Plan the perfect weekend with our picks.

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

All Weekend

Parks on Tap: Pastorius Park

July 10–14

200 W. Hartwell Ln.

 

Our favorite family-friendly beer garden comes to Chestnut Hill!

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.

‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’

May 14–July 21

Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.

 

“Omigod, you guys!” This Broadway musical based on the movie is way too much fun! Follow Elle Woods from the sorority house to the courthouse with lots of upbeat music along the way.

Last Chance: Chinese Lantern Festival

May 1 — July 14

Franklin Square, 200 N. Sixth St.

 

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival brings 2,000 individual works of art consisting of giant sculptures wrapped in colorful silk and filled with thousands of LED lights to Franklin Square. In addition to the lantern displays, there will also be cultural performances, from acrobatics to the art of face-changing. The Chinese Lantern Festival requires tickets during its nighttime display, but access to Franklin Square and the lanterns is free during the day. Check out our preview of the festival here!

PECO Primate Jungle Days

July 13—14, 10 am—4 pm

Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.

 

Swing into PECO Primate Reserve this weekend for an exploration of the world’s most magnificent primates. Enjoy fun arts and crafts, and meet the amazing keepers that care for these awesome animals.

BlueBeary Blast

July 13—14, 1—4 pm

Camden Children’s Garden, 3 Riverside Dr., Camden NJ

 

Join Mum Bear and garden staff for blueberry crafts and treats.

Genny the Hippo’s Birthday Weekend

July 12—14

Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Dr., Camden NJ

 

Genny the hippo will be celebrating her 19^th birthday all weekend long! You can watch her get birthday treats every morning, hippo feeds, and life of Genny and Button chats, and even dance parties. Be sure to wish her a happy birthday and sign a hippo-sized birthday card at the entrance of Hippo Haven.

CANstruction PHL

July 13—18

Bok, 800 Mifflin St.

 

Experience amazing sculptures made of canned food to support Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization. They’ll be on view all week.

Thomas and Friends Weekend at Morris Arboretum

July 13—14

100 E. Northwestern Ave.

 

Look for your favorite train characters among the whole steam engine gang from Sodor as they take over the Garden Railway for the weekend.

Saturday

Drop-In Baby and Toddler Bubbles

July 13, 8—9 am

Fitness Alive, 1425 Arch St.,

 

Start your weekend off in the pool with this drop-in hour-long class for ages 5 months to 3 years (with a caregiver) that teaches little ones how to feel comfortable and move their bodies in the water, helping them build confidence while exploring new surroundings in a safe, fun and supervised setting. $25 (cash) drop-in.

Let’s Get Wild Family Festival at Please Touch Museum

July 13, 9 am—5 pm

4231 Avenue of the Republic

 

Meet and learn about animals from around the world. From storytimes for the littles to octopus dissection for big kids, it’s a day of discovery!

Mac and Cheese Bowls on the Wheel

July 13, 10 am—noon

The Clay Studio, 137-139 N. Second Street

 

Learn the basics of working on the pottery wheel, and make a mac and cheese bowl in honor of National Mac and Cheese Day! For kids ages 4-12 with a caregiver. Register online.

Nature Tots

July 13, 10—11 am

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd.

 

Children ages 3-5 and an adult are invited to explore nature with a refuge ranger.  Participants will enjoy storytimes, crafts, hikes, and more! Free, but registration is required; email Brianna_Patrick@fws.gov to reserve your spot.

Kids@Play: Splash Day

July 13, 10—noon

Gold Star Park, 625 Wharton St.

 

Cool off in the park with sprinklers and water balloons.

The Food Trust’s Market at Cherry Street Pier

July 13, 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.

Schuylkill Saturday Special Edition: Wineberry Harvest

July 13, 10:30 am—12:30 pm

Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

 

Bring your own bag or pail, and you’ll learn the best spots to collect these sweet berries. Long pants, work gloves, and good hiking shoes are recommended. No registration required.

Storytime Yoga with Beth Heed

July 13, 10:30 am

1901 Vine St.

 

Yoga instructor Beth Heed from Oak and Acorn Wellness will host a class filled with stories, yoga, and fun for 2 to 5 year-olds and their caregivers.

Grow Up Great at the Kimmel Center

July 13, 11 am—noon

300 S. Broad St.

 

Philadelphia-based actor, musician and teaching artist, Liz Filios leads this month’s free interactive concert at the Kimmel. Kids are invited to sing, dance, and play!

Family Fun Day at AAMP

July 13, 11 am—3 pm

African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

 

In partnership with The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Family Fun Day at AAMP will incorporate an exciting lineup of interactive art making activities, including hair braiding, hair masks, silkscreen prints, and Wearable Weavings with Afro Pic Looms. Plus, the first 250 people will receive free entry to the museum for this event! Perfect for ages 5 and up.

Sounds of the Revolution: ODUNDE

July 13, 11 am—2 pm

Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St.

 

Join representatives of the ODUNDE Festival, the largest African American street festival in the country, as they perform and teach the basic fundamentals of African dance and drum through an interactive workshop on the museum’s plaza.

Saturday Free Boating

July 13, 11 am—3 pm

Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd.

