Things to Do in Philadelphia This Week & Weekend

Through Saturday, November 7, 2026 (select dates)

Looking to stretch out spooky season? These haunted sites still have a few more days of scares in November:

• Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary: There’s still time for a few more scares at the annual Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary. During the annual fall festival, the legendary facility transforms into one of America’s largest haunted houses with nearly a dozen different attractions, including multiple haunted houses, tours and VIP experiences.

• Pennhurst Asylum: For a terrifying near-real-life attraction, don’t miss Pennhurst Asylum in Chester County. Described as the “scariest place I’ve ever seen, period” by HauntWorld, the experience operates in the same facility that housed a psychiatric hospital for 80 years.

• Lincoln Mill Haunted House: The ghastly history of Lincoln Mill Haunted House tells the spine-chilling myth of bodies “discovered” in a secret basement chamber after flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021, uncovering the mill’s dark and gruesome past. Expect scare actors, high-quality sets, special effects and animatronics.

Through Saturday, November 7, 2026

The 15-game unbeaten streak is over. No matter. The Philadelphia Union are playoff bound after officially clinching a spot on Wednesday night. The club is riding one of the hottest streaks (12 wins over three months) in Major League Soccer while stacking up new fans following Philly’s World Cup summer.  

On Saturday, the Union battles Toronto during Fan Appreciation Night. Look for discounted concessions and merch throughout the match, with strikers Ezekiel Alladoh and Augustin Anello keying the offense until Cavan Sullivan and Milan Iloski return from injury. Stay tuned for the yet-unannounced playoff schedule. 

Don’t miss: The new “Playoff Capsule” apparel line from local streetwear trendsetters Lapstone & Hammer. (Yes, it’s available at the Union team store at Subaru Park). 

Through Saturday, November 7, 2026

Whether we’re chatting over a meal or about one, few things go together better than food and conversation — and no one knows that better than the Sisterly Love Collective.  

The 2026 edition of the Cookbook and Convos — the collective’s annual series of author talks, dinners and events (sponsored by yours truly) — wraps up this week with:

• a delightful conversation and cookie tasting party with writers Leah Koenig and Susan Spungen at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (Monday)  
• a biscuit and butter tasting with writer and recipe developer Anna Stockwell at Rex at the Royal (Wednesday)
• a cozy supper with author and culinary historian Alissa Timoshkina at Little Walter’s (Thursday), and
• a family-style celebration of Puerto Rican cuisine with chef and Beat Bobby Flay champion Mia Castro at Recipe Philly (Thursday).

Through Sunday, November 8, 2026

Reunite the souls of your deceased loved ones during El Día de los Muertos Ofrenda at the Magic Gardens Museum on South Street.

This traditional Mexican holiday, celebrated for a full week, invites you to pay respects to those souls lost by dropping gifts at an ofrenda, a temporary altar filled with sugar skulls and meaningful mementos that connect you with the dead. 

Also, you can participate in a hands-on painting workshop while creating your very own calavera (skull) using three-dimensional papier-mâché. 

Know before you go: No previous painting experience is required. 

Through Sunday, November 8, 2026

It’s your last chance to head to Pumpkinland at Delaware County’s Linvilla Orchards this week.

The great gourd gala features a slew of daytime ticketed activities like harvest hayrides, corn and hay-bale mazes, apple blaster target shooting, pick-your-own crops, fishing in Orchard Lake, and pony and train rides.

Closing weekend is extra sweet, coinciding with the fall edition of Food Truck Frenzy, featuring nearly 30 trucks, from Dos Hermanos to The Little Sicilian, dishing out tasty pay-as-you-go eats (Saturday and Sunday).

Know before you go: Access to Pumpkinland is free with pay-as-you-go concessions and activities.

Closes Sunday, November 8, 2026

Connect with nature and walk away inspired. Chanticleer Garden, a world-class horticultural gem, closes for the 2026 season on Sunday. 

This “pleasure garden” encompasses 35 acres on the 114-year-old Rosengarten family estate in Wayne, featuring wildflower meadows, vegetable gardens and meandering trails that wind through cut flowers and water ponds. 

Gardeners at Chanticleer double as working creatives and artists who use the diverse surrounding flora as their personal canvas, leveraging their expertise in woodworking, metalworking, stone-carving and other learned skills. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984. 

Don’t miss: The Ruin Garden, a crumbling stone house overtaken by sapling trees, extended vines and lush shrubs.

Expected around this week

Each fall, the Philadelphia region puts on a stunning arboreal show as trees across the area turn spectacular autumn shades of red and gold. (In fact, Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than anywhere in the world.) So keep your eyes peeled, because Greater Philly’s foliage is expected to reach peak color this week. 

