The best things to do in Philadelphia this week

Explore all of the best things to do in and around Philadelphia: from upcoming events and art installations to the most picturesque date spots, we share all you need to know to make the most out of your week in Philly.

You can always find our favorite activities of the week at inquirer.com/things-to-do. Have an event you’d like to feature in the Inquirer? Submit an event to our calendar.

(Art) This isn’t your average art show. Come ready to challenge your perception of what defines art. The work displayed will push the boundaries of creativity and ask you to step outside of your comfort zones. (May 3, 5:30-9:30p.m., 113 N. Bread St., eventbrite.com)

(Music) This three-day long music festival celebrated the incredible music talent here in Philadelphia. The festival features stages of great performances and some of your favorite local food vendors to help fuel the festivities. The lineup includes Langhorne Slim, The Jayhawks, Fishtown Choir and so many others. (May 3-5, 15 Cotton St., singushomefestival.com/)

(Community) Everyone’s favorite sweet berry tradition is back in Peddler’s Village. Come enjoy a day literally filled with strawberries, with everything from strawberry themed food and beverages to special kid-friendly activities. Not to mention live music, food trucks and delicious strawberry treats to take home. (May 4-5, 11a.m.-6p.m., Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, peddlersvillage.com/)

(Community) The weather is warming up and if that’s not enough to celebrate, this fest has a few more things to offer. Stop by for great food, local beers, dancing and live music all in celebration of Spring. Come hungry and ready for a good time. (May 4, 11a.m.-8p.m., 700 Block of South St., brauhausschmitz.com)

(Community) What could be more magical than springtime in Rittenhouse Square? How about blocks and blocks of art, fashion and family friendly activities. Head to the square, rain or shine, and enjoy a Saturday packed with art showcases, fashion, live music and so much more. (May 4, 12-5p.m., 18th & Walnut, rittenhouserow.org/)

(Community) Bring the whole family to this outdoor springtime festival. There will be live entertainment, tons of games and giveaways, health screenings and community resources plus other seasonal activities that everyone can enjoy. (May 4, 11a.m.-2p.m., 3509 Spring Garden St., drexel.edu/)

(Community) It’s a safe bet that you’ve never experienced a beer event like this one. Celebrate the arrival of spring with great beer, music, brats and ... goats. The day will include lots of beer, live music performances, plenty of dancing and an iconic goat race. (May 5, 11a.m.-6p.m., 331 Circle of Progress Dr., Pottstown, slyfoxbeer.com/)

(Community) Over 200 home and garden vendors are heading to Chestnut Hill. Stop by the Makers Village to watch artists at work in demonstrating their crafts. In the Fun Fest, you’ll enjoy music, face painting, obstacle courses and more family fun. And at the Stagecrafters Theater, you’ll enjoy choir performances, dance shows, tarot card readings and more. (May 5, 11a.m.-5p.m., 8000 Block of Germantown Ave., chestnuthillpa.com)

(Art) (re)FOCUS celebrates the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing the contributions of women artists. This festival will be a collaboration between Philadelphia’s art institutions and include panels, demonstrations, workshops and more. (Runs through May 31, refocus2024.org)

Rest up this week. The coming weekend is packed with festivals and fairs, arts, parties, and outdoor activities.

(Farming / free) One of the School District of Philadelphia’s most unique schools hosts a day to meet their cows, sheep, and horses, but also to interact with students showing off (and, in come cases, selling) their areas of study in a farm market with food and plants. Art activities too. All ages. (Free, May 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 7100 Henry Ave., philasd.org)

(Biology / free) A Main Line nature center leads a search for future frogs and talks about how tadpoles show up and change this time of year. Ages 3-14. (Free, with $10 donation suggested, registration requested, May 4, 10 a.m.-noon, 1950 Spring Mill Rd., Gladwyne, riverbendeec.org)

(Princesses) Because fancy dress-up at home only goes so far, the mom-son duo of Kelly and Mikel Thomas host an annual bash where kids can don their gowns, be they Disney-made or original, and hobnob with like-minded mini royalty. ($25 child, $10 adult, May 4, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 2500 W. Moreland St., Willow Grove, eventbrite.com)

(Seasonal / free) If the sun’s out, the people will be too, for this big-deal block(s) party featuring great food, drinks, live music and entertainment, and plenty of kids activities, especially in the 1600 and 1700 blocks of Walnuit. Ages 3 and up. (Free, May 4, noon-5 p.m., Walnut Street, 15th to 20th St.)