 

Kayak or rowboat on this quiet stretch of the Schuylkill River. No registration or boating experience necessary! Kayak excursions limited to 30 minutes, rowboat excursions limited to 45 minutes. All ages are welcome, minors must be accompanied by an adult.

SPINBLEDON Kids Day at SPIN Philadelphia

July 13, noon—3 pm

211 S. 15th St.

 

Come play ping pong on SPIN’s grass inspired center court, get instructional lessons, rock out in a private room with Kidz Bop karaoke and other surprise activations throughout the afternoon—and one lucky winner will even win tickets to the next Kidz Bop concert! Free, pre-register online.

PECO Second Saturday at Second State Press

July 13, noon—2 pm

1400 N. American St.

 

Second State Press hosts a free monthly educational workshop where children can learn a new printmaking skill. This month: Puzzle Prints! Pre-register online to reserve your spot.

2nd Saturday in Northern Liberties

July 13, noon—4 pm

North Second Street

 

From street art to live music, the neighborhood comes alive with family-friendly activities and specials in restaurants, galleries, shops, and outside.

Bastille Day Block Party in Fairmount

July 13, 1—10 pm

2120 Fairmount Ave.

 

Though sadly the Bearded Ladies Cabaret’s drag chanteuse Edith Piaf will sing no more, Fairmount is hosting a free block party to keep the celebration going. There will be live performances, lawn games, food trucks, and family friendly entertainment including face painting.

‘Kazumi Racecar Pig’ Premiere

July 13, 1:30 pm

Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.

 

Join animator David McBride for the premiere of his new film along with some special performances that celebrate the differences that make our society rich and vibrant. Tickets available online.

‘The Goonies’ at Lightbox Film Center

July 13, 2 pm

3701 Chestnut St.

 

Come for a free screening of the 80s classic! Part of the theater’s free Family Matinee series. Register online to reserve your spot.

Islamic Heritage Festival

July 13, 2—8 pm

Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing

 

Celebrate the Islamic Heritage Festival as part of the PECO Multicultural Series. This free longstanding event features family-friendly games, speakers, a health and wellness fair, free giveaways, entertainment, and a global open market bazaar.

Babysitting Night at Lilypad

July 13, 5—8 pm

1234 S. Broad Street

 

Enjoy an adult night out while your kids play and eat dinner. Advance payment is required. Kids must be at least 18 months old. You don’t need to be a Lilypad member to participate.

Family Swim Night

July 13, 5—7 pm

Fitness Alive, 1425 Arch St.

 

Fitness Alive’s monthly open-swim night is open to one and all, and it’s open house-style, too, which means you can come and splash around any time during the two-hour window. $10 per person.

Sunday

Access to Science: Opening Doors to Autism

July 14, 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.

Bastille Day Celebration at Parc

July 14, 10 am—5 pm

227 S. 18^th St.

 

Bastille Day is also Parc’s birthday, so they shut down their street for face painting, balloon art, stilt-walker performances, and outdoor dining. Plus, visit the pop-up Polaroid station, and fill out a tag with your favorite Parc memory to hang on the fence along Rittenhouse Square.

Make Your Own Puppet

July 14, 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.

Tildie’s Toy Box is Turning 3!

July 14, 11 am—1 pm

1829 E. Passyunk Ave.

 

LOVE Award Winner for two years in a row is celebrating its third birthday and the 50^th anniversary of the Moon Landing with a space-themed party. Enjoy lunar crafts, space treats, and more!

Sundays with PopUp Play

July 14

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.

PECO Family Jams: Reversed Painted Glass

July 14, noon—4 pm

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.

 

Make your own reversed painted glass by painting on small pieces of Plexiglass you can take home. Plus, family-friendly tours of PMG throughout the afternoon.

Bastille Day Block Party at The Good King Tavern

July 14, noon—7 pm

614 S. Seventh St.

 

The Good King Tavern’s annual Bastille Day block party features street games like corn hole, soccer, beer pong, jenga, and ladder ball; plus family fun like face painting and raffle baskets. There will also be DJ music and street food specials.

Mermaids & Mimosas

July 14, 2—4 pm

NEST, 1301 Locust St.

 

Dive into the magic of mermaids at NEST! Kids will experience the sparkle of a mermaid makeover, make a mermaid craft, enjoy tales of the sea, and dine on under the sea treats- all before meeting a real mermaid! Become part of the enchantment with a mini mermaid photo shoot- complete with tail!

Fishing with Friends

July 14, 3—6 pm

Pier 68

 

Fishing with Friends enables youth and adults to work with the MidAtlantic’s team of experts and professional anglers to learn about fishing fundamentals and strategies while being educated about the health of the Delaware River.

Barnes On The Block

July 14, 5—8 pm

2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

The Barnes Foundation is having a block party! View art installations from artist NDA, experience live glass blowing and sculpture work, dance to live music, play lawn games, and buy delicious eats from food trucks. This event is free, but registration is required to access the Barnes collection inside.

SOSNA Summer Concert Series

July 14, 5 pm

Triangles at Grays Ferry, 2235 South St.

 

Enjoy live music by Kamara, soft serve, and food trucks with family and friends.

 

 

Photograph by Laura Swartz.