99 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend

Street fairs all over the place, spooky season begins, and so many reasons to visit the theater.

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Philly AIDS Thrift celebrates its 18th birthday with a block party this weekend. / Photograph courtesy of Philly AIDS Thrift

MULTIPLE DAYS

THEATER
No Exit
Quintessence Theatre Group stages Jean-Paul Sartre’s existential classic about people stuck in a place where there’s no exit. Stars Gabriel W. Elmore, J. Hernandez, Melody Ladd and Aneesa Neibauer. Directed by Alex Burns.
$65, September 27th through October 28th, Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Avenue.

BEER/OUTDOORS
Parks on Tap: Strawberry Mansion Bridge
This is it, the last Parks on Tap of the season. We’ve had some times, haven’t we? Drank some beers. Startled some geese. Sat around with friends and acting like we had porches all over town. This last one’s not on a park per se, but a bridge. Might be the most scenic stop on the whole Parks on Tap journey.
Pay as you go, September 27th-October 1st, Strawberry Mansion Bridge, Strawberry Mansion Bridge Drive.

FLOWERS
Chrysanthemum Festival
Thousands of carefully nurtured and trained chrysanthemums are on display in Longwood Gardens’ Conservatory, including the Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum, a single plant bearing more than 1,000 sunny yellow blooms on a single stem. (Plus: Two weeks without an escaped prisoner on the premises — and counting!)
Free with admission of $13-$25, opens September 30th, through November 12th, Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square.

LGBTQ
Out & About in MNYK
Manayunk gets into the National Coming Out Day spirit with a weekend of activities including drag bingo, cabaret, queer comedy, drag shows, a Rocky Horror Picture Show performance and, course, the Out & About Street Festival (September 30th, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.).
September 28th-October 1st, multiple locations on Main Street in Manayunk.

SPOOKY
Halloween House Philadelphia
This family-friendly Halloween attraction bills itself as “more fun, less fear, and more WOW than a haunted house,” with neither actors nor jump scares. Except this one: Boo. Did I get you? I got you.
$25-$30, opens September 29th, continues through November 1st, Andorra Shopping Center, 701 Cathedral Road.

ARTS/MUSIC
Arts Montco Week
This festival celebrates the arts and cultural venues of Montgomery County, with events and exhibitions at the Centre Theater in Norristown, the Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College, the Ardmore Music Hall, the Keswick Theatre in Glenside and more.
Prices vary by event, through October 1st, multiple locations in Montgomery County.

ART
20/20 Photo Festival
Environmentally themed works by 24 photographers are collected under the theme of The Natural World. “These photographs highlight the delicate balance between living organisms and habitats from Philadelphia to India.” Artist talk September 30th, 4 p.m.; closing reception 5-7 p.m.
Free, continues through September 30th, Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard.

THEATER
Black Wood
Held over from Fringe, Gunnar Montana’s Black Wood promises a femme fatale tale set in a “supernatural forest.” Montana is a Brian Sanders’ JUNK alum and one of Philly’s busiest multi-hyphenates; he’s done it all — choreography, performance art, visual art, a freakin’ Flower Show installation — with a bright, avant-garde sensibility.
$45-$350, through October 31st, The Latvian Society of Philadelphia, 531 North 7th Street.

THEATER
Odyssey
The Acting Company presents the Philadelphia premiere of Lisa Peterson’s reimagining of Homer’s The Odyssey, based on the translation by Penn professor Emily Wilson. “Four young women, trapped in the limbo of a refugee camp, retell Odysseus’s adventures as they struggle with their own search for a home.” Four showings through Monday.
$42, September 30th-October 2nd, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street.

THEATER
Assassins
The Arden presents Stephen Sondheim’s “audacious” musical comedy about assassins and wannabe assassins — “a group of Americans consumed by grievance and a desperate need to be heard.” Directed by Terrence J. Nolen.
$30-$60, through October 22nd, Arden Theatre, 40 North 2nd Street.

FESTIVAL
Froehlich’s Farm Fall Festival
This lovely farm in Furlong (just about an hour from downtown) offers “fall adventures” every weekend in October. This mean hayrides, the Monster Slide, the Pumpkin Shoot-Out, fried Oreos, s’mores, and more.
$15-$25, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., runs September 30th-October 29th, Froehlich’s Farm & Garden, 3143 York Road, Furlong.

