High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: April 27--28

High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: April 27–28

Happy weekend! Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

April 22, 2019

Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

Click here for ongoing events that run through the weekend, like all the museum exhibits.

All Weekend

Spring Break: Storybooks in Bloom!

April 13–28

Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic

The Please Touch Museum will have daily character appearances and special programming for Spring Break. See their schedule online to make sure you catch your favorite characters!

Parks on Tap Opening Week at Azalea Garden

April 24–28

Azalea Garden, Kelly Drive and Fairmount Avenue

Our favorite outdoor day-drinking pop-up returns for the season, this week at this beautiful garden located between Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Come for a relaxing evening that’s welcoming to families (including kids and dogs!), and a perfect way to celebrate springtime!

Southwest Spring Fest

April 27—28

Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd. (additional events at John Heinz Wildlife Refuge and Cobbs Creek CEC)

Bartram’s Garden welcomes spring with a weekend of family fun including free boating on Saturday, a plant sale, and more. They are also participating in the Philadelphia Science Festival’s Be a Scientist Day on Sunday. There will be a free bus to take you to events at the other locations.

Penn Relays

April 26—28

Franklin Field, 235 S. 33rd St.

The oldest and largest track and field competition in the country is back at Penn for its 125^th year.

Treasure Island

April 3–June 9

Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St.

Arden stages a retelling of the classic pirate tale by Robert Louis Stevenson. In this version, Emily – a young girl with big dreams – transforms her living room into the wild seas!

Final Weekend: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Through April 28
Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, this adaptation of the popular novel is great for teens. See the world through the eyes of a unique fifteen-year-old as he investigates the death of his neighbor’s dog after being accused of the crime. Walnut Street Theatre has included a study guide online for anyone who wants to learn more.

Saturday

Naturepalooza: A Family Earth Day Celebration

April 27, 10 am — 2 pm
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

Celebrate Earth Day with science and environmental art activities, hikes, nature exploration, and crafts. The event will also have food trucks, music and dance, face painting, and a fort-building competition. Dozens of environmental groups will also be there to lead science and art activities.

Mt. Airy Kids’ Literary Festival

April 27, 10 am—5 pm

Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane

Pete The Cat will be leading the fun on Saturday morning from 10 am—noon with storytime, music, dancing, photos and more! Plus, local authors, book-making workshops, and much more as Big Blue Marble Bookstore celebrates children’s literature all day.

Uhuru Health Fest

April 27, 9 am—5 pm

Clark Park, 4300 Baltimore Ave.

Celebrate family and fitness with free exercise workshops, health screenings, vendors, live music, a children’s circle, and more.

Philly Butterfly Festival

April 27, 10 am—5 pm

Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, 8046 Frankford Ave.

Celebrate all things butterfly with butterfly gardening workshops, butterfly raising demos, live butterfly releases, arts and crafts, face painting, live music, and more! Tickets available online.

Gardening for Kids

April 27, 10 am

Falls of Schuylkill Library, 3501 Midvale Ave.

Help plant a beautiful library garden! Feel free to bring your own gardening tools or gloves, and learn how to garden. This program is best for children under 12 years old, but all ages are welcome to help.

Arden Bookworms

April 27, 10—10:45 am

Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street

Preschoolers (age 2-4) will read the classic Giraffes Can’t Dance, and then use theater games, music, and creative movement to bring the story to life. Pre-register online.

76ers Kids Club Pep Rally

April 27, 10:30—11:30 am

Five Below, 2250 S. Columbus Blvd.

Kids of all ages are encouraged to join Franklin, the Sixers Dunk Squad and Sixers Dancers for a pep rally. Families can meet the 76ers personalities, get their face painted, enjoy balloon artists and win prizes.

West Craft Fest

April 27, 11 am — 5 pm

The Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Ave.

Find unique, creative wares by 100 local makers, as well as food, live music, children’s activities, and acrobatic performances by Tangle Movement Arts.

Mifflin Square Park Vendor Village Spring Kick-Off

April 27, 11 am—3 pm

Mifflin Square, Sixth and Ritner streets

Come kick off spring with kids’ activities, Zumba, foodtrucks, performances, crafts, and more.

Kid Friendly Hike

April 27, 11 am—1 pm

Meet at Valley Green Inn

Hike the Forbidden Trail, stop to enjoy snacks, and continue on to Devil’s Pool and Pee Wee Rock. This 2.2-mile hike is led by Marv Schwartz. Register to reserve your spot online.

Arbor Day at Morris Arboretum

April 27, 11 am—3 pm

100 E. Northwestern Ave.

Explore the arboretum, learn how to choose garden plants, experiment with seeds, and create your own indoor or outdoor garden.

Around the World with the Geography Lady Free Class

April 27, 11 am

Richmond Library, 2987 Almond St.

Babies and toddlers (ages 0-2) will enjoy a fun storytime, and explore the textures, sights, sounds, smells, and maybe even tastes from different countries around the world.

Indoor Goat Yoga

April 27, 11 am—noon

98 E. Cliveden St.

Goat yoga will be held in a heated indoor barn at Cliveden in historic Germantown. Participants in this all-levels class will have 45 minutes of guided time on the mat while Nigerian Dwarf goats cuddle, play, and meet you in down-dog. There will be 15 minutes at the end of class to take selfies and photos with the goats. Pre-registration is required, as this often sells out! Kids are welcome, and their tickets are discounted.

Sheherazade

April 27, 11:30 am

Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.

Using the magic of music and theater, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Enchantment Theater Company bring you the legendary stories of Sheherazade and her tales of 1,001 Arabian nights. Watch these fantastic fables come to life on stage, dramatically portrayed with masks, puppets, magic, and movement.

Science in the Park

April 27, noon — 4 pm
Clark Park, 4300-4398 Baltimore Ave.
and
Hunting Park, 900 Hunting Park Ave.

Teach your kids the fundamentals of curiosity and experimentation as the community comes together to delight in the science that surrounds us every day. There will be an afternoon full of fun hands-on science activities at two different parks, in partnership with many scientific and educational institutions.

Art Is Life Festival

April 27, noon—6 pm

Ridge Avenue between Green Lane and Leverington Avenue in Roxborough

Roxborough celebrates local artists with its annual festival featuring vendors, three stages of live performances, food, and more.

Sheep Shearing Day

April 27, noon—4 pm

Fox Chase Farm, 8500 Pine Rd.

Watch as the sheep are sheared, and learn what is done with the wool. Plus, enjoy hayrides, games, crafts, and more.

Festival of Fools Circus Festival

April 27, 12:30—7:30 pm

Philadelphia Circus School, 6452 Greene St.

Philly Circus School hosts a celebration of circus, music, and theater, bringing the community together for a day of “fooling” around with friends and family. Try out the flying trapeze, static trapeze, sling, fabric, tightwire, trampoline, or juggling alongside other beginners. Plus, enjoy food, live music and dazzling performances by Settlement Music School and Tribe of Fools.

Arden Musical Theatre Jam: The Greatest Showman

April 27, 2 pm

Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second Street

Using songs from the hit movie The Greatest Showman, your kid will learn a musical number, complete with choreography, to be performed at the end of class for family and friends. For grades K-5—kindergarten through second grade ends at 4 pm; grades 3-5 end at 5 pm. Register online.

Sunday

Be a Scientist! Day

April 28

As part of the Philadelphia Science Festival, Philly’s premier research institutions, hospitals, universities, and museums open their doors for a very special hands-on day where kids and adults can learn from experts in their fields. There is truly something for everyone, whether you’re interested in medicine, wildlife, engineering, and more. Some of the locations for Be a Scientist Day require admission to participate, but those are also some of the best. Top picks include the Philadelphia Zoo (for “Be a Zoologist“), the Please Touch Museum (STEAM programs for preschoolers), and the state-of-the-art MakerSpace activities at Independence Seaport Museum. The events take place all around the city and surrounding suburbs, so check their schedule for all the options.

