Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening around town!

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

All Weekend

Philadelphia Flower Show

February 29–March 8

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.

 

Look forward to spring with this annual tradition that fills the Convention Center with floral and garden design on a larger-than-life scale. This year, take a “Riviera Holiday” as the Flower Show celebrates the vibrant sights, scents, and tastes of the Mediterranean. New for this year, look for more interactivity and mobile pop-up moments throughout the show will illustrate how some of its fascinating displays are brought to life, how to make jewelry from materials found in nature, and how to grow your own show-worthy plants. Don’t miss make-and-takes, Bloomin’ Brunch, and live butterflies.

Final Weekend: Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

Through March 8

101 S. Columbus Blvd.    

 

Come to skate, come to party in the cabins, come for the fun and food for one last time this season. This rink is a Philadelphia favorite for a reason!

Paleopalooza

March 7—8

Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

The museum celebrates all things prehistoric during this two-day festival of fossils. Dino lovers can enjoy auditorium shows, hands-on science, and much more!

Camp-In at the Franklin Institute

March 7, 6:15 pm– March 8, noon
222 North 20th Street

 

Kids ages 6-13 (and chaperones) will have a unique sleepover experience in the museum! Pre-register online.

Saturday

Blow It Up Day at the Franklin Institute

March 7, 10 am—3 pm

222 N. 20^th St.

 

Large-scale science demonstrations explode on the half-hour all day long! Must-see highlights include a 2,000-ball explosion using ultra-cold liquid nitrogen with steaming hot water, and a 42-foot sloppy drop of Jell-O, spaghetti, and maybe even a watermelon! Experiments illustrate gravity, chemical reactions, physics, pressure, and many other basic (but fun) science concepts, brought to life like only The Franklin Institute can do. Included with admission.

Little Chef’s Pizza Class

March 7, 10 am—noon

Pizzeria Vetri, 1939 Callowhill St.

 

Let your little chef get hands-on at Pizzeria Vetri at a pizza class guided by their head chefs. Kids will create their own mini pizzas and watch them bake while also enjoying “make your own pizza” coloring pages. A mini dough ball will be given to take home so they can bring their new skills into your home kitchen. Small bites will be available for snacking. Register at link in title.

Nature Tots

March 7, 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 storytime, crafts, hikes, and more! Free; registration is required: email Sean_Binninger@fws.gov to reserve your spot.

Free Design Workshop: Women in Design

March 7, 10:30 am—12:30 pm

Center / Architecture + Design, 1218 Arch St.

 

Ideal for ages 5-12, and their curious grown-ups, this free workshop includes free play, storytime, and design workshop. Pre-register online.

Schuylkill Saturday: Walk with a Wizard

March 7, 10:30—11:30 am

Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

 

Discover the beauty and wonder along the trails with free all-ages nature exploration.

International Women’s Day Market at The Bourse

March 7, 11 am—4 pm

111 S. Independence Mall East

 

Come shop, support, and celebrate over twenty women-owned businesses throughout the City of Sisterly Love and beyond at The Bourse Food Hall! Plus, enjoy live entertainment from five spectacular female artists throughout the day.

Suffragist Saturdays at the Betsy Ross House

Saturdays from March 7-28, 11 am—2 pm

239 Arch St.

 

Meet Dora Lewis (1862-1928), a native Philadelphian and heroine of the American suffrage movement. Hear real stories from the front lines of the struggle to get women the vote, including tales of brutal beatings, arrests and hunger strikes she endured for the cause. Free with admission.

Green Thumbs in Your Library

March 7, 11 am—1 pm

West Oak Lane Library, 2000 E. Washington Lane

 

Gather your family for a workshop series where you’ll learn basic gardening skills, plant-based cooking, and how to make healthy food choices. Spots are limited and registration is required by stopping into the library or emailing programs@blackgirlswithgreenthumbs.org

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Carnival of the Animals

March 7, 11:30 am

Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.

 

The Philadelphia Orchestra and dancers from the Rock School present Camille Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals. Verizon Hall will be magically turned into a zoo as animals are conjured up by the musicians of the Orchestra. Enhance your family’s experience with Pre-Concert Adventures, free for all ticket holders, beginning one hour before the concert.

Storytime at the Lodge

March 7, 11:30 am—12:30 pm

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.