SPOOKY
Fright Factory
“Philadelphia’s Ultimate Haunted Attraction” returns with three built-in attractions — Industrial Nightmare, South Side Sanatorium and Unholy.
$35, 7-10:30 p.m., September 29th-October 31st, Fright Factory, 2200 South Swanson Street.

WINE/HORSES
Hunter Derby at The Vineyard
Penns Woods Winery in Chadds Ford hosts this two-day “hunter derby,” a horse jumping competition (the horses do the jumping). Also: food trucks, music, artisanal vendors, bottomless mimosas (the horses do not wear pants) and more.
$15, September 30th & October 1st, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Penns Woods Winery, 124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford.

ART/THEATER
Delco Arts Week
Starting Saturday, Delaware County will be buzzing with arts events and activities for kids and adults, from workshops to plays to festivals. There are more things going on than we can name, but here are a few highlights from opening weekend:

Prices vary by event, September 30th-October 8th, multiple locations in Delaware County, complete Delco Arts Week schedule here.

THATER
Gaslight
Act II Playhouse stages Patrick Hamilton’s story of deception and intrigue in Victorian London. “Is Bella going insane or is her husband playing tricks on her to make her believe as much?”
$37-$40, September 26th-October 22nd, Act II Playhouse, 56 East Butler Avenue, Ambler.

SPOOKY/MINI GOLF
Spooky Mini Golf
Throughout October, the mini-golf course in Franklin Square will be decked out in Halloween finery, including theatrical fog, strobe lights, and reduced lighting.
$12-$15, October 1st-31st, 6-9 p.m., Franklin Square, 200 North 6th Street.

HAY MAZE
Hay Maze
Don’t let the title (Hay Maze) or the genre tag (HAY MAZE) fool you, this isn’t your classic hay maze with the high walls, and twists and turns and giant soul-eating spiders in the middle. This is just a fun little place for kids to run around in the vicinity of hay bale curbs. Sincerely, a giant soul-eating spider.
Free, opens September 29th, continues through October 8th, Dilworth Park, 16th and Market.

THEATER
Something Rotten!
Haddonfield Plays & Players presents this musical comedy about two brothers who set out to write the first musical in the 1590s. Book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick; music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick.
$30, September 29th-October 14th, Haddonfield Plays and Players, 957 East Atlantic Avenue, Haddonfield.

MUSIC
The Front Bottoms
The Jersey rock duo plays two nights at Franklin Music Hall in support of You Are Who You Hang Out With, released in August. They’re Devils fans but it’s okay. With Vundabar.
$40, September 30th & October 1st, Franklin Music Hall, 421 North 7th Street.

CIRCUS
Cirque Du Soleil: Bazzar
Billed as “an eclectic lab of endless invention” featuring acrobats, dancers, bicyclists, fire people and musicians , Cirque’s new Bazzar show makes its North American premiere under the big top near the Expo Center in Oaks.
$46-$56, September 26th-October 22nd, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks.

SPOOKY
Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary
Once again, Fairmount’s most photogenic prison has been divided into multiple haunted house attractions (The Crypt, Machine Shop, etc.), along with lounges and s’mores opportunities. A fine mix of good vibes and genuine scares.
$34, through November 11th, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue.

OPERA
Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O23
Opera Philly kicks off its season with its annual festival featuring 11 days of performances at multiple venues. These include:

Prices vary by event, continues through October 1st, multiple venues.

FOOD
South Street Smorgasbord
Billed as “more than just a restaurant week,” the new South Street Smorgasbord includes dinner and lunch specials at multiple restaurants including Malbec, Federal Donuts, Brazas, Milkboy and more. Here’s the map.
$20-$40 dinner specials, through October 1st, multiple locations in the South Street/Headhouse district.

SCIENCE/ART
BOLD: Color from Test Tube to Textile
Old City’s Science History Institute’s newest exhibition explores the complicated history and science of natural and synthetic dye-making “drawing on dye sample books, vivid clothing, and scientific instruments.”
Free, opens September 22nd, ongoing, Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut Street.

FOOD/BOOKS
Cookbooks & Convos
Sisterly Love Collective presents this “celebration of chefs, authors and the Philadelphia food community.”
$65-$125, continues through October 24th, multiple locations.

THEATER
Menopause the Musical 2
Bucks County Playhouse presents this sequel to the enduring comedy, this time subtitled Cruising Through the Change. The show promises “a hilarious and heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship — plus hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses.”
$60, continues through October 1st, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope.

