The best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend
The best things to do in Philadelphia, including popular events, festivals, attractions and tours, free activities and entertainment. See upcoming events and what’s on in Philly today.
![The Eagles’ season opener will be one for the history books as the first NFL game played in South America. With round-trip flights to Brazil starting at nearly $1,000, fans might want to stay local and catch the action at one of several watch parties across Philadelphia.](https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/2RMrBNagyBnT8mkRMMSekkhZIE8=/760x507/smart/filters:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/BUXACGOMWFGB5MO4W3QK2QN76M.jpg)
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.
The Amazing Acro-Cats
(Community) You’ve seen a variety show before, but what about a fur-iety show? Come see a troupe of one-of-a-kind trained rescue house cats but on the ultimate performance. These cats do it all from skateboarding to jumping through hoops. Proceeds from the show supports Rock Cats Rescue.
⌚️ Sept. 4-7, 📍480 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19146, 🌐 rockcatsrescue.org, 💵 $25-75
Midnight Pasta Party
(Community) The only thing better than making delicious pasta? Getting to eat it, too. This class brings you the best of both worlds, teaching you to make pasta by hand, followed by a family style pasta dinner. Dinner will include your delicious pasta, plus salad, homemade bread, a seasonal vegetable and dessert. Beverages are BYOB.
⌚️ Sept. 6, 7-9p.m., 📍5401 Tacony St BLDG 39, Philadelphia, Pa, 19137, 🌐 culinarycollective.co, 💵 $125
Birds in Brazil Watch Party
(Community) The Birds aren’t playing at home but that doesn’t mean we can’t gather to cheer them on. Head to Brauhaus Schmitz for an epic watch party complete with delicious food, a great beer selection and a 20-foot projection screen to watch the game.
⌚️Sept. 6, 7p.m., 📍718 South St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19147, 🌐 instagram.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go
Philadelphia Honey Festival
(Community) Add a little sweetness into your weekend and join in a variety of festivities in celebration of the honey bee. This event includes delicious honey tastings, a beer and mead garden, extraction presentations and more. You’ll also get to shop from local vendors including Random Tea Room, Mirthras Candles and more.
⌚️Sept. 7, 10a.m. - 4p.m., 📍6026 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19144, 🌐 wyck.org, 💵 Free Entry
Spring Garden Sunflower Festival
(Community) Celebrating the end of the summer season with a fun, family-friendly festival. Spend the day shopping from more than 30 local vendors, playing games and eating delicious bites from your favorite food trucks, while listening to live music.
⌚️Sept. 7, 12-7p.m., 📍1700-1900 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19130, 🌐 https://sgcaphilly.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go
Philly Fun Fishing Fest
(Community) Everyone is welcome to enjoy a day of free fishing on the Schuykill River, and a little friendly competition. No fishing license is required during the fishing competition and fishing gear will be available for use on a first-come, first-served basis.
⌚️Sept. 7, 7-11a.m., 📍Walnut Street Dock, Philadelphia, Pa, 19103, 🌐 schuylkillbanks.org, 💵 Free
20/20 Photo Festival 2024
(Community) Photography lovers, this festival is for you. Head to Cherry Street Pier to shop amazing photography books at the Photo Book fair, listen to artist talks and join in book signings. Plus, grab your own camera and enjoy a photo walk around Old City.
⌚️ Sept. 7, 10:30a.m. - 7p.m., 📍121 N. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa, 19103, 🌐 cherrystreetpier.com, 💵Pay-as-you-go
The best events for kids in Philly
The outdoor fun continues with a Chinatown block party, open studio in South Philly, outdoor movies and activities at Sister Cities, and a giant bouncy house in Cherry Hill.
Pictures in the Park
(Movies / multiday / free) Thanks to Sister Cities Park, there’s no need to splurge to take the fam to Friday night movies this month. As long as it’s a nice evening, pack a picnic and a blanket, and head for Logan Square for Kung-Fu Panda 4 (Sept. 6), Trolls Band Together (Sept. 13), Shrek (Sept. 20), and Migration (Sept. 27). Ages 5 and up.
⌚Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27, 7 p.m., 📍18th St. and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 centercityphila.org, 💵 Free
FUNBOX
(Bouncing / multiday) The self-proclaimed world’s biggest bounce park — 25,000 square feet — has popped up in the parking lot near the Cherry Hill Mall JCPenney for long weekends of 80-minute play sessions. The big, bright inflated venue, with setups named things like “marshmallow mountain” and “ninja wall” is not just fun. It’s also entirely Instagrammable. BYO grip socks, or buy a pair there. Ages 3 and up.
⌚Sept. 6-Oct. 20 Fridays, 3-7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m, 📍2000 N. Rte. 38, Cherry Hill, NJ, 08002, 🌐funbox.com, 💵 $19 this weekend, $28 thereafter
Family Saturdays
(Outdoors / multiday / free) Saturday mornings in September at Sister Cities Park offers hour-long programming, starting with boat building with Pop Up Play, continuing with Spanish lessons, storytime, and musical movement. Ages 0-5.
⌚Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28, 11 a.m.-noon, 📍18th St. and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 centercityphila.org, 💵 Free
Block Party
(Seasonal / free) Rail Park presents a music-centric afternoon to highlight the gem of a park and gem of a neighborhood. All ages.
⌚Sept. 7, 1-4 p.m., rain date: Sept. 8,📍Noble and N. Broad sts., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, 🌐 asianartsinitiative.org , 💵 Free
Sounds of Summer Concert Series
(Music / free) Last chance to take in Parkside Pop-Up Place Space with MIC’d U and food trucks serving kabobs and ice cream all the way from Malvern. All ages.
⌚Sept. 8, 5-8 p.m., 📍Parkside Ave. & W. Memorial Hall Dr., Philadelphia, Pa. 19131, 🌐 myphillypark.org, 💵Free
Brain Games
(Science / multiday) If you and the kids enjoy Worlde, Tiles, or puzzle books, you’ll likely love the 60-some cerebral challenges, including 2-D and 3-D mazes made of ropes, colors, music — even DIY mazes — at the Franklin Institute’s newest exhibit.
⌚June 8-Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.📍222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, 🌐 fi.edu, 💵 $21-$25; $2 ACCESS cardholder
Garden Railway: Dinos!
(Dinosaurs / garden / multiday) An elegant Chestnut Hill botanical enclave has declared the coming months the “Summer of Dinos” at Morris Arboretum featuring a self-guided tour of prehistoric-related plants, an expansive outdoor toy train setup featuring fantastic Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, etc. made out of bark, and a “paleontologist’s cottage” with fossil-digging capabilities. Ages 2 and up.
⌚May 25-Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends, 📍100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19118 🌐 morrisarboretum.org , 💵$20 adult, $18 ages 65 and up, $10 ages 3-17, free under age 3 and member