 

Interactive activities and stories at RiverRink’s cozy lodge. Light snacks and hot chocolate will be provided for the kids. Stick around after, and skate!

Maple Sugar Day

March 7, noon—4 pm

Fox Chase Farm, 8500 Pine Rd.

 

Learn the process of maple sugaring, watch the making of maple candy, and sample pancakes with pure maple syrup. Crafts and storytelling, too. Maple products will also be for sale.

Clay, Play, Read: Claymates

March 7, 12:30 pm

Kensington Library, 104 W. Dauphin St.

 

The Clay Studio hosts weekly workshop series with rotating book-based themes for children and their caregivers to inspire new ways of exploring books at home and in the library. The workshops are geared towards ages 3-8 years old, but the entire family is welcome. There are incentives for families who attend multiple workshops, such as take-home Clay Kits, Family Workshop coupons, free books, and more! There is no fee, but pre-registration is suggested online.

Family Food and Wellness Kick-Off

March 7, 1 pm

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.

 

The library kicks off Family Food and Wellness, a free drop-in series on cooking and exercise for children and caregivers.

Fun with Fabric for Teens

March 7, 1 pm

Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave.

 

Teens can complete their own cell phone purse using basic stitches on a sewing machine (with supervision). No experience necessary and all supplies provided. Space is limited; registration required—sign up in person or call (215) 685-0512.

Drive-in Movie

March 7, 2 pm

Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, 68 West Chelten Ave.

 

Children ages 4 to 6 years old, along with an adult, can make their very own cardboard cars that they will “drive-in” to watch a movie.

Cool Women & Minizines with The Soapbox

March 7, 2 pm

Kingsessing Library, 1201 S. 51st St.

 

Celebrate Women’s History with community print shop, The Soapbox. Learn about cool women and create “minizines.”

Celebration of African American Culture

March 7, 3:30—5:30 pm

The RUBA Club, 416 Green St.

 

Enjoy a festive and fun-filled community event honoring and celebrating African-American culture with dance performances, drumming, storytelling, food and art! Proceeds benefit NLArts’ scholarship fund.

Sunday

International Women’s Day at the Benjamin Franklin Museum

March 8, 10 am–3 pm

Benjamin Franklin Museum (enter from Market or Chestnut Street between Third and Fourth streets)

 

Join park rangers in the lobby of the Benjamin Franklin Museum to celebrate International Women’s Day. Learn about women’s fight for equality across the globe. Kids’ activities include a special junior ranger activity, create your own ratification star or suffrage cat.

Family Sunday: Garden Party

March 8, 10:30 am—3 pm

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

Celebrate spring with fantastic florals, family-friendly art tours, and family artmaking. Included with admission. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Robert Ryerss Birthday Party

March 8, 11 am—2:30 pm

Ryerss Museum and Library, 7370 Central Ave., Burholme Park

 

Come celebrate at the Ryerss Mansion with games, crafts, and refreshments. Free admission.

PECO Family Jams: Light-Up Sculptures

March 8, noon—4 pm

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.

 

In this family workshop, guest teaching artist Brittany Walker will help guests construct small artful lights out of bottle lids, wire scraps, colored tissue, and LED lights to take home. You can also take family-friendly tours throughout the afternoon. Included with admission.

PAFA Family Arts Academy

March 8, 2—4 pm

118-128 N. Broad Street

 

Meet folks from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival for an exploration of cultural storytelling through film and hands-on projects. Free admission.

Starr Garden Winterfest

March 8, 2—4 pm

600 Lombard St.

 

Free annual celebration with pony rides, an ice carver, balloon animals and more.

Philly Art Center Birthday Bash

March 8, 3—5 pm

2333 Fairmount Ave. and 514 Bainbridge Street (and Cherry Hill)

 

Philly Art Center celebrates 16 years of cultivating creativity! All three Philly Art Center locations are throwing free parties with hands-on art-making for all ages, plus face painting and camp discounts.

Beehive at Bok Sunday Party

March 8, 3—5 pm

Suite B03, 1901 S. Ninth Street

 

BYO beer and wine for grown-ups; pizza provided for the family. Open art in the classroom and free play. Book online.

 

 

Photograph by Laura Swartz.