Want to know the best spots to peep leaves? Our guide to fall foliage in Philadelphia has you covered. 

Now open

From backyard drop to South Philly shop. So goes the story of Sal Burgese, owner of Backyard Cravings, who started making pizza and cheesesteaks at his rowhome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quickly, his food went viral among influencers, neighbors and celebrities (including Jimmy Rollins), spawning the idea to open at 1429 Wolf Street. 

Long lines form every weekend, with people clamoring for his signature cheesesteak. What’s in it? Ribeye, Cooper sharp (what else?) and onions on a housemade sesame-seeded roll, cooked in a high-heat Gozney oven. He’s selling cheesesteaks on Saturdays and Sundays, and pizzas on Thursdays and Fridays. 

Know before you go: This is a first-come, first-served establishment. No phone orders!

Through Thursday, December 31, 2026

How do we achieve, as the Founding Fathers wrote, “liberty and justice for all” … that’s a more difficult question to answer. 

Eastern State Penitentiary tackles the question head-on with two months of special programming, including mini tours and pop-up talks, including one exploring Prohibition-era policing from the impeccably decorated cell of former inmate Al Capone. (You may have heard of him.)

Don’t miss: Eastern State Penitentiary’s Veterans Day happenings, which feature a pop-up exhibit, talk and video screening, kicks off on Saturday.

Erasing a 29-point deficit with Allen Iverson in the building? That’s how you start a basketball season! The Philadelphia 76ers look to keep the good juju going at home against the Chicago Bulls, with all eyes on … the pregame handshakes. 

LeBron James has gone hilariously viral in recent days for his interactions with new teammates Joel Embiid, Dean Wade and Tyrese Maxey. It’s a (new) Philly thing! The chemistry between the Sixers’ starting five is palpable right now. 

Know before you go: Bricken for Chicken is back! Anytime an opposing player misses consecutive free-throw attempts in the second half, everyone wins free nuggets.

Get ready for a uni reveal! The Philadelphia Flyers unveil their Independence Edition jerseys (in honor of America’s 250th anniversary) when the hockey team welcomes the Western Conference’s Minnesota Wild to town. 

Much hype has been clogging the socials, but no renderings. This is your first peek at them. Meanwhile, Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov lead the Orange and Black on the ice as Joseph Woll and Dan Vladar split time in net. It’s been a rough start to the year — don’t call them soft! — but there’s a lot of season left. 

Don’t miss: Hot and fresh beignets at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which are being churned out fresh from the arena’s new in-house bakery.

The Penn Museum, known for exhibits on the shared human experience, opens its doors for Mind and Mood Recharge, the attraction’s popular after-hours wellness series focused on health-centric happenings. 

The museum offers a variety of programs meant to free your mind and relax your soul, from yoga and Tai Chi to Afrobeats and “slow-looking” sessions. A Botanical Bar offers herb-infused cocktails and mocktails to help you achieve a stress-free mood while a Wellness Marketplace sells zen gifts from small businesses. 

Fun fact: Egypt Galleries: Life and Afterlife opens to the public on December 12, 2026. It explores 4,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.

Hailing from Puerto Rico, Young Miko has taken the world by storm. 

One of the suavest to hit the música urbana scene, the star brings the perreo to you with confident and catchy hits, like WASSUP, and a major international arena tour. 

Get ready to party hard with the self-proclaimed Trap Kitty at her Do Not Disturb Tour, a 31-date tour spanning 11 countries. Pro tip: Get to the show on time because there is no scheduled opener. 

Vibe: For one night only, Xfinity Mobile Arena becomes the hottest Latin club north of Miami.

Pointe yourself in the right direction this fall. BalletX Fall Series 2026 kicks off at Suzanne Roberts Theatre on Wednesday. 

Three shows highlight the marquee, including the world premiere of Loughlan Prior (New Zealand choreographer in residence) in Speakeasy (2024), an intoxicating journey into Philly’s Prohibition-era jazz scene where glamour and danger flirt for your attention. 

Other performances on this season’s schedule include Christian Denice’s In the Wake (2025) and Amy Hall Garner’s Switching the Groove (2023). 

Know before you go: Grab a subscription for the 2026-27 season to gain priority access and secure your seats before tickets go on sale to the general public. 

Get your after-hours shellfish fix on at one of the nation’s oldest and largest public food markets during the annual Oyster Fest at Reading Terminal Market. 

Celebrating its 13th anniversary, the walk-around experience offers seafood lovers over a dozen varieties of East Coast oysters and mignonettes, plus additional fresh seafood bites (clam chowder!), craft beers, wine and nonalcoholic bevvies. The award-winning market tops it all off with live entertainment to enjoy between bites. 

Know before you go: Tickets are required. 

Among the largest festivals of its type, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival marks its 19th anniversary this year.

