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21 free events in Philly this weekend and next week

The best things to do in Philly this week that won't cost you a penny.

Groove to music at this weekend's Amber Arts and Music Festival.
Groove to music at this weekend's Amber Arts and Music Festival.Read moreAmbler Art & Music Festival

📅 Our calendar is updated every Friday at inquirer.com/freecalendar. For more great events, check out our full events calendar and kids calendar. Submit an event to our calendar here.

Juneteenth: Erecting New Monuments 📚

(Juneteenth / art) Come meet and learn from historian and artist Michelle Browder. Browder’s work exposes the rich and often haunting elements of history in an engaging way. During the program, Browder will share how she explores historical narratives. You can choose to join this free event in-person or through online streaming. (June 17, 6 p.m., 1314 Locust St., support.librarycompany.org)

Ambler Art and Music Festival 🎵

(Seasonal / outdoors / community / kid-friendly) Two days of live music, 85 art exhibitors, and the tasty Ambler art scene all come together to make up this two-day festival. You’ll have a chance to browse and shop unique handmade art pieces, hear dozens of live music sets, and munch on food from local restaurants and vendors. If you’re bringing little ones, be sure to stop by the Family Zone for face painting, sand art and more. Bring your own chair and cash for parking and beer gardens. (June 17-18, 85 E. Butler Ave, Ambler, amblerfest.org)

Clark Park Party in the Park 🎉

(Seasonal / outdoors / kid-friendly) This annual event is a great way to celebrate the start of summer. Bring family and friends to enjoy a day of live music, crafts for kids, and the beautiful scenery of the popular West Philly park. (June 18, 3-8 p.m., 4300 Chester Ave., universitycity.org)

Sugar Cane Festival 🍬

(Seasonal / outdoors / kid-friendly) This three-block-long festival celebrates the historic significance of sugar cane in the Puerto Rican community. Look forward to live music, food, games, prizes and more. Be sure to get a complimentary pava, which are straw hats made from the leaves of Puerto Rican palms, and a piece of sugarcane. (June 18, 4 p.m., 6th & Germantown Ave., apmphila.org)

Tioga-Nicetown Juneteenth Festival 🎉

(Juneteenth / kid-friendly) This daylong block party is a free Juneteenth celebration for all community members. Free food, water ice, and activities for kids will be available while supplies last. (June 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 19th & West Tioga Streets, cityathleticsphilly.com)

Juneteenth Family Pride Picnic 🎉

(Juneteenth / outdoors) This Pride-Juneteenth celebration was designed with Black LGBTQ families in mind. Head to Germantown Avenue for an afternoon of free food, music, vendors, history talks, and more. (June 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 6945 Germantown Ave., philadelphiafamilypride.org)

Johnson House Juneteenth Festival 🎉

(Juneteenth / kid-friendly) Johnson House, a National Historic Landmark and a stop on the Underground Railroad, hosts its 16th-annual Juneteenth Festival on June 18. Bring the entire family for a day of music, games, panel discussions, historic reenactments, and more. (June 18, noon-6 p.m., 6306 Germantown Ave., johnsonhouse.org)

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom 🎶

(Juneteenth / music / kid-friendly) Join the Woodmere Art Museum for a day of jazz and poetry with performances by the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, Universal Drum and Dance Ensemble, poets, and more. (June 18, 2-5 p.m., 9201 Germantown Ave., woodmereartmuseum.org)

Sistah Soul Series 🎤

(Music / outdoors / community / free) This once-a-month live music series at LOVE Park features local BIPOC musicians from the Philadelphia region. In addition to live music, you can also enjoy the work of local artists and park vendors in a relaxed, outdoor setting. (June 18, 4-6 p.m., 15th and John F. Kennedy Blvd., eventbrite.com)

Doylestown Pride Festival 🌈

(Pride Month / outdoors) Keep your Pride celebrations going in Doylestown with a weekend full of film screenings, drag shows, and a block party. Saturday’s block party along E. State Street features special performances from DJ Gavin and Lolly Hopwood, drag storytime and so much more. Come celebrate the diverse identities of this LGBTQ community. (June 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., E. State St. between Pride and Main Sts., Doylestown, dtownpride.com)

