Free and Exciting Things To Do In Philly This Week, May 14 – 20

‘Philadelphia Festivals Galore!’ 

This will be a great week to get out in Philadelphia as there is going to be a fun packed week and weekend of terrific festivals, events, exhibits and more in Philadelphia!

With the many museum exhibits, the Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains, the Chinese Lantern Festival, Philadelphia Orchestra Presents: Tosca at the Kimmel Center, the Parks on Tap, Night Market at Burholme, Beer Gardens, the Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival, Night Market at Burholme, the Philadelphia Children’s Festival, Wizard World Comic Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Spring Wine Exploration, Diamond Day at Reading Terminal Market, Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival, the 9th Street Italian Market Festival, All-Star Craft Beer, Wine and Cocktail Festival, Preakness at the Piazza at The Schmidt’s Commons, Strawberry Festival at Peddler’s Village and so much more, you might need a vacation after this week!

Love Your Park Week ~ May 14 – 20 ~ Over 100 parks across Philadelphia will host volunteer cleanups and special events to clean, green, and celebrate Philly’s parks. ~ Love Your Park Week

117th Annual Student Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ~ May 14 – June 3 ~ Held at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad Street. PAFA is known for admitting some of the best. Here the public has the opportunity to view and purchase works by talented students at the school. The annual PAFA Student Exhibition kicks off on Thursday, May 10, with a preview party and continues from May 11 to June 3 with opportunities to view and purchase sculptures, paintings, installations and more. ~ 117th Annual Student Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ~

Chinese Lantern Festival ~ May 14 – June 30 ~ Take pleasure in the Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square! The square will come alive and glow with 28 larger-than-life illuminated displays such as a huge 200-foot Chinese dragon, pandas, sea creatures, mythological creatures and more. Enjoy special food, shopping, live performances as well. ~ Chinese Lantern Festival ~

Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music Exhibit ~ May 14 – 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 ~ May 14 – 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 ~

Renoir: Father and Son/Painting & Cinema ~ May 14 – September 3 ~  FREE on every 1st Sunday. Held at the Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The exhibit explores the relationship between impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir and master filmmaker Jean Renoir by juxtaposing the father’s paintings and drawings with the son’s films, costumes, photos and ceramics. ~ Renoir: Father and Son/Painting & Cinema ~

PHS Pop-Up Garden ~ May 14 – until fall ~ Relax while enjoying food & beer at two different locations! South Street, 1438 South Street and University City Square, 36th & Filbert streets. ~ PHS Pop-Up Garden ~

Design in Revolution: A 1960′s Odyssey Exhibit ~ May 14 – 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 ~

Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains ~ May 14 – September 30 ~ Held at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. Enjoy an impressive display of 1,700 jets that create beautiful fountain shows. Each show is set to both music and choreographed color displays. Tickets are timed and are required for entry ~ Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains

Parkway 100 Celebration ~ May 14 – 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 ~ May 14 – 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 ~

Pay-What-You-Wish ~ May 16 ~ 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 ~

Parks On Tap At Fernhill Park in Germantown ~ May 16 – 20 ~ Parks on Tap is a program that brings a traveling beer garden from park to park for 23 weeks. Get out there and explore many of Philadelphia’s beautiful parks while enjoy beer, food and good company! ~ Parks On Tap ~

Philadlephia Orchestra Presents: Tosca at the Kimmel Center ~ May 16 – 20 – Held at Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad Street at the Kimmel Center. The world’s leading opera conductor brings to Verizon Hall one of the finest of Italian grand operas with the unparalleled Philadelphia Orchestra on stage, Puccini’s Tosca! ~ Philadlephia Orchestra Presents: Tosca at the Kimmel Center ~

Movie Night at Schmidt’s Commons: Singing In The Rain (musical) ~ May 17 ~ FREE – Held at Schmidt’s Commons, 1001 N. 2nd Street from 7 pm to 9 pm. ~ Movie Night at Schmidt’s Commons: Musical Singing In The Rain ~

Night Market at Burholme ~ May 17 ~ Enjoy live music and a ton of food truck fare from local favorites like Authentik Byrek and Tu’s Tea & Banh Mi plus new-to-Night-Market vendors like Original 13 Ciderworks, House of Cupcakes and Royal Zarasa. ~ Night Market at Burholme ~

Philadelphia Children’s Festival ~ May 17 – 19 ~ Held at 
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street. Get ready for fun family-oriented programming! Performances range from circus arts to an imaginative show featuring a giant, costumed dragon. ~ Philadelphia Children’s Festival ~

Wizard World Comic Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center ~ May 17 – 20 ~ Held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street. Comics, cosplay and pop culture fanatics of all ages invade the Pennsylvania Convention Center for four days of non-stop, action-packed entertainment. ~ Wizard World Comic Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center ~

FREE Admission at Select Philly Museums for International Museum Day ~ May 18 ~ FREE Admission – Museums all over the world take part in International Museum Day to raise awareness about the importance and positive impact of these institutions. Enjoy free admission at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, Penn Museum, and more participating museums.  ~ FREE Admission at Select Philly Museums for International Museum Day ~

Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~ May 18 ~ Held at Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Columbus Boulevard. Enjoy the beer garden and the relaxing waterfront hangout. There will be a weekend-long festival full of musical performances, hands-on activities and tasty food and drink options. ~ Grand Opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~

Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~ May 18 – 20; May 24 – September 3 ~ Held at the Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard. Enjoy the roller rink, mini-golf course, The Midway (with the giant Ferris wheel!) and food concessions this weekend! It will be open 7-days a week starting Thursday, May 24! ~ Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~

Spring Wine Exploration ~ May 18 ~ From 7 pm to 9 pm at Alchemist Society at 1100 N. Front St Ste 102. Enjoy the exploration and complimentary tasting of wines that perfectly pair with sunshine and spring flowers. ~ Get Tickets ~ Info: > Spring Wine Exploration ~

Friday Nights at The Philadelphia Museum of Art ~ Art After 5 ~ May 18 ~ Free with admission, from 5 pm to 8:45 pm. ~ Final Fridays – Body Language –​​ Get body-positive with a night dedicated to celebrating forms and figures of all shapes and sizes. Held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Great Stair Hall. ~ Art After 5 ~ 

Silkies Hike Philadelphia ~ May 19 ~ Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike is built on the premise that camaraderie and humor will save lives. Twenty-two veterans a day are taking their own lives! This hike allows veterans, both former and active, to bond, build friendships, and become a support network that veterans often need to fight the war at home. Silkies Hike in Philadelphia does the same with a 13 mile hike through the streets of Philly! Open to only military Veterans and those currently active military of all branches of the service. But if you see them out on Saturday, don’t hesitate to say hello and thank these men & women for their service to our country! ~ Silkies Hike Philadelphia ~

Diamond Day at Reading Terminal Market ~ May 19 ~ From 10 am to 3 pm at Reading Terminal Market at 51 N. 12th Street. For its 125th birthday, Reading Terminal Market thanks its visitors and loyal guests on Saturday with a full day of awesome deals, free Taste of Philly food tours, special prizes, food samples and raffles every hour from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. for the chance to win a $100 shopping spree.  ~ Diamond Day at Reading Terminal Market ~

Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~ May 19 – 20; May 24 – September 3 ~ Held at the Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard. Enjoy the roller rink, mini-golf course, The Midway (with the giant Ferris wheel!) and food concessions this weekend! It will be open 7-days a week starting Thursday, May 24! ~ Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival ~ May 19 ~ From noon – 5 pm from Walnut Street between Broad and 19th streets and 17th and 18th streets from Sansom to Locust streets. ~ Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival ~

Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival ~ May 19 ~ Noon to 6 pm on Trenton Avenue, Haggert to Norris streets  At the sculpture derby, human-powered vehicles make their way down Trenton Avenue in hopes of crossing the finish line first. At the festival, local vendors peddle crafts, artwork, food, drinks and more. ~ Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival ~

All-Star Craft Beer, Wine and Cocktail Festival ~ May 19 ~ From 3 pm – 7 pm at Citizens Bank Park. Guests can sample more than 200 beers and wines in the Craft Beer, Wine, and Cocktail Garden, walk the bases and around the warning track, get photos taken in the Phillies’ dugout, groove to live music and more. ~ All-Star Craft Beer, Wine and Cocktail Festival ~

Preakness at the Piazza at The Schmidt’s Commons ~ May 19 ~ From 5 pm – 9:30 pm at Schmidt’s Commons, 1001 N. 2nd Street. The Preakness Stakes is the second race of the Triple Crown series. Enjoy this unique, fun, fashion event! 100% of the net proceeds will support the National MS Society. ~ Preakness at the Piazza at The Schmidt’s Commons ~

40th Street Summer Series ~ May 19 ~ FREE – Starts at 6 pm at 40th and Walnut streets. Enjoy the West Philadelphia Orchestra and Dan Blacksberg’s Hot Klezmers. Guests can enjoy free scoops of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and a craft activity led by the University City Arts League. ~ 40th Street Summer Series ~

9th Street Italian Market Festival ~ May 19 – 20 ~ From 
S. 9th Street, from Fitzwater to Wharton streets. Enjoy live entertainment, games (including a greased pole-climbing contest) and food, to include the market’s dazzling array of homemade sausages, delicious cannoli, imported meats and cheeses, cappuccino, beef and poultry, specialty cookware and fresh pasta. ~ 9th Street Italian Market Festival ~

Strawberry Festival at Peddler’s Village ~ May 19 – 20 ~ Visitors can sample strawberry treats, shop for handmade crafts from over 60 artisan vendors, watch a pie-eating contest and enjoy live music from Rendition Jazz Band, Galena Brass Band and more local performers. ~ Strawberry Festival at Peddler’s Village ~

.

Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~ May 20 ~ Held at Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Columbus Boulevard. Enjoy the beer garden and the relaxing waterfront hangout. There will be a weekend-long festival full of musical performances, hands-on activities and tasty food and drink options. ~ Grand Opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~

Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~ May 20; May 24 – September 3 ~ Held at the Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard. Enjoy the roller rink, mini-golf course, The Midway (with the giant Ferris wheel!) and food concessions this weekend! It will be open 7-days a week starting Thursday, May 24! ~ Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Belonger for MyPhillyAlive