The festival celebrates and showcases stories from the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in film, performance art, music and other creative expressions throughout its multi-day run and during special events throughout the year.

The fest represents the best in AAPI diaspora filmmaking and storytelling, with this year’s lineup featuring 44 world, East Coast and Philadelphia premieres. 

Don’t miss: The world premiere of the feature-length documentary about Philly activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya on the festival’s opening night, shown at Moore College of Art & Design.

First Fridays are the best Fridays! The city comes alive through art shows, delicious eats and storefront strolls. On the lineup for November:

• live music, cocktails, light fare and gallery strolls at The Barnes Foundation
• new gallery shows and tasty restaurant specials in Chestnut Hill
• a whole slew of First Friday openings at Old City art spaces, like the Museum of Art in Wood, Arch Enemy Arts, Paradigm, Pii Gallery and Cherry Street Pier, plus a festive fete at the Gas Lamp Hotel, and 
• an opening celebration for a new eye-forward exhibition at the Science History Institute.

Blockade ’71, hosted by the South Asian American Digital Archive, is a free multimedia event that celebrates Philadelphia’s role in supporting the Bangladesh Liberation War. Drawing on pro-immigrant sentiment, the event features an archival exhibit, artmaking, food and music from sitarist Devi Majeske. 

It begins with a screening of the 2016 documentary Blockade, which follows a group of peace activists who surrounded a Pakistani freighter on the Delaware River in 1971. This non-violent protest blocked the ship from reaching the Port of Baltimore, where it was due to supply arms to Pakistan.

Know before you go: The pre-event film screening starts at 4 p.m. followed by the event at 5:30 p.m. RSVP if you plan to attend as capacity is limited. 

Celebrate a half-century of hand-crafted art and singular talent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show.

Museum-quality handmade jewelry, textiles and mixed media are on display and for sale during this juried show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The highly anticipated annual event commemorates its milestone anniversary year by exhibiting 195 artists across 13 different categories of craft and design.

Know before you go: Tickets are required to attend.

November 6 – December 6, 2026 (select dates)

The annual Big 5 basketball showdown finally gets underway. 

The competition pits the city’s six NCAA Division I schools — the Villanova Wildcats, Temple Owls, Penn Quakers, La Salle Explorers, St. Joseph’s Hawks and Drexel Dragons — in a battle for a regional championship and ultimate bragging rights. 

All six men’s and women’s basketball programs split into two pods of three teams that play each other in a round-robin format to determine the finalists.

Know before you go: The men’s Toyota Big 5 Classic — a tripleheader at the Xfinity Mobile Arena — happens on Saturday, December 5, 2026, while the women’s Big 5 Classic happens the next day at the Palestra.

From the green thumbs that bring you the Philadelphia Flower Show — Philly’s annual floral spectacular — comes a striking new and totally free exhibition and garden experience, featuring rare objects, photographs and stories from Philadelphia’s growers, dreamers and changemakers. 

Immerse yourself in 300 years of American gardening history, while discovering immigrant seed traditions from around the globe, behind-the-scenes stories of Flower Shows past, Philadelphia’s oft-overlooked influence on American horticulture and so much more. 

In true Flower Show fashion, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) tapped world-renowned landscape designer Wambui Ippolito to create a garden of fragrance and calm, reflecting the diverse traditions and communities found across Philadelphia.

Know before you go: Say happy birthday, PHS! The free exhibition kicks off the non-profit organization’s milestone 200th anniversary celebrations, which continue at — you guessed it — the Flower Show!

Bring a burlap sack and take a ride down the Giant Wooden Slide at Smith Memorial Playground when it hosts CraftNOW Create. 

Filled with hands-on demonstrations on the playground’s wraparound porch, this free event is part of a larger city initiative seeking to bring free (and fun) art class back to 133 neighborhood recreation centers, in tandem with local museums and galleries. 

Featured activations include marbled paper making, bookmark and bracelet weaving (using straws), paper moth pins, Dia de los Muertos sugar skulls, plus a Claymobile (ceramics pop-up studio) courtesy of the Clay Studio. 

Vibe: Your favorite Kindergarten teacher got an arts budget from the city.

For a Colonial-style harvest festival, head over to Montgomery County’s Peter Wentz Farmstead for the site’s 4th annual Harvest Festival. The farm features an 18th-century homestead showcasing Pennsylvania German culture.

For the festival, history comes alive to highlight how the fall harvest was once the most important time of the year. Meet farm animals and participate in hands-on demos about old-fashioned fall farm chores like apple cider pressing and candle-dipping. You can also enjoy free tours of the farmstead, which has been continuously farmed since 1744.

Know before you go: Although the event is free, the farmstead requests a $2 donation per person.

