The Best Things You Can Possibly Do in Philly This Week
This week in Philly: Wawa Welcome America, the World Cup, Noah Kahan, the Manayunk Arts Festival, and much more.
Wawa Welcome America includes free concerts around town. / Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
This is a jam-packed week in the Philadelphia region — including Wawa Welcome America events, the World Cup, Pride, and Manayunk’s biggest street festival of the year — so we dug deep to find you the best of the best. Enjoy!
PRIDE
Photograph courtesy of Brittany Lynn
It’s Pride Month! From drag shows to block parties, we’ve got a whole guide to how Philly is planning a month of events for the LGBTQ+ community and allies of all ages to celebrate. Click here for full the rundown, but here are a couple favorites this week:
Pride + Pasta
We love when our faves team up! This event pairs drag queen Brittany Lynn with Natalia Lepore Hagan of Midnight Pasta for a hands-on pasta-making class followed by a drag show while you dine. Bonus: It’s BYOB. June 25th at BLDG39
Kensington Queer Circus Fest
Philadelphia Brewing Company hosts a day of circus and pride with drag performances, clowns, aerial artists, Queer Arm Wrestling, Roller Circus, and more. June 27th at Philadelphia Brewing Company
WAWA WELCOME AMERICA
Wawa Welcome America — Philly’s July 4th festivities — concludes with fireworks on the Parkway / Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Fireworks, free museum days, block parties, concerts, and more! Philly’s 16-day Independence Day celebration is already underway. We’ve got a whole guide to the celebration, but here are some highlights this week:
Kidchella
Smith Memorial Playground hosts its annual kids’ concert, Kidchella. The free event will feature family-friendly music acts (including Interminable, Courtnee Owens, Dende, and the Bearded Ladies Cabaret), plus art stations, snacks, giveaways, and more. Then stay after for fireworks! It’s free, but reserve your spot online. And bring your own blanket or chairs (though your kids will probably be on their feet to the music). June 26th at Smith Memorial Playground
Concilio’s Hispanic Fiesta
This annual celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage returns to LOVE Park with plenty of music, dance, food, drinks, and community activations. It all leads up to a headline performance at 8 p.m. by Grammy-winning singer Olga Tañón. June 27th at LOVE Park
Summer Concert & Spectacular Waterfront Fireworks
Gather at the waterfront for a concert by Tommy Conwell & The Young Rumblers, followed by a spectacular fireworks display above the Delaware River. (Fireworks will start around 9:30 p.m.) June 27th at Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Gospel on Independence
Gather on Independence Mall for an evening of joyful music by local choirs and musicians, with a special guest performance by Grammy-winning artist Kirk Franklin. This year’s event will also honor Philly radio legend Patty Jackson, who has hosted Gospel on Independence for the last five years. Seating is limited; bring your own chairs and blankets. June 28th on Independence Mall
MORE FESTIVALS
Manayunk Arts Festival / Photograph by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Manayunk Arts Festival
This oversized outdoor arts fest includes works by artists and craftspeople from the worlds jewelry, glass, ceramics, painting, photography, woodworking, and lots more. Full list of participating artists here.
June 27th & 28th on Main Street, Manayunk
Philly Fairy Festival
The whimsical outdoor event returns for its second year at the Schuylkill Center, featuring a fairy house contest, crafts, potion-making, food, and fun activities along the “Fairytale Trail.” Tickets available online; costumes highly encouraged.
June 27th at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Under the El Bazaar
“Chalk of the Town” takes over the Under the El Bazaar, featuring live chalk artists creating large-scale sidewalk works throughout the day. The event also includes live music, local vendors, kids’ activities, and specials from neighborhood businesses.
June 27th on the 1700 block of North Front Street in Fishtown
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival
Franklin Square will once again light up with giant, colorful sculptures of steel and silk. From the fan-favorite dragon to dozens of all-new illuminated installations, plus performances and other special features, there’s so much to see and do (and photograph) at this family-friendly festival. Check out our preview for everything you need to know about the festival.
Through August 16th in Franklin Square
ON STAGE
Dear Evan Hansen at the Arden / Photograph by Ashley Smith, Wide Eyed Studios.
Dear Evan Hansen
The Tony-winning musical from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul is loosely based on events at Friends Central School, from when Pasek was a student there.
Through July 5th at the Arden
Noah Kahan
The folk-pop star brings his The Great Divide tour to town, in support of his 2026 album of the same name. Expect the kind of communal, stadium-sized sing-alongs he’s become known for, blending breakout hits like “Stick Season” with newer material and the raw, emotional storytelling that has made his live shows feel more like group therapy than a concert.
June 26th at Citizens Bank Park
Philadelphia Orchestra: The Wizard of Oz in Concert
Travel over the rainbow with the Philadelphia Orchestra as they perform the 1939 classic film’s score live while the movie plays on screen.
June 26th & 27th at the Kimmel Center
Franklin’s Key / Photograph courtesy of Pig Iron Theatre Company
Franklin’s Key
I’m gonna let Pig Iron Theatre Company’s description of their sci-fi adventure speak for itself: “During the War of Independence, the British feared that Ben Franklin could control the weather. Franklin’s Key asks: what if that were true? In an alternate universe where Benjamin Franklin’s undiscovered technology has been hidden for centuries underneath Philadelphia’s landmarks, a mystery is unfolding.” Intriguing!
