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The best things to do in Philadelphia this week

If you're looking for the best things to do in Philly this week, you've come to the right place.

Onlookers capture the scene during start of the 90th annual Easter Promenade in Philadelphia, Pa on Sunday, April 9, 2023. This year's promenade will take place on Sunday.
Onlookers capture the scene during start of the 90th annual Easter Promenade in Philadelphia, Pa on Sunday, April 9, 2023. This year's promenade will take place on Sunday.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

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.


Driving Hunger Away During Ramadan

(Community) Pennsylvania state senator Sharif Street, nonprofit Philabundance, State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, and others will host the fourth annual “Driving Hunger Away During Ramadan” initiative. More than 200 free meals will be distributed at various community spaces for the month-long holiday with the goal to feed 7200 people. The initiative begins March 11 at Penrose Recreation Center at 5 p.m. (March 11-Apr. 9, 1101 W Susquehanna Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122, and other locations, instagram.com)

Transgender Day of Visibility Quilt Making

(Community) In celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, join community members in a quilt making event, where you can honor the trans community through your creativity. The quilt will be displayed at the Mazzoni Center’s Bainbridge Street building. ll materials needed, plus snacks, will be provided. (Mar. 27, 5-8p.m., 1348 Bainbridge St., instagram.com)

Portable Picasso’s Sip and Paint

(Community) Consider this going out for drinks with an artistic twist. Bring a friend and spend the evening painting flower pots and sipping of craft brews. Your ticket gets you all of your painting materials plus a flight of beer.  All skill levels are welcomed and receive guidance through the event. ($45, Mar. 28, 7-10p.m., 4323 Main St., eventbrite.com)

Easter Sugar Cookie Decorating Class

(Community) Ready to tap into your inner baker? In this 90 minute class, you’ll learn all of the basics of sugar cookies and learn how to decorate them just in time for Easter. All materials will be provided, plus an instructor will guide you through. ($55, Mar. 27, 6-7:30p.m., 1700 E. Moyamensing Ave., eventbrite.com)

Fairmount Bunny Hop

(Community) What better way to kick off the spring season than with an epic bar crawl. Come enjoy great food andd drink specials and enjoy the extended sunshine with over 2,000 bar crawlers. Proceeds will benefit the Trauma Survivors Foundation. ($10 donation, Mar. 28, 6-10p.m., various locations, upcomingevents.com/)

PHS Pop Up Garden Opening

(Community) ‘Tis the season for drinks outside in the garden. South Street’s favorite pop up garden is back for another season. Stop by for tasty food, great drinks and even better vibes. (Mar. 29, 12p.m., 1438 South St., phsonline.org)

Women in Business Live Panel

(Community) Women’s History Month is still in full swing at Cherry Street Pier. Come shop from local women vendors, enjoy DJ sets, games and more, all followed by a panel discussion. You get to meet, mingle and be inspired by an array of incredible women. This event was originally scheduled for March 23rd. (Mar. 30, 12-4p.m., 121 N. Columbus Blvd., cherrystreetpier.com)

91st Annual Easter Promenade

(Community) Every Spring, South Street goes all out for Easter with fashion, mascots and tons of family fun. Get ready for a day filled with activities perfect for the entire family including a best dressed contest, photo ops with Philly mascots, free bunny ears and more. (Free, Mar. 31, 12:30p.m., 5th & South St., southstreet.com/)

Port Richmond Birthday Festival

(Community) More than 50 local food trucks, vendors and live entertainers are heading to Port Richmond for a birthday bash. Bring the entire family to shop, play games, dance and eat some of Philly’s favorite foods. (Mar. 30, 12-5p.m., 3467 Richmond St., eventbrite.com)

Eggy Art Show

(Art) Head to Cherry Street Pier for an epic art show exploring the Eggy theme. Artists will interpret the theme through paint, fired clay, paper mache and other mediums. There will be an opening reception to kick off the showcase on March 1st from 5-8p.m. (March 1-31, 121 S. Columbus Blvd., cherrystreetpier.com/)

(re)Focus 2024

(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)


The best events for kids in Philly

Spending spring break in the 215 might not be ideal, but, in addition to the Easter-y events taking place, remember: With Philly schools closed, there’s more room to explore museums and such.

