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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.

Boo at the Zoo returns to the Philly Zoo for three weekend of spooktacular fun.
Boo at the Zoo returns to the Philly Zoo for three weekend of spooktacular fun.Read morePhiladelphia Zoo

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.


Spooky Mini Golf

(Community) Franklin Square is embracing Spooky Season for the month of October. Come play a round or two of spooky themed mini golf complete with haunting lights, music and atmosphere.

⌚️Oct 1-31, 6-9p.m., 📍200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org, 💵 $12-15

Philadelphia Film Festival

(Movies) This celebration of the best in cinema is back for it’s 33rd year. This year’s festival will feature over 100 features, shorts, and documentaries from all over the global, including some local collections. Grab a ticket or festival badge and take a journey around the world through film.

⌚️Oct. 17-27, 📍Various Locations, 🌐 filmadelphia.org, 💵 $15-500

Open Sweat Jam: Community Music & Fitness Festival

(Community) This community centered festival is just what you need to motivate yourself to focus on wellness. Live music, food trucks and community activities will make this different from any other sweat session you’ve had. Bring your own yoga mat or blanket, and come ready to move.

⌚️Oct. 19, 12-7p.m., 📍3701 Filbert St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19104, 🌐 sss.ticketbud.com, 💵 Free

Pops on the Plaza

(Music) Headhouse Plaza is about to be filled with the sounds of music. Former Philly Pops musicians are taking to the stage to deliver an incredible, genre-bending music experience. Bring your own blanket or chair, food trucks will be on site to provide bites during the show.

⌚️Oct. 19, 3-5p.m., 📍2nd & Lombard St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19147, 🌐 southstreet.com, 💵 Free

Rocky Horror Drag Show

(Community) Are you ready to do the Time Warp again? This drag performance is a tribute to all things Rocky Horror Picture show, featuring some of Philly’s best performers. Dress as your favorite character and get ready to get weird.

⌚️ Oct. 19, 7p.m., 📍1320 Chancellor St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19107, 🌐 eventbrite.com, 💵 $20-25

Philly Bike Ride

(Community) Don’t worry, this isn’t a bike race. It’s the city’s only car-free event, where over 4,000 cyclists of all levels cruise on a 20 mile joyride through the city. The ride will start at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, make it’s way to Old City, then head back up the Parkway and Schuylkill River Trail before ending at Eakins Oval.

⌚️ Oct. 19, 7:30a.m., 📍2600 Benjamin Franklin Pwky, Philadelphia, Pa, 19130, 🌐 phillybikeride.com, 💵 Free - $174

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

(POST) (Art) Don’t miss out on the largest-self guided tour of studios and artists spaces in the regions. More than 26 studios and art spaces will open their doors to make workshops, galleries and creative space more accessible. This round of the festival features studios west of Broad Street, with spaces each of Broad Street opening the following week.

⌚️Oct. 19-20, 📍Various Locations, 🌐 cfeva.org, 💵 Free


The best events for kids in Philly

There’s almost too much autumnal fun going on within Philadelphia city limits this week and weekend. Also, Haddonfield celebrates its resident dinosaur’s 21st birthday.

Maze Days

(Seasonal / Free) No need to hoof it to the countryside for a pay-to-enter fall agritainment experience. Dilworth Park brings in hay bales and adds storytimes, pumpkin carving, and goats, depending when you drop by. All ages.

⌚October 18-27, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 centercityphila.org , 💵 Free

Haddy’s Birthday Celebration

(Seasonal / Community / Free) Dress your dog as a dino for a 5:30 p.m. costume contest, sing “Happy Birthday” to a 21-year-old bronze dinosaur sculpture at 6:30 p.m., dance and grab swag at the local library, and settle in for a screening of “Jurassic Park” in the Mechanic Street parking lot at 7 p.m. — all to celebrate Haddonfield’s prehistoric predecessor. All ages.

⌚October 18, 4:30-9 p.m., 📍Kings Hwy. and Lantern Ln. (and other sites), Haddonfield, NJ. 08033, 🌐 downtownhaddonfield.com , 💵 Free

East FallsFest

(Seasonal / Community / Free) East Falls sets up inflatables — a farm maze and apple bobbing — along with kids’ crafts, face painting, live music, and all kinds of vendors and food for a family-friendly autumn afternoon. All ages.

⌚October 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 📍Ridge Ave. and Midvale Ave. at Kelly Dr., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129, 🌐 discovereastfalls.org, 💵 Free, pay-as-you-go

Halloween in the Historic District

(Seasonal / History / Free) Elfreth’s Alley, Carpenters’ Hall, Franklin Square, Arch Street Meeting House, and more historic sites and neighborhood shops give out candy and host games, hayrides, ghost stories, scavenger hunting, pumpkin painting, mask making, a craft market, and a new haunted house at 225 Church Street, over a couple of hours in Old City. Grab a map of the events at the Independence Visitor Center.

⌚October 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 📍599 Market Street (and throughout Old City), Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 phlvisitorcenter.com, 💵 Free

Harvest Fest

(Seasonal) Weavers Way Farms bring apples and pumpkins to Awbury Arboretum, the arboretum furnishes the hayrides, firepit and s’mores, and the onsite farm furnish the goats — who compete in Olympic-style games — while families make their way among cupcake and funnel cake vendors, taco stands and breweries. South Philly soul music maker for kids Johnny Shortcakes performs 2-3 p.m. All ages.

⌚October 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 📍6336 Ardleigh St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19138, 🌐 awbury.org, 💵 Free, pay-as-you-go

XOXO: An Exhibit About Love & Forgiveness

(Community / multiday) Can you teach toddlers and elementary school-age kids empathy? It’s certainly worth trying. The Please Touch Museum’s visiting exhibit aims to help children express feelings and understand others’ through lightbox silhouette-making, playing with empathy blocks, and negotiating a seesaw. Ages 2-10.

⌚September 27-January 12, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays,📍4231 Ave. of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pa, 19131, 🌐 pleasetouchmuseum.org , 💵$22, $2 ACCESS cardholder

Ice Dinosaurs

(Science / multiday) Animatronic dinos from chillier climes, like the fearsome, feathered Troodon raptors, represent Late Cretaceous creatures who inhabited the Arctic. Hands-on exhibits show off ice-proof teeth and eggs at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Ages 2 and up.

⌚September 28-May 4, 📍1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 ansp.org, 💵 $16-$22, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free under age 2

Boo at the Zoo

(Seasonal) The Philadelphia Zoo’s three-weekend pre-Halloween tradition packs the place with costumed kiddos, who BYOB (treat bags) and trick-or-treat among the lowland gorillas, big cats, giant giraffes, goats, etc.. Advance reservations required. October 19, the zoo opens early (8:30-9:30 a.m.) for a sensory-friendly Boo. All ages.

⌚October 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 📍3400 Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 🌐philadelphiazoo.org , 💵 $25 ages 12 and up, $20 ages 2-11, free under age 2