ART
Death Under Glass
Marianne Hamel MD, PhD, and forensic photographer Nikki Johnson, MFA, put together this traveling exhibition of images of highly magnified human cells. “Forensic pathologists investigate the images to determine a cause of death; for us, they are simply beautiful, illustrating the complex interplay of tissues in the human body.”
Through December 9th, Stedman Gallery & Gordon Theater, Fine Arts Building, Rutgers University-Camden, 314 Linden Street, Camden.

DRINKS/SPOOKY
Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween Pop-up Experience
Craftsman Row Saloon on Jeweler’s Row gets into the Halloween spirit with decorations, candles, themed milkshakes, and food items with scary names.
Pay as you go, through October 31st, Craftsman Row Saloon, 112 South 8th Street.

MOVIES
The Women’s Film Festival
This celebration of women filmmakers includes screenings of features, documentaries and shorts, along with panels and workshops at Moore College of Art & Design, the Art Museum, Neighborhood House at Christ Church and other venues.

  • Grandma, and Mom, and Lily at Neighborhood House at Christ Church on September 29th.
  • Centerpiece Film: 7000 Miles at Neighborhood House at Christ Church on September 30th.
  • Closing Night Film: Jess Plus None at Neighborhood House at Christ Church on October 1st.

$10 regular film admission; $125 all-access badges; continues through October 1st, multiple venues.

 

ART
Wildest Dreams by Zeinab Diomande
In this long-term exhibition at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Ivorian-American multimedia artist Diomande explores Black womanhood in her striking, colorful self-portraits. “Through high-contrasting colors and vibrating patterns, these celebratory and electric works create a childlike universe for her characters to interact within and shape their reality.”
Included in $12-$15 admission price, through November 12th, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South Street.

THEATER
Major Barbara
Quintessence Theatre Group presents George Bernard Shaw’s comedy about a billionaire arms dealer and his daughter who works at a Salvation Army shelter. “A deal is struck that each must spend a day at the other’s place of work.” Directed by Alex Burns.
$25-$35, through October 21st, Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Avenue.

PARTY/LGBTQ
Out in the Garden
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Pop-Up Garden at South Street hosts a month of LGBTQ mixers, parties and music, plus a floral installation “inspired by classic Greek, Indian and Egyptian architecture and displaying the rainbow colors of the Pride flag.” Here’s what’s happening when.
Pay as you go, through October 8th, PHS Pop Up Garden at South Street, 1438 South Street.

KIDS/FALL/OUTDOORS
Pumpkinland
This annual autumn festival at Linvilla includes hayrides, train rides, straw bale maze, corn maze, pony rides, apple blasters, pick-your-own apples and fishing. Each attraction sold separately in the $4-$17 range. The fanciest, most high-end attraction is apple blasters, which allows you to fire apples at targets for $17 per bucket of 20 apples. Unless you’re just coming round to pick a pumpkin, buy your timed ticket ahead of time.
Free till you buy or do something that costs money, through November 5th, Linvilla Orchards, 137 West Knowlton Road, Media.

ART
Now Showing at the ICA

  • Moveables, Five artists (Jes Fan, Nikita Gale, Hannah Levy, Ken Lum, and Oren Pinhassi) rethink “functional design and its intimate relationship to the human body.”
  • David Antonio Cruz: When the Children Come Home, This exhibition includes works by Philly-born visual and performance artist David Antonio Cruz which “camouflage the figure in intricate, ancestrally significant backgrounds represent the artist’s expanded exploration of home and its intersections with geography, diaspora, LGBTQ+ culture, and autobiography.”

Both exhibitions on view through December 17, Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 South 36th Street.

THEATER
Tartuffe
Lantern Theater Company presents Molière’s classic comedy about a cunning con man who lies his way into bourgeois company. Stars Frank X, Jered McLenigan and more. Directed by Charles McMahon.
$25-$45, through October 8th, St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow Street.

COMPETITION
CityPickle
Play pickleball — a.k.a. weak tennis, a.k.a. full-body ping-pong, a.k.a. weird, loud badminton — at Dilworth Park on “outdoor, professional PickleRoll courts” (which just means they roll them out like carpets). You and your friends can reserve your hour here, Solen’ya.
$6 for paddle rental, $40 per hour rental, through October 21st, near Dilworth Park, on the south side of City Hall.

SHOPPING
Philadelphia Marketplace
This outdoor shopping market near City Hall features more than 20 local vendors every Saturday and Sunday.
Pay as you go, Saturdays & Sundays, through October 1st, noon-6 p.m., Dilworth Park, west side of City Hall.

SHOPPING/ART
Scarecrows in the Village
Every year around this time, Peddler’s Village in New Hope is crawling with fanciful scarecrows — some whimsical, some terrifying, some conniving. There are a hundred total, and no one knows for sure what they want, but you can cast a vote for your favorite/the one that must spare you during the uprising.
Free, runs through October 29, Peddler’s Village, 2400 Street Road, New Hope.

MOVIES
Now Playing at Lightbox

  • Laurel & Hardy: Four Early Films Lightbox hosts a silent movie day with four old favorites: Duck Soup, The Second 100 Years, Call of the Cuckoo and The Battle of the Century. September 29th, 7 p.m.
  • P. P. Rider A new 2K transfer of Shinji Somai’s 1983 gangster flick tells the story of “three teens on a burlesque odyssey to rescue their kidnapped class bully from a gang of yakuza.” September 30th, 2 p.m.
  • Typhoon Club Shinji Somai’s 1985 drama “follows an ensemble of junior high students in a provincial town, beset by a summer-y malaise as a typhoon looms.” September 30th, 7 p.m.
  • $10, Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street.

HISTORY/CIVICS
The First Amendment
This week, the National Constitution Center debuts its new gallery and exhibition dedication to the First Amendment and its five freedoms: religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. Scientists are working hard to develop a sixth freedom.
$15-$19, ongoing, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street.

ART
Placing: The Windgate Arts Residency Program in Wood 2023
This group exhibition includes immersive installations, furniture, woodworking, kinetic sculpture, and other works by Emma Chorostecki, Terry Holzgreen, Adam John Manley, Maiko Sugano, Laura Zelaya and more.
Free, through October 15th, Museum for Art in Wood, 141 North 3rd Street.

ART
Data Nation: Democracy in the Age of A.I.
This group exhibition features “immersive installations, topical interactives, and provocative artworks” aimed at encouraging visitors to “consider the forces at play in our everyday technology and how they intersect with democratic norms and values.” Includes works by Roopa Vasudevan, Jim Strong, Emmanuela Soria Ruiz, and more.
Included in museum admission of $6-$12, through March 18th, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street.

ART/HISTORY
Pockets of Light
This multi-location outdoor exhibition includes works at four public piers along the Delaware by artists Julie “Juicebox” Woodard and Eric The Puzzler. Get a glimpse here.
Free, through September 30th, Race Street Pier, Cherry Street Pier, Washington Avenue Pier and Pier 68 (near Walmart Beach).

ART
Monument to Reproduction
Race Street Pier hosts this long-term installation by New York-based artists Robin Cameron and G. William Webb using materials from a house in Hebron, New York.
Free, through December 31st, Race Street Pier, North Columbus Boulevard.

MOVIES
Outdoor Movies

Free, most movies start at dusk, multiple locations.

 

ART
Now Showing at Michener Art Museum

  • Opening: Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories at the James A. Michener Art Museum — “A dynamic display of contemporary art by Lenape (also called Delaware) artists in dialogue with historic Lenape ceramics, beadwork, and other cultural objects and representations of Penn’s Treaty by European American artists.” Includes works by Ahchipaptunhe, Joe Baker, Holly Wilson and Nathan Young. Through January 14th.
  • Sarah Kaizar: Rare Air — This long-running exhibition at Doylestown’s Michener Art Museum features original gouache and ink artwork by Philadelphia-based illustrator/designer Sarah Kaizar. Through November 5th.

Included in museum admission of $13-$15, Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown.

ART
Otherworld Philly
This long-running exhibition promises “countless rooms of large-scale interactive art, mixed reality playgrounds and secret passageways.” Sounds like it’s aiming to land somewhere between a selfie-opportunity and that Omega Mart in Vegas. Check out their Insta.
$30, ongoing, 2500 Grant Avenue.

See Also: Otherworld Brings an Immersive Experience to the Northeast That’s Trippy, Unsettling and Beautiful

MUSEUMS
The Future Will Follow the Past
This exhibition by Jonathan Horowitz “explores the transformative changes America has experienced since 2020 and addresses antisemitism, racial violence, immigration, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and more.”
Admission is free ($15 donations encouraged), extended through 2023, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East.

ART
Maren Hassinger’s Steel
The artist’s 10 “large-scale open metal vessel sculptures” will be placed within the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, along the Schuylkill. Presented by the Association for Public Art, formerly the Fairmount Park Art Association.
Free, through November 12th, Kelly Drive along the Schuylkill River, south of the Girard Avenue Bridge.

