The Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Philly This September

Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards / Photograph by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

School is back in session! Summer may be over, but don’t worry: There are still ton of things going on this month to keep you busy — and help you and your family embrace all things fall. So many, in fact, that you’ll soon see that I cheated, and there are way more than 10 events in this alleged “Top 10” list. Here are the best of the best to add to your calendar.

Fun on the Farm

When you dream of an ideal fall, you probably have some combination of pumpkins, apple-picking and hayrides dancing in your head. Luckily, plenty of local farms are ready to make this happen for you, along with some fun activities your kids will appreciate in between you snapping 1,000 photos of them wearing flannel in an orchard.

The always-popular (and crowded) Linvilla Pumpkinland opens September 7th and runs through November 3rd with harvest hayrides, pony rides, train rides, mazes of both the corn and hay varieties, farm animals and pick-your-own apples. (Sorry, no pumpkin-picking here, though there are mounds of pumpkins already picked.) Photo ops abound; you can shoot apples at targets; and things start to get spooky as the month closes out, with hayrides to the witch’s house! That same weekend, another family-favorite Johnson’s Corner Farm, starts their fall festivities — and the next weekend, Shady Brook Farm gets going, too. They’ve got pumpkin patches, too. With wheelbarrows! Your Instagram will pop, and your kids will have the time of their lives.

Fall Festivals

Chestnut Hill’s Fall for the Arts Festival / Photograph courtesy of Chestnut Hill

Every weekend in September, multiple festivals shut down streets with music, arts, food and more autumnal merriment. And that’s not even counting the barrage of Spooky Season must-do’s. (Check back soon for a roundup of those!) The season kicks off with a jam-packed weekend including the Philadelphia Honey Festival and a Rail Park block party. The month also includes Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts, the Delaware River Festival, and more. And new for this year, Walnut Street will be closed off to traffic every Sunday of the month, open to pedestrians for live entertainment (think music, dance troupes, strolling performers) and a kids’ zone with free activities.

Check out our fall festival preview here for all our picks.

Bearded Ladies Cabaret’s Family Snacks

Late Night Snacks: Family Snacks with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret / Photograph courtesy of FringeArts

The arts-centric Fringe Festival begins September 5th and wraps up on September 29th. This annual citywide celebration of contemporary art and performance features over 1,000 events throughout the city, including dance, circus, performance art, theater and music. There’s truly something for everyone, including the littles. A yearly Fringe highlight is the Bearded Ladies Cabaret’s Late Night Snacks; and while that show is for adults, they have a family-friendly spin-off called Family Snacks on Sunday afternoons at the Fabric Workshop and Museum. “Expect glitter, colorful costumes, live music, and lots of interactivity,” they promise.

Free Family Fun at Sister Cities Park

Fun stuff for kids in Philly’s Sister Cities Park / Photograph by Laura Swartz

Parkway Pals may have ended its summer programming, but the free fun continues at Sister Cities Park with weekly Tuesday storytimes and Family Saturday events. Toddlers can enjoy stories, songs and movement with the Free Library each Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. through October 10th. And on Saturdays at 11 a.m., expect free entertainment like music, crafts, and more.

After the events, you can stick around and splash in the pond or hop in the sprayground, since both will stay open through late October.

There are also family-friendly movies planned every Friday night in September, and kids ages 12 and under can grab a “movie passport” to write their own reviews and get a stamp for each movie they attend. Here’s what’s planned:

• September 7th: Kung Fu Panda 4 
• September 13th: Trolls Band Together
• September 20th: Shrek
• September 27th: Migration

Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest at the Kimmel Center

Photograph courtesy of Ensemble Arts Philly

Ensemble Arts Philly kicks off its new season with a day of free performances, activities, giveaways and deals. Over 50 regional arts organizations will be in attendance, and there will be free performances including dance, theater, and opera. They’ll also be offering 50 percent off tickets to over 150 performances, including Hamilton, when you buy tickets in-person at the box office that day.

Pony Up!

The Philadelphia Polo Classic returns to Fairmount Park on September 21st. / Photography by Taylor Ejdes

September is shaping up to be equestrian central with two big horse-focused events.

First up, the Devon Fall Classic returns from September 12th to 15th. It’s like a mini version of the larger spring event with high-jumping competition, shopping, live music, and, of course, the Country Fair midway with carnival rides and games.

Then, on September 21st, the Philadelphia Polo Classic returns to Fairmount Park with high-profile matches, family- and dog-friendly activities, food trucks and a wine garden. Best of all, the event benefits the Work to Ride nonprofit, which seeks to empower Philly youth through equestrians, education and teamwork.

Waterfront Fun

Summerfest may be closed, but its chill cousin to the south, Spruce Street Harbor Park, has been up and running with its hammock lounge, boardwalk treats, and shopping and more. For the season, they’ve got lots of weekly events, including family-friendly Sundays. Here’s the schedule for September:

• September 8th
  • 12:30 p.m.: Active Kids games
  • 2 p.m.: Crafts with PopUpPlay
  • 4 p.m.: Movie screening: The LEGO Movie
• September 15th
  • 12:30 p.m.: Active Kids superhero training camp
  • 2 p.m.: Crafts with PopUpPlay
  • 4 p.m.: Movie screening: Willow
• September 29th
  • 12:30 p.m.: Active Kids end-of-season parade
  • 2 p.m.: Crafts with PopUpPlay: Fly a kite
  • 4 p.m.: Movie screening: The Wizard

Also on the Waterfront, there are cultural celebrations planned throughout September. Here’s the schedule:

• • September 8th: Brazilian Day
  • September 15th: Mexican Independence Day Festival
  • September 21st & 22nd: We Are the Seeds

Summer of Dinos at Morris Arboretum

Dinos at the Garden Railway! / Photograph courtesy of Morris Arboretum

Morris Arboretum is overrun with dinosaurs through September 30th. Take a self-guided tour of the grounds to learn about plants that date back to the age of dinosaurs. Morris Arboretum’s kid-favorite Garden Railway display is set up, too, and it’s also been taken over by dinos!

Superhero Saturday at the Please Touch Museum

Photograph courtesy of Visit Philly

Little ones can unleash their inner superhero on September 21st with a day of fun including training camp, STEAM activities, storytimes, and a workshop with East Coast Black Age of Comics Conventions where kids can build their own action figures! All activities are included with museum admission. And, yes, superhero costumes are highly encouraged.

The Art of the Brick

Photograph by Laura Swartz

The Franklin Institute‘s massive Lego-art exhibit, The Art of the Brick, has been extended through November 17th, so if you missed out this summer you’ve still got a chance. In addition to brick-renderings of iconic pieces like The Scream and Starry Night, the exhibit includes PERNiCiEM: The Endangered Species Connection, which pairs 13 large-scale Lego sculptures created of endangered animals with wildlife photography by Dean West. Also new? A 9,000-square-foot Lego play space where kids of all ages can get creative for hours. Check out our preview for more of what to expect.

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