What to see, what to do at Philly Tech Week

The city's most innovative week has returned! Tinkering and technology have never been as fun and social as they are during Philly Tech Week. Running Friday, April 17 through Saturday, April 25, the festival boasts over 100 events. Here are some can't-miss festivities.

Local studios and developers show off their gaming creations at Arcade @ Dilworth Park. An arcade of app-based games will be set up at Dilworth Park (Broad and Market Streets) for the week's kickoff event on Friday, April 17. Throughout the three-hour event, starting at 6 p.m., expect DJ entertainment, "Maker Corner" and food from Rosa Blanca Cafe. Update: This event has been postponed until Saturday, April 18. 

A festival within a festival, the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is held in conjunction with Philly Tech Week from Friday, April 17 through Saturday, April 25. Between local, national and international films, multiple screening sessions take place each night at different theaters on-campus at University of the Arts (320 S. Broad St.).

Ladies, this one is for you. Block out 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 for the Philly Women in Tech Summit at the Chemical Heritage Foundation (315 Chestnut St.). Aimed at giving women in the tech industry the inspiration and tools to overcome challenges, the event will benefit the nonprofit Techgirlz.org, helping adolescent girls get involved with technology.

Tech and performing arts collide to please both the visually inclined and the scientifically oriented. Using infrared sensors, stage lighting will change and illuminate dancers in "Dust" based on the intensity of their movements and position on stage. Prior to show time at FringeArts (140 S. Columbus Blvd.) on Saturday, April 18, audience members will get a shot to try out the technology starting at 7 p.m. The performance begins an hour later.

Food Science is the best kind of science and Di Bruno Bros. (834 Chestnut St.) knows it. From 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, three teams of Mad Food Scientists go head to head in creating flavors and food pairings for the second edition of The Monger Games.

Throughout the week of Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25, local 3-D printing lab NRI 3DLab (1015 Chestnut St.) will be 3-D scanning and printing figurines of interested visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Not just another form of social media, LinkedIn has some major sway in the professional world. Get tips on how to make sure your account is in tip-top shape on Tuesday, April 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Central Branch (1910 Vine St.) in the Skyline Room.

Unwind from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 for tech-and-design-themed Quizzo at the Trestle Inn (339 N. 11th St.).

Everyone is a contestant at this e-commerce trivia game night at National Mechanics (22 S. 3rd St.). Bring your phone, download the game app, and answer questions for a chance to win prizes. Based off of the '70s game show "Hollywood Squares," The N3rd Street Squares comes to you live from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

It's no secret that electronics have become steadily more prevalent in music. Get involved in the world of digital music making at Temple University's Tuttleman Learning Center (1809 N. 13th St.), Room 107 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for performances and more on Friday, April 24.

Who could forget about the Philly Tech Week Signature Event? On Friday, April 24, you'll get cocktails, a showcase of local technology works, and food at the Comcast Center (1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd.) from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Close out the week on Saturday, April 25 with a relaxed paper-folding art event at Little Berlin (2430 Coral St.) from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hang around for a light show until 11 p.m.

Not to overwhelm you, but there are over 100 more fantastic techie events happening over the course of the week. Check them out.

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings.