South Street Oktoberfest, New Jersey Horror Con, and other events, Sept. 21-27

This Saturday marks a decade of Brauhaus Schmitz's Oktoberfest party on the 700 block of South Street. Join in the annual fun, sample up to 10 different German beers on draft alongside a wealth of German fare. Live oompah music will set the soundtrack to the celebration, where German dancing and other entertainment is scheduled to unfold, too. — Grace Dickinson

Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, 700 block of South St, pay-as-you-go, brauhausschmitz.com

Shop your way through Reading Terminal Market with some of the city's most popular chefs this weekend during a two-day event featuring Marcie Turney of Lolita, Barbuzzo, and other 13th Street restaurants; Sylva Senat of Maison 208; Joncarl Lachman of Noord; and more. Cooking demos will also take place throughout the day. All events are free, and spots are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis; shopping tours will accommodate the first 10 people who sign up, while the demos invite up to 75 people to observe. — G.D.

10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Reading Terminal Market, 51 N. 12th St., free, readingterminalmarket.org/events

Take part in a mindful triathlon, featuring a 5K run or walk, a DJ-powered yoga session, and a guided meditation at Wanderlust 108 this Saturday. After the trio of curated events, a market of local artisans awaits for you to peruse, as does a pop-up cafe serving up healthy eats. Nationally recognized teachers, speakers, and musical talent will also be scattered throughout. — G.D.

7:30 a.m.. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Navy Yard Marine Parade Grounds, 4747 S. Broad St., $55 and up, wanderlust.com

Philly AIDS Thrift celebrates its 13th anniversary with a grand block party featuring over two dozen craft vendors, food trucks, carnival games, live music, and circus performances. A dunk tank will also be set up, along with a moon bounce for the kiddos and a face painting station. All proceeds from the day benefit Philly AIDS Thrift's mission to provide funds to organizations who help people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia. — G.D.

Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Philly AIDS Thrift, 710 S. 5th St., phillyaidsthrift.com

Horror movies — and more than 30 of the celebrities that act within them — will take over Atlantic City this weekend during a three-day film festival with guest star Cassandra Peterson. Upwards of 150 vendors will set up shop throughout the weekend, too, for visitors to peruse. Head online to view the full schedule of festival events, and then get ready to scream. — G.D.

Sept. 21-23, The Showboat, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J., $30, newjerseyhorrorcon.com

Want to attend a movie night where cute, cuddly animals are also in the audience? Join the Pennsylvania SPCA as it celebrates its new affiliation with Main Line Animal Rescue through a drive-in movie event. Former Philadelphia Flyers player Bernie Parent and his wife, Gini, will host the evening, featuring a screening of Miracle, a film that follows the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team on its improbable run to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad. Before the show, the SPCA invites you to mingle with adoptable pets, grab a snack from one of the on-site food trucks, and play few games with the family.

5:30 p.m. Saturday, Main Line Animal Rescue, 1149 Pike Springs Rd., $10 for adults, $7 for kids age 6-12, free for kids 5 and under, pspca.org/drivein2018

The American Birding Expo, one of the largest wildlife events in the country, is heading to Philadelphia this weekend. Birding enthusiasts can look forward to daily talks from well-known birding experts, shopping among the latest birding-related products, and opportunities to connect with tour providers from across the world. Tickets include entrance to all three days of the expo. — G.D.

Sept. 21-23, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, $10 for adults, free for those age 17 and younger, americanbirdingexpo.com

Even as the weather turns chillier, the Spruce Street Harbor Park is holding a host of fun outdoor activities. Bring your friends and your salsa dancing partners for a night of dancing and music. If you think you might like to pick up a few moves, free salsa lessons may help as well.  —Thea Applebaum Licht

7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. Free, all ages. 215-925-2386, http://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/spruce-street-harbor-park.