Founded in 1795, Andalusia Historic House once again opens its 50 acres of formal gardens and native woodlands to the public for free tours on select Saturdays. This is the last Open Saturday until April 2027. 

Fall foliage plays a starring role here as horticulturist Kristin Biddle leads two guided walking tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Senior groundskeeper James Harper leads an hour-long tour at 3 p.m. where he shares personal stories from his almost two decades maintaining the grounds at Andalusia while Yoga in the Gardens (with Trina Shumsonk of Atlas Yoga & Movement) takes over a cozy, mulch wood path at 11 a.m. 

Know before you go: Admission tickets are still required to tour the Historic House.

Drumroll please: Philly’s yearlong events series highlighting the groundbreaking ideas and inventions that began right here — 52 Weeks of Firsts — is cooking up an extra festive Saturday Firstival celebration. 

A tradition so big, it could only begin here, the nation’s very first Thanksgiving Day parade stepped off in Center City in 1920, and since, the annual Turkey Day celebration has inspired others (looking at you, Macy’s) and continues to kick off Philly’s holiday season. 

Pop by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History — located just a few blocks away from the parade’s original end point — for free family-friendly activities, entertainment, giveaways and the vibrant autumn-hued No. 1 statue Philly-based artist Caresh Walker created for the occasion.

Know before you go: Stick around the Weitzman to enjoy free admission, and fun, family-friendly Second Saturday programming (more on that below).

Elfreth’s Alley, the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited resident street (circa 1703), puts the spotlight on 21st century artisans and makers. 

The Fall Makers Market brings together vendors from all over the city, including the historic alley’s current residents, for this one-day event meant to pay tribute to craftspeople of yesteryear. Remember, Elfreth’s Alley was a hotbed for shipwrights, pewtersmiths, glassblowers, woodworkers, tailors and dressmakers in 1776. 

Good for: The ghosts of Betsy Ross and Isaiah Zagar, or anyone else with a passion for creativity and art.

Spooky season never ends for serious Halloweeners. Whether you’re into dark academia and occult tchotchkes, or you just really, really love the Mütter Museum, the vendors setting up shop among the tombstones at this Laurel Hill Cemetery tradition have just the thing for you. 

Postponed from September, this ticketed cemetery market features over 100 regional vendors peddling interesting antiques, curious oddities and taxidermy, and other handmade goods, plus pay-as-you-go food and drink for a graveside picnic. (Note: BYO-blanket. Seating is super limited.)

Grab your tickets before noon on Friday for just $5, or you can grab them at the door for $10.

Know before you go: Parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Translation: We strongly recommend taking a rideshare or public transportation. Luckily, SEPTA’s 61 bus route drops you off just minutes from the entrance. If you do plan to drive, be sure to check the official website for parking info before you arrive.

Now in its 26th year, Spiral Q’s 26th Annual Peoplehood Parade and Pageant honors the people who continue to break the boundaries of what’s humanly possible.

This six-week celebration culminates with a parade that departs from The Paul Robeson House at 1 p.m. then moves into Clark Park at 45th Street and Kingsessing, followed by the Peoplehood Pageant in the “dog bowl” at 2:30 p.m. 

Listen for live music and look for arts and crafts along with a slew of family-friendly programming, highlighted by a special storytime hour at Calvary Center for sign decorating, singalongs and storytelling. 

Know before you go: Rain date is November 14, 2026. 

The Academy of Vocal Arts kicks off its 92nd season with L’elisir d’amore, an Italian bel canto comedy that follows Nemorino on his quest to woo his love interest, Adina. 

After failed attempts to win her love, Nemorino seeks a remedy from a quack doctor who gives him a “love potion,” leading to hilarious misunderstandings and tomfoolery. The opera originally debuted in Milan in 1832 and has been wildly popular ever since. 

Know before you go: The performance is sung in Italian, with English subtitles. 

Fall’s premier fruit takes center stage during this super popular annual fall festival at Bucks County’s Peddler’s Village. The rain-or-shine event, now in its 53rd year, features an abundance of apple-infused treats, from fresh-pressed cider to apple fritters, donuts, candied apples and more. 

Enjoy live music while you stroll the charming countryside attraction’s brick-lined pathways surrounded by 65 specialty shops and boutiques. Look for a petting zoo, caricature artist, axe throwing and a pie-eating contest on the Village Green Balcony. 

Know before you go: Admission and parking are free, with pay-as-you-go food and drink. Also, bring cash — some vendors do not accept cards. 

Gen Z pop princess Olivia Rodrigo’s newest album tells the age-old tale of a girl falling in — and out — of love. 

A little sour, a little sweet, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love keeps the melodrama of the singer-songwriter’s last album, GUTS, but trades in the ’90s grunge for an ’80s pop and New Wave-inspired sound that makes for one hell of a show. 