MINI GOLF
Pixar Putt
It’s exactly what it sounds like — a pop-up Pixar-themed “mini-golf experience” at Penn’s Landing. Includes “18 fun and interactive holes inspired by the stories, characters and icons from some of Pixar’s most beloved films.” Last chance!
$27-$32, through October 1st, Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 South Columbus Boulevard.

FAMILY FUN
The Garden Railway
Germantown’s gorgeous Morris Arboretum reopens its Garden Railway model train display for the season with “seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges,” and lots of little trains.
$18-$20, continues through October 10th, Morris Arboretum, 100 East Northwestern Avenue.

COMEDY
Ryan Hamilton
The remarkably clean Idaho-born comedian is probably best known for his 2017 standup special on Netflix, Happy Face, and appearances on all the late night talk shows.
$25-$35, September 28th-30th, Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.

FOOD/SHOPPING
The Southeast Asian Market
This large, festive open-air market in South Philly — recently celebrated by Food & Wine — features vendors from Lao, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian communities. In addition to the many cuisine options, you can pick up produce, clothing, jewelry, etc.
Pay as you go; continues Saturdays and Sundays through October; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Avenue.

ART
Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America
The African American Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts combine for this group show by 20 artists on display at both institutions. The works respond to the prompt: “Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy?”
Through October 8th at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 128 North Broad Street.

ART
Now Showing at Fabric Workshop

  • Sonic Presence (or Absence: Sound in Contemporary Art), This group show asks the question, “How can sound, actual or implied, impact or inform our interpretation of both unremarkable and extraordinary experiences?” and includes works by Terry Adkins, Janine Antoni, Moe Brooker, Nick Cave, Lenka Clayton, Glenn Ligon and lots more. Continues through January 7th.
  • Henry Taylor: Nothing Change, Nothing Strange, The artist in residence incorporates found objects from L.A. and Philly into an exhibition of assemblages, tapestries and textiles. Continues through October 22nd.

Free (suggested donation $5), Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch Street.

SCIENCE/MUSEUMS
Now Happening at the Academy of Natural Sciences

  • Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity — This exhibition examines skin through both a scientific and cultural lens, and looks at the roles of feathers, furs, scutes, scales, hides and hairs” in different organisms. If you think about it, all the options are pretty weird. Through January 21st.
  • Illuminating Birds Exhibition: Drawing as a Way of Knowing — This exhibition of work by Alexander Wilson, Elizabeth and John Gould, John James Audubon, Edward Lear and Louis Agassiz Fuertes “celebrates the enduring appeal of drawing and writing about birds.” Visitors can also create their own drawings. Through October 15th.

Included with museum admission of $21-$25, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

HISTORY
Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia
This exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution collects 100 historical artifacts including art, documents and more to tell the life story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his remarkable family, “from the Revolutionary era through the Civil War and Reconstruction.” Continues through November 26th.
Included in the admission price of $21-$25, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South 3rd Street.

MUSEUMS/ART
Now Showing at the Art Museum

$14-$23 admission, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th

MUSIC
Bush Tetras
The Bush Tetras first made their bones in NYC’s No Wave scene of the late-’70s/early ’80s, carving out quirky, rough-hewn, rock-adjacent melodies. They’ve disbanded and rebanded a few times in the last four decades, and are most beloved for the punky (and perpetually relevant) underground hit “Too Many Creeps.” The Bush Tetras just dropped They Live in My Head in July, their first record in 11 years. Live Skull opens the bill at JBs.
$22, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

MUSIC
Akshara Samskriti
Fire Museum presents this free Carnatic (Indian Classical) vocal concert by the 14-year-old singer/musician/prodigy/daughter of “well known Carnatic musician Kiranavali Vidyasankar and multi-discipline scholar Vidyasankar Sundaresan.” She’ll be joined by violinist Swetha Narasimhan and mridangam player Vinay Mallikarjun.
Free (donations accepted), 8 p.m., The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street.

MUSIC
Brandford Marsalis Quartet
Grammy-winning tenor sax superstar Brandford Marsalis leads his quartet of other jazz superstars: pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner. The group started playing together in 1986.
$79-$82, 8 p.m., Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street.

