The best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend
The best things to do in Philadelphia, including popular events, festivals, attractions and tours, free activities and entertainment. See upcoming events and what’s on in Philly today.
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.
Philadelphia Fringe Festival
(Art) This festival features over 1,000 performances by a range of artists. Creatives will gather in spaces across the city to showcase all kinds of art from dance to acrobatics. Grab tickets to a show or two and prepare for a creative experience you won’t forget.
⌚️Sept. 5-29, 📍Various Locations, 🌐 phillyfringe.org/, 💵 Varies
Scarecrows in the Village
(Community) Nothing notes the start of Spooky Season like jumbo scarecrows. Each autumn, more than 100 locally handmade scarecrows pop up in Peddler’s Village ranging in design from silly to spooky. Check them out while you can and vote for your favorites.
⌚️Sept. 9-Oct.27, 📍2400 Street Rd., New Hope, Pa, 18938, 🌐 peddlersvillage.com, 💵 Free
Vet Fest
(Community) What could be better than food trucks, brews and a day of family fun? Come share drinks, food, and a great afternoon with the local community and businesses who support Veterans.
⌚️Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 📍400 Chesterfield Pkwy., Malvern, Pa, 19355, 🌐 vetfestpa.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts
(Art) The weather is turning and Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill is about to transform into an outdoor art and craft marketplace. Get ready for a day of live music, great food and more than 200 local artists and makers to shop from.
⌚️Sept. 15, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 📍Various Locations, 🌐 chestnuthillpa.com, 💵 Pay-as-you-go
The best events for kids in Philly
It’s been getting dark earlier since late June. Take advantage of all the daylight hours you can — and some early evening hours too — with end-of-summer, beginning-of-fall happenings from South Philly to New Hope.
Fall Festival, Hellerick’s Adventure Farm
(Seasonal / multiday) The kids will want to go to this big-deal agritainment center for the five-acre corn maze, mini golf, obstacle course, and sit-on tractor. You, however, will probably check out the 55 kinds of gourds, pumpkins, and squash — and yes, goat yoga. All ages.
⌚Sept. 12-Nov. 30, hours vary, 📍550 N. Easton Rd., Doylestown, Pa. 18902, 🌐hellericksfarm.com, 💵 $15-$19
FallFest, Shady Brook Farm
(Seasonal / multiday) It’s all the pumpkins and apples you can pick, sunflowers while they last, plus wagon rides, a 75th-anniversary PEANUTS-theme corn maze, giant slide, giant jumpy pillow, haunts, a spider web maze, more bouncy things, go-carts, rubber ducky races, and, on weekends, live music at this big ole Bucks County farm complex. Ages 1+.
⌚Sept. 13-Oct. 30, hours vary, 📍931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, Pa. 19067, 🌐shadybrookfarm.com, 💵 $15-$35
First Friday, New Hope
(Seasonal / free) So far this summer, this Bucks County village has hosted two family-friendly block parties punctuated by fireworks. Their third is their last of the year, with fireworks happening just around bedtime — 9 to 9:15 p.m. Ages 3+
⌚Sept. 13, 5-9:30 p.m., 📍Stockton Ave. from Bridge to Ferry sts., New Hope, Pa. 19067, 🌐visitnewhope.com, 💵 Free
Second Saturdays, Cliveden
(History / free) The historic Germantown mansion and site offers free house tours and special programming for children. From 12:30 to 1 p.m., kids get a hands-on tour of antique objects. At 1:30 p.m., a reader from Mount Airy stops by to host story time. Ages 2-12.
⌚Sept. 14, noon-4 p.m., 📍6401 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19144, 🌐cliveden.org, 💵 Free
Mexican Independence Day Festival, Penn’s Landing
(Cultural / free) Listen for the “Grito de Independencia”(cry of independence). Stay for the music, tortas, dancing, crafts, and overall family festivities. All ages.
⌚Sept. 15, 2-4 p.m., 📍101 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐mexicanculturalcenter.org, 💵 Free