Know before you go: Get to Xfinity Mobile Arena early to catch the next up-and-coming alt pop star Devon Again’s opening act. 

Celebrate Sigd (translation: prostration), an Ethiopian Jewish holiday, at the inaugural Second Sunday at The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. 

This free community day honors this centuries-old holiday — traditionally celebrated by a half-day fast, followed by a feast and dancing — by asking visitors to wear white while creating versions of Ethiopian tapestries. Gili Yalo ends the festivities by performing live during a ticketed Secret Chord Concert. 

Know before you go: This is the first event in a series of community days happening on the second Sunday of every month at The Weitzman. 

Redhead Celebration Day, held on a 30-acre agrotourism in Bucks County, is inviting anyone with red hair (and those without) to celebrate National Redhead Day(. Yes, it’s a real holiday.) 

This first-of-its-kind event paints the farm red, with live music, hayrides, pay-as-you-go food, pictures on the “Redhead Carpet” and contests crowning winners for Best Freckly Redhead and Palest Skinned Redhead. 

Good for: Redheads, duh – although red hair is not a requirement to attend! 

Salute the 70,000 proud veterans who live in the Philadelphia region with this annual Veterans Day Parade and Festival. 

The parade starts along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — featuring marching bands, honor guard brigades, law enforcement and emergency vehicles, local celebrities, and motorcyclists — before culminating with an all-ages festival just beyond the Philadelphia Art Museum at Eakins Oval. This year, Gunnery Sergeant Roosevelt Farrow, who helped integrate the U.S. Marines during WWII, serves as Grand Marshall. 

Listen for live music (starting at 12:45 p.m.) from local singers Sanovia and Ami Yares while sipping on brews at the Evil Genius Beer Garden and munching on bites from local eateries Beck’s Cajun, Grubaholics, Letz Eat, Little Sicilian and more. 

Know before you go: The festivities happen rain or shine.

Break out the Kelly green jerseys! The Philadelphia Eagles return home for a pivotal NFC East showdown against the hated New York Giants. 

Quarterback Tanner McKee and rookie receiver Makai Lemon pace the new-look offense as the Eagles’ defense looks to contain Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely and Cam Skattebo. 

Keep in mind, this is one of only two home games on the schedule where the Eagles plan to don the cooler-than-cool throwback threads, featuring Kelly green tops and silver pants. Dress appropriately … and look for deep-fried turkey in the tailgate lots! 

Know before you go: This is the Eagles’ final game before the bye week. Next up? The Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 22, 2026. 

Through Saturday, November 14, 2026

The culinary spotlight shines bright in the ’burbs as 40 restaurants across Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties serve up a menu of sizzling hot dining deals for Main Line Today Restaurant Week. 

Dig into delicious fixed lunch menus at $25, $30 or $35 price points, while dinner menus clock in at $30, $45 or $55. The list of participating restaurants is just as dynamic as the region it represents, ranging from farm-to-table fare at Terrain’s Garden Cafe to elevated, Southern-cooked comfort food from Southern Cross Kitchen. 

Good for: Multi-course meals on a wallet-friendly budget.

Through Thursday, December 3, 2026

Rocky Balboa, much like his hometown, continues to punch above his weight. 

Rocky Season 2026 honors the 50th anniversary of the first Rocky movie through a series of high-profile events ranging in scope from the practical (bus tours and fitness runs) to the theatrical (meat-punching challenges and look-alike contests). 

This week, super fans can train Rocky Style, attempting his iconic 12-second run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s steps at The Rocky Steps Challenge (Saturday). Or stans can reserve a spot for this weekend’s official Rocky Bus Tour, which leaves from the Parkway Visitor Center, located at the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, at 10 a.m. (Saturday and Sunday).

Don’t miss: Your chance to relive the classic on the big screen and in 4K as the original film hits theaters across the region for a limited run (Saturday to November 10, 2026).

Dates vary by event

Treat yourself at one of these food-related happenings in Greater Philadelphia. Hungry for more? Chow down on our cheat sheet to late-night Philly eats. 

• Gluten-Free Night at Le Virtu: It’s super rare to see a pasta-forward restaurant offering gluten-free fare but Le Virtu, a long-time favorite on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia, has you covered. Everything from antipasti and dessert to cocktails and wine are celiac approved (Thursday). 

• Jazz & Mexican Flavor at Casa Mexico: Hit all the right notes when music and gastronomy top the charts at Casa Mexico. Chef Cristina Martinez builds a special taco tasting menu, backed by live jazz from The New Philly Sound, with a silent auction befitting The Heart of Jazz (Friday). 