MUSIC
Explosions in the Sky
It’s sort of amazing how many times the music of this long-running Texas instrumental band has snuck into movies, TV shows and video games and such: Friday Night Lights, Kite Runner, Street Fighter V, and so on. The list is long and it’s on their Wikipedia page. On September 15th, Explosions in the Sky released End, their eighth record (and first since 2016). It’s not their final record, just the announcement of a theme. Again, the music is instrumental so, you know, it’s up for interpretation. draag me opens the show.
$37.50, 8 p.m., Franklin Music Hall, 421 North 7th Street.

COMEDY
Tony Hinchcliffe
The Ohio-born insult comedian is on his Fully Groan tour. Hinchliffe wrote for lots of Comedy Central Roasts and now hosts the Kill Tony podcast, and has appeared on Joe Rogan’s show 28 times.
$29-$39, 7 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.

MUSIC
Echo Kid
The long-running Philly rock band released Try It You’ll Like It a couple weeks ago. Here are the actual genre tags on Bandcamp: cream, rock, bedroom, cheese, hemp, Philadelphia. If that doesn’t help, try listening to the music. Dominy and Frankie Mermaid open the show.
$14.93, 8 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

MUSIC
The Reunion Tour
Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin leads this big, uplifting concert at the Wells Fargo Center with Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, The Family, David & Tamela Mann, Israel Houghton and God’s Property.
$49.50-$195, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad Street.

MUSIC
Arkells
The Canadian alt-rockers have been dropping an album a year for four years straight, their most recent being Laundry Pile released last week. The Arkells are usually good for some upbeat, four-on-the-floor rock songs, but this one’s got a smaller, more personal vibe. Indie Is Not A Genre calls it “stripped down and intimate, as if the band built their own piano bar for your next romantic date with the curtains closed and every candle lit.”
$29-$90, 8 p.m., TLA, 334 South Street.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th

MUSIC
Durand Jones
The silky-voiced R&B/soul revival artist released his fourth record, Wait Til I Get Over, in May. With Bird and Byron
$24.50, 8:30 p.m., Underground Arts, 200 Callowhill Street.

FESTIVAL/SHOPPING
Midtown Village Fall Festival
Stroll a few blocks of Center City in car-free comfort, shopping and eating and pretending winter will never come. In addition to two stages for live performances, the MVFF promises vendors, artists, crafters and kid stuff.
Free, noon-8 p.m., Midtown Village Philadelphia, Broad to 11th, Market to Spruce streets.

MUSIC/ART
Mural Arts Fest: For the Love of Hip-Hop
Mural Arts Philadelphia says it’s Mural Arts Month (and they would know) so they’re celebrating with a block party in LOVE Park hosted by WURD’s Revive P.O.C., and featuring performances by Joie Kathos, Corey Lee, Mir Fontane, Seraiah Nicole, TreyWay & The Now Generation, and lots of DJs.
Free, noon-6 p.m., LOVE Park, 15th and Arch Streets.

MUSIC
Crooks & Nannies
The West Philly emo/indie-pop duo released Real Life in August. With Amelia Cry, Til I Die, DJ Jarmie Fresh.
$15, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

SHOPPING/ARTS/CRAFTS
West Craft Fest
Local artists, makers and vendors gather in West Philly’s scenic the Woodlands to sell jewelry, ceramics, prints, candles, stationery, and more. Plus a live Tinycircus performance by Tangle Movement Arts, music, food trucks, and hands-on activities.
Free till you buy something, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., The Woodlands, 40th Street & Woodland Avenue.

PODCAST
Pod Meets World
Generally, putting “pod” in the name of your podcast is pretty derpy, but let’s give a pass to Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle; they were the stars of Boy Meets World, and there can be no other title. Right now they’re on their “The Kids Wanna Jump!” tour, which is probably a reference. Also on the bill for this live recording of Pod Meets World are Trina McGee, Tony Quinn and Matthew Lawrence.
$29-$79, 7:30 p.m., The Met, 858 North Broad Street.

WALKS/TOURS
Sustainable & Local Tour
The Sustainable Business Network offers several ways to explore East Passyunk on foot this Saturday: a guided tour, a self-guided walking tour and/or a scavenger hunt. “These activities will feature sustainable businesses in the food, fashion, home goods, wellness, and lifestyle industries.”
$25-$35, Passyunk Singing Fountain, Passyunk Avenue and 11th Street.

FESTIVAL
Philly AIDS Thrift Anniversary Block Party
Philly AIDS Thrift hosts a big outdoor festival/dance party in the streets featuring music by Live music with Rockers Galore, Sug Daniels and Tony & the Kiki, with DJ Robert Drake spinning records all day. Plus double dutch, a dunk tank, a pie-eating contest, dancing and more.
Free, noon-6 p.m., Philly AIDS Thrift, 710 South 5th Street.

