylkill Center, Ringo Starr, and more

If you’re looking for things to do, things to see, and things to support, you’re in luck because there’s a lot going on, Philly. (These things include a projected-to-be-massive No Kings Rally in Center City on Saturday afternoon.)

Our stages are so packed that productions are happening outdoors. TERRA takes dance performance art into the woods at the Schuylkill Center, Journey Arts hosts Daniel de Jesús in Bartram’s Garden, and Cedar Park Jazz is live on Friday nights in West Philly.

A Summer Day premieres at Wilma Theater, and Ringo Starr is finally coming back to The Mann Center. Space Opera, a theater and mega-game hybrid experience, begins at the Arch Street Meeting House.

The 17th Annual Dish It Up returns to raise money for Women Against Abuse. The American Philosophical Society is supporting local artists with its Local Author Speed Dating salon, and the Science History Institute is hosting its 3rd Annual Curious Histories Fest. JustUs Ideas Week is ongoing at CCP, and this weekend marks the start of Juneteenth, with celebrations at the Johnson House and Penn Museum.

It’s a good week for art enthusiasts, with Art for the Cash Poor returning to InLiquid and the annual Clay Fest at the Clay studio.

For all things Pride, we have updated our Pride Guide for June to celebrate being out, loud, and proud with love.

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

JustUs Ideas Week, A Summer Day, Juliana Pache at the Free Library, Dish it Up fundraiser, local author speed dating, Daniel de Jesús, Cedar Park Jazz.

JustUS Ideas Week at CCP.

BE PART OF THE FUTURE OF JUSTICE. Community College of Philadelphia hosts a week dedicated to reshaping our approach to justice at JustUs Ideas Week, June 9 through June 13. Panel discussions, entrepreneur pitches, interactive forums, podcasts, and speaker events are all on the agenda with the goal of collaborating on innovative solutions to the challenges facing justice-impacted communities. See the full schedule here. Registration is required for attendence and separately for select events. Free. 1700 Spring Garden Street

A Summer Day.

ENJOY A SUMMER DAY ON STAGE. See the regional premiere of A Summer Day by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Jon Fosse June 10 to June 29 at the Wilma Theater for evening and afternoon performances. $20-$88. 265 S. Broad Street

ATTEND A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION COMPLETE WITH CROSSWORDS! The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation presents Juliana Pache | Black Crossword: 100 Midi Puzzles Connecting the African Diaspora on June 10 from 6 to 7:30pm. The founder of BlackCrossword.com and author of the Black Crossword discusses her second collection with Desirée Gaines of Philly Download, followed by a Q&A and some live puzzling led by Juliana. The Philadelphia Citizen is a proud media sponsor of the Free Library Foundation. Free. 1901 Vine Street

Guests enjoy food, beer and conversation at Parks on Tap along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia
Photo by Albert Yee.

DRINK BEER IN WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK. Parks on Tap comes to The Belmont Plateau June 11 through June 15 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. 1800 Belmont Mansion Drive

Scenes from last year’s Dish it Up event.

STUFF YOUR FACE FOR A GOOD CAUSE. The 17th Annual Dish It Up offers a night of delicious food from Philadelphia’s top women chefs to raise money for the nonprofit Women Against Abuse. Join them at the Crystal Tea Room June 11 from 6 to 9pm with NBC10 Lifestyle and Entertainment Reporter Aunyea Lachelle,  DeeJay Shelly and John “Sax” Williams, and of course, the food tasting competition. $81.88-$535.38. The Wanamaker Building, 100 E. Penn Square, 9th Floor

American Philosophical Society, courtesy of Visit Philadelphia.

SPEED-DATE YOUR WAY THROUGH LOCAL AUTHORS. Not technically dating, but American Philosophical Society’s Publishing Salon: Local Author Speed Dating happens June 11 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Philosophical Hall. Enjoy refreshments, networking, and 10 local authors who will each have a few short minutes to share their work. Registration is required. Free. 104 S. 5th Street 

Daniel de Jesús. Photo by Bryan Karl Lathrop.

