Women’s History Month Events in Philly
Celebrate trailblazers with tours and museum exhibits, support women-owned businesses at markets and food-and-drink events, and more.
The Betsy Ross House is just one Philly landmark celebrating Women’s History Month all through March. / Photograph by Laura Swartz
March is Women’s History Month, so it’s a great time to learn about some of the amazing women who helped shape our nation, challenge our ideals, and effect change. Inspire the next generation of trailblazers with tours and museum exhibits, support women-owned businesses at markets and food-and-drink events, and much more.
Women’s History Month at the Betsy Ross House
On select weekends in March, come to the Betsy Ross House for re-enactors on Saturdays and storytelling on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On March 11th, meet cake baker Margaret Woodby, a free Black Philadelphian woman who owned a successful nearby bakery. On March 18th, Susannah Cook will talk about her life as a laundress in colonial times. And on March 25th, meet Mary Crathorne, a chocolate and mustard maker who took over her husband’s Northern Liberties-based business after his death. Then on Sundays, the Once Upon A Nation storytelling bench will be visited by storytellers sharing short, interactive and little-known tales of unsung heroines all month long. All events are free.
Weekends in March from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street.
Badass Women’s History Walking Tour
Book a two-hour tour with Beyond the Bell to learn about cool colonial women, change-makers and more pioneers who have made their mark on our city, from forgotten founding mother Hannah Callowhill Penn to Pride pioneer Barbara Gittings. Tours are offered daily at 11 a.m. for $59 per person. Book your spot online.
Sisterhood Sit-In Trolley Tours
Running three times a day on Saturdays in February and March, these two-hour “Rebel Rides” stop at six Black-women-owned shops and restaurants in Philly, including Harriett’s Bookshop, French Toast Bites, Ceramic Concepts, Bookers, Modest Transitions and Nyambi Naturals Urban Beauty. Plan to spend 15 to 20 minutes at each location. The tour’s name is an homage to Rosa Parks, and it started running on February 4th, which would have been her 110th birthday. Tickets are $40, and are available online.
Saturdays through March, departs from Harriett’s Bookshop, 258 East Girard Avenue.
Visit Harriett’s Bookshop on the Sisterhood Sit-In trolley tour. / Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Women’s Way Wednesdays at Stratus Rooftop Lounge
Stratus Rooftop Lounge and Sisterly Love Collective team up to present Women’s Way Wednesdays, weekly Women’s History Month pop-ups celebrating local women-owned and operated businesses. During each weekly pop-up, the featured chef will share an interactive discussion about their backstory and accomplishments. Drinks will include craft cocktails that use spirits from women-owned distilleries, wines by the glass from women winemakers such as Anna Clifford and Kristin Barnhisel, and local brews from Love City Brewing, Triple Bottom Brewing and Attic Brewing Company. Tickets to the kickoff party on March 1st are $75 and include hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer tastings, champagne and oysters, cocktails, live music, a silent auction and more. On the following Wednesdays, tickets will be $35 and will include “bites” by a different chef each week, live entertainment and a cash bar. All proceeds from the ticket sales and a portion of proceeds from featured cocktails, beer and wine will benefit the nonprofit Women’s Way.
Wednesdays in March, 5:30-8 p.m., Stratus Rooftop Lounge, 433 Chestnut Street.
International Women’s Day Happy Hour at Sor Ynez
Sor Ynez’s inspiration and namesake, Sor Juana Ynez de la Cruz, was a 17th-century Mexican scholar, poet, composer, nun and feminist, so of course they’re going to celebrate Women’s History Month. On International Women’s Day, Sor Ynez is hosting a special happy hour featuring their take on a Citywide special made with Love City lager and YOLA Mezcal, both woman-owned brands. They’ll also be previewing their spring cocktail menu, and featuring a $10 snack platter. No reservations are required; all food and drink are pay-as-you-go.
March 8th, 5-7 p.m.,Sor Ynez, 1800 North American Street.
International Women’s Day Dinner at Square 1682
Hotel Palomar’s ground-floor restaurant will feature a special menu for International Women’s Day developed by Moneisha Williams and Kyrah Reaves, Hotel Palomar’s banquet sous chef and Square 1682’s pastry chef, respectively. You can choose from a $52 prix-fixe dinner or dine a la carte, with dishes like Uncle Nearest short ribs and snapper Escovitch with coconut rice and sweet plantains. A portion of proceeds from the dinner will benefit Women’s Way. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.
March 8th, Square 1682, 121 South 17th Street.
Chefs Moneisha Williams (left) and Kyrah Reaves / Photograph by Max Mester
“It Is Better to Speak”: A Women’s History Month Storyslam
The National Liberty Museum will host an evening with First Person Arts dedicated to women’s stories, told from diverse perspectives. The storyslam will also include an open-mic session, so add your name for a chance to be featured. Tickets available online.
March 9th, 6-9 p.m., National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street.
CultureFest at the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum celebrates women artists and creatives with a day of performances, art-making, storytelling and gallery tours. From West African traditional music to drag queen story time to pottery demonstrations and beyond, the festival lifts the voices of women and women-identified artists across genres. All activities are included with museum admission.
March 11th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Penn Museum, 3260 South Street.
Live More Marketplace: Women’s History Month Edition
Support over 40 talented women artists, entrepreneurs and makers at this two-day market presented in partnership with Walls for Justice at Cherry Street Pier. The market is free to attend; free tickets available online.
March 11th and 12th, noon-7 p.m., Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard.
Sister Sunday Market at the Logan Hotel
For their second year, the Logan is hosting a market featuring over 30 women-owned businesses, with vendors ranging from jewelry to self-care products to baby gifts to Philly fan gear. There will also be live entertainment and food and drink for purchase. The event is free to attend.
March 12th, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Logan Hotel, 1 Logan Square.
“Women Mean Business: Rock Your Revenue”
East Passyunk Avenue and She Rocked It host a panel discussion with four women entrepreneurs from the Avenue about their experiences, challenges and successes in running and growing their businesses. The event includes opportunities for Q&As and networking, as well as light refreshments. Tickets are available online.
March 13th, 6-9 p.m., Society Hill Dance Academy, 1919 East Passyunk Avenue.
Women in Wine at Jet Wine Bar
Drink your way through five wines from around the globe, all made by female vintners. The tasting is led by Jet’s owner, archaeologist, nomad, and wine expert Jill Weber; and accompanied by food pairings from Melissa Pellegrino of South Philly’s Heavy Metal Sausage. Tickets are $75 and include food, drink, tax and gratuity.
March 14th, 6:05-8:30 p.m., Jet Wine Bar, 1525 South Street.
Artist Nataliya Yermolenko will show her paintings at Hyatt Centric. / Photograph by Lex Nemchenko
Women Makers Market at Hyatt Centric
Hyatt Centric is hosting a woman-centric makers market, highlighting women makers and women-owned businesses selling jewelry, lingerie, bath and body products, ceramics and more. In addition to shopping, attendees can book sessions with photographers Inner Light Aura and Vanity Tintype, and embroidery workshops with Sippin’ & Stitchin’ in advance. Throughout March and April, the hotel will also be displaying paintings by Nataliya Yermolenko; a portion of sales will be donated to Women Against Abuse.
March 18th, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and March 19th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, 1620 Chancellor Street.
Black Founders Women’s History Night at the Museum of the American Revolution
Dr. Kerri K. Greenidge, author of The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family, will trace the lineage of remarkable women in three generations of the Forten, Grimke and Douglass families from the Revolutionary era to present day. Tickets also include evening access to the museum’s new special exhibit, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, where there will be additional gallery talks and historical re-enactors focusing on women’s history and The Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society that night.
March 24th, 5:15-8 p.m., Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South 3rd Street.
Women’s History Month at the National Constitution Center
With nearly 100 original artifacts — including Lucretia Mott’s diary, a ballot box used to collect women’s votes in the late 1800s, a letter from jail written by a White House picketer, Pennsylvania’s ratification copy of the 19th Amendment, and various “Votes for Women” ephemera — explore the constitutional arguments and historical context of the fight for suffrage over 70 years at NCC’s How Women Won the Vote exhibit. Additionally, you can see daily shows — “The Four Harriets of History” and “Women Leading the Way” — and visit the Suffragist Story Corner. On Saturday, March 25th, the museum is offering free admission to celebrate Women’s History Month (thanks, Wawa!); reserve your timeslot online. The day will also have a kids’ town hall where they can “meet” famous Suffragists — re-enactors who will discuss the passage of the 19th Amendment.