FESTIVAL
Upper Darby International Festival
Upper Darby calls itself “The World in One Place,” and this festival, now in its sixth year, pays homage to that with plenty of food, music, dancing, a kids’ zone and a Parade of Flags. Laura “Swarbomb” Swartz wrote this.
Free, noon-6 p.m., Five Points intersection, 100 unit block of Garrett Road, Upper Darby.

BEER/WINE/ETC.
Philadelphia All-Star Craft Beer, Wine, and Cocktail Music Festival
Here’s a nice change of pace: Why not go down to the ballpark and drink some alcohol? Also: listen to some live music, hang out on the warning track and in the dugout, etc.
$55- $90, 1-9 p.m., Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way.

MUSIC/FESTIVAL
Collingswood Porchfest
My old hometown always does a bang-up job with their iteration of the Porchfest format. Here’s the rundown of which local artists and playing which porches. Performers include Ronald Reagan? The Actor?, Party Labelle, Jay Runyon, Stereotytans, John Magill and the Have Nots, Psychic Wars, and lots more.
Free, 1-7 p.m., multiple locations in Collingswood.

MUSIC
Field Medic
Earlier this month, the prolific lo-fi folk-pop act released Light Is Gone 2, “something of a spiritual sequel” his first record. Olivia Barton opens the show.
$22, 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street.

MUSIC/SHOPPING
Philly Record Freak Out Vinyl Fair
DJs play records while you shop for records (and CDs, tapes, whatever) at this Punknews.org record fair.
$5, 11 a.m. ($10 for early bird admission at 10 a.m.), PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

MUSIC
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
The St. Louis soul/rock/blues outfit is best known for the rollicking drinkin’ anthem “S.O.B.” off 2015’s Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. The group’s latest is the What If I EP, released in June. Get there early for eclectic Americana singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell.
$39-$129, 8 p.m., The Met, 858 North Broad Street.

KIDS/MUSIC
The Rock & Roll Playhouse presents Music of Taylor Swift for Kids
The Rock and Roll Playhouse brings the music of Taylor Swift to Brooklyn Bowl with a side of fun (think glow-sticks, freeze-dance games and a giant parachute) for the littlest fans. The concert features Philly-based indie musician Miss Cantaloupe, and it’s a full-on tribute that parents will enjoy too.
$15, 11:45 , Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue.

MUSIC/MOVIES
Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin
In addition to a set of their own synthy, scary music, the “legendary Italian masters of the horror movie soundtrack” will perform the score to Dario Argento’s Demon live, as you watch the movie. A rare seated event at Union Transfer.
$45, 7 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.

FESTIVAL
Fall for Ardmore Festival
This free street festival in lovely downtown Ardmore includes a beer garden, food, vendor tables, live music and a free, historic walking tour of led by Greg Prichard, historic preservation planner. Ardmore is celebrating its sesquicentennial (150!) this year.
Pay as you go, 2-6 p.m., Schauffele Plaza, 99 Cricket Terrace, Ardmore.

FESTIVAL/BEER
Docktoberfest at Dock Street South
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to dance the polka, now is your chance. As part of the Docktoberfest event, Dock Street Brewing Company is offering up a polka dance instruction at 3 p.m. The event also includes a stein-holding competition and lots of beer, including the new Docktoberfest festbier.
Pay-as-you-go; noon-4 p.m., Dock Street South, 2118 Washington Avenue.

ARTS/MUSIC
Jawnaroo
This free outdoor arts and music festival in Bensalem features a graffiti wall, beer by Broken Goblet, food trucks, charity fundraiser, photobooth and performances by The Very Nowhere, Ultra-Lite, Afloat, and F*** Yeah, Dinosaurs!. (And then at 8 p.m., there’s a $23 ticketed afterparty with The Best of The Worst, The Amorphous Blob Orchestra, and Iron Chic.)
Free, noon-7 p.m., Broken Goblet Brewery, 2500 State Road, Bensalem.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1st

MUSIC
Swanfest: Dance Gavin Dance
Rock/post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance headlines this all-day fest at the Mann also featuring Periphery, Saosin, Set It Off, SiM, Rain City Drive, Stolas and more.
$62-$78, 1 p.m., Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue.

