”Beetlejuice”
Based on beloved Tim Burton film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that is out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!
When: Tuesday, July 29-Aug. 3
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.
Open Wardrobe is open to all
Celebrating its 30th year, The Wardrobe is a mission-driven nonprofit organization focused on eliminating clothing insecurity, empowering people for success, and curbing fashion waste. It kicks off its 2025-26 season with an event open to everyone. This event, held at four locations, provides free clothing for work and life for anyone in need. Participants receive six items of adult clothing, accessories, undergarments, and toiletries. Open Wardrobe is a monthly event that provides free clothing to a specific population with no appointment needed. This allows people to “shop” with their peers and receive additional support, including complimentary services such as educational workshops, resource tables, and additional apparel not normally available. All participants must RSVP at wardrobepa.org.
When: Wednesday, July 30 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Available at four locations: 62 W. Marshall Rd., Upper Darby; 413 N. 4th St., Philadelphia; 345 Scarlett Rd., Kennett Square; Exton Square Mall (2nd floor near Boscov’s)
The Weeknd comes to Philly
Due to incredible fan demand, diamond-certified global superstar The Weeknd is bringing two shows to Philadelphia featuring chart-topping, multi-platinum and genre-defying Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti and special guest Mike Dean. Produced by Live Nation, The Weeknd: After Hours Til Dawn 2025 Tour will feature a never-before-seen production, and include an electrifying setlist with tracks from Hurry Up Tomorrow, After Hours, Dawn FM-plus all the hits from his extensive catalog. The Weeknd’s record-breaking 2022/2023 After Hours Til Dawn Tour saw incredible success globally, with legs across North America, Europe, the U.K. and Latin America. The tour wrapped with 60 sold-out stadium dates and more than 3 million attendees, breaking attendance records at multiple venues including London Stadium with 160,000 concertgoers across two nights. Last year, The Weeknd instantly sold-out a one-night-only stadium show in São Paulo, Brazil at Estádio MorumBIS featuring all new production and embarked on a stadium tour across Australia with shows in Melbourne and Sydney.
When: Wednesday, July 30 & Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Field Wy.
”Best Philly”: dedicating Mural Row at Schuylkill Yards
“Best Philly” is a new mural project from Mural Arts and Brandywine Realty Trust, curated by Conrad Benner. Creating 12 original mini-murals with six Philly artists on Mural Row at Schuylkill Yards, a new pedestrian-only path in West Philly’s University City. The project will be dedicated with entertainment, light refreshments, and more! Akira Gordon, Branche Coverdale, Cindy Lozito, Dora Cuenca, Isabella Akhtarshenas, and Manuela Guillén are the lead artists for “Best Philly.” A play on the iconic local saying: “West Philly is the best Philly,” or “West is best,” this theme encouraged our artists to create two murals each showing all the positive aspects of the work and life taking place in this pocket of the city, from groundbreaking cancer research that will save lives to educational institutions that are shaping the next generation to new and innovative public parks and placemaking spaces to blocks and blocks of neighbors who take care of one another.
When: Thursday, July 31 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
BlackStar Film Festival
Showcasing films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists from around the world, the BlackStar Film Festival presents features, shorts, documentaries, panel discussions and parties at venues throughout the city. Find the full list of events at www.blackstarfest.org.
When: Thursday, July 31-Aug. 3
Where: Various locations including 300 S. Broad St.
”A Plank in a Shipwreck” at Museum for Art in Wood
Museum for Art in Wood presents the opening of “A Plank in a Shipwreck,” the exhibition created by the fellows of the 2025 Windgate Arts Residency Program in Wood (WARP Wood). The exhibition represents the culmination of the highly renowned international residency, which supports artistic exploration, collaboration, and collegial exchange among artists and thinkers in wood. A Plank in a Shipwreck brings sculpture, marquetry, woodworking, and research created during the WARP Wood program to the Museum’s main gallery. “A Plank in a Shipwreck” is a direct translation of the Latin phrase “tabula in naufragio,” which has been used in legal contexts to describe a final hope, a last lifeline. The phrase offers an apt visceral metaphor for the bold leap each of the 2025 WARP Wood Fellows has made, crossing oceans and borders, letting go of safety, and trusting in a collaborative, uncertain process. Each WARP Wood exhibition reflects the fellows’ creative journey, featuring individual and collaborative works, including pieces made before and during their residency.
When: Friday, Aug. 1-Oct. 19
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd St.
Two-day Panel Mosaic Workshop at PMG
In this two day workshop, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Preservation Team will lead guests in creating their own 16” x 24” mosaic panel using the Zagar Method of mosaicking. Learn to break tile and cut mirror, plan your design, place tiles, and grout. Discover this freeing and versatile art form with staff that have trained with creator Isaiah Zagar and are responsible for maintaining the mosaics at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.
When: Saturday, Aug. 2 & Sunday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: Magic Gardens Studio, 1002 Watkins St.
Zoo Done It? at Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo is giving one lucky sleuth a chance to win a private exclusive tour of one of the most famous ‘haunted’ buildings in America. This adults-only, after-hours scavenger hunt and mystery experience gives guests the chance to uncover the secrets hidden within the Zoo’s enchanting grounds as they embark on a special quest. Participants will try to solve the mystery with one winning an exclusive chance to return to the Zoo for spooky season and enjoy a private guided tour of The Solitude, a famous American historic landmark which is believed to be haunted. Tickets are required, 21 years old and up.
When: Saturday, Aug. 2 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
Ginuwine comes to Philly
Ginuwine brings his chart-topping hits and magnetic stage presence to Philadelphia for one night only when the rhythm and blues legend will perform. Ginuwine is a Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter and performer best known for his breakout hit “Pony” and multiplatinum albums including “Ginuwine… The Bachelor” and “100% Ginuwine.” With chart-topping singles such as “So Anxious” and “Differences,” Ginuwine helped define the sound of late ’90s and early 2000s R&B. A dynamic live performer with more than 15 million albums sold, he continues to tour worldwide and remains one of the genre’s most iconic voices.
When: Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m.
Where: Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.
Peach Festival at Peddler’s Village
This August, Peddler’s Village will have you feeling peachy with its annual kickoff to National Peach Month. This free-to-attend, pay-as-you-go peachy paradise offers peach treats, live entertainment and scenic summer strolls through the gardens. Plus, while you’re savoring stone fruit, don’t miss the chance to check out the brand-new village-wide Safari in Sand sand sculpture installation.
Where: Peddler’s Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA 18931
2nd Street Festival in Northern Liberties
The first Sunday in August is Northern Liberties’ time to shine. Since 2008, the annual 2nd Street Festival has brought thousands of revelers to the neighborhood to enjoy live music, merchants, cocktails and the finest fare NoLibs (and beyond) has to offer. Pay as you go.
When: Sunday, Aug. 3 from 12-10 p.m.
Where: 2nd Street between Girard Avenue and Spring Garden Street
Discover play mode at the LEGO® Summer of Play
This summer, families in Philadelphia and beyond can get ready for a celebration of play like no other at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia with an all-new event. The LEGO® Summer of Play event will have new activities to help kids discover their unique play mode — whether they love to create, discover, build, dance or simply play their own way. Families can join a workshop to learn how to create a LEGO bee and design a playful city with the Master Model Builder where their imaginations can run wild. Kids of all ages can boogie to the DJ GoodVibes dance party and then have fun spotting surprise LEGO creations in MINILAND which has Philadelphia’s cityscape created out of more than 1.5 million LEGO bricks.
When: ends Sunday, Aug. 3
Where: LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Philadelphia, in Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pk., Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Back-to-School Donation Drive
Members of the West Philadelphia non-profit, ACHIEVEability, are calling on the community to help support students this upcoming school year as they officially kick off their annual Back to School Drive. ACHIEVEability is collecting school supply donations to help ensure 1,250 children return to school fully equipped and ready to learn, grow, and succeed. Supplies the non-profit is looking to collect include new backpacks, pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons, calculators, and additional classroom must-haves. The school supplies will then be given out to students during ACHIEVEability’s Backpack Drive on Wednesday, August 13. Donations can be shipped to or dropped off at ACHIEVEability’s office.
When: through Friday, Aug. 8
Where: ACHIEVEability, 5901 Market St.