Barnes on the Block 🎉

(Community / outdoors / kid-friendly) Head to the Parkway for an epic block party hosted by The Barnes Foundation. The entire family will have a chance to enjoy visual art displays, performances, food trucks, a special beer garden and more. Registration is required to access the Barnes collection and special exhibits. (June 19, 4-9 p.m., 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., barnesfoundation.org)

Black Music City: Juneteenth Celebration 🎶

(Music) Hosted by Philly rapper the Bul Bey, this afternoon event celebrates the 46 local honorees in music and other artistic disciplines that are recipients of grants in this joint initiative by WXPN-FM (88.5), WRTI-FM (90.1), and REC Philly. Grant winners include Zeek Burse, Laurin Talese, Micah Graves, Sug Daniels, Ebony Bennett, and Brother Anwar Butler. (June 19, 1-5 p.m., 3025 Walnut St., worldcafelive.com)

Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival 🎉

(Juneteenth / music / art / kid-friendly) Celebrate Juneteenth in West Philadelphia with performances, food, a children’s village, and more. Local organizations and groups will march along the parade route, which starts at 52nd and Parkside. Then, at the festival in Malcolm X Park, you’ll have the chance to play games, shop local vendors, see art exhibits, and more. (June 19, 10 a.m., North 52nd Street & Parkside Avenue, juneteenthphilly.org)

Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia 🎉

(Juneteenth / music / art / kid-friendly) This event is jam-packed with live performances from artists like Talib Kweli, plus food, games, and more. You’ll also get the chance to shop from local makers at the Village Marketplace. Register online in advance to get free museum admission. (June 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St., tockify.com)

Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom 🎶

(Music / TV) A Sunday night show on CNN, live from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The lineup includes Anthony Hamilton, Earth, Wind & Fire, Killer Mike, Billy Porter, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Jhené Aiko, Mickey Guyton, Robert Glasper and more. The music directors are two Philadelphians: Questlove and Adam Blackstone. (June 19, 8 p.m., cnn.com)

Big Idea Committee at Fete de la Musique, West Chester Historical Center 🎶

(Music) Like dîner en blanc, this day of live music was born in Paris and adopted worldwide, including in downtown West Chester. Local duo Christine Petrini and Melissa Brun — together, Big Idea Committee — perform and act out songs for kids from their new album, accompanied by their cello, Karl. Ages 3-8. (June 21, noon-2 p.m. (festival is noon-9 p.m.), 225 N. High St., West Chester, bigideacommittee.com, downtownwestchester.com)

Wellness on the Waterfront 🧘

(Fitness / outdoors) Grab a mat, towel and a bottle of water and prepare for an evening of wellness. Alyssa Martin from Lumos Yoga & Barre leads yogis through an hour of guided practice at Race Street Pier. In case of rain, this event will move to Cherry Street Pier. (Thursdays through July 28, 6-7 p.m., Columbus Blvd. and Race St., eventbrite.com)

Sand Sculptures in the Village, Peddler’s Village 🏖️

(Seasonal / in-person / kid-friendly) Those of us tired of waiting for a beach day can swing by these outdoor shops to watch four pro-sand-sculpting teams build whimsical, gritty art. In a few weeks, the castles and such will be complete to wander among, and, sandboxes will be open to play in. Ages 2+. (building: May 21-June 4; on display: June 8-Aug. 31, 400 State Rd., New Hope, peddlersvillage.com)

Yoga on the Banks 🧘

(Fitness / in-person / outdoors) Head to the Schuylkill Banks for a morning of zen movement. Bring your own yoga mat or towel and enjoy this all-levels instructor-led yoga class. Yoga classes take place (weather permitting) on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. throughout the spring and summer. (Pay what you can, various dates through October, 2500 Locust St., eventbrite.com)

Magical Fantasy at The Navy Yard 🎪

(Art / in-person / outdoors) Magical Fantasy, a collection of bold and bright 3D art pieces by London-based artist Morag Myerscough, has transformed The Navy Yard into a colorful playground. Stop by to wander through the exhibit and escape into an abstract dreamland without leaving the city. (Through October, Broad St. and Constitution Ave., navyyard.org)

Youth Bike Fridays, Bartram’s Garden 🚲

(Outdoors / multiday / kid-friendly) Philly’s oldest research garden has teamed up with the Bicycle Coalition to lend, repair, and teach kids about bikes every Friday after school. There are snacks, too. Ages 5-17. (Fridays through Nov., 3-6 p.m., 5400 Lindbergh Blvd., bartramsgarden.org)

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