The best free events in Philly this weekend and next week

📅 This calendar is updated every Friday with the best events for the week. You can always find it at inquirer.com/freecalendar. For more great events, check out our full events calendar and kids calendar. Submit an event to our calendar here.

(Community / in-person / multiday) The delta and omicron variants are causing COVID-19 cases in the region to increase. Make a plan to get vaccinated; there are many places throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey — CVS, Rite Aid, neighborhood rec centers, and more — where you can get your free COVID-19 shot. (phila.gov)

(Music / in-person / community) Support Philly’s thriving music and creative culture at this celebration of emerging musicians at Cherry Street Pier. You’ll get to hear live performances and discover some great local talent. (March 18, 6-11 p.m., 121 N. Columbus Blvd., cherrystreetpier.com)

(Community / virtual / kid-friendly) Germantown’s Johnson House and the Commonwealth Youth Choirs have teamed up to present this vocal story performance. The Good Raised Up recounts the night at the Johnson House Historic Site where a Quaker family protected enslaved Black people who were hiding from federal marshals. (March 20, 4 p.m., creativephl.org)

(Community / in-person / science) Hosted by avid birder Debbie Beer, this talk sheds light on the women whose work have made huge strides in birding. From taxidermists to conservationists and authors, these women’s efforts have more than made a difference. (March 22, 7-9 p.m., 1 Awbury Rd., awbury.org)

(Film / in-person) Philly’s Outward Bound screens a documentary about the first woman and person of color to complete a winter thru-hike of Wisconsin’s 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail. Emily Ford made the trek with a sled dog named Diggins amid frigid temps, COVID spikes, and national turmoil. After the film, stay for a discussion on diversity, equity, and the outdoors. Refreshments served. Ages 8+. (Mar. 22, 7-8:30 p.m., 3401 Reservoir Dr., outwardboundphiladelphia.org)

(Seasonal / in-person / multiday) They’re back, those loveable, Day-Glo marshmallow bunnies and rabbits, displayed gathering around dinner tables, in courtyard gardens, at rock concerts, or formed into blossoms, transforming Peddler’s Village into a creative, walk-through Easter basket. Ages 2+. (Through April 24, 2400 State Rd., New Hope, peddlersvillage.com)

(Books / multiday / kid-friendly) The rink is gone, the fountains aren’t quite ready for splashing, but the garden is open to littles and their loved ones for midweek storytimes with the Free Library and hour-long family fun on Saturdays, which, this week, means bubble magic. Ages 3-5. (Storytime: Tuesdays through March 29, 11 a.m.-noon; Family Saturdays through April 2, 11 a.m.-noon, 1 S. 15th St.centercityphila.org)

(Seasonal / in-person / outdoors / kid-friendly) You can explore an all-outdoor festive wonderland as part of Dilworth Park’s holiday offerings, though this free garden is open way beyond just the holiday season — you can visit into the spring. Here, make your way through light installations, plant displays, a giant dome-shaped arbor, and more all within the backdrop of City Hall. (Through April 3, 1 S. 15th St., centercityphila.org)

(Art / in-person / multiday) Chestnut Hill’s stone mansion-turned-museum opens an exhibition of 85-plus Philly-made works of creatures great and small (tiny kingfishers, giant sperm whales) in both realistic and fantastical forms (a fish on a plate, a formal gorilla portrait). Kids go home with a free activity book, while supplies last. Ages 2+. (Free on Sundays through May 8, 9201 Germantown Ave., woodmereartmuseum.org)

(Education / virtual / multiday / kid-friendly) Through dad jokes, real talk, and superb listening, Mr. Maurice connects with his students — and connects students to each other. Each workshop appeals to specific audiences: Black boys, young teens, future entrepreneurs, sports fans, home cooks and more. Workshops teach some writing and lots of life lessons. Ages 8+ (Through May. 28, mightywriters.org)

(Art / in-person / outdoors) Magical Fantasy, a collection of bold and bright 3D art pieces by London-based artist Morag Myerscough, has transformed The Navy Yard into a colorful playground. Stop by to wander through the exhibit and escape into an abstract dreamland without leaving the city. (Through October, Broad St. and Constitution Ave., navyyard.org)

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