• Tavern Night at Newlin Grist Mill: George Washington (wooden teeth and all!) would devour this meal with alacrity! Tavern Night puts Colonial fare, including smoked trout tart, sunchoke soup, and catfish and waffles, on a creative menu alongside locally brewed ales and colonial punch. Save room for the rye coffee ice cream, too (Saturday).

• Pierogi Festival 2026 at St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church: It’s your pierogi-tive so live your life. This festival of fried dough returns to Northern Liberties for two days, offering up traditional pierogies as well as other Eastern European delicacies like pelmeni, kielbasa, halushki, halupki, blini and more.  Live music and a beer garden add local flavor (Saturday and Sunday).

• Mira Collaboration Dinner at Emmett: Macro-Mediterranean meets Levantine flavor when friends collaborate for this special homecoming dinner. This is your chance to experience Mira, the much-hyped Buffalo restaurant helmed by husband-wife Manny and Gina Ocasio. One dish to consider: Roman-spiced hanger shish, with beef biajeen and grilled maitake (Sunday). 

Dates vary by event

Soak up these live performances at venues across Greater Philadelphia. Looking for discounted performing arts tickets? Don’t forget to check out the TKTS booth. 

• Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at Penn Live Arts: Penn Live Arts’ Arts of India Festival continues this week with three explosive nights of dance. One of India’s most popular contemporary dance troupes, Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, brings the 2,000-year-old Odissi dance tradition to West Philadelphia for the Philadelphia premiere of KHANKHANĀ: the sound of dancing feet. Helmed by renowned choreographer Surupa Sen, the dance group has made repeat appearances on The New York Times’ Best Dance list for its modern interpretation of the sacred dance ritual (Thursday to Saturday).

• Matt Friend at Harrah’s Philadelphia: A man of many voices, Matt Friend’s viral celebrity impressions and razor sharp wit have taken him to the late-night stage alongside Stephen Colbert, Oscar red carpets and even the White House. Now the breakout comedian takes the stage at Harrah’s Philadelphia for an evening of punchlines and deep belly laughs (Friday). 

• Rumba at Teatro Esperanza: Get ready to rumbaaa! Philly’s resident percussion collective embodying the rhythms and energy of the Caribbean and Latin America, TIMBOLINA, sets the stage for a high-spirited night of dance at Teatro Esperanza. Immerse yourself in a multidisciplinary exploration of the Cuban dance and musical style hosted by dancers Ashley Rivera and Elian Gomez, with live music (naturally), an interactive dance demonstration, and a screening of the documentary Portraits of Philly Rumba, followed by an interactive conversation with the film’s producer (Saturday).

• Yannick Nézet-Séguin Leads Curtis Symphony Orchestra at the Kimmel Center: The Grammy-winning conductor and artistic director of the Philadelphia Orchestra is behind the podium as the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, composed of gifted students studying at the world-renown musical conservatory, brings to life a stirring rendition of Gustav Mahler’s farewell composition, his Ninth Symphony. Also on the program: a powerful performance of Umoja by Grammy-nominated flutist and composer Valerie Coleman (Sunday). 

Dates vary by tour

Crispy weather is so back! Grab your favorite fall sweater and fuel up on pumpkin spice before hitting the streets for expert-led tours and self-guided strolls. 

• The Great Philadelphia Comedy Magic Walking Tour in Old City: Sleight of hand meets America’s birthland when award-winning magician Robert Malissa leads you on a magical mystery walking tour through Old City destinations. You’ll visit the Betsy Ross House and Benjamin Franklin’s House while jaw-dropping magic tricks and comedy ensue (Friday, Saturday & Sunday). 

• Living Legacy: A Tree Walk Through Historic Fair Hill: The tree-lined streets of Germantown set the scene for this guided nature walk around Historic Fair Hill. You’ll encounter trees older than Rip Van Winkle, including towering sycamores, oaks, American chestnuts, Black Locusts and more (Saturday).

• Beyond the Sesqui-Centennial: A History of FDR Park Walk & Talk: John Sigmund of the Fairmount Park Conservancy and historian John Keels lead a walk around FDR Park in honor of the Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The day begins with a 45-minute presentation inside the American Swedish Historical Museum, with additional stops at FDR Park Boathouse, Gateway Plaza and High Street (Saturday). 

• Bird Walk at Valley Forge National Historical Park With In Color Birding: Bird is the word. Valley Forge National Historical Park teams up with Valley Forge Park Alliance for a morning of birding and community from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Walking across the park’s rolling hills, you’ll be privy to migrating fall birds including orioles, finches, grosbeaks and various flycatchers (Saturday).

Ongoing

Arts and culture take center stage with the Philly Arts Event Finder, a brand-new, easy-to-use tool, brought to you by yours truly. 