The Please Touch Museum celebrates the Jewish holiday of Sukkoth with a celebration that invites the whole family to come out and reflect on nature while sitting in a specially built sukkah. A live musical performance will also unfold, as will as a designated fall festival area that invites those of all ages to explore the season through props and dramatic play. — G.D.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, free with admission, pleasetouchmuseum.org/event

The Jayhawks backed Wesley Stace on last year's enigmatically titled Wesley Stace's John Wesley Harding (does that apostrophe denote a contraction or possessive?), and this week their tour paths nearly cross at the World Café Live. The Jayhawks, whose current album contains new versions of songs leader Gary Louris has written for other artists, play Friday. Philly transplant Stace recently released a compilation of covers he's done dating back to his John Wesley Harding days, including collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed. He's on the road opening for the Barenaked Ladies' Steven Page but they're here on Monday. –Steve Klinge

The Jayhawks at 8 p.m. Friday at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St. $28-$52. 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.
Wesley Stace at 8 p.m. Monday at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St. $25 advanced, $27 day of show.  215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Nashville's sisters McCrary — Beverly Anne, Deborah Dianne, Regina Avonette, and Alfreda Antionette — were born into the tradition of old school gospel singing. The siblings' late father was Samuel H. McCrary, one of the founding members of pioneering quartet the Fairfield Four. Regina toured with Bob Dylan for a six-year stretch beginning with his late 1970s born-again years, and the foursome's most recent studio album, the rousing Let's Go, was produced by ace American guitarist Buddy Miller. The McCrarys are performing as part of the WXPM-FM (88.5) Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul series. It's free with an RSVP. — Dan DeLuca

8 p.m. Saturday, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St, free with RSVP, xpngospelroots.org

It's opening weekend at The Locks at Sona, the new listening room on Main Street in Manayunk booked by the teams behind Old City's Tin Angel and the Bryn Mawr club The Point. Friday night's debut with Philadelphia songwriter Jim Boggia is sold out, but tickets are still available for Nashville's William Fitzsimmons on Saturday. Looking ahead, there are three shows next weekend. The Lost Bayou Ramblers play Friday, Padraig Stevens and Leo Moran (of the Saw Doctors) are Saturday, and Sunday Sept. 30 is a celebration of Philly songwriter and journalist Peter Stone Brown, who's been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, featuring local luminaries John Train, Kenn Kweder, Donna and Bob Jay and the ToneBenders. — D.D.

8 p.m. Saturday (for William Fitzsimmons) at The Locks at Sona, 4417 Main St. $25-$30. 484-273-0481. sonapub.com.

Thirty years ago there was no "rock Español" movement. There were just guys, such as Café Tacuba (stylized as Café Tacvba), who lived in Mexico and played loud, raw, atmospheric metal and moody punk in its neighborhood bars. Now, CT is internationally renowned for being a hard-driving machine with gorgeous Mexican accents (elements of indigenous folk with violin and upright bass) and making records such as 2017's Jei Beibi that speak to issues, broad, intimate and right around their corner. — A.D. Amorosi

8 p.m. Saturday, at The Fillmore, 26 E. Allen Street, $35, thefillmorephilly.com

After the Monkees dissolved 50 years ago, Mike Nesmith started releasing albums of quirky cosmic country with the First National Band. Records such as 1970's  Loose Salute and 1971's Nevada Fighter were unjustly ignored at the time, but they became cult classics, full of sharply written tunes buoyed with pedal steel and Nez's 12-string guitar. Nesmith doesn't tour much — he's dipped in and out of Monkees-related nostalgia — and he had a quadruple bypass early this summer. But he's assembled a new First National Band that includes two of his sons to revisit his early solo work, and they'll be in Phoenixville on Saturday. — S.K.

8 p.m. Saturday at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. $39.50-$57.50. 610-917-1228, thecolonialtheatre.com.

A formidable triple bill. Brooding Matt Berninger-led Brooklyn band The National hyped their 2017 album Sleep Well Beast with an NPR radio concert live from Union Transfer last September and then sold out Verizon Hall in December. Now they're back at the Mann joined by always intriguing sultry-voiced soul sister Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, who is back next month with Wanderer, her first album in six years. Phoebe Bridgers, who impressed with the precise, searing songwriting on her 2017 debut Stranger In the Alps, is the opener. — D.D.

7 p.m. Thursday at Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave. $40-$80. 215-546-7900. manncenter.org.