20 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend

Oktoberfest, Old City Fest, OutFest and one last round of Parks on Tap.

Parks on Tap pops up at Lemon Hill this weekend. Photo by Albert Yee

Parks on Tap pops up this weekend for the last session of the season. Photo by Albert Yee

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

Parks on Tap @ Lemon Hill
Last week I told you Parks on Tap was ending but the traveling pop-up beer garden has been such a hit that it’s coming back for one more weekend, once again at the Lemon Hill mansion in Fairmount Park. On Sunday the theme is Oktoberfest, with German brews and a German Oompah band playing in the evening.

Oktoberfest @ 23rd Street Armory
Brauhaus Schmitz is turning the 23rd Street Armory — all 16,000 square feet of it — into a German festival, with music, dancing, food and, of course, plenty of beer. It’s on for Saturday and Sunday too.

First Friday Movie Under the Stars & Stripes @ Betsy Ross House
Get into the Halloween spirit with this double feature outside in the Betsy Ross House courtyard: Bucket of Blood and the original Night of the Living Dead.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic @ Underground Arts
George Clinton and crew bring the funk to Underground Arts as part of the Project Pabst Citywide Festival. Spank Rock opens.

Jessica Williams @ Penn Museum
NextGen Climate is bringing actor and former Daily Show senior correspondent Jessica Williams to the Penn Museum.

The Unamericans @ Gallery PII
Friday is the opening reception for a photo exhibit from Bruce Checefsky sure to invoke a strong reaction. The Unamericans: Photographs from the Republican National Convention, Cleveland, Ohio, July 18-21 2016 is on display through October 29th.

Spirited Away @ Ritz at the Bourse
Next up in the Midnight Madness movie series is Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, timed for the 15th anniversary of the Oscar-winning animated film.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

The ninth annual RiverCity Festival is Saturday. Photo from Facebook

The ninth annual RiverCity Festival is Saturday. Photo from Facebook

RiverCity Festival @ Penn Treaty Park
The Fishtown Neighbors Association hosts this annual fest that starts off with a 5K fun run and features local arts and food vendors and WXPN-presented live music. Creepoid headlines, with Amanda X, Creem Circus, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Ben Arnold and Deb Callahan also on the bill. The after-party is at Saint Benjamin Brewing Company.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours @ Various Locations
Tour the studios and workspaces of more than 200 local artists all across the city during the first weekend of Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, put together by the Center for Emerging Visual Artists.

Wayne Brady @ SugarHouse Casino
You probably know comedian Wayne Brady best from Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but he’s also a Grammy-winning singer, Broadway performer (Kinky Boots) and host of Let’s Make a Deal.

Project Pabst Citywide Festival @ Electric Factory
The Project Pabst fest was moved indoors because of the weather forecast, but it’ll still be a mix of live music from Animal Collective, Hop Along and several more, old school video games, art, food, beer, and Pabst WAX, which is on-the-spot pressing of vinyl recordings.

Live and Life Will Give You Pictures: Masterworks of French Photography, 1890–1950 @ The Barnes
This new display of over 170 vintage images from the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg is the Barnes’ first photography exhibit. It opens Saturday and runs through January 9th, 2017.

Neon Indian + Classixx @ The Trocadero
The Troc hosts chillwave’s Neon Indian (Alan Palomo) in collaboration with DJ duo Classixx.

20th Birthday Party @ Wells Fargo Center
The Wells Fargo Center is throwing itself a 20th birthday party, with games, photo ops, and the opportunity to take a shot like a a Flyer or a 76er — the arena will be divided up into half ice, half basketball court. The open-house event is free.

Robot Revolution @ Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute’s new exhibition, featuring “a cutting-edge collection of robots from all over the world,” opens Saturday.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

The Phillie Phanatic will swing by the Old City Fest on Sunday.

The Phillie Phanatic will swing by the Old City Fest on Sunday.

Old City Fest @ Old City
This annual fall festival will take over Old City with more than 100 vendors, live music, street performers, two runway fashion shows, a family fun zone with a cameo from the Phillie Phanatic, and a long list of participating restaurants, including Buddakan, Franklin Fountain, Khyber Pass Pub, The Little Lion and other good spots. Dylan Curtis, the 11-year-old DJ D-ILL from Philly who played at the White House, will be spinning. Ernest Stuart, the founder and artistic director of the Center City Jazz Festival, and Worldtown SoundSystem are also in the musical lineup. The festival runs along N. 3rd Street, from Market to Race, and on Arch Street from 2nd to 4th.

Philly Heavy Sundays @ The Fillmore
Watch the Eagles play the Lions on a big screen at this Budweiser-presented party at the Fillmore, which includes a halftime performance from Vacationer, plus food, giveaways, and additional music from DJ Aktive.

Treehaus of Horror Quizzo @ Tattooed Mom
Simpsons fans, show off your Springfield knowledge at Treehaus of Horror-themed quizzo hosted by Patty and Selma.

iStand: Stories of An American Civil Struggle @ Painted Bride
The Painted Bride remounts Lauren Putty White’s timely — and optimistic — dance performance, followed by a Q&A.

Philadelphia OutFest 2016 @ 12th and Locust
Head to the Gayborhood for a massive block party Philly OutFest calls the largest National Coming Out Day event in the world, and the city’s biggest LGBT event of the year.

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