Discover concerts, performances, exhibitions and more from over 180 local arts organizations — all in one place, personalized just for you. Browse the calendar, filter by performance type and plan your next night out right now. 

That, friend, deserves a standing ovation. 

Good for: Discovering everything from big Broadway musicals to experimental comedy shows and under-the-radar gallery exhibitions 

Ongoing

Give the City of Brotherly Love a standing ovation: The internationally renowned TKTS ticket booth service is now here in Philly. Joining the ranks of New York City, Tokyo, and London, TKTS Philadelphia offers an unbeatable deal: 30% to 50% off tickets to select Broadway musicals and theater performances on stage in Philly within 72 hours of the performance.  

Want the full scoop? Read on in our guide.

Know before you go: Tickets must be purchased in person at the Independence Visitor Center and include shows by Ensemble Arts, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Wilma Theater and many more.

Through Sunday, November 15, 2026

Painted a palette of rich reds, bewitching browns and oranges, this award-winning botanical garden in Chester County is especially enchanting this time of year, all on its own.  

Add in festive harvest displays by day, ooky-spooky fountain shows by night and the nostalgia of the garden railway, and what do you have? The perfect recipe for a magical autumnal adventure.  

Catch fall’s fleeting beauty — plus pumpkins and gourds galore — at one of the region’s best destinations for leaf-peeping and autumn’s finest blooms, Longwood Gardens. 

Don’t miss: Longwood Gardens’ Chrysanthemum Festival, running now through November 15, 2026. 

Through Thursday, November 19, 2026 

Follow in the footsteps of Latino changemakers across Philly — literally — with this brand-new self-guided (and 100% free) audio trail brought to you by your friends at Visit Philly (hey!). 

In Las Huellas (meaning “the footprints” in English), the journeys of award-winning chefs like Cristina Martínez, artists like Diego Rivera, and community advocates and civic leaders like Rev. Luis Cortés Jr. come to life with colorful footprint-shaped art installations at 11 stops — including familiar restaurants, museums and cultural institutions. 

Embedded in the vibrant illustration is a scannable QR code to hear (or read) the trailblazer’s story in Spanish or English — often in their own words. 

Don’t miss: A bonus story exclusively available online, highlighting Luis “Lou” Castro, the first Latino player in Major League Baseball

Through Thursday, December 31, 2026 (Tuesday through Saturday)

Missing your go-to source for handmade gifts and goods from the Immigrant Marché? What if we told you the multicultural marketplace is back? 

Known for popping up at places like Philadelphia’s Christmas Village and, most recently, as a temporary storefront along Market Street, Immigrant Marché is a shopping hub founded in 2024 showcasing entrepreneurs with immigrant roots as well as native-born small business owners. 

Shop a wide array of products from coffee beans and jam to vegan nail polish and jewelry at its new temporary home, next door to The Fabric Workshop & Museum. 

Know before you go: The new iteration of the Immigrant Marché storefront is not just a gift shop, but a bookshop featuring reads from Making Worlds Bookstore.

Through Sunday, December 13, 2026 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays only)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the Philly PHLASH! Everyone’s favorite way to conveniently travel from one iconic Philadelphia attraction to another is back for a brand-new season. 

All-day passes run just $5 (free for SEPTA Key holders), and stops include Reading Terminal Market, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Zoo and many more. For the first time ever, the distinct purple bus also stops at 30th Street Station, the Mütter Museum and the Fashion District.

Vibe: Paul Revere took over SEPTA. 

Through Sunday, December 13, 2026

Sibling rivalry takes center stage in Topdog/Underdog as we meet two adult brothers who can’t seem to break free from their father’s jocular and antagonistic decision to name them Lincoln and Booth. 

Lifelong resentment boils over as they share a dingy, single-room apartment and try desperately to escape their life circumstances. 

Arden Theatre Company partners with People’s Light to produce Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that takes a hard look at how life’s beginnings can sometimes seal a person’s fate.

Good for: Gritty, dark humor and emotional drama

Through Thursday, December 31, 2026

Stamp your ticket for LGBTQ+ history — and really neat swag — with the Pride Passport, a brand new collaboration between the Philly Pride Visitor Center, right here in the Gayborhood, and the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City. How does it work? Glad you asked! 

Step 1: Pick up your free passport from either site.

Step 2: Visit both locations before the end of the year and collect a stamp at each.

Step 3: Show your completed passport to staff at either visitor center location to score a limited-edition Baron von Steuben tote bag and rock it with pride. 

Don’t miss: Head over to Valley Forge National Historical Park to see the General Baron von Steuben statue, erected in 1915. 

Through Sunday, January 3, 2027

“When in the course of human events …” The document from which that seminal phrase originates is the centerpiece of the Museum of the American Revolution’s 2026 programming. The Declaration’s Journey exhibition traces the history of America’s founding charter and its continuing influence, inspiring over 100 independence movements worldwide.