”Of Earthen Kin: Works by Katie Kaplan” at PMG
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) presents a new exhibition titled “Of Earthen Kin: Works by Katie Kaplan.” The exhibition features new work by Katie Kaplan, a Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary artist whose work spans printmaking, sculpture, textiles, video, and installation. Her artistic practice is rooted in cultural organizing, activist art, and mutual aid. These values manifest through her commitment to collaborative and community-centered art-making. Her current body of work focuses on the environment, particularly through the lens of vibrating landscapes and close-up examinations of fungi and foliage.
When: through Sunday, Aug. 10
Where: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.
CraftNOW Create Summer Camp
Following four successful years, CraftNOW and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation are partnering again to bring Philadelphia’s biggest free art class back to 129 neighborhood recreation centers, serving nearly 20,000 campers since the program was launched. CraftNOW, through its CraftNOW Create program, will coordinate with local galleries and museums to provide over 10,000 hours of free craft instruction to 6,000 children. This year’s program expands into nine new recreation centers, allowing CraftNOW to reach new neighborhoods and communities. This year’s summer camps offer a variety of craft activities provided by 14 CraftNOW Partners, including Asian Arts Initiative, The Clay Studio, DesignPhiladelphia, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Museum for Art in Wood, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. In collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, CraftNOW will be providing take-home kits with art supplies and free passes to the museum for each student and up to five more members of their family.
When: through Friday, Aug. 15
Where: various locations across the city
”Where I’m From” at the Barnes
This summer, the Barnes Foundation and Mural Arts Philadelphia present “Where I’m From,” an exhibition of original work created by artists from Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Rec Crew, a 24-week job readiness and life skills program for justice-impacted young adults, and artists at State Correctional Institution Phoenix (SCI Phoenix), southeast Pennsylvania’s maximum-security prison for men. Free with general admission to the Barnes, “Where I’m From” will be on view in the second-floor classroom of the Collection Gallery.
When: through Monday, Aug. 25
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
Center City District SIPS returns
The pay-as-you-go Center City District SIPS series is back for its 21st season with lots of happy hour revelry. Enjoy CCD SIPS happy hour al fresco at Cret Park and Dilworth Park. The weekly Wednesday night program offers substantial discounts at nearly 100 (and counting) bars, restaurants and beer gardens throughout Center City. The CCD SIPS promotion is simple: $5 beer, $6 wine, $7 cocktails and half-priced appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m. at favorites like Franky Bradley’s, Taste Cheesesteak Bar, Harp & Crown, Independence Beer Garden, Pizzeria Vetri, Square 1682, Bud & Marilyn’s, Cavanaugh’s, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Continental Midtown and more. After happy hour, enjoy 15% off dinner at select locations.
When: Wednesdays through Aug. 27 from 5-7 p.m.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
East Passyunk’s Italian Passeggiata returns
East Passyunk Avenue, South Philadelphia’s historic commercial corridor known for its 160+ independently-owned restaurants and shops, will become the ultimate local hangout on Thursday evenings this summer. This year’s event is sponsored by Top Dog Cocktails with featured products available at bars up and down the Avenue. Participating bars and restaurants will offer special happy hour pricing, which includes $6 beers, $7 wines, and $8 cocktails, complemented by $8 small bites. Retailers and service businesses will activate the sidewalk in front of their businesses with pop-up shopping, bins of books and vinyl, flower bars, and more, encouraging visitors to leisurely stroll along the Avenue like an Italian promenade. This event echoes the Italian tradition of the passeggiata — a “leisurely walk or stroll, especially one taken in the evening.”
When: Thursdays through Aug. 28 at 5-7 p.m.
Where: East Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival
For 2025’s Year of the Snake, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square will showcase magnificent giant lighted sculptures crafted from steel frames and wrapped in vibrant silk, blending light and culture. The popular 200-foot-long dragon returns along with never-before-seen giant lantern displays, with more lights, more lanterns, and more wattage than ever before. Exploring more than 1,100 individual sculptures placed in nearly 40 groupings, visitors will embark on a magical journey through enchanting forest-themed displays and a radiant underwater realm, where lanterns and interactive delights showcase the splendor of China’s culture alongside diverse wildlife and vibrant marine wonders. In addition to the gorgeous light installations, guests can enjoy live cultural stage performances, see the choreographed fountain light show in the historic Rendell Family Fountain, taste food and drink options including Asian cuisine and American comfort food, drink a toast at the Cocktail Garden, and shop for Chinese folk artists’ crafts.
When: through Sunday, Aug. 31 from 6-11 p.m.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St.
Dino-Mite Summer
Connect with the wonders of the natural world through hands-on discovery, dinosaur exploration, and real science in action this July and August at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Unearth fossils like a paleontologist at The Big Dig, meet live turtles and insects, and chat with Academy scientists. From stormwater science and sustainability to fashion, dinosaur tours and a weekend-long celebration of insects, every visit brings new opportunities to investigate biodiversity, ecology, evolution and more.
When: through Sunday, Aug. 31
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
Summer Resident Artists Exhibition
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia’s preeminent ceramic arts and resident artist center, premieres three new exhibitions highlighting and celebrating the work of its Resident Artists. The Clay Studio’s Jill Bonovitz Gallery features “Where Do We Go When We Open the Heart?” by Hawaiian multi-disciplinary artist Akiko Jackson, Parallax by South Korean sculpture artist Minah Kim, and New Work by Philadelphian ceramic artist Kevin Snipes.
When: through Sunday, Sept. 7
Where: The Clay Studio, 1425 N. American St.
”Word Powered: Exploring Free Speech Through Art” at NLM
“Word Powered: Exploring Free Speech Through Art” is a juried exhibition that examines the dynamic relationship between censorship, freedom of expression, and diverse perspectives. Bringing together a range of artistic voices, mediums, and subject matter, the exhibition challenges visitors to reflect on their role in safeguarding the right to free speech and better understand how language can be manipulated, suppressed, or celebrated. The works on display invite audiences across the political and cultural divide to engage with the potency of words, demonstrating how art can spark vital conversations and illuminate our collective voice.
When: through Monday, Sept. 8
Where: National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
“The Pearl Bailey Showcase” at AAMP
Pearl Bailey was an award-winning actor, singer, songwriter, and author. Whether she was performing on Broadway, opening for Duke Ellington, captivating audiences in Philadelphia nightclubs, or starring in her own daytime television show, Pearl Bailey’s passion and talent made her a beloved entertainer worldwide. Objects from the Bailey-Bellson Collection, including scrapbooks, archival photographs, and letters from friends and admirers worldwide, will be on display.
When: through Sunday, Sept. 13
Where: Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St.
”Voices of the Community: Local Black Preservation” at HSP
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) proudly announces the opening of its summer exhibit, “Voices of the Community: Local Black Preservation.” Support for this exhibit comes from The Haverford Trust Company and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Endowment Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation. The exhibit explores the history, migration, and preservation of African American communities in Philadelphia, and Lawnside, New Jersey. Through personal archives, flyers, photographs, and ephemera, the exhibit highlights how Black individuals and communities have preserved their own stories across generations through the built environment, music, memory, and collective action.
When: through Friday, Sept. 26
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.
Storytime in the Square
Join Ms. Chen from Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia every other Wednesday for free storytime and crafts in the Pavilion or on the Great Lawn. Stories, rhymes, and dancing explore different themes throughout the season ending with bubbles and fun crafts. All kids and their caregivers are welcome.
When: through October 22 from 10-11 a.m.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St.
Lansdowne Farmers Market
The 18th season of the Lansdowne Farmers Market features the borough’s first-ever fully themed summer lineup. The new program is designed not only to nourish our bodies but also to strengthen community connections and promote mental well-being. Following a successful winter pilot and the buzz-worthy Egg-nostic Egg Hunt, the market will now feature a unique theme every Saturday including Pride, Juneteenth, Classic Cars, Food Truck Day, International Blues Day, and more. Each week, visitors will find live music, fresh local food, artisan vendors, and interactive nonprofit and community partners offering a welcoming space to connect, decompress, and celebrate together. Themed programming is part of a broader effort by the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation to create consistent, joyful experiences that support emotional wellness and reduce social isolation—an urgent public health need.
When: Saturdays through Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Veterans Landing, 30 N. Lansdowne Ave.
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