DO AN ART AND FOOD PAIRING LIKE NO OTHER. Journey Arts presents Table Sessions: Daniel de Jesús June 11 and 12 at 7pm in Bartram’s Garden. The visionary Philadelphia artist, vocalist, and cellist treats attendees to an original cello trio show in Spanish and English accompanied by a Spanish meal by Puerto Rican chef Cynthia Salamanca, chef-owner of Sandra’s Kitchen. $23.18-$55.20. 400 Lindbergh Boulevard

Photo by Anthony Porter.

LISTEN TO JAZZ IN THE PARK. West Philly’s Cedar Park Jazz is back for a season of music, dancing, and community on Fridays in June and July from 6 to 8pm in Cedar Park. On June 13 catch Untethered. Free. Baltimore Avenue and S. 50th Street

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY

TERRA at the Schuylkill Center, Clay Fest, Curious Histories Fest, Art for the Cash Poor, Space Opera, birdwatching hike, Juneteenth at the Penn Museum, Ringo at the Mann.

Birdwatching with Troy Bynum.

GO BIRDWATCHING ON A GUIDED HIKE. Learn about the birds that call Fairmount Park home with a guided bird walk on the Trolley Trail at Second Saturday Guided Hikes: Birdwatching with Troy Bynum, June 14 from 10am to noon. Free, registration is required. Belmont Plateau Parking Lot, 1800 Belmont Mansion Drive

Juneteenth in Penn Museum’s Stoner Courtyard. Photo by Eddy Marenco for the Penn Museum.

CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH AT THE PENN MUSEUM. In advance of the holiday, Penn Museum hosts its annual Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom on June 14 from 10am to 6pm with free access to galleries, exhibitions, and outdoor gardens, plus performances, workshops, pop-up exhibits, and more. Free, but please register. 3260 South Street

Photo by Meredith Edlow, courtesy of the Science History Institute.

GET YOUR SCIENCE HISTORY CRAVING SATISFIED. The 3rd Annual Curious Histories Fest returns to the Science History Institute June 14 from 11am to 3pm with family-friendly, hands-on activities, curators and experts to talk to, cooking demos, story times, and free ice cream. The first 100 visitors will receive a free Lunchtime lunchbox — exclusive merch for the newest exhibit. Free. 315 Chestnut Street

A man in a crowd wearing a raincoat and glasses holds up a neon green protest sign that reads "No Deportation." On the left is a red "stop separating families" sign
Photo by Michael Fleshman via Flickr.

TAKE PART — OR JUST BE AWARE OF — THE NO KINGS RALLY. Philadelphia is one of hundreds of cities and towns hosting “a day of defiance” that coincides with a military parade / 79th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. for the President. Philly’s No Kings Rally starts on June 14 at noon at LOVE Park and proceeds along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art / Eakins Oval. Free. 15th Street and JFK Boulevard to 2300 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Girls dressed in colorful African outfits dance on Germantown Avenue for the Johnson House's annual Junteenth Festival.
Juneteenth at the Johnson House Historic Site.

CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH IN GERMANTOWN. For the 19th year, the Johnson House Historic Site is closing down a block of Germantown Avenue for an all-afternoon festival on June 14 from noon to 7pm. There will be live music by Sanovia, Trumpet Chics and Philly Destiny Band, live DJs, food trucks, kids’ activities and historic reenactments. Free. 6300 Germantown Avenue

BROKE? WHO CARES. BUY ART ANYWAY. Art for the Cash Poor is happening June 14 from noon to 6pm at InLiquid. Over 100 artists, crafters, and designers will have their work for sale at $250 or less, while local arts and community organizations provide free demonstrations, workshops, and more. Pay as you go. 1400 N. American Street

Space Opera. Photo by Marisol Rosa-Shapiro.

SAVE THE GALAXY! Is it theater? Is it Improv? Is it a TTRPG? It’s all of those things! Obvious Agency presents Space Opera, a role-playing mega game where a story of galactic intrigue plays out over three weekends, June 14, June 21 and June 28, from noon to 7pm Arch Street Meeting House. You can opt to play out the whole saga, step in for an episode, or watch the event as a casual observer. Players get a catered meal! $15-$90. 320 Arch Street

Group Sculpt Project at Clay Fest. Photo courtesy of The Clay Studio.

