The best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend

Happy Friday! Below are some of our favorite things to do in the Philadelphia area this weekend. We put out new Philly weekend plans for you every week, so you’ll always have something to do on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

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

(Community) Philadelphia’s Fringe Festival, a nearly month-long celebration of the city’s performing arts scene, turns 30 this year. The festival showcases hundreds of alternative, bold performances throughout the city covering everything from theater to cabaret. Grab a ticket to one of the more than 300 events happening this year.

⌚️Sept. 8-27, 📍Various Locations, 🌐 phillyfringe.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) This festival will be packed with wine and spirit sampling from diverse brands, live music, art, a vendor marketplace and more. Your ticket includes entry into the festival, complimentary tastings, interactive art activations and giveaways.

⌚️Sept. 12, 1-8p.m., 📍2101 S. College Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19121, 🌐 phillyblackwinefest.com, 💵 $80

(Community) This family-friendly festival features veteran owned businesses and nonprofits to support local vets from across the country’s armed forces. The day includes delicious food, local beer, craft distilled spirit, veteran services and moore. You do not have to be a vet or military family to attend.

⌚️Sept. 12, 11a.m. - 4p.m., 📍400 Chesterfield Pkwy., Malvern, Pa, 19355, 🌐 vetfestpa.com/, 💵 Free

(Art) This art festival features more than 160 independent artists, five stages of live music, a food court and more. For two days, you’ll be able to view and celebrate the creativity and arts in Bucks County.

⌚️Sept. 12-13,📍State St. & Main St., Doylestown, Pa, 18901, 🌐 dtownartsfestival.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) La Feria del Barrio is one of the largest Latino arts and culture festivals in the Greater Philadelphia region. The festival is free to attend and celebrates the rich Latino culture and community through food, music, performances, art and more.

⌚️ Sept. 13, 12-5p.m., 📍N. 5th St. between Lehigh Ave. and Huntingdon St., Philadelpia, Pa, 19133, 🌐 tallerpr.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Kennett Square, also known as the Mushroom Capital of the World, is hosting their annual celebration of their claim to fame. Enjoy a weekend filled with mushroom themed foods, live entertainment, shopping, special exhibitions and more. The festival happens rain or shine and is perfect for the whole family.

⌚️Sept. 12-13, 📍State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348, 🌐 mushroomfestival.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Come celebrate Mexican Independence Day with music, live performances, food and more, right on the Delaware River waterfront. There will be activities available for all ages, so bring the entire family.

⌚️Sept. 13, 2-8p.m., 📍121 N. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 delawareriverwaterfront.com, 💵 Free

(Art) This group exhibit features work from eleven artists from the Joined Hands Collective. The pieces span watercolor, collage, mixed media, ceramics, fiber and photography. The exhibit explores how individuals, communities and shared environments intersect, showing the many ways we are all connected.

⌚️Sept. 5 - Oct. 10, 📍601 W. Allens Ln., Philadelphia, Pa, 19119, 🌐 allenslane.org, 💵 Free

(Community) The Philadelphia Museum of Art is hosting an exhibition to showcase the region’s historic arts and crafts works, in honor of its 150th anniversary. The exhibit features 250 objects from ceramics and furniture to textiles and stained glass, that tell the story of Philadelphia’s Centennial Exhibition.

⌚️July 5 - October 18, 📍2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa, 19130, 🌐 philamuseum.org/, 💵 Free with museum admission

(Theater) Black-light puppetry turns the Yellow Bicycle Theater into a glowing underwater world for this Fringe Festival production. The evening show mixes ecology with mythology as strange creatures emerge from the deep. Ages 5 and up.

⌚ Sept. 11–16, times vary, 📍1435 Arch St., second floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 phillyfringe.org, 💵 $25 with pay-what-you-can options

(Community) Kennett Square celebrates its most famous crop with plenty of mushroom-centric food, its Fun-gus mascot, and a packed kids’ zone. This year’s festival also includes a firetruck show honoring the anniversary of 9/11. All ages.

⌚ Sept. 12, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sept. 13, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., 📍State and South Willow streets, Kennett Square, Pa. 19348, 🌐 mushroomfestival.org, 💵 $5

(Books / free) Authors, illustrators, and designers gather at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza for the eighth annual celebration of Latin American literature and culture. This year’s fair spotlights Colombia with performances and family activities alongside plenty of books. All ages.

⌚ Sept. 12, 11 a.m., 📍300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 ensembleartsphilly.org, 💵 Free

(Community / free) This Malvern festival celebrates veterans by putting their talents and businesses front and center. Grab something from veteran-owned food trucks, listen to music performed by veterans, and meet organizations serving the veteran community. All ages.

⌚ Sept. 12, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 📍400 Chesterfield Pkwy., Malvern, Pa. 19355, 🌐 vetfestpa.com, 💵 Free

(Theater) After touring the region, this interactive children’s show swims into Theatre Horizon as part of the Fringe Festival. Follow Baby Whale on a daring rescue mission through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, then stick around for more hands-on activities after the show. Ages 4–10.

⌚ Sept. 12–20, times vary, 📍401 DeKalb St., Norristown, Pa. 19401, 🌐 phillyfringe.org, 💵 $23

(Community / free) North Fifth Street in Fairhill transforms into a massive Puerto Rican block party for this annual rain-or-shine celebration. Expect live music and dancing, food, vendors, arts and crafts, and plenty of family activities. All ages.

⌚ Sept. 13, noon–5 p.m., 📍2600 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19133, 🌐 tallerpr.org, 💵 Free

(Culture / free) After a summer packed with America 250 celebrations, Spruce Street Harbor Park turns the spotlight to Mexico’s independence. Celebrate with traditional music and dance, plenty to eat, and “El Grito,” the ceremonial cry of independence. All ages.

⌚ Sept. 13, 2–8 p.m., 📍101 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 mexicanculturalcenter.org, 💵 Free

(Seasonal / free) The Delaware River waterfront favorite is back with hammocks, oversized games, ice cream, and a few new additions this year, including swan boats, “glow” boats, and Sunday family fun days throughout the season. All ages.

⌚ May 22–September 27, 📍301 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 delawareriverwaterfront.com, 💵 Free, pay-as-you-go

(Community / free) The city’s roaming beer garden is back, offering drinks, oversized games, and plenty of room for kids to run around all summer long. All ages. Visit Parks on Tap’s website to find the location each week.

⌚ Though October 11, Wed.–Fri., 4–10 p.m.; Sat.–Sun., noon–10 p.m.; more locations through Oct. 11, 🌐 parksontap.com, 💵 Free entry