So...What Is There To Do Around Here?: Seasonal Events

Doylestown, PA
Through Sunday, July 27, 2025

Lewis Tanner Moore — great-nephew of Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first African American painter to gain international acclaim — dedicated much of his life advocating for Black artists and challenging institutions, like the Michener Art Museum, not to overlook their work and talent.
The Bucks County museum pays tribute to the collector and curator with an exhibition featuring 35 of the 65 paintings, photographs, sculptures and works on paper that Moore helped it to acquire. The collection includes works by the devoted advocate’s forefather, as well as local artists Moe Brooker, Barbara Bullock and James Brantley.

Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, September 1, 2025

The latest iteration of the famous three-decade-old traveling exhibition, Body Worlds: Vital has arrived at The Franklin Institute.
Featuring 20 whole-body displays and over 150 specimens, the exhibit is an exposition of ethically donated human bodies, animals and other anatomical figures that allows visitors to view complex anatomy structures and functions in an unprecedented way through the innovative preservation process of plastination.
The interactive and immersive exhibition weaves together organic artifacts and video projections; explores the physical and mental health concerns of contemporary times; and celebrates humanity in its optimal state: healthy, vibrant, vigorous and in motion.

Philadelphia, PA
April 19 - August 10, 2025

Hundreds of flags and banners were stitched by colonial flag makers like Betsy Ross and Rebecca Flower Young and carried by Revolutionary soldiers and militiamen. Only 30 are known to have survived.
The Museum of the American Revolution celebrates the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War and the birth of the United States Armed Forces with Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags.
The milestone exhibition showcases over a dozen of these original flags, the largest collection of Revolutionary-era banners in more than 200 years.

Devon, PA
May 21 - June 1, 2025

The beloved Devon Horse Show — the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse competition in the nation —is an annual equine tradition dating back to 1896 featuring equestrian disciplines, open-air exhibitions and special events (including a dog show and Memorial Day tribute) at Chester County’s famous Devon Show Grounds.
Alongside is the old-fashioned Devon Country Fair, itself an institution since 1919, with food, vendors, an art gallery, and a Midway featuring a Ferris wheel, rides and carnival games.

Philadelphia, PA
May 23 - June 1, 2025

Philadelphia’s circus roots go way back — all the way to 1793, when the first modern circus performance in America took place right here. (George Washington was in the audience.)
Circus and Philadelphia reunite for another first: the inaugural Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival. Presented by FringeArts, this 10-day extravaganza brings local and international circus artists together under one (metaphorical) tent for a celebration of acrobatics, artistry and superhuman feats.
The schedule includes free performances, ticketed shows, hands-on activities for families and workshops for performers. Keep an eye on the official website for the lineup of performances.

Philadelphia, PA
May 23 - September 1, 2025

When warm weather hits, the focus along the Delaware River waterfront is Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest. The open-air festival’s centerpiece is the NHL-sized roller-skating rink surrounded by a double-decker carousel, a 60-foot Ferris wheel, mini-golf, a moon bounce, and a midway with boardwalk games and rides.
Or just chill and indulge in plenty of food and drink alongside soaring views of the river and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Admission is free; everything else is pay-as-you-go.

Philadelphia, PA
May 23 through fall 2025

The popular summertime pop-up festival at Spruce Street Harbor Park (SSHP) on the Delaware River features a boardwalk with concessions and plenty of spaces to chill — in waterside Adirondack chairs, in flat-bottomed net lounges above the river or in cozy hammocks in the meadow.

Philadelphia, PA
May 25 - July 6, 2025

Film buffs can find works by established and emerging Latino filmmakers at the 14th annual Philadelphia Latino Film Festival. The lineup includes feature films, shorts, animations, web series and documentaries, along with workshops, discussions and awards honoring filmmaking achievements in the Latino creative community.

Philadelphia, PA
June 3-15, 2025

Ease on down Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts for this presentation of The Wiz. The Tony Award-winning adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz featuring a predominantly Black cast follows the story of Dorothy and her unlikely friends — the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion — as they journey to the Emerald City and the all-powerful wizard.
This contemporary staging captures the energy and joy of the 1974 classic, pairing its iconic soul-, gospel- and funk-infused score with contemporary direction, new choreography and a refreshed script penned by Emmy-nominated TV host Amber Ruffin.

Philadelphia, PA
June 6-8, 2025

This popular twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country (98 years strong in 2025) — returns to the perimeter of Rittenhouse Square park and features works by more than 140 professional artists specializing in media ranging from sculpture to paintings.

Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, June 8, 2025

The country’s largest Black and African cultural festival hits a massive milestone anniversary in 2025! Celebrating its 50th year, ODUNDE brings an authentic taste of Africa and nearly 500,000 attendees to South Philadelphia.
ODUNDE traditionally begins with a week of events and culminates on the second Sunday of June with an outdoor festival on South Street featuring dozens of vendors, live music, performances, and pay-as-you-go African, Caribbean and soul food dishes. Stay tuned for more about this year’s event.

