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) Nothing says sunny like bibrant hues and the splendor of a gorgeous garden. These fountain performances deliver a fun pop to the gardens by day and an illuminated performance to music by night. (May 9 - Oct. 27, 1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Sq., longwoodgardens.org)

(Theater) Shakespeare lovers, you won’t want to miss this adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You’ll get the magical story of dancing fairies and quarrelsome lovers paired with a delightful musical score. Plus powerful choreography guaranteed to keep you captivated. (May 9-12, 323 N. Broad St., philadelphiaballet.org/)

(Community) Nothing beats a day filled with live music and craft beer. Your ticket gets you unlimited samples of more than 50 craft brews, with food also available for purchase. (May 11, 12:30p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, wl.seetickets.us)

(Community) Celebrate all things East Kensington with a day of music performances, food and human-powered sculptures. Local clothing, art and other vendors will be on site selling unique wares, plus local food trucks and restaurants will help keep you fueled. And don’t miss out on the 3 mile derby, which ends in an epic mud pit. (May 11, 12-6p.m., Frankford Ave from York St. to Huntingdon St., kensingtonkineticarts.org)

(Art) Over 80 craft vendors are heading to Cherry Street Pier for a day of shopping, activities, food and more. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect Mother’s Day gift or just adding to your own collection, you won’t want to miss this. (May 11-12, 11a.m.-5p.m., 121 N. Columbus Blvd., artstarcraftbazaar.com)

(Art) (re)FOCUS celebrates the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing the contributions of women artists. This festival will be a collaboration between Philadelphia’s art institutions and include panels, demonstrations, workshops and more. (Runs through May 31, refocus2024.org)

Sunday is Mother’s Day, and this weekend’s events focus on things that kids can make, share, and give to the moms, aunties, and other maternal women in their lives.

(Shopping / free entry) Now in its 20th year, this Mother’s Day weekend tradition offers not just 80 vendors of cute things you absolutely need but didn’t know it, but also make-and-take stations by Nimble Craft and Project Joy Studio, where, for a low, low price, makers of all skills and ages can DIY something lovely. To eat: tacos. Ages 3 and up. (Free entry, May 11 and 12, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 121 N. Columbus Blvd., artstarcraftbazaar.com)

(Science / free) Moms reading this, know you can never have too many kid-made friendship bracelets. At this Old City museum, children get to craft trendy arm candy via computer coding, then learn about women in chemistry in a free tour. Ages 5 and up. (Free, May 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 315 Chestnut Street, sciencehistory.org)

(Seasonal / free) It’s year 16 for this wacky and fun race of people- (not gas or electric) powered propulsion, a sort of inventor’s parade of vehicles that’s morphed into a community celebration replete with live performances and loads of vendors. All ages. (Free, May 11, noon-6 p.m., Frankford Ave. between York and Huntingdon sts., kensingtonkineticarts.org)

(Music) This concert’s for the adults as much as the parents. After all, we grown-ups grew up with “Baby Beluga” and “Bananaphone” too — and it’s sort of magical to share a musician among generations. All ages. ($48-$98, free, under 12 months, May 12, 4:30 p.m., 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com)

(History / crafts) Betsy joins her daughter and business partner Clarissa Wilson for an hour-and-a-half of sewing instruction that results in a take-home lavender sachet. Crafters are welcome to tour the wee Ross home, too. Ages 8 and up. ($20, May 12, 3-4:30 p.m., 239 Arch St., blackbaudhosting.com)

(LEGOs) Build-your-own flower and animal stations bring a bit of spring to Plymouth Meeting. The mall store and fun zone has also added a new LEGO Friends 4D movie — something fun to do on yet another rainy or cold spring day. Ages 2-12. (From $24, Apr. 20-May 27, 500 W. Germantown Pk., Plymouth Meeting, legolanddiscoverycenter.com)

(Roller skating) Quick! City Hall’s outdoor roller rink is open for a hot minute (before the fountains turn on). Opening day celebration includes a performance by Great on Skates. Ages 4 and up. ($8-$10 admission, $14-$16 rental, Apr. 19-Jun. 30, 1 S. 15th St. centercityphila.org)

(LEGO / multiday) They’re back! The world’s most popular toys, as sculpted by Nathan Sawaya into Van Gogh’s Starry Night, a life-size T-Rex, and about 100 other imaginative scenes — like bright human forms with LEGO souls — return after a less-than-decade-ago exhibit also at the Franklin Institute. Most of the pieces are look-don’t-touch, but there are plenty of opportunities to be hands-on too. Ages 3 and up. (Daytime: $43 adult, $39 ages 3-11; evening: $20, Feb. 17-Sept. 2, 222 N. 20th St., fi.edu)

(Animals / multiday) A live sloth and boa constrictor (not together), climb-on sculptures of a gorilla, tortoise, and red-eye tree frog on a Banyan tree, plus discovery stations in English and Spanish all bring home the point that the lush and fragile rainforest habitat is key to keeping our Earth healthy. Ages 4 and up. ($20-$22 ages 13 and up, $16-$18 ages 2-12, $2 ACCESS cardholder and three guests, free ages 2 and under, Feb 17-Sept. 2, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., ansp.org)

(Nature / free) This is the first weekend when a portion of the Northwest Philly arboretum re-opens its fairy tables, playhouse, willow circles and logs for building, sitting, and climbing on — a secret garden for imaginative play. Ages 3-12. (Free, weekends through October 26-27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 6060 Ardleigh St., awbury.org)