Free and Exciting Things To Do In Philly This Week, April 9 – 15

‘All Things Spring In Philadelphia’

Spring is trying it’s hardest! Many of the fountains have been turned on and it’s going to be a fun packed week of things to do in Philadelphia!

With many museum exhibits, the continuation of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, the Game Masters at The Franklin Institute, Food Truck Friday the 13th event, the Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival, Franklin Square is now open and so much more, you might need a vacation after this week!

Philadelphia Phillies Host the Cincinnati Reds ~ April 9 – 11 ~ Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the Reds. Tuesday night is also the first dollar dog night of the season! ~ Philadelphia Phillies Host the Cincinnati Reds ~

Cherry Blossom Festival ~ April 9 – 15 ~ Enjoy Japanese Culture Week throughout Philadelphia! Guests can try their hand at origami (Japanese paper folding) on April 9 at 5 pm, dance demo April 8 at 5 pm, Sushi making class April 9, 10 & 11 starting at 6:30 pm at Tokio Headhouse (click each date for info) and a slew of activities and events throughout the week. (Some events are free, others are pay-as-you-go) Events Calendar – The main day of celebration is the ending to the Cherry Blossom Festival, Sakura Sunday, held on Sunday, April 15 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park. Sakura Sunday brings contemporary and modern Japan to Philadelphia. ~ Cherry Blossom Festival ~

Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World Exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences ~ April 9 – May 6 ~ Held at The Academy of Natural Sciences, come face-to-snout with live crocodilians, a group of reptiles that has evolved and thrived for 200 million years thanks to their brute strength, keen senses, and murderous instincts. ~ Cros Exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences ~

Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music Exhibit ~ April 9 – September 2 ~ Held at the National Museum of American Jewish Museum. Audiences may be familiar with many of Bernstein’s works, notably West Side Story! The exhibition consists of a collection of artifacts, films and sound bites that not only celebrate the talented composer’s 100th birthday, but also bring to light the stress, fear and eventual hopefulness of an American Jew living through the Holocaust, World War II and the Vietnam War.  ~ Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music Exhibit ~

Game Masters at The Franklin Institute ~ April 9 – September 3 ~ Held at The Franklin Institute. Game Masters showcases the work of over 30 innovative game designers and takes visitors on an interactive journey inside their favorite video games, from the trailblazing arcade era through today’s web and console games. Visitors can challenge themselves to achieve a high score on more than 100 playable games!  ~ Opening: Game Masters at The Franklin Institute ~

Design in Revolution: A 1960′s Odyssey Exhibit ~ April 9 – September 9 ~ Held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. From Pop Art and psychedelia to the civil rights and anti-war movements, the 1960s was a decade of liberation—and of great loss. See how designers, artists, and architects responded to the tumultuous period that still looms large in the American imagination. ~ Design in Revolution: A 1960′s Odyssey Exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art ~

Parkway 100 Celebration ~ April 9 – November 16 ~ The Ben Franklin Parkway is turning 100 and Philadelphia is set to mark this milestone with a year of special events, promotions, and family-friendly experiences through November 18, 2018.  ~ Parkway 100 Celebration ~

Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped A Nation ~ April 9 – December 31 ~ Held at the National Constitution Center.  The exhibition focuses on Alexander Hamilton and the challenging relationships and friendships he had with some of our country’s history makers such as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Aaron Burr. ~ Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped A Nation ~

Franklin Square Opened for 2018 Season ~ 2018 ~ Enjoy mini-golf, a carousel, food and drink options and an outdoor space for kids or to simply hang out at Franklin Square. ~ Franklin Square ~

Philadelphia Phillies Host the Cincinnati Reds ~ April 10 – 11 ~ Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the Reds. Tuesday night is also the first dollar dog night of the season! ~ Philadelphia Phillies Host the Cincinnati Reds ~

