16 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend
Get our weekly picks of what to do this weekend and the latest on Philly's arts and entertainment scene.
Pennsylvania Dutch Festival at Reading Terminal Market
Reading Terminal Market (RTM)'s annual Pennsylvania Dutch Festival is this weekend, celebrating the traditions, food and crafts of a community that has been a vital part of the market for the past 35 years. In RTM’s center court, look out for authentic Pennsylvania Dutch fare, like apple dumplings, shoo-fly pie, Amish-style pork sausage sandwiches, roasted peanuts, homemade ice cream, jams, fudge and more. Also in the center court, watch members of the area’s Amish community make traditional crafts. Browse handmade quilts, wooden furniture, toys, scarves, home décor and more. Thursday, August 6-Saturday, August 8, 8am-5pm, pay as you go, Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Arch streets.
Grand Opening of Le Bok Fin
One of Philly's newest and most-anticipated pop-up restaurants, Le Bok Fin, opens its rooftop bar on an 8,000-square-foot terrace eight floors above the street. From its opening night until September, the rooftop spot will be open four days a week serving casual French-inspired food, beers and wine. Friday, August 7, 6pm-11pm, prices vary, Le Bok Fin, 1901 South 9th Street.
Germantown Stars Under the Stars at Vernon Park
Some of Philadelphia’s finest poets, including the great Sonia Sanchez, will take the stage for a free concert at Vernon Park. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawnchair and blanket to come out and enjoy this free night of great local talent. Friday, August 7, 8-10pm, free, Vernon Park, 5723 Greene Street.
InHale Performance Series
Renown Philadelphia-based dance company Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers will present their annual InHale Performance Series at their practice space, the Chi Movement Arts Center. The series offers a supportive and collaborative environment for both established companies and up-and-coming artists to present work, and will surely entertain audiences with a night of incredible talent and artistry. Friday, August 7, 7:30pm, $8-10, KYL/D's Chi Movement Arts Center, 1316 South 9th Street.
Smooth Jazz Summer Nights at Penn's Landing
Every Friday evening in August, smooth jazz artists will take the stage and give audiences a night of amazing jazz music for free. Friday, August 7-Friday, August 28, 7:30-11pm, free, The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, 101 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard.
Friday Night Outdoor Movies at Water Tower Recreation Center
During select Friday nights in August, the Water Tower Recreation Center in Chestnut Hill will host free outdoor movie screenings along with food from a different food truck each night. This week's movie will be Despicable Me, rated PG, and The Flying Deutschman food truck will be serving delicious German classics. Friday, August 7-Friday, August 21, 8pm, free, Water Tower Recreation Center, 8434 Germantown Avenue.
"Stories from Non-Putin Russia" at International House
Documentary film-lovers, take note of this series featuring docs made in the former Soviet Union after its collapse but before its current president took power. Friday, August 7, 7pm, $7-9, International House of Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street. —Victor Fiorillow
Anna & Elizabeth at World Café Live
Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle teamed up to create Appalachian roots music, harmonizing their voices with their skills on the banjo, fiddle and guitar. Specializing in folk music, their shows are a captivating mix of ballads, foot-stomping dance tunes, stories and visual art. The duo is currently touring throughout the U.S. and Canada. Listen before you go: "Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow." Friday, August 7, 8pm, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street.
Mad Decent Block Party at Festival Pier
The Mad Decent Block parties were created by Temple alum DJ Diplo—and started right here in Philadelphia as a regular block party. These days, the festival has grown enough to hit 19 cities across the country. The Philly romp is in full swing, continuing Friday with Major Lazer, Dirty South Joe and a couple surprise guests. Tickets and more information can be found here.
Bethlehem Musikfest
When Bethlehem’s annual music festival launched 31 years ago, the lineup was exactly as sleepy and washed-up as you’d expect something in the Lehigh Valley to be. Headliners the first few years included Don McLean, the Association and, er, Judy Collins. But three decades later, the 10-day event is a respectable festival, with more than 500 shows, the vast majority of them free. This year’s ticketed headliners include Snoop Dogg, Darius Rucker, Jerry Seinfeld, OAR, Alice in Chains and the Flaming Lips, plus a special pre-party on August 6th with Duran Duran. But don’t worry, you old-timey Pennsyltuckians: There’s still plenty of polka every year. August 7-16, various times, $40-80, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA. —Victor Fiorillo
Peach Festival and Sidewalk Sale at Peddler's Village
Peddler's Village will celebrate a favorite summertime treat at their annual Peach Festival and Sidewalk Sale this weekend. There will be tons of peach treats, peach-pie-eating contests, shopping, children's activities, live music and more. Admission is free! Friday, August 7-Sunday, August 9, 10am-9pm, free admission, Peddler's Village, Routes 202 & 263, Bucks County.
GayFest at Plays and Players Theater
Quince Productions returns with the fifth annual GayFest, an entire series of LGBTQ-themed theatre, and this year features 30 performances that range from fully-staged productions to cabarets and one-night stands. The festival, which runs August 7th through the 22nd at both Plays and Players Skinner Studio and Studio X, will present works from both local and nationally-recognized theater artists. Check out a preview of this year's offerings on G Philly. —Bryan Buttler
Bug Fest at Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences is hosting their annual BugFest, a celebration of insects complete with different shows and educational activities about bugs. Activities include a bug yoga class, a bug health clinic, talks with real scientists, face painting and a lot of learning about critters! Saturday, August 8-Sunday, August 9, 10am-5pm, $13.95-17.95, The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Sculpture Zoo in Rittenhouse Square
The Association for Public Art presents this family-friendly event where bronze animal sculptures will be placed all around the park while local artists present live demonstrations. There will also be live animals accompanying the festival, including a goat, a duck and a small reptile, and artist-led sculpture-making activities open to all ages. Saturday, August 8, 10am-1pm, free, Rittenhouse Square.
The Tough Shits at Boot & Saddle
The Tough Shits identify themselves as a witty punk/art rock band, located right here in Philly. The foursome pride themselves on their sometimes satirical songs and fun personalities. Now signed with Burger Records, the band frequently perform in Philly and all over the East Coast. Listen before you go: "She's A Loner." Saturday, August 8, 8:30pm, Boot & Saddle, 1131 South Broad Street.
Mishka at Tin Angel
Hawaiian-based reggae pop star Mishka started his career in 1999 with his debut album, Mishka. He has since released four full-length albums, all of which have gained international critical acclaim. His last three releases reached No. 1 on Billboard's Reggae chart, and he continues to tour extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Japan. Listen before you go: "Happy." Sunday, August 9, 7:30pm, Tin Angel, 20 South 2nd Street.
Submit Your Event
Have an event you'd like featured in an upcoming "Things to Do" post? Send information at least two weeks in advance to Josh Middleton at jmiddleton@phillymag.com.