CHECK OUT THE CLAY STUDIO’S NEW DIGS. The Clay Studio welcomes people of all ages for a day of fun and creating art in their new South Kensington location at the 10th annual Clay Fest, June 14 from 1 to 5pm. Free. 1425 N. American Street

GO TO A BOOK FAIR FOR GROWNUPS. On June 14, from noon to 5pm, Evil Genius Beer Company hosts its Pints & Pages book fair, a pop-up market featuring local curators of books, comics, VHS tapes, and craft beer from Evil Genius. Pay as you go. 1727 N. Front Street

TERRA rehearsal. Photo by Michelle Smith.

EXPERIENCE EXPERIMENTAL DANCE THEATER. Set within the forest of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, TERRA: Bodies & Territories by Silvana Cardell is an immersive, multi-sensory performance of dance, sound, and land-based visual art featuring a multi-generational ensemble of women and femme dancers ages seven to 70. A gallery exhibition and 3D experience will accompany TERRA in the Visitor Center. Performances are outdoors June 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 7:30pm, and June 15 and 22 at 3:30pm. $30. 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

Photo by MatthewHoobin, via Wikimedia Commons.

YOU PAID YOUR DUES; NOW SING SOME BLUES. On June 15, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band are live at The Mann’s TD Pavillion. Doors open at 6pm, show is at 7:30pm. $49-$227. 5201 Parkside Avenue

SEE A MOVE BOMBING DOCUMENTARY. On June 15 at 4pm, Making Worlds Books hosts a screening of 40 Years a Prisoner (2020), a documentary that chronicles the bombing and Mike Africa Jr.’s fight to exonerate his parents. He’ll participate in a Q&A following the film. All proceeds will be donated towards Reclaim Osage. The event is free, but registration is required. Free. 210 South 45th Street

ONGOING EVENTS

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

Tai Chi in Franklin Square.
Tai Chi in Franklin Square.

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

Emilio Martínez Poppe’s School District of Philadelphia East, 2024. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

SEE PHILLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CITY WORKERS. Emilio Martínez Poppe’s Civic Views, a contemporary public art project documenting the unique perspective of the city through its workers’ windows, will be on view in the City Hall Courtyard through June 11. Free. 1400 John F Kennedy Boulevard

Opening number from The Wiz: Sheherazade as Glinda Dana, Cimone as Dorothy, and Amitria Fanae as Addapearle in The Wiz First National Tour 2025. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

EASE ON DOWN TO SEE THE WIZ. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical The Wiz is touring for the first time in 40 years and opens at The Academy of Music through June 15 for afternoon and evening performances. $40-$184. 240 S. Broad Street

Green Stamp Philly Rally.
Green Stamp Philly Rally.

COLLECT STAMPS VISIT GREEN SPACES GET PRIZES! Historic Germantown presents the Green Space Stamp Rally 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

Pre-production photos of Glitter in the Glass. Photo Credit: Azella Gardens

SEE A PLAY ABOUT LEGACY, PROTEST, AND ART. Opening at Theater Exile June 5 through June 22 with afternoon and evening performances, Glitter in the Glass tells the story of an artist on a journey to replace a hateful monument with something new. $40. 1340 S. 13th Street

Philadelphia Marketplace at Dilworth Park

SHOP LOCAL IN DILWORTH PARK. The Philadelphia Marketplace is open at Dilworth Park through June 28. Every Friday and Saturday from noon to 6pm, two dozen tri-state area vendors offer home decor, jewelry, fashion, sweets, treats, posters, art, skincare, men’s products, candles, plants, flowers and more. Vintage weekends will take place June 27 and 28. Pay as you go. 1 S. 15th Street

Courtesy Atelier FAS

SEE A UARTS LEGACY EXHIBIT. Atelier Art Gallery proudly presents To Be Continued … The Ongoing Legacy of UArts Faculty and Alumni, a group exhibition of over 75 artists spanning approximately 60 out of 150 years of UArts history. Opening reception: June 7 from 5 to 8pm. Exhibit on view through June 28, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 6pm. Free. 1301 N. 31st Street, Suite 2

Company of Small Ball. Photo by Carolina Vargas.

CATCH A SPORTS-THEMED MUSICAL. Recommended for ages 13 and up, Small Ball is an off-beat surreal musical comedy about Michael Jordan (but not that Michael Jordan) and Lilliputians. Opening June 6 through June 29 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. $43-$83. 480 S. Broad Street

The Rothman Roller Rink at Dilworth Park.
The Rothman Roller Rink at Dilworth Park.