Broadway Philadelphia: On Your Feet! at the Academy of Music ~ April 10 – 15 ~ Held at the Academy of Music at 240 S. Broad Street. This Broadway musical is based on the music and life of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. This show features hit songs like Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Conga! ~ Broadway Philadelphia: On Your Feet! at the Academy of Music ~

Pay-What-You-Wish ~ April 11 ~ Stop in at the Philadelphia Museum of Art every Wednesday from 5 pm – 8:45 pm and ”Pay What You Wish”,  as you explore the museum and its remarkable collections. ~ Pay What You Wish ~

Door 19: Off the Hook at the Academy of Natural Sciences ~ April 12 ~ Held at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Door 19 is quirky science meets themed soiree, set against a backdrop of live performances, music, potent libations, and dinosaurs. ~ Door 19: Off the Hook at the Academy of Natural Sciences ~

Cinedelphia Film Festival ~ April 12 – 30 ~ The Cinedelphia Film Festival is Philadelphia’s alternative celebration of film that pays tribute to everything from locally shot rarities to video era oddities.  ~ Cinedelphia Film Festival ~

Friday Nights at The Philadelphia Museum of Art ~ Art After 5 ~ April 9 ~ Free with admission, from 5 pm to 8:45 pm. ~ Mike Casey Trio –​​ Three of the brightest rising stars in jazz—led by saxophonist Mike Casey—perform modern original music and creatively reimagined classics. Held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Great Stair Hall. ~ Art After 5 ~

Food Truck Friday ~ April 13 ~ Held at Industrial Food Truck at 5200 Grays Ave from 6 pm to midnight. Come out for the 1st Indoor/Outdoor Food Truck Friday event at Industrial Food Truck. Not only will you experience amazing food from the Philly’s Finest Food Trucks, but you will also enjoy the live Reggae Sounds of JahPEOPLE! Sample food from various food vendors such as 1732 Meats & others!  ~ Food Truck Friday ~

American Whiskey Convention ~ April 13 ~ Held at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at 6825-31 Norwitch Drive. Savor a diverse range of American-made whiskeys while exploring one of the world’s more impressive collections of classic automobiles!  ~ American Whiskey Convention ~

Broadway Philadelphia: On Your Feet! at the Academy of Music ~ April 14 – 15 ~ Held at the Academy of Music at 240 S. Broad Street. This Broadway musical is based on the music and life of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. This show features hit songs like Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Conga! ~ Broadway Philadelphia: On Your Feet! at the Academy of Music ~

Macy’s Family Fun Day ~ April 14 ~ FREE  entry to the first 250 people! Held at the African American Museum from 11 am to 4 pm.  Enjoy a variety of interactive jazz music and arts workshops. ~ Macy’s Family Fun Day ~

Dining Out For Life Food Truck Pop-Up ~ April 14 ~ This annual fundraising event is where some restaurants donate 33 percent of every bill to Action Wellness! The event kicks off on Saturday with a food truck pop-up in the heart of the Gayborhood at lunchtime with a beer garden in partnership with Yards Brewing Company. The main event, featuring over 200 restaurants, is set for Thursday, April 19.  ~ Dining Out For Life Food Truck Pop-Up ~

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Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival ~ April 15 ~ Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival is a foodies dream come true. Check out the many Manayunk restaurants, some Philadelphia’s top food trucks, art vendors, live music, restaurant tours and plenty of shopping along Main Street Manayunk. Just make sure to bring your appetite. Enjoy! ~ Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival ~ 

Broadway Philadelphia: On Your Feet! at the Academy of Music ~ April 15 ~ This Broadway musical is based on the music and life of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. This show features hit songs like Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Conga! ~ Broadway Philadelphia: On Your Feet! at the Academy of Music ~

Sakura Sunday ~ April 15 ~ Sakura Sunday, held from 10 am to 5 pm at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park, is an event you don’t want to miss. Sakura Sunday brings contemporary and modern Japan to Philadelphia. ~ Cherry Blossom Festival ~

Photo Courtesy of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival for MyPhillyAlive