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.

(Music) This festival is celebrating 10 years of honoring the heart and soul of Philly’s music scene. For one week, 25 bands will take the stage at venues throughout the region for unforgettable live performances.

⌚️ Oct. 12-18, 📍Various locations, 🌐 phillymusicfest.com/, 💵 $35-65

(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

(Community) You won’t need luck on your side to score great finds at this marketplace. Shop from more than 40 of the best vintage and handmade women and queer vendors from the east coast region. Come support small businesses and local makers while enjoying a fun day of shopping on the waterfront.

⌚️Oct. 16, 3-9p.m., 📍121 N. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 cherrystreetpier.com/, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Reading Terminal Market is putting a delicious fall twist on a regional classic at this day-long food festival. Walk through the market and enjoy savory bites and sweet treats from the market’s vendors, all themed around scrapple, apple and sometimes both flavors.

⌚️Oct. 17, 10a.m. - 5p.m., 📍1136 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19107, 🌐 readingterminalmarket.org, 💵 Free to enter, pay-as-you-go

(Community) South Street is doing a big pivot from their original Fall Fest plans to bring you this epic block party. Come enjoy nine blocks of themed activations and community fun all along South Street.

⌚️Oct. 17, 12-8p.m., 📍100-700 blocks of South St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19147, 🌐 southstreet.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Manayunk’s official celebration of fall is back for a second year. The day will be packed with fun including a mac n’cheese crawl, family-friendly games and activities, delicious food trucks and tons of local artists and vendors. Come shop, eat, and enjoy the community fun and fall weather.

⌚️Oct. 17, 11a.m. - 4p.m., 📍Main Street Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pa, 19127, 🌐 manayunk.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Looking for live music, great beer, and delicious tacos? You’ll find them all at this amazing fall fest right in Philly’s Easy Falls neighborhood. Look forward to a truly packed day with great local bites, free fitness classes, pumpkin decorating and so much more.

⌚️Oct. 17, 11a.m. - 5p.m., 📍Ridge Ave. and Midvale Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19129, 🌐 discovereastfalls.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(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

(Movies) This year, the Philadelphia Film Festival is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a two week showcase of films on 35mm. These two weeks will highlight and honor cinemas past, present and future and allows viewers to really enjoy the magic of film.

⌚️Oct. 1-14, 📍1412 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19102, 🌐 filmadelphia.org, 💵 $8-30

(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

(Movie) Bring a blanket and settle in for a spooky outdoor screening of “The Witches” at Tacony Creek Park in Northeast Philly. Based on Roald Dahl’s story, the film follows a group of witches plotting to turn children into mice. Food and a limited number of free coats will also be available. Ages 8 and up.

⌚ Oct. 16, 6:30–8:30 p.m., 📍Olney and Clarkson Avenues, Philadelphia, Pa. 19120, 🌐 ttfwatershed.org, 💵 Free

(Food) Reading Terminal Market celebrates two Pennsylvania Dutch favorites at this annual food fest: fresh-picked apples and scrapple, the famously divisive breakfast meat made from pork scraps. Expect plenty of food to sample and kid-friendly activities to keep little ones entertained between bites. Ages 3 and up.

⌚ Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., 📍11th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107, 🌐 readingterminalmarket.org, 💵 Free admission; food and activities pay-as-you-go

(History) History spills into the streets of Old City as the Museum of the American Revolution brings 18th-century Philadelphia to life. This annual event features walking tours, artisan demonstrations, and even a British military march through the neighborhood, giving families a glimpse of the city during the Revolutionary War. Ages 3 and up.

⌚ Oct. 17–18, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 📍131 S. Third St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 amrevmuseum.org, 💵 Free–$10

(Seasonal) Main Street in Manayunk transforms into a fall playground for this annual neighborhood celebration. Families can paint pumpkins, dig into mac and cheese, play games, make art, and enjoy live music while strolling past local shops and vendors. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 17, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 📍Main Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19127, 🌐 manayunk.com, 💵 Free admission; activities and food pay-as-you-go

(Seasonal) Fall fun takes over the intersection of Ridge and Midvale Avenues in East Falls, where families can decorate pumpkins, dance to live music, and browse local vendors. Come hungry: Tacos, Famous Fourth Street cookies, and Le Bus brownies are among the neighborhood treats on the menu. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 17, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., 📍Ridge and Midvale Avenues, Philadelphia, Pa. 19129, 🌐 discovereastfalls.org, 💵 Free

(History) One of Montgomery County’s newest historic attractions is celebrating its opening with a fall festival. Sunrise Mill in Schwenksville, a 220-acre property with 250 years of history, features a gristmill, sawmill, stone arch bridge, farmhouse, and visitor center. Families can explore the grounds, take tours, enjoy live music, and grab a bite from food trucks while taking in the fall foliage. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 17, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 📍3431 Neiffer Rd., Schwenksville, Pa. 19473, 🌐 montgomerycountypa.gov, 💵 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