High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: August 24--25

High Five! Philly Family-Friendly Weekend Events: August 24–25

Happy weekend! Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

August 21, 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

Final Weekend: Photo Pop!

The Bourse, 111 S. Independence Mall East

Through August 25

Photo Pop is back with “Sweet Paradise.” Go selfie-wild with a new location, a new theme, and lots of Insta-worthy art at this temporary Philly art exhibit. Plus Sunday is an extra-special family-friendly farewell party with treats, face painting, and much more! Tickets available online.

Keystone Comic Con

August 23—25

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.

Three days of pop culture, superheroes, gaming, cosplay, and all kinds of fandom converge on Philly. Family-friendly activities geared towards young superheroes in training include Harry Potter potion classes, a Star Wars Experience area, photos with a full size pirate ship, storytimes, and more—and kids under 6 get in free! Plus on Sunday, Spidey himself Tom Holland will be there! Tickets available online.

Delaware River Waterfront

The Blue Cross RiverRink, Spruce Street Harbor Park, and Cherry Street Pier open full-time for the summer this weekend with skating, rides, food, and lots more family fun.

Parks on Tap: McMichael Park

August 21–25

3299 Midvale Ave.

Our favorite family-friendly beer garden comes to East Falls! There will be food, beer on tap, wine, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages in a festive outdoor environment featuring comfortable chairs and hammocks.

Saturday

Space Odyssey Saturday at Please Touch Museum

August 24, 9 am—5 pm

4231 Avenue of the Republic

PTM hosts a day of space-themed fun, from art to storytimes and more!

Sensory-Friendly Morning at Art Splash

August 24, 9—10 am

Perelman Building, 2525 Pennsylvania Ave.

This program is specially designed for children on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities to enjoy this summer’s Art Splash programming. The lights, volume, and crowds are turned down but not the fun or creativity.

The Food Trust’s Market at Cherry Street Pier

August 24, 10 am—2 pm

121 N. Columbus Blvd.

Every Saturday, The Food Trust’s Market at Cherry Street Pier will bring fresh, affordable food from area culinary entrepreneurs, and features some of Philadelphia’s best creative sellers, independent retailers, and visual and performing artists.

Preserving Play Sale at Smith Memorial Playground

August 24, 10 am—4 pm

3500 Reservoir Dr.

Smith is having a yard sale! Purchase kids toys, furniture, and historic pieces of Smith at bargain prices and learn more about upcoming Playhouse renovations.

Heritage Skills Craft Fair

August 24, 10 am—4 pm

Fort Mifflin, Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads

Meet craftsmen demonstrating blacksmithing, wood carving, spinning and weaving, open hearth cooking, basket making, and more. Try your own hand at several seasonal “chores” like candle-making, or make a popular toy to take home! Tickets available online.

Philly Family Pride Play Date at Nest

August 24, 10 am—noon

1301 Locust St.

Meet up with other LGBTQ+ parents for a morning of play at Nest. Anyone that mentions Philly Family Pride gets discounted admission of $15 for the first child, and $5 for each additional child.

Schuylkill Saturday: Nature Exploration for Families

August 24, 10:30—11:30 am

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

Gather in the Visitor Center before hitting the trails for a guided exploration. Each week explores a different theme. All ages welcome. No registration required.

Discovery Day

August 24, 11 am—3 pm

The Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Dr.

Stop by the new Discovery Center for fun activities, team games and challenges, bird walks, and more. Plus, this month, kids 12 and over can enjoy a day of paddling on the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir with Outward Bound instructors.

Philadelphia Obon Festival

August 24, 11 am—4 pm

Shofuso, Horticultural and Lansdowne drives

In honor of Obon, the Japanese celebration of ancestors, this festival includes bon odori folk dance, taiko drumming performances, and tea ceremony demonstrations. Attendees can also enjoy arts and crafts, classic summer festival games, and a yukata dressing station, as well as a vendor market with home goods, apparel, and food trucks. All events will take place outside of Shofuso and are free and open to the public.

Dog Day of Summer

August 24, 11 am—4 pm

Levering Lot, 107 Levering Street

Manayunk celebrates our four-legged friends with a day full of pet-friendly vendors, activities, pet adoptions, food vendors, and more.

Family Craft Table at The Center for Art in Wood

August 24, 11 am—4 pm

141 N. 3rd Street

Each month the Center will offer a free seasonal hands-on craft for all ages to enjoy. Stop in and experience the Center’s Museum Collection, unique store, and get creative at the Family Craft Table.

Super Movie Saturdays

August 24, 8:30 pm

Franklin Square, Sixth and Race streets

As part of Franklin Square’s Summer Splash, there will be free movie screenings every week in August. Movie begins at approximately 8:30 pm, but come early to buy some movie snacks at the square. Every week will be a superhero movie—this week is The Incredibles!

Sunday

Access to Science: Opening Doors to Autism

August 25, 9—11 am

Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Visitors on the autism spectrum and their families are invited to experience the museum before the crowds. Pre-registration is required (same-day registration is available onsite); contact visitor services department at 215-299-1060 or email AccessToScience@ansp.org

Celebrate National Park Service’s 103rd Birthday

August 25

Independence National Historical Park

Celebrate the National Park Service’s birthday with fun and educational activities throughout the park all day, including National Park Quizzo at 1 pm, a Junior Ranger Induction Ceremony at 4 pm, and more.

Free Admission to the Benjamin Franklin Museum

August 25, 9 am—5 pm

317 Chestnut St.

Celebrate the National Park Service’s birthday with free admission all day.

Make Your Own Puppet

August 25, 10 am—2 pm

Liberty Lands Park, 913 N. Third Street

Company Aiello is hosting workshops in puppet construction using recycled materials. By working with what is typically seen as trash, learn to build a world that is a little more sustainable, and to think more about what we toss out. Fun for the whole family! All materials are provided: newspaper, tape, and an assortment of other found objects. Pay what you can, $10 suggested.

Franklin Square Fun in the Sun-days

August 25, 11 am—6 pm

Sixth and Race streets

Franklin Square hosts lawn games, musical chairs, bocce, and volleyball on the Great Lawn with fun for all ages, and prizes. Plus, yoga at 11 am, Storytime with Mother Goose from noon to 2 pm, and daytime fountain shows from noon to 2 pm.

Sundays with PopUp Play

August 25

11:30 am—12:30 pm at Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Columbus Blvd.

3–4 pm at Piazza Pod Park, 1069 Germantown Ave.

Each week, enjoy a variety of free, themed, kid-friendly activities the whole family will love. From building catapults and forts to special sea creatures, this interactive program celebrates the magic of play through art, music, and science.

Family-Friendly Photo Pop Closing Party

August 25, noon—6 pm

The Bourse, 111 S. Independence Mall East

The official closing day of Photo Pop is Saturday, but they’re staying open one day longer just for a kids’ party! Tickets include snacks, face painting, games, and of course access to the pop-up exhibit before it leaves for good! Children under 5 are free.

Sensory-Friendly Sunday at National Constitution Center

August 25, noon—5 pm

525 Arch St.

Sensory-Friendly Sundays provide visitors with sensory processing challenges the opportunity to experience the museum in a secure and comfortable environment by providing emotionally safe spaces for families, modified programming for diverse sensory needs, and specialized staff training. Tickets available online.