Run Wild for the Zoo 5K

April 28, 7:30 am (registration begins at 6:30 am)

Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.

Join hundreds of runners and walkers to support the zoo in a fun 5K. There are separate medals for different age groups (all the way down to the “9 and under” category), and strollers are allowed so even the littlest zoo lovers can get involved! There will also be crafts and activities for children, iced coffee and beer for the adults, music, entertainment, photo ops, and surprise giveaways. The price includes zoo admission, so stay after the race for a fun day of exploring.

Garden Day and Plant Sale

April 28, 10 am—2 pm

Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 N. Horticultural Dr.

The Penn State Extension Philadelphia Master Gardeners will hold their 6th annual event that not only includes an extensive plant sale but also a schedule of family fun. Get on the ColorWheels bus for a kids’ art activity, do hands-on activities with Science in the Garden, and more.

POP in the Park

April 28, 11 am–1 pm

The Rail Park, 1100 Block of Callowhill Street

New for this year, one of our favorite new public spaces is throwing a family-friendly bubble fest! Create bubble watercolor art, blow bubbles using a variety of tools, make bubble mix, and even step inside a giant bubble made by a hula-hoop! Plus, Murals on the Move– a colorful van stocked with art supplies and equipped with talented teaching artists from Mural Arts Philadelphia– will be there for community art-making!

Markward Sunday Funday

April 28, 11 am—1 pm

400 S. Taney St.

Head over to the Markward Playground for some relaxing Sunday vibes as the weather warms up. Lawn games like bocce ball and paddle ball will be out for kids and parents to enjoy, plus foodtrucks and other kids’ activities.

Wordplay Family Art

April 28, 10:30 am—3 pm

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Younger kids will embark on an alphabet hunt, while bigger kids will discover text in art inspired by the wonder of words. After family-friendly tours, create art as a family.

Flavors on the Avenue

April 28, 11 am — 5 pm
East Passyunk Avenue, from Broad to Dickinson streets

One of our favorite neighborhoods East Passyunk will bring out its best with five blocks of street food, seasonal sips, craft beer, live music, sidewalk sales, and free family fun. Over two dozen of the region’s best restaurants will be offering pay-as-you-go small plates specially priced between $3-$6, so you can try a little of everything. In addition, there will be live bands and entertainment throughout the festival, and over 80 of the region’s top makers and crafters will also line the streets. Look for kids’ art and activity zones up and down the street, including face painting, bouncing, and much more.

Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl

April 28, noon — 4 pm
Fairmount Avenue (from 17^th Street to 25^th Street)

This free art festival features more than 40 exhibits in a wide range of media. Philly Art Center (2501 Olive St.) will once again set up their Kid Arts Extravaganza with hands-on art stations, a baby zone, music, and face painting. There will be live performances — both of music and art creation — throughout the festival as well.

Wissahickon Day Parade

April 28, noon (horse show at 9:30 am)

Forbidden Drive, begins at Harper’s Meadow

The oldest annual equine parade in the country, this parade celebrates the 1920’s protest from which Forbidden Drive gets its name. Riders and carriages march down Forbidden Drive in celebration of equestrian activities, the Wissahickon Creek, and the preservation of this historical trail. Before the parade, a horse show will take place at Northwestern Stables.

Phillie Phanatic’s Birthday Celebration

April 28, 1:05 pm

Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way

Get to the game early so you can watch the Phanatic celebrate his birthday with his mascot friends and an impressive birthday cake. And as a bonus, all kids (age 14 and under) get a Phanatic hooded towel! Game tickets required.

PAFA Spring Family Festival

April 28, 2—4 pm

118-128 N. Broad St.

Celebrate a year of art-making with PAFA. Make art with the Family Arts Academy artists at several art-making stations, plus face painting, live music, snacks, and a raffle for free Summer Art Camp.