The Declaration’s legacy is explored through records, art and artifacts, including Thomas Jefferson’s chair, a Marquis de Lafayette-annotated draft of the French Declaration of Rights, the prison bench where Martin Luther King Jr. penned “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” a spinning wheel presented by Gandhi and more.

Know before you go: Walk-in admission is free for those currently serving in the military, veterans and Blue Star Families in honor of Veterans Day (Sunday through November 11, 2026).

Through Sunday, January 10, 2027

Part of the Barnes Foundation’s America 250 programming is this groundbreaking exhibition highlighting Asian American artists affected by forced relocation and incarceration during World War II and their subsequent art that helped establish American aesthetic trends.

Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America showcases the works of six artists: designer and sculptor Isamu Noguchi, world-renowned furniture designer George Nakashima, sculptor Leo Amino, graphic designer S. Neil Fujita, weaver and fiber artist Kay Sekimachi, and sculptor Ruth Asawa.

Know before you go: Access to the exhibition comes with regular museum admission.

Through Sunday, January 31, 2027

Ta-Dada! Marcel Duchamp, one of the leaders of the Dadaist movement, has landed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

This new retrospective exhibition  — the largest in the world in more than 50 years — showcases art in various mediums, from paintings and sculptures to film and photography. Arranged chronologically to see Duchamp’s evolution through cubism, dada and surrealism, the exhibit features 300 works, including Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2), The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even, Fountain, L.H.O.O.Q. and many more. 

Know before you go: Timed tickets are required for entry into the exhibition and include general admission to the rest of the museum.

Through mid-2027 (dates vary by museum)

With storied histories of their own, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (the country’s very first art school and museum) delve into the richness and diversity of American art history for this blockbuster exhibition, timed to coincide with the Semiquincentennial.

Threading together 300 years of American art, the collection — which includes pieces from Phillies Owner John Middleton and his wife Leigh’s incredible personal collection — features over 1,000 portraits, sculptures, furniture, photographs and more across both museums. Viewers find some of art’s biggest names — including Mary Cassatt and Charles Willson Peale — exhibited side-by-side with oft-overlooked Black, Indigenous, immigrant and historically underrepresented artists and contemporary talents.

Know before you go: The exhibit is included with general admission at both museums. Purchase a full-price ticket to either museum for 50% off admission to the second museum (valid within seven days). 

It’s true: Philly is an award-winning, headline-grabbing kinda town. Need help keeping up with all the buzz? Get the scoop with this weekly roundup of our favorite Philly stories. Hot off the presses:

• An award-winning bartender shakes up Philly’s cocktail scene with a “love letter to Philly.”
• A former Taney Dragon goes pro. And guess who showed up for his debut! 
• Xfinity Mobile Arena’s new room offers a respite for visitors with sensory needs.
• Go Byrds! Meet the couple who just tied the knot during the ultimate tailgate wedding. 
• A huge gift means an impending glow-up for Philly’s largest art museum. 

Let the scaredy cats rejoice: Hollier and jollier days are ahead. Don’t believe us? You must not have seen the latest on visitphilly.com? But we got you …

• No longer a best-kept secret, Greater Philadelphia’s dining scene has been raking in praise and accolades for years now. With so many amazing, quintessentially Philadelphia dishes and restaurants to try, how do you know where to start? By perusing our roundup of all the essential Philly eats and trending dishes, of course!

• Japan may have introduced the world to the art of the listening room, but the City of Brotherly Love made the trend its own. Get ready to kick back, unwind and lose yourself in a vibe at one of these seven can’t-miss listening rooms and vinyl bars. 

• Philadelphia puts on a heck of a (light) show all season, filling those long, nippy nights with millions of twinkling lights. Experience all the Yuletide magic for yourself with our 2026 guide to holiday light displays and BYOB lights tours throughout Greater Philadelphia.

• Philadelphia’s endearing old-world charm gets a festive glow-up each holiday season as Christmas Village in Philadelphia transforms the city’s iconic LOVE Park and nearby City Hall into an authentic European holiday market. This year, the beloved Center City tradition sees several new additions. Get the full rundown in our guide — freshly updated for 2026. 

• The Philadelphia Zoo’s year-round celebration of wildlife takes on an especially festive flair, with colorful lights and holiday decor, during LumiNature. The massive annual event adds a few fun surprises for 2026. Find out what they are in our 2026 guide.

• Each year, Franklin Square gets a festive makeover with hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights, special events and more. Holidays in Franklin Square shines even brighter in honor of the park’s milestone 20th anniversary. Check out our newly updated guide for the top can’t-miss experiences at this year’s event.