GET RETRO AT THE ROLLER RINK. The Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink at Dilworth Park is back through June 29.  Admission $8-$12, $6 skate rental. 1 S. 15th Street

Open Streets in Midtown Village

STROLL THE STREETS OF MIDTOWN VILLAGE. The popular pedestrian takeover of city streets expands with Open Streets: Midtown Village, June 8 through June 29 from 11am to 5pm (street closures 8am to 6pm). Participating neighborhood businesses will offer expanded outdoor dining, sidewalk sales, and specials alongside roving performers and live music. Free. 13th Street from Chestnut to Locust, Sansom Street from 12th to Juniper and Drury Street

Franklin’s Key cast members Jameka Monet Wilson as Temple and Alton Alburo as Arturo. Photo by Eli Eisenstein

EXPERIENCE AN ALTERNATE HISTORY ADVENTURE. Pig Iron Theatre Company, presents the world premiere of Franklin’s Key, a mysterious adventure that asks, what if Ben Franklin really could control the weather? Running to June 29 at Plays & Players Theatre with performances at 2 and 7pm. $28-$68. 1714 Delancey Street

Courtesy William Way

EXPERIENCE QUEER LIFE REFIGURED AND UNFRAMED. The William Way LGBT Community Center, in collaboration with Philly Queer Life Drawing, presents Refigured, Unframed: An Exhibition with Philly Queer Life Drawing. The exhibit showcases over 50 original works by 22 local artists using pencil, charcoal, acrylic, watercolor and digital media, alongside striking photographs to chronicle two years of Philly Queer Life Drawing events. Open through June 30, the exhibit is on view Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9 pm. Free. 1315 Spruce Street

Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park.

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

Clockwise from top left: Works by Amy Schnitzer, Claire McCauley, Sam Scott, Sergi Isupov, Don Nakamura, and Annie Rhodes.

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

Photo by Ashley Smith, Wide-Eyed Studio

FORGET REGRET, OR THIS SHOW IS YOURS TO MISS! The Tony Award™ and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent is live at the Arden Theater through June 29 with 2pm and 7pm shows available. Tickets are going fast! $35-$68. 40 N. 2nd Street

Katie Hudnall’s A Cabinet for Lost and Found Things (2024) Photo by Mariah Moneda.

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

Title: Self-care Sunday, mixed media by Michael Thurin

COME TO THE OPENING OF A NEW ART EXHIBITION AT FAIRMOUNT WATER WORKS. The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center presents their fourth annual spring fine art exhibition, CONFLUENCE. Eleven artists, showcasing 26 works of art centered around the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and the junction where they meet, known as a confluence, are featured. Through July 26, Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Free. 640 Waterworks Drive

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash.

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. Park After Dark: Moonwalk + Stargazing Party happens every first Tuesday evening through August. $15. Lemon Hill Drive

SIP AWAY AT YOUR FAVORITE CENTER CITY HAPPY HOUR. Center City District SIPS begins its 21st season every Wednesday from 5 to 7pm through August 27. Dozens of bars and restaurants are offering $7 cocktails, $6 wine, $5 beer and half-priced appetizers. Select locations will offer 15 percent off dinner after 7pm. Pay as you go. Various locations

A PHS workshop in the Manayunk pop-up garden.

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

Summerfest

KICK OFF SUMMER ON THE WATERFRONT. Spruce Street Harbor Park and Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest offer roller skating, outdoor boardwalk games and rides, mini-golf, and great food and drinks seven days a week through September 1 (later for Spruce Street Harbor Park). Pay as you go. 101 and 301 S. Columbus Boulevard

Two preserved human forms, without skin, demonstrate skateboarding and guitar playing as part of the Body Worlds science exhibition.
Body Worlds at The Franklin Institute.

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

Banners hang between columns outside The National Liberty Museum.
The National Liberty Museum.

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

Courtesy Robert Malissa, Philly Magic Walking Tour

FIND MAGIC IN OLD CITY. “The Great Philadelphia Comedy Magic Walking Tour” returns for the season. 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

On a display from the Trusted Messenger exhibit at the Mütter Museum.

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

Terra Rehearsal. Photo by Michelle Smith

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