(Science / free) Not all kids celebrate May the Fourth. But most of them can appreciate the joys of a stomp rocket, solar telescope, and meteorite scavenger hunt. Also, Temple’s Dr. Alexandra Krull Davatzes talks about Mars. Ages 2 and up. (Free, May 4, noon-4 p.m., 1700 W. Montgomery Ave., wagnerfreeinstitute.org)

(Art) Art makers can get their hands muddy — and check out an exhibit — in a late afternoon of hands-on making, with a beer garden to boot. Ages 4 and up. (Free with $10 donation requested; pay-as-you-go food, drink and clay that needs firing, May 4, 4-7 p.m., 746 Panmure Rd., Haverford, mainlineart.org)

(Arts / multiday) The Annenberg Center hosts a packed Sunday (plus school-day matinees) with cirque performers, jugglers, Mexican folk dance, kids’ rock, a magician, onstage acrobats, and more. Most performances require paid tickets. Outdoor events are free. Up to age 12. (Free to $69, May 5-7, times vary, 3680 Walnut St., pennlivearts.org)

(LEGOs) Build-your-own flower and animal stations bring a bit of spring to Plymouth Meeting. The mall store and fun zone has also added a new LEGO Friends 4D movie — something fun to do on yet another rainy or cold spring day. Ages 2-12. (From $24, Apr. 20-May 27, 500 W. Germantown Pk., Plymouth Meeting, legolanddiscoverycenter.com)

(Roller skating) Quick! City Hall’s outdoor roller rink is open for a hot minute (before the fountains turn on). Opening day celebration includes a performance by Great on Skates. Ages 4 and up. ($8-$10 admission, $14-$16 rental, Apr. 19-Jun. 30, 1 S. 15th St. centercityphila.org)

(Theater / multiday) Tim Crouch won an Obie for his stage drama for young audiences. The tale follows three families on a rainy vacation, inviting the audience into beanbag chairs and carpet squares for a participatory theater experience with all-ages appeal. Ages 10 and up. ($35, $20 student and ages 18 and under, Apr. 18-May 5, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media, hedgerowtheatre.org)

(LEGO / multiday) They’re back! The world’s most popular toys, as sculpted by Nathan Sawaya into Van Gogh’s Starry Night, a life-size T-Rex, and about 100 other imaginative scenes — like bright human forms with LEGO souls — return after a less-than-decade-ago exhibit also at the Franklin Institute. Most of the pieces are look-don’t-touch, but there are plenty of opportunities to be hands-on too. Ages 3 and up. (Daytime: $43 adult, $39 ages 3-11; evening: $20, Feb. 17-Sept. 2, 222 N. 20th St., fi.edu)

(Animals / multiday) A live sloth and boa constrictor (not together), climb-on sculptures of a gorilla, tortoise, and red-eye tree frog on a Banyan tree, plus discovery stations in English and Spanish all bring home the point that the lush and fragile rainforest habitat is key to keeping our Earth healthy. Ages 4 and up. ($20-$22 ages 13 and up, $16-$18 ages 2-12, $2 ACCESS cardholder and three guests, free ages 2 and under, Feb 17-Sept. 2, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., ansp.org)

(Nature / free) This is the first weekend when a portion of the Northwest Philly arboretum re-opens its fairy tables, playhouse, willow circles and logs for building, sitting, and climbing on — a secret garden for imaginative play. Ages 3-12. (Free, weekends through October 26-27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 6060 Ardleigh St., awbury.org)