Peeps in the Village, Peddler’s Village

(Seasonal / multiday / free) Let’s be honest: Marshmallow-esque Peeps are better to peep than to eat. For the fifth year, Bucks County’s most quaint-ified shopping village takes advantage by inviting diorama and sculpture makers to turn candy into cute little scenes that conjure spring. Ages 4 and up. (Free, Mar. 11-Apr. 14, closed Mar. 31, Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, peddlersvillage.com)

Bubble Bash, Adventure Aquarium

(Animals / multiday) Every hour on the hour, this Camden aquarium’s atrium turns on the bubble machines and immerses kids in a popping extravaganza. Throughout the venue, look for bubbling science experiments — and bubble tea in the food court. All ages. ($28-$48 ages 13-64, $26-$46 ages 65 and up, $18-$38 ages 12 and under, Mar. 22-Apr. 28, 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ, adventureaquarium.com)

Themed Skates, Rolling Thunder Skating Center

(Roller skating / multiday) Every day over break, this Mayfair rink invites skaters to roll with Zootopia’s Judy Hopps ($5, Mar. 25), skate as much or as little as you want for $2 (Mar. 26), take part in a bunny-theme indoor snowball fight ($8, Mar. 27), join a sack race ($5, Mar. 29), and enjoy a full-fledged Easter carnival complete with crafts, games, prizes, face-painting, and the Easter Bunny himself ($13, Mar. 31). Ages 4 and up. ($2-$13, Mar. 25-Mar. 31, hours vary, 7017 Roosevelt Blvd., rollingthunderskating.com)

Hop-a-long Trail, Franklin Square

(Seasonal) BYOB — basket, of course — for a little kids’ candy hunt in this free outdoor event sponsored by Mars Wrigley. Registration requested. Ages 10 and under. (Free, Mar. 30, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 200 N. 6th St., historicphiladelphia.org)

Egg painting, Frankford Hall

(Seasonal) If your family celebrates Easter, chances are, you’ve already been up early, hunted for eggs, and eaten half the chocolate in the basket. It might be the time for a beer garden — and free a kids’ activity, in this case, painting wooden eggs. Ages 2 and up. (Free, Mar. 31 noon-3 p.m., 1210 Frankford Ave., frankfordhall.com)

Easter Promenade, South Street

(Seasonal / free) It’s the 91st year for this stylish parade — and best-dressed contest — accompanied by an egg hunt, photo op-ready Easter bunnies and sports mascots, and an egg hunt. All ages. (Free, Mar. 31, 12:30 p.m., 5th and South sts. to 2nd and Lombard sts., southstreet.com)

Disney’s Frozen, Academy of Music

(Theater / multiday) Cheaper than a trip to Disney World (yet still completely princess-centric), the Broadway version of the Tony-winning musical tale of Elsa and Anna hits Broad Street over spring break. Ages 3 and up. ($30-$180, Mar. 21-Apr. 7, 240 S. Broad St., ensembleartsphilly.org)

Treetop Quest Reopens, Fairmount Park

(Adventure / multiday) Trees: They’re not just for fresh air, shade or beauty. They’re also for playing among. The now-veteran West Fairmount Park ropes and zipline course reopens for the season for 2.5-hour sessions this weekend. ($55-$58 ages 18 and up, $48-$51 ages 12-17 and student, $38-$41 ages 6-11, $25 ages 4-6, open Fridays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 51 Chamounix Dr., treetopquest.com)

Women’s History Month, Museum of the American Revolution

(History / multiday) Phillis Wheatley, Abigail Adams, Deborah Sampson, and 18th-century women voters stand alongside Washington’s Tent as the stars of March at Old City’s revolutionary museum. Look for daily discovery carts and weekend workshops to make-and-take heart-shaped pincushions (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) Ages 5 and up. ($22-$24 ages 18-64, $19 ages 65 and up,, $13 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and under, March 1-31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 101 S. 3rd St., amrevmuseum.org)

PuttShack

(Mini golf) After dark, this new spot becomes a very large bar that lures you in with a tech-infused, 9-hole competitive golf course. Before 8 p.m., however, it’s fair game for kids, families, and birthday parties, with group rates to boot. Ages 5 and up. (Open daily from 11 a.m., 1625 Chestnut St., puttshack.com)

Art of the Brick, Franklin Institute

(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)

Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest, Academy of Natural Sciences

(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)

Trolls: Save the Humans, Philadelphia Zoo

(Art / multiday) Danish artist Thomas Dambo built six up-to-15-foot-tall Troll sculptures out of repurposed wood, and, until nearly spring, America’s oldest zoo puts them on display, livening up the wintry landscape ripe for hibernation. All ages. ($19-$25, Feb. 1-Apr. 15, 3400 Girard Ave., philadelphiazoo.org)