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.

(Community) Sip on tasty fall flavored drinks while you shop from a group of amazing local markers and artists. Here you’ll find handmade crafts, jewelry, food items and so much more, all hand made locally. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping while supporting small, independent businesses.

⌚️Oct. 9-11, 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19102, 🌐 madeinphila.com/, 💵 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

(Community) The rodeo known for having the bravest riders, nastiest bulls and tastiest food is riding into Philly this weekend. Contemporary cowboys and girls will pay tribut to the long and rich legacy of Black rodeo, in hopes of winning a $60,000 prize.

⌚️Oct. 10, 7p.m., 📍1776 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19121, 🌐 https://liacourascenter.com, 💵 $60-100

(Art) The largest-self guided tour of studios and artists spaces in the region is back for another year. Dozens of studios and art spaces across the city will open their doors to make workshops, galleries and creative space more accessible. This week of the festival features studios west of Broad Street.

⌚️Oct. 10-11, 📍Various locations, 🌐 cfeva.org 💵 Free

(Community) Ready to add a little rhythm into your weekend? This dance night is completely free, and starts with a lesson led by an instructor to get you going. Then, the dance floor will be open for the evening so you can put what you learned to the test.

⌚️Oct. 11, 5-9p.m., 📍121 N. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 cherrystreetpier.com, 💵 Free

(Community) OURfest, which stands for Our Uniting Resilience, is a weekend full of fun, community and celebration of the LGBT community. Honor national coming out day and the beautiful community it upholds with a parade, performances, block party and more.

⌚️Oct. 11, 12-7p.m., 📍12th St. to 13th St., Locust St. to Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19107, 🌐 visitphilly.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) This annual festival is one of the oldest of its kind in the country and highlights the design excellence and innovation of architects, designers and creative professionals. The festival includes a range of events including tours, programs, and workshops all over the city where you can learn about a wide-range of topics.

⌚️Oct. 1-11, 📍Various locations, 🌐 designphiladelphia.org, 💵 Varies

(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

(Art) This group exhibit features work from eleven artists from the Joined Hands Collective. The pieces span watercolor, collage, mixed media, ceramics, fiber and photography. The exhibit explores how individuals, communities and shared environments intersect, showing the many ways we are all connected.

⌚️Sept. 5 - Oct. 10, 📍601 W. Allens Ln., Philadelphia, Pa, 19119, 🌐 allenslane.org, 💵 Free

(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

(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

(History) The Museum of the American Revolution explores Indigenous history and perspectives with outdoor Lenape social dances, weather permitting, plus discovery carts and indoor presentations. Learn about Continental Army officer Louis Cook and how Native peoples have viewed the legacy of Christopher Columbus. Ages 4 and up.

⌚ Oct. 10–12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., 📍131 S. Third St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 amrevmuseum.org, 💵 $2–$25

(Music) Costumes are welcome at Marian Anderson Hall, where the Philadelphia Orchestra mixes music kids already know from movies like “Harry Potter” and “Coco” with spooky-sounding classics by Bach, Grieg, and more. Dance and spoken-word performances add to the interactive Halloween concert. Ages 4–12.

⌚ Oct. 10, 11:30 a.m., 📍300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 ensembleartsphilly.org, 💵 $30–$67

(Culture) Now in its 10th year, this outdoor gathering at Shackamaxon, also known as Penn Treaty Park, celebrates Indigenous peoples of Lenapehoking, Turtle Island, and Abya Yala through live song, dance, and ceremony. The gathering also supports organizers’ efforts to restore Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an official Philadelphia holiday. All ages.

⌚ Oct. 12, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., 📍1301 N. Beach St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125, 🌐 ipdphilly.org, 💵 Suggested donation $5–$12

(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

(Community / free) The city’s roaming beer garden is back, offering drinks, oversized games, and plenty of room for kids to run around all summer long. All ages. Visit Parks on Tap’s website to find the location each week.

⌚ Though October 11, Wed.–Fri., 4–10 p.m.; Sat.–Sun., noon–10 p.m.; more locations through Oct. 11, 🌐 parksontap.com, 💵 Free entry