🍺 Seaside brews, live music, and fireworks | Things to do

Seaside music and brews, high-flying circus tricks, an explosion of J-fashion and anime cosplay, and the nation’s first staged comedy at the Drake.

If this sounds like a fantasy, then you’re in for a dreamy weekend, filled with sun-soaked drinks, live music, fireworks, and nerd culture.

For those looking ahead at their summer vacation plans, there’s a little something for you, too. Read below to fill your weekend itinerary, and map out future excursions at a nearby beach town.

— Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

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It’s never too early to prepare for a summer getaway at the Shore.

Summer is near, which means many Philadelphians are mapping out their itineraries for their trips to nearby beach towns. Which means prices will spike in the coming weeks, so now is the time to get your calculators out and do the math on lodging and travel costs. Don’t forget the ones that hide in sight!

Lucky for you, my colleague Dugan Arnett has compiled a list of beaches that require badges or tags, and prepaid entrance fees. Crunch those numbers now so come summer, you can kick back and sink your toes in sand.

Read his story here.

🎭 America’s first staged comedy at the Drake: The Contrast opens at the Drake Thursday night. The nation’s first staged American comedy, runs through April 26.

🍺 Beer and music at the Seaside City: After 20 years of beers, bands and memories, the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival will welcome guests for one final weekend. Before the festival winds down for good, drive down to the Atlantic City Convention Center for one last hurrah.

💃 Science after hours: That’s right — Rhythm & Booms is back. Step into the Franklin Institute for live music, sun-soaked drinks, and other activities that will have you dancing through exhibits.

🌳 Explore Germantown Avenue: On April 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can stroll Germantown Avenue, dip in and out of local shops and restaurants, and take photos of the spring-inspired storefront displays. And all for a good cause. Proceeds support the preservation of Wissahickon Valley Park. Check out the Stroll the Avenue for A Cause website for more details.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Liberty Beer Garden, Drinks at Bok Bar, Reggaetón Bowl at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia

Do you know much about the history of fireworks? The Science History Institute’s newest exhibition will bring you up to speed.

“Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks” explores the origins of fireworks, and the science behind how they are made, designed, tested, sold, and launched into the skies. Rare books, fine art, consumer catalogs, and the latest pyrotechnic technology will be on display.

The opening ceremony on Friday is sold out, but the display runs through July 2027.

Read more on the Science History Institute website.

💢 Fandom at the waterfront: Prepare for three days of anime, gaming, cosplay, and “nerdcore” music at the waterfront. Philly Otaku Fest 4.0 kicks off on Friday. The free event will feature tens of art, collectibles, and merch vendors at Cherry Street Pier.

🎪 A week of circus fun: Enjoy a week of high-flying action and circus history in the birthplace of the first modern U.S. circus. For World Circus Week, there will be performances, hands-on workshops, and skill demonstrations for guests interested in the aerial, juggling, and acrobatic arts.

🖌️ Public art launch in Germantown: After two years in the making, a new public art exhibition is arriving in Germantown. Healing Verse Germantown: The Streets Are Talking features 19 site-specific attractions, ranging from collage posters, video installations, Virtual Reality constellations, and interactive floral offerings.

🍻 Parks on Tap is Back!: The traveling beer garden, Parks on Tap, returns this week, with its first stop at Azalea Garden, located between Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

🎞️ Learning from Joan Little: If you’re a Philly area teacher, this one’s for you. The documentary Free Joan Little tells the story of the landmark 1975 murder trial of the first woman in U.S. history to be acquitted for using deadly force to resist sexual assault. After the April 16 screening at Eastern State Penitentiary, Retro Report will host a conversation on how teachers and parents can use Little’s story to inspire young learners.

Pop music critic Dan DeLuca lists the top concerts this weekend.

🎸 Thursday: Lansdale band the Wonder Years is on a 10-year anniversary tour to celebrate its 2015 album, No Closer to Heaven. The six-member band will drop into Theatre of the Living Arts on Thursday to kick off six hometown shows, featuring a rotating list of openers that includes Osa Osa, Queen of Jeans, and Knucke Puck.

🎤 Friday: Hip-hop and neo-soul duo Natalie Stewart and Marsha Ambrosius are back together as Floetry for a night of sultry, earthily tunes at the Met Philly.

🎸 Saturday: Get Up Kids singer Matt Pryor is headlining a show at the basement of the First Unitarian Church. The Kansas City-native will be joined by Cleveland-raised, Philly-based songwriter Maxwell Stern, who recently impressed at a recent Free at Noon.

🎤 Tuesday: South African singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou, fresh off last year’s breezy and ethereal album Oblivion, is transporting to Union Transfer for a headlining show on Tuesday.

Boom! There’s your list of weekend events. I hope at least one of them brings you added laughs, eases your summer vacation plans, leaves you belting out song lyrics under the spring sun, and dancing through the late night.

— Earl Hopkins