FOOD
Chile Nogada Festival
Cantina la Martina provides the drinks and local vendors make the Chile Nogada at this festival and competition. In case you don’t know: “Chile Nogada is a traditional dish that is served to commemorate Mexican Independence.The Chile Nogada is made up of a poblano pepper stuffed with ground meat, dried fruit and nuts. It can be battered and fried, then covered in a white walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds, parsley and walnuts to represent the red, green and white colors of the Mexican flag.”
Pay as you go, 11 a .m.-6 p.m., Cantina La Martina, 2800 D Street.

MUSIC
Joy Oladokun
The Arizona-born/Nashville-based folk-pop artist released Proof of Life back in April, which NPR praised for its personal songwriting and complex, nuanced ideas. “The great theme … is what all-consuming work it is to lead an alert and searching existence, to break with oppressive orthodoxies and, in the face of the systemic devaluing of her life and the lives of other LGBTQIA+ people and Black Americans, to strain toward self-healing and put real trust in closeness and mutuality.” Hell of a sentence. With Jensen McRae
$24-$26, 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.

FESTIVAL
Fall Harvest & Great Pumpkin Patch
This fall-themed fest features tractor rides, pumpkin picking, “gem mining,” a mechanical bull, balloons, music, food, and pumpkins out the wazoo. Radnor residents can also register for a free large pumpkin. This is a common occurrence in Radnor, they register for gourds.
Free, 1-4 p.m., The Willows Park, 490 Darby Paoli Road, Villanova.

COMEDY
Fran Lebowitz
The actress, raconteur and generally grumpy New Yorker is known for her acerbic wit and snarky social commentary, in addition to her performances on/in Law & Order, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc. Lebowitz was the star/subject of the 2020 documentary series Pretend It’s a City, directed by Martin Scorsese.
$49.50-$84, 7:30 p.m., Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.

FESTIVAL
Taste of the Philippines
It’s Filipino American History Month. This free festival at Cherry Street Pier features “food, drink, dance, song, and camaraderie.”
Pay as you go, 1-5 p.m., Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard.

FESTIVAL
St. Nick’s Italian Festival
The annual street festival (and procession) in the Italian Market area includes food, drinks, rides, games and live entertainment. This year the Annual St. Nicholas of Tolentine authentic Italian festival features performances and appearances by City Rhythm Orchestra, Quaker City String Band, DJ Spanky Brown, The Verdi Band, Nick Desiderio, East Passyunk Opera Project, Lights Out, Bob Kelly (Fox 29) and Jenna Esposito.
Free, noon, 1700 Block of South 9th Street.

FESTIVAL
Mt. Airy Village Fair
Live music, food and craft vendors, and activities for all ages take over the corner of Carpenter and Greene.
Free, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Carpenter and Greene streets.

DRAG/BRUNCH
Get in Loser We’re Going to Drag Brunch
Evil Genius hosts this Mean Girls-themed drag brunch.
$25-$47,11 a.m., Evil Genius Beer Company, 1727 North Front Street.

SPORTS
Eagles vs. Commanders
Football will take place.
$210-$589, 1 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way.

FESTIVAL/BEER
Oktoberfest at La Cabra Brewing
Enjoy seasonal beers, traditional German fare, and a variety of yard games and live music. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged, and there will be a costume contest for the chance to win the coveted title of Mr. or Mrs. Oktoberfest. La Cabra will bring back their seasonal Oktoberfest beer in addition to other traditional German-style beers. They’re also selling 20-ounce glass mugs for the event — and your first pour is free with purchase (pre-order here).
Pay-as-you-go; 1-6 p.m., 642 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn.

MUSIC
Alcee Chriss III
Award-winning organist Alcee Chriss III — as seen in the 2019 PBS doc Pipe Dreams — sits down at the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ to perform works by Sowerby, Franck, Schumann and more.
Free, 5 p.m., Kimmel Center, 300 South Broad Street.

KIDS/ART
PECO Free First Sunday Family Day: Community Storytellers
It’s first Sunday, which means free admission to the Barnes! This month, the Barnes Foundation is partnering with Musicopia to explore the sounds of son jarocho and its Mexican, Spanish, African and Indigenous roots in special performances. Plus, storytelling, kids’ art activities, and free access to the galleries. Limited capacity; registration is required online.
Free, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

FESTIVAL/ART
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Art Museum offers pay-what-you-wish admission for a day of celebrating Latinx and Hispanic arts and culture. There will be musical performances, art activities for kids and adults, a special tour and more.
Free, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.