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) 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

(Art) This annual festival presented by the Center for Architecture and Design showcases all of the design excellence and innovation here in Philadelphia. The festival includes over 130 different events including tours, programs, and workshops all over the city to give attendees a true taste of Philly’s architecture and design culture. Grab a spot at an exhibition, kick off party or other activities to get closer look at the arts in Philadelphia.

⌚️Oct. 1-13, 📍Various Locations, 🌐 designphiladelphia.org, 💵 Varies

(Community) Spend your weekend taking in three days of fine art and crafts three days of fine arts from over 150 artists. Master-level ceramics, jewelry, wood, glass, and many other forms of art will be on display, with artist booths set up around the perimeter of Rittenhouse Square Park. This is one of the oldest fine arts shows in the nation, and you definitely don’t want to miss out.

⌚️Oct 11-13, 📍Rittenhouse Square Park, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, 🌐 friendsofrittenhouse.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(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 a parade featuring performances, fun activities and and a colorful display of floats. Then, visit the festival and resource fair with even more great activities, music, local artists and more.

⌚️Oct. 11-13, 📍Various locations, 🌐 galaeiqtbipoc.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) It doesn’t get more quintessentially fall in Philadelphia than apples and scrapples. Celebrate these seasonal staples with a day of family fun and delicious food, including some sweet treats crafted by the merchants at Reading Terminal Market, all themed around scrapple and apples.

⌚️Oct. 12, 10a.m. - 4p.m., 📍1136 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19107, 🌐 readingterminalmarket.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Get ready to fall in love with Northern Liberties at this annual, family-friendly outdoor festival. There will be plenty of seasonal treats and brews, live music and of course some football fun, fitting the season. With tons of activities from scavenger hunts to a costume parade, there’s something for the entire family to enjoy.

⌚️ Oct. 13, 11a.m. - 5p.m., 📍3rd St. from Brown St. to Wildey St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19123, 🌐 explorenorthernliberties.org, 💵 Pay-as-you-go

(Community) Before you go on to cheer on the Birds vs. the Browns, take a minute to tailgate for a good cause. This tailgate includes a fully catered Thanksgiving themed menu, a large viewing screen to catch the action, giveaways, VIP guests and a private luxury trailer. Proceeds benefit the North Light Community Center.

⌚️Oct. 13, 8a.m. - 12p.m., 📍One Lincoln Financial Way, Philadelphia, Pa, 19148, 🌐 phillyprgirl.com/, 💵 $20-68

Another fall weekend, another chance to wear Halloween costumes, celebrate indigenous history and culture, and eat candy apples.

(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

(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

(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

(History) The Museum of the American Revolution turns the holiday honoring the first people of our nation into a three-day weekend, with three free sessions each day of Lenape social dancing (11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.) on the outdoor plaza, and, inside for ticket holders, Wampum belt-inspired crafts, meetups with first nation historic interpreters, discovery carts, and special tours. Ages 5 and up.

⌚Oct 12-14. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 📍101 S. 3rd St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 amrevmuseum.org, 💵 $13-$25, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free under age 5

(Culture / free) Bartram’s Garden celebrates the holiday with dance performances, live music, vendors, and family activities, created in partnership with the Mexicayotl group Ollin Yolitzil Calmecac. All ages.

⌚October 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 📍5400 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19143, 🌐bartramsgarden.org , 💵 Free

(Community / free) Midtown Village becomes a day party during the nation’s largest Coming Out Day celebration. Beer gardens are 21+, but a designated zone for younger kids includes a bouncy house and all the family-centric activities you’d expect at a block party. Ages 2-12.

⌚October 13, noon-5 p.m., 📍13th and Walnut sts., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107, 🌐 galaeiqtbipoc.org , 💵 Free