Philadelphia, PA
June 16 – July 4, 2025

The perfect prelude to 2026’s FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup brings some of the world’s best soccer players stateside for an epic, international tournament comprised of 32 club (not national) teams including Real Madrid (Spain), Manchester City (England) and Pachuca (Mexico).
One of 12 FIFA host stadiums across the country, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field hosts six of the matches, including the quarter-final round on the Fourth of July.

Philadelphia, PA
June 19 - July 4, 2025

The Wawa Welcome America festival celebrates America’s founding in the heart of the nation’s birthplace.
The event — the largest July 4th celebration in America — offers free and fabulous events across the city, which in the past have included free admission to museums and attractions, live musical performances from local and national artists, community-centered events and Juneteenth celebrations, the popular Wawa Hoagie Day, and a stunning fireworks display over the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Independence Day. Stay tuned for more info about this year’s event.

Philadelphia, PA
June 20 - August 31, 2025

Dozens of immersive light displays — including a 200-foot-long dragon — populate Franklin Square during the can’t-miss Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival each summer. The super-popular fest transforms the park into a magical realm, set aglow by massive, handcrafted lanterns resembling friendly critters, beautiful flora and more.
The annual celebration of light and culture also features live cultural performances, globally inspired dining, shopping and more. Franklin Square’s signature attractions remain open during the festival, so feel free to hop on the Parx Liberty Carousel, play a round of mini-golf (both at discounted rates) or catch a fountain show before you go.

Philadelphia, PA
June 21-22, 2025

One of the largest outdoor art fests in the tri-state area returns to Philly’s Manayunk neighborhood for two days of food, fun and creativity.
The free-to-attend Manayunk Arts Festival highlights artwork and crafts by artists from around the country, from glass and ceramics to photography and paintings.

Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, June 22, 2025

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of when the last enslaved people in Texas were informed of their freedom, a date celebrated locally since 2016 at the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival.
The Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade is one of the largest in the nation with 25,000 attendees, 2,000 participants and over two-dozen floats parading down 1.5 miles of West Philadelphia.
The festival also features the all-day Juneteenth Marketplace & Art in the Park at historic Malcolm X Park with over 250 vendors, as well as the Juneteenth Youth Pavilion and the family-friendly Juneteenth Music Festival at 52nd & Pine streets.

Philadelphia, PA
June 29 - August 31, 2025

All eyes are on France in this new exhibition coming to the Barnes Foundation on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Generations of artists have made the pilgrimage to France in search of art, culture and — most importantly — inspiration.
Featuring works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent van Gogh, this collection of 50 paintings highlights the ways the country — from the streets of Paris to the coasts of Normandy and the South of France — influenced the master painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

America declared its independence from England on July 2, 1776, and John Adams pushed for that date to become America’s Independence Day. That didn’t happen, but Philly’s Red, White, & Blue To-Do — inaugurated in 2024 — takes back that date with a fanfare that brings together museums, historic sites and businesses around Philadelphia’s Historic District.
The 2025 event returns bigger and better than ever with extended hours at local attractions, a flag raising at the Betsy Ross House, a parade starting at the National Constitution Center, and a block party featuring food trucks, family-friendly games, special activations and live performances — all culminating in Wawa Welcome America’s big Salute to Service concert in Independence National Historical Park.

Philadelphia, PA
July 15-27, 2025

A striking adaptation of the Yann Martel’s book of the same name, Life of Pi enthralled audiences on Broadway and the West End with its larger-than-life puppetry and enchanting tale of survival and faith.
Shipwrecked 16-year-old Pi Patel floats through the Pacific Ocean all alone, save for his unlikely travel companions: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning play transforms the Academy of Music stage, bringing to life Pi’s fantastical account of his 227 days at sea.

Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, July 19, 2025 | Noon-7 p.m.

Just off the main drag in West Powelton, the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival at Saunders Park Greene draws thousands of revelers each year to celebrate jazz music in all its flavors.
The free festival typically features performances by some of Philly’s funkiest jazz musicians, community vendors selling locally made goods, and pay-as-you-go cool treats and summer eats at the food trucks. For updates and this year’s lineup, keep an eye on the festival’s Instagram.

Philadelphia, PA
July 26-27, 2025

This ain’t your grandfather’s baseball team.
The TikTok-famous baseballers take the field in South Philly for nine innings of trick pitches, choreographed dances and epic entrances against their opponents, the Texas Tailgaters.
Last year’s game featured some only-in-Philly surprises, like a special guest appearance from former Phillie Ryan Howard.

Collegeville, PA
August 15-17, 2025

The massive annual Philadelphia Folk Festival returns with a fresh lineup of contemporary and legendary folk artists and bands.
The 62nd annual event, produced by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, also offers camping, craft vendors, festival food, family activities, workshops and more at the 40-acre Old Pool Farm site in Montgomery County. Stay tuned for this year’s performances and headliners.

North Wales, PA
Sunday, August 24, 2025 | Noon-8 p.m.

Ukrainian folk music and dance, authentic food, and traditional arts and crafts are hallmarks of the Ukrainian Folk Festival in North Wales, which returns for its 34th year in late summer.
Tickets are required (sold at the gate), and a portion of proceeds go toward humanitarian aid for victims of the war in Ukraine.