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.

(Theater) Former Opera Philadelphia composer Courtney Brian has returned to the City of Brotherly Love to bring us Suddenly Last Summer. This Southern Gothic drama is based on the one-act play of the same name filled with family secrets and conflict between Holly and her wealthy family.

⌚️Oct. 22-25, 📍1114 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19107, 🌐 operaphila.org, 💵 $11-250

(Community) Cherry Street Pier is celebrating Filipino American History Month with cultural flair and delicious bites. Head to the waterfront for a day of family-friendly programming including live entertainment, shopping from local and Filipino-owned businesses, delicious traditional cuisine and more.

⌚️Oct. 24, 11a.m. - 5p.m., 📍121 N. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 cherrystreetpier.com, 💵 Free

(Community) This weekend festival is a foodie’s dream come true. Some of Philly’s best food trucks and restaurants will be serving up delicious plates, all for $5 or less. With more than 30 vendors, you can truly get a taste of everything. The festival will also include live music and entertainment, free kid-friendly activities and an epic chocolate fountain.

⌚️Oct. 24-25, 2-8p.m., 📍1100 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19148, 🌐 eventbrite.com, 💵 $11.99-67.99

(Community) Rowers of all levels, from highschool to elite world champions, will take to the Schuylkill for another year to compete in one of the largest rowing events in the country. Grab a viewing spot along Kelly Drive for the best views of the action.

⌚️Oct. 24-25, Kelly Dr. & Fountain Green Dr., Philadelphia, Pa, 19121, 🌐 hosr.org/, 💵 Free

(Community) Name a more iconic duo than coffee and chocolate. This family-friendly festival combines them both in the best way with more than 150 exhibitors, hands on activities and delicious demos.

⌚️Oct. 24-25, 📍 100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pa, 19456, 🌐 pachocolateandcoffee.com/, 💵 $11.99-35

(Community) Grab your helmet and cold water and get ready for this fun bike ride through the city. A 16 mile and 48 mile route are both available, and riding with the group is free. If you’d like to add food and beverages to fuel the ride, they are available at a cost.

⌚️Oct. 25, 8a.m. - 1p.m., 📍3705 W. School House Ln., Philadelphia, Pa, 19129, 🌐 eventbrite.com, 💵 Free

(Community) Celebrate the vibrant cultural heritage of India through dance performances, lively discussions, spotlights of local artists and more. You’ll explore India’s music and dance history, all culminating in Diwali. You won’t want to miss this celebration of culture.

⌚️Oct. 14- Nov. 7, 📍3680 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19104, 🌐 pennlivearts.org, 💵 Varies by event

(Art) The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses one of the largest Marcel Duchamp collections in the world, and now you can see it for yourself. The collection is coming back to Philly after a brief tour and is arranged to show Duchamp’s evolution through cubism, dada and surrealism.

⌚️Oct. 10 - Jan. 31, 2027, 📍2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa, 19130, 🌐 philamuseum.org, 💵 $35, includes museum admission

(Seasonal) The Schuylkill Center in Roxborough is turning its wooded trails into a not-so-spooky Halloween adventure for two evenings of family fun. Follow a glowing pumpkin path, meet some creepy-crawly creatures, make witchy crafts, roast s’mores, and hop aboard a hayride through the fall foliage. Proceeds support the center’s environmental education and conservation efforts. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 23, 5:30–8:30 p.m., and Oct. 24, 3:30–8:30 p.m., 📍8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19128, 🌐 schuylkillcenter.org, 💵 $20–$28; free for children under 3

(Culture) Colorful altars, sugar skulls, and centuries-old traditions take center stage at the Penn Museum in University City. Presented in collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Center, this annual celebration explores Día de los Muertos, a holiday that blends Indigenous Mexican traditions with Catholic observances honoring the dead. Ages 4 and up.

⌚ Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 📍3260 South St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 🌐 penn.museum, 💵 Free–$23

(Music) Costumes are practically mandatory at this free Halloween bash in Bella Vista, where Mister John’s Music is throwing a neighborhood party packed with live music, treats from Di Bruno Bros., and crafts courtesy of Butcher Sew Shop and Coco Academy. Show off your Halloween look in the costume contest, too. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 📍Eighth and Fulton Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, 🌐 misterjohnsmusic.com, 💵 Free

(Science) Science gets a little slimy, squishy, and downright gross at the Franklin Institute in Logan Square. Families can watch a squid dissection, experience a slime drop, and catch a live science show that mixes creepy experiments with real scientific discoveries. There’s even some Halloween candy to sweeten the learning. Ages 5 and up.

⌚ Oct. 24, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 📍222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 fi.edu, 💵 $23–$29

(Seasonal) Not every little trick-or-treater is ready for ghosts and jump scares. Smith Memorial Playground in East Fairmount Park keeps Halloween gentle with arts and crafts, games, trick-or-treating, food trucks, and plenty of playground time. It’s a sweet introduction to the holiday for the youngest costume enthusiasts. Ages 0–6.

⌚ Oct. 24, 3–6 p.m., 📍3500 Reservoir Dr., Philadelphia, Pa. 19121, 🌐 smithplayground.org, 💵 Free

(Seasonal) Who says Halloween costumes are just for humans? Chestnut Hill invites dogs (and particularly cooperative cats) to show off their best looks in a pet costume contest, with prizes for the scariest, cutest, most creative, and best pet-and-owner matching outfits. Afterward, costumed companions can parade through the neighborhood while their humans enjoy trick-or-treating along Germantown Avenue. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 25, 12:30–1 p.m., 📍150 E. Evergreen Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19118, 🌐 chestnuthill.org, 💵 Free

(Community) Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma, Everest, and Tracker are taking over the Please Touch Museum for the next few months. The traveling exhibit lets preschoolers tackle hands-on rescue missions that encourage teamwork and problem-solving, with plenty of photo ops alongside their favorite cartoon pups. Ages 2–7.

⌚ Oct. 7–Jan. 3, 2027, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., 📍4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131, 🌐 pleasetouchmuseum.org, 💵 $2–$24

(Seasonal) The Philadelphia Zoo offers one of the city’s best excuses to break out the Halloween costumes early. Weekends bring giant skeletons, a Ferris wheel, pumpkin-eating animals, a trick-or-treat house, select early-morning access, and, naturally, more candy than any child needs. Ages 2–12.

⌚ Oct. 10–12, 17–18, 24–25, 31 and Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., 📍3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 🌐 philadelphiazoo.org, 💵 $8–$32

(Seasonal) Elmwood Park Zoo goes full fall carnival on October weekends with pay-as-you-go games, live music, face painting, and plenty of animals to visit between activities. Come for the festivities, stay to ogle the marmosets, miniature cows, red pandas, red foxes, zebras, and more. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 10–11, 17–18 and 24–25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 📍1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, Pa. 19401, 🌐 elmwoodparkzoo.org, 💵 $17–$28

(Theater) It’s been a few years since sourpuss teenager Wednesday Addams became America’s sweetheart. At the Walnut Street Theatre, this musical send-up follows her latest predicament: She’s fallen in love with a perfectly respectable “normie,” and now their two very different families have to meet. Ages 12 and up.

⌚ Through Nov. 1, times vary, 📍825 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107, 🌐 walnutstreettheatre.org, 💵 $28–$130