Free and Exciting Things To Do In Philly This Week, May 7 – 13

Swann Memorial Fountain at Logan Circle Courtesy of Emily Tharp of HerPhilly

‘Get Excited About Philadelphia In So Many Ways!’ 

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 Philadelphia Sixers home game, many museum exhibits, the Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains, the Chinese Lantern Festival, Pennsylvania Ballet Presents Jewels at the Academy of Music, the Parks on Tap, Beer Gardens, Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party, Grand Opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival, Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, Dad Vail Regatta, Rittenhouse Square Fine Craft Fair, Mother’s Day Brunch Special and so much more, you might need a vacation after this week!

Culinary Fight Club – Philly Blended Burger Battle ~ May 7 ~ From 6 pm – 9 pm at Uptown Beer Garden at 1735 JFK Blvd. Chefs will compete in the ultimate burger battle! Each burger must contain at least 25% mushrooms! ~ Culinary Fight Club – Philly Blended Burger Battle ~

Philadelphia Sixers vs the Boston Celtics ~ May 7 ~ Held at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street. Time TBA. The Sixers are down 3 -0, so this is a do or die game! A must win! ~ Philadelphia Sixers vs Boston Celtics ~

Philadelphia Phillies Host the San Francisco Giants ~ May 7 – 10 ~ Starts 7:05 pm. Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the Giants. ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants ~

Chinese Lantern Festival ~ May 7 – 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 7 – 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 7 – 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 7 – 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 7 – 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 7 – 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 ~

Opening Day of Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains ~ May 7 – 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 7 – 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 7 – 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 San Francisco Giants ~ May 8 – 10 ~ Starts 7:05 pm. Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the Giants. Tuesday night is also Dollar Dog night. ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants ~

Pay-What-You-Wish ~ May 9 ~ 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 ~

Philadelphia Phillies Host the San Francisco Giants ~ May 9 – 10 ~ Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the Giants. FREE Cap! ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants ~

Parks On Tap At Campbell Square in Port Richmond ~ May 9 – 13 ~ Campbell Square is located at the corner of Allegheny Avenue & Belgrade Avenue. It is a 3 acre park that lies in the heart of the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. 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 ~

Sittin’ In Featuring Killiam Shakespeare at the Kimmel Center ~ May 9 ~ FREE – Killiam Shakespeare brings their eclectic blend of funk, soul, jazz, R&B and hip-hop to the Kimmel Center. ~ Sittin’ In Featuring Killiam Shakespeare at the Kimmel Center ~

Philadelphia Phillies Host the San Francisco Giants ~ May 10 ~ Starts at 1:05. Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the Giants. ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants ~

Movie Night at Schmidt’s Commons: The Shape of Water ~ May 10 ~ FREE – Held at Schmidt’s Commons, 1001 N. 2nd Street from 7 pm to 9 pm. ~ Movie Night at Schmidt’s Commons: The Shape of Water ~

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party ~ May 10 ~ From 7 pm to 10 pm. Held at the Bellevue Hotel at 200 S. Broad St. The event will feature cuisine from Rittenhouse Row’s best restaurants, cocktails from their best bartenders, informal modeling of spring trends from Rittenhouse Row member boutiques and salons, and a silent auction with Rittenhouse Row experiences and merchandise. ~ Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party ~

Pennsylvania Ballet Presents Jewels at the Academy of Music ~ May 10 – 13 ~ Held at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street. The show tells the story of three major moments in Balanchine’s life by comparing it to three different and fanciful jewels.  ~ Pennsylvania Ballet Presents Jewels at the Academy of Music ~

Grand Opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~ May 11 ~ 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 ~

Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~ May 11 – 13; 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 ~

Dad Vail Regatta ~ May 11 & 12 ~ Athletes from more than 100 universities flock to the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive for the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. The race begins just north of Kelly Drive and Hunting Park Avenue and continues for 2,000 meters (an Olympic-length race) to the Columbia Avenue Bridge. The best place to spot the action is along the Schuylkill at the John B. Kelly statue, which is also near the grandstands. ~ Dad Vail Regatta ~

Rittenhouse Square Fine Craft Fair ~ May 11 – 13 ~ Held at Rittenhouse Square, 210 W. Rittenhouse Square. More than 100 vendors from Pennsylvania and the surrounding states take over Rittenhouse Square this weekend. Visitors will be able to purchase painting, photographs, sculptures, handmade furniture, jewelry and more. ~ Rittenhouse Square Fine Craft Fair ~

Friday Nights at The Philadelphia Museum of Art ~ Art After 5 ~ May 11 ~ 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 ~ 

Philadelphia Phillies Host the New York Mets ~ May 11 – 13 ~ Starts 7:05 pm. Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the hated Mets! ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets  ~

117th Annual Student Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ~ May 11 – 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 ~

Dad Vail Regatta ~ May 12 ~ Athletes from more than 100 universities flock to the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive for the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. The race begins just north of Kelly Drive and Hunting Park Avenue and continues for 2,000 meters (an Olympic-length race) to the Columbia Avenue Bridge. The best place to spot the action is along the Schuylkill at the John B. Kelly statue, which is also near the grandstands. ~ Dad Vail Regatta ~

Grand Opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~ May 12 ~ 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 ~

Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~ May 12 – 13; 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 ~

Scrapple Day ~ May 12 ~ Held at Reading Terminal Market from 11 am to 2 pm. Calling all scrapple lovers! Enjoy all things scrapple at Scrapple Day! Visitors will be able to taste scrapple food items from 15 plus Market merchants, watch a live scrapple demonstration and try scrapple, and listen to live music. ~ Scrapple Day ~

Hawthornes Beer Cafe’s 9th Annual IPA, Champagne & Rose Festival ~ May 12 ~ From noon to 8 pm outside on street in front of Hawthornes Beer Cafe, 738 S. 11th Street. Enjoy cold beer, refreshing rosé, bubbly champagne and delicious food truck fare. ~ Hawthornes Beer Cafe’s 9th Annual IPA, Champagne & Rose Festival ~

Taco Festival at SugarHouse Casino ~ May 12 – 13 ~ Enjoy delicious tacos from more than 15 restaurants and tequila tastings! The festival also promises a beach-themed margarita bar where bartenders will be slinging frozen and classic margs. ~ Taco Festival at SugarHouse Casino ~

Philadelphia Phillies Host the New York Mets ~ May 12 ~ Starts 7:05 pm. Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the hated Mets! ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets ~

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Philadelphia Phillies Host the New York Mets ~ May 13 ~ Starts 1:35 pm. FREE ladies pullover for women 15 & over. Come out and watch the Phillies and their young team take on the hated Mets! ~ Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets ~

Grand Opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park & UNIVESTival ~ May 13 ~ 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 ~

Grand Opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest ~ May 13; 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 ~

Taco Festival at SugarHouse Casino ~ May 13 ~ Enjoy delicious tacos from more than 15 restaurants and tequila tastings! The festival also promises a beach-themed margarita bar where bartenders will be slinging frozen and classic margs. ~ Taco Festival at SugarHouse Casino ~

Photo Courtesy of Emily Tharp of HerPhilly