Through June 28th at Plays & Players Theatre
EXHIBITS
“Revisiting 1876” at the Lits Building / Rendering courtesy of Center City District
“Revisit 1876”
This free new exhibition at the Lit Brothers Building explores the city’s role as host of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, North America’s first World’s Fair. Open from late June through December, the immersive exhibit features pavilion-style installations, historic artifacts, and stories about the innovations, culture, and controversies that shaped the fair — and still resonate 150 years later.
Opens June 25th at the Lits Building, 8th and Market streets
“Just Us”
The Barnes hosts a powerful new exhibit featuring original artwork by artists at SCI Phoenix and members of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Rec Crew, a job-readiness and life skills program for justice-impacted young adults. Developed through workshops with the Barnes Foundation, the show brings together deeply personal work that explores memory, heritage, resilience, and hope.
June 26th–August 24th at the Barnes Foundation
PrismaPhonik
Part of the Waterfront’s “Where Freedom Flows” public art series, this new installation by artists William Simard and Anthony Gagnon Boisvert is described as “a magical stroll through music and light.” The artists created a glowing labyrinth of 12 colorful prisms, each representing a different orchestra musician. As you walk through it, each prism will respond, lighting up and playing symphonic music. To create the soundscape, the artists collaborated with local musicians Snacktime and Orchestra 2001.
June 26th–August 17th at Spruce Street Harbor Park
“This Is (Not) a Celebration: Queer Resistance 1976/2026”
Organized by the William Way LGBT Community Center, this exhibit depicts Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ organizing, activism, and protest during the 1976 Bicentennial. The exhibit pairs archival materials with the work of three local artists — Scarlett DeLorme, Justin Jain, and Amy Cousins.
June 11th through July 3rd at Huddle
“Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments”
Why do more people visit the Rocky statue than any other monument in Philadelphia? Did you know that about as many people visit the Statue of Liberty each year? And wait — is the Rocky statue even a monument? Or is it just a movie prop? This fascinating exhibit curated by local monument expert Paul Farber explores all of these questions, and more.
Through August 2nd at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
“A Nation of Artists”
A two-venue exhibit showcasing more than 1,000 pieces of American art, part of the Semiquincentennial.
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA
MISCELLANY
The World Cup comes to Philly / Photograph via Getty Images
FIFA World Cup 2026
It’s finally here! If you’re not one of the lucky fans who’ve scored World Cup tickets at the Linc — excuse us, Philadelphia Stadium, per FIFA’s convoluted sponsorship rules — or you’re simply too far away from your favorite team, fear not. We’ve got you covered with the best places to watch, here. The United States won’t be playing at the Linc, so if you’re not sure who you’ll be rooting for, look no further. And head to Lemon Hill for the Fan Fest, which runs all 39 days of the World Cup with watch parties and more. (It’s free, but you have to register online.)
Through July 19th at Lincoln Financial Field (matches) and Lemon Hill (Fan Fest)
A Book Talk with Cory Doctorow
Join us as we host bestselling author Cory Doctorow for a conversation about his new book, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After A.I., exploring the hype, risks, and future of artificial intelligence. Doctorow will be in conversation with David Williams, Philadelphia-based writer and consultant focused on how AI is reshaping media, business, and human understanding. The event is free; RSVP online.
June 25th at the Fitler Club Ballroom
Blacktronika: Philadelphia Now and Then
Philly native King Britt has spent his career as a lover of and evangelist for electronic music, so much so that he teaches a course at UC San Diego called Blacktronika: Afrofuturism in Electronic Music. He’s bringing that love back to his hometown for a series of performances and workshops across some of the city’s best venues: Solar Myth, Johnny Brenda’s, Silk City, and more. Get ready to sweat. June 23rd–29th at various locations
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
If you’re looking for some uptempo, family-friendly activities by the riverside, try Summerfest: They’ve got roller skating, of course, plus carnival games, mini-golf, rides, food, drinks, and a nice view of the Delaware River.
Through September at Penn’s Landing
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest on the Delaware River Waterfront / Photograph by Matt Stanley
See Also: Everything to Do, See, and Eat on the Delaware River Waterfront This Season
Free Movie Days at the Philadelphia Film Society
Every day of Wawa Welcome America, PFS is holding free movie screenings of films by and about Philly — selections range from Mannequin to Summer of Soul to Creed, so there’s truly something for everyone. (See the full schedule here.) Tickets are free, but you have to reserve them online.
June 19th-July 3rd, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut Street
ArtPhilly
In honor of the whole Semiquin thing, a citywide arts festival of exhibits, performances, and more.
Through July 2nd in various locations
LOOKING AHEAD
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic returns this summer. / Photograph by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto/Getty Images
After years — centuries, even — of anticipation, summer 2026 is finally here. Yes, that means the World Cup and the semiquincentennial and the MLB All-Star Game and a bunch of other big-ticket events that have surely crossed your radar. But it also means happenings you might not yet have heard about: hot dog contests, kayak flotillas, electronic festivals, and lighthouse climbs — enough adventures to fill every day between now and Labor Day. Here’s our guide to your best summer ever.
