The best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend

Happy Friday! Below are some of our favorite things to do in the Philadelphia area this weekend. We put out new Philly weekend plans for you every week, so you’ll always have something to do on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

You can always find our favorite activities of the weekend at inquirer.com/things-to-do. Have an event you’d like to feature in the Inquirer? Submit an event to our calendar.

(Community) Franklin Square is embracing Spooky Season for the month of October. Come play a round or two of spooky themed mini golf complete with haunting lights, music and atmosphere.

⌚️Oct 1-31, 6-9p.m., 📍200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org, 💵 $12-15

(Art) This annual festival presented by the Center for Architecture and Design showcases all of the design excellence and innovation here in Philadelphia. The festival includes over 130 different events including tours, programs, and workshops all over the city to give attendees a true taste of Philly’s architecture and design culture. Grab a spot at an exhibition, kick off party or other activities to get closer look at the arts in Philadelphia.

⌚️Oct. 1-13, 📍Various Locations, 🌐 designphiladelphia.org, 💵 Varies

(Community) If you’ve been missing the excitement of cheering for your favorite Olympians, here’s the chance to reignite that spark. This show will deliver performances packed with jaw-dropping athletic brilliance and awe-inspired choreography.

⌚️Oct. 4, 7:30p.m., 📍3601 South Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19148, 🌐 wellsfargocenterphilly.com, 💵 $50-350

(Community) Your four legged, furry friend might just be the wingman you never knew you needed. At this singles dating event, you’ll sip and stroll through drink stations with drinks provided by top Philadelphia distilleries, wineries, and breweries, alongside delicious bites. Dogs are welcome, and can be the perfect way to break the ice.

⌚️Oct. 4, 6-9p.m., 📍2639 Poplar St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19130, 🌐 eventbrite.com, 💵 $80

(Community) What could make for a more epic time than a themed street fest? This annual celebration includes German-themed entertainment and performances, activities for kids, craft brews and tasty food trucks. Not to mention, this year’s festival will feature Spoktoberfest, a celebration of Spok, Kirk and the entire fandom featuring the Roddenberries.

⌚️Oct. 5, 12-6p.m., 📍Ridge Ave., from Lyceum to Leverington, Philadelphia, Pa, 19128, 🌐 roxboroughpa.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Germantown has never been short on history. Come celebrate the revolutionary moments that took place at sites around the neighborhood and learn more about the people who lived through the American Revolution. This year’s festival will include new activities like candle dipping and basket weaving, to really take you back to what life was like in 1777.

⌚️ Oct. 5, 10a.m. - 4p.m., 📍6401 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19144

(Community) Get ready for a day of non-stop fall fun, complete with great food, an amazing selection of beers and great crafts. This celebration of craft and brews brings tons of art and craft vendors from the region to one spot. Bring cash for the beer garden so you’ll be all set to sip and stroll.

⌚️Oct. 6, 11a.m. - 4p.m., 📍Green St. & E. Pennsylvania Ave., Downingtown, Pa, 19335, 🌐 downingtownfallfest.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Yes, you read that right. Goats are heading to Laurel Hill Cemetery to help you do a little fund raising. This year’s GOAToberFest will have 13 goats, awards for  the best Halloween or OktoberFest costumes, free snacks and drinks, prizes and so much more. Proceeds from ticket sales support free programming from the Philly Goat Project.

⌚️Oct. 6, 3-5p.m., 📍225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, Pa, 19004, 🌐 phillygoatproject.org, 💵 $75

It’s fall festival season, for sure, and in addition to the mandatory apple- and pumpkin-picking you can do at farms across the region, autumnal events in the city offer fun alternative ways to get into the swing of things.

(Community / multiday) Can you teach toddlers and elementary school-age kids empathy? It’s certainly worth trying. The Please Touch Museum’s visiting exhibit aims to help children express feelings and understand others’ through lightbox silhouette-making, playing with empathy blocks, and negotiating a seesaw. Ages 2-10.

⌚September 27-January 12, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays,📍4231 Ave. of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pa, 19131, 🌐 pleasetouchmuseum.org , 💵$22, $2 ACCESS cardholder

(Science / multiday) Animatronic dinos from chillier climes, like the fearsome, feathered Troodon raptors, represent Late Cretaceous creatures who inhabited the Arctic. Hands-on exhibits show off ice-proof teeth and eggs at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Ages 2 and up.

⌚September 28-May 4, 📍1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 ansp.org, 💵 $16-$22, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free under age 2

(History / free) Not every fall festival involves pumpkins. For 40 years, Cliveden has hosted a unique fall festival, complete with activities like: candle dipping, basket weaving, blacksmithing, even tassel making, while costumed reenactors portray British and Continental military to talk about the goings-on nearly 250 years ago onsite. Ages 4 and up.

⌚October 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 📍6401 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19144, 🌐cliveden.org , 💵 Free

(Music) Families who want their children to get into costumes but also into refined musical arts get both at Marian Anderson Hall when Austin Chanu conducts and Charlotte Blake Alston speaks at an orchestral performance of Bach, along with themes from Harry Potter, Jaws, Coco, Ghostbusters, and more. Ages 2 and up.

⌚October 5, 11:30 a.m., 📍300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 philorch.ensembleartsphilly.org , 💵 $22-$55

(Seasonal / free) New stuff to play and design with, including silicone Stick-lets that let you connect and build with sticks, proudly mismatched, ethically made socks, and DesignPhiladelphia’s own pop-up Wondering Studio installation, come to this Sister Cities Park for a fall afternoon. Ages 2-12.

⌚October 5, noon-3 p.m., 📍210 N. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐designphiladelphia.org , 💵 Free

(Seasonal / free) Ridge Avenue closes to cars to host a fall fest with a Star Trek theme — and a Star Trek-influenced band, the Roddenberries — lots of beer-related shenanigans, but also plenty for the kids, including their own zone with giant bubbles and lawn games, and scarecrow making. All ages.

⌚October 5, noon-6 p.m., 📍 Ridge Ave. between Lyceum Ave. and Leverington Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, 🌐 roxboroughpa.com , 💵 Free, pay as you go

(Seasonal / free) The Big Field in Tacony Creek Park hosts a nature-centric, Latin fiesta live music —  DJ June Lopez, TIMBALONA, Guachinangos, Conjunto Philadelphia — plus a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, nature games, trail bike rides, hayrides, donuts, and apple cider. All ages.

⌚October 5, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., 📍E. Olney Ave. between Rising Sun Ave. and Tabor Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19120, 🌐ttfwatershed.org, 💵 Free, pay as you go