The arrival of warm weather has meant every weekend is chock full of activities, but this non-holiday holiday weekend might be the biggest yet.
With Flag Day, Father’s Day, the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, and the #NoKings protest making Philly’s its flagship stop, there will be thousands of people walking and driving around Philly for everything from rallies, Juneteenth celebrations and RPG theater, to affordable art fairs, boozy book fairs and dance parties.
On top of all that, the city’s public pools have opened for the season!
So whether you’re a Philly resident who’s looking for something close to home to do, or you’re visiting from out-of-town, consider taking a moment to support local businesses and museums.
The following list of events has something for just about everyone to enjoy safely. And if you’d like to get daily reminders of upcoming events, sign up for our Morning Newsletter!
Friday, June 13
Friday-Sunday, June 13-15: Happy 250th birthday to the U.S. Army
Washington, D.C. may be hosting a giant military parade on Saturday, but Philadelphia is hosting a three-day celebration at a fraction of the cost, courtesy of the Penn & Franklin Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, and will include public ceremonies, exhibits and performances.
de>crescendo: Putting the Pieces Together (6 to 8 p.m.)
An interactive space to use art therapy to reflect on, explore and process the emotions, thoughts and sensations you may experience during Asian Arts Initiative’s Spring exhibit. Free with limited registration.
“The Sisters” World Premiere (7 p.m.)
What do four women poets, centuries apart, say to each other across time? In The Sisters, the voices of Amy Lowell, Sappho, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Emily Dickinson are woven into a bold opera full of haunting dialogue on legacy, identity, and artistic lineage. At Christ Church Neighborhood House. Also runs Sunday, June 15. $23-50 tickets.
Saturday, June 14
Gateway Plaza grand opening (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
FDR Park is the pla(y)ce to be as the park kicks off a (free) day of fun with paddle boating, live music, food trucks and more to celebrate the launch of their Fair Play campaign and mark the official opening of the Gateway Plaza.
SKETCH 2025: The Brunch (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Get a peek into works in progress for What Now: 2026, ArtPhilly’s inaugural citywide multidisciplinary arts festival featuring 30-plus original commissions interpreting the nation’s semiquincentennial. Live music, drag opera, brunch from Kampar, performances, poetry readings, film screenings and a panel. Join the waitlist.
Plant Dad: A Fathers Day Pop-up (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Plant & People hosts a day full of plants, wellness, and community vibes with a fresh juice bar, local vendors, wellness samples and a “Pop and Pot” plant-potting station where you can pot your own plant to take home or gift to a plant-loving dad. Free.
Flag Day & Father’s Day Weekend
Join the Museum of the American Revolution to learn about flags from the Revolutionary era with a new special exhibit, along with activities and in-gallery talks for the whole family. $23 adults; $19 seniors; $13 children 5 and up.
10th annual Men’s Wellness Day (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Health screenings, housing resources, job resources, a Juneteenth celebration, Father’s Day giveaway, pop-up barbershop and more at Saunders Park Greene at 39th & Powelton.
Black Farmers Market (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
This weekly market aims to be a catalyst for connection and healthy living. A holistic approach that features plant-based foods, wellness vendors and artisans, workshops, and local and organic/chemical-free produce grown by Black farmers and growers from across the region at affordable price points. At Freedom Greens + Gardens, at 52nd and Pine Streets, across from Malcolm X Park.
Family Fun Saturday at Historic Fair Hill (12 to 3 p.m.)
Storytime, arts and crafts, gardening, games, scavenger hunts and workshops at 2901 Germantown Ave.
10th annual Clay Fest 2025 (12 to 5 p.m.)
Celebrate clay and community with a fun day of festivities in The Clay Studio’s new home in South Kensington. This year’s hands-on activities celebrate how positivity and love can be expressed through a simple heart shape. All ages welcome.
Juneteenth Reparations Film Screenings (6:30 p.m.)
Saturday’s screening is of “Acts of Reparation” at the Friends Center at 1501 Cherry St. Genealogy nerds travel south to reclaim and reckon with their roots. Followed by a conversation with Dr. Breanna Moore. Free with registration.
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Rain-or-shine family festival at the Penn Museum filled with joyful performance, live DJ sets, captivating storytelling and hands-on activities for all ages. Support Black-owned businesses at a community marketplace or grab a bite from local food trucks. Free tickets.
Kimchi Tasting at Reading Terminal Market (10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Joyce, the Kimchee Girl and Iovine Produce present a chance to learn about authentic Korean kimchi and recipe ideas.
Curious Histories Fest: What’s for Lunch? (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
This free, daylong event features hands-on activities, talks, tours and highlights from Science History Institute collections. Enjoy some free ice cream; visit the museum; take part in cooking demos, story times and special events; and be curious!
Philly VegFest 2025 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Bainbridge Green hosts this fifth-year revival of a celebration of vegan and whole-food, plant-based lifestyles. Free.
Pints & Pages: A Boozy Book Fair (12 to 5 p.m.)
An adult-friendly “scholastic” book fair! Books, VHS tapes, candles, comics, vinyl and more at Evil Genius Beer.
25th annual Art for the Cash Poor (12 to 6 p.m.)
An affordable art fair where 100+ artists, crafters and designers sell art of all types for under $250. Celebrate North American Street’s robust arts corridor. At the Crane Arts Building.
Historic Fairhill History Walking Tour (1 p.m.)
In-person mural tours begin at 2901 Germantown Avenue. Free with registration. (1 p.m.)
West Park Arts Fest (1 to 6 p.m.)
Art, community, sunshine, live music, games, crafts and more! At West Fairmount Park.
16th annual PCDC Chinatown Expo (1 to 4:30 p.m.)
A one-stop shop of resources for housing, social services, youth programs, community groups, health screenings and more. At the Crane Community Center.
Millennial Matinee Dance Party (5 to 9 p.m.)
Riot Nerd turns up the nostalgia at Underground Arts in Callowhill, with the best ‘90s and ‘00s pop, hip hop and club hits—perfect to relive dancefloor moments. And it ends in time to get to bed by 10 p.m. $14.39 tickets.
Sunday, June 15
CAICU Norris Square Walking Tours (10 to 11:30 a.m.)
Tour groups of up to 12 people explore the history of cultural resilience and creativity of the Norris Square neighborhood in North Philly. Visit gardens, learn about artists and organizers, from the 1980s to today. Meets at Las Parcelas, NSNP’s largest garden, 2248 N Palethorp St. Ends at La Borinqueña, 148 W Norris St. $5 tickets. (10 to 11:30 a.m.)
Pawther’s Day Portraits @ Sunday Girl (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Make a photographic memory of dad and furbaby at this portrait opportunity between Old City and NoLibs. $45 tickets. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Bankers Row Tours (2 p.m.)
Explore Philly’s history as the nation’s first financial capital, home to the first stock exchange, Bank of the U.S., U.S. Mint, first securities exchange, commodities exchange, and other early banking and insurance institutions. Meet at Welcome Park, 129 Sansom Walk. Must be comfortable wearing audio headsets or BYO earbuds (no Bluetooth). $18 tickets.
Queens United Wellness Weekend
At the Discovery Center in East Fairmount Park, free health screenings, holistic healing demos like sound baths, and wellness vendors.
“The Sisters” World Premiere (4 p.m.)
What do four women poets, centuries apart, say to each other across time? In The Sisters, the voices of Amy Lowell, Sappho, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Emily Dickinson are woven into a bold opera full of haunting dialogue on legacy, identity, and artistic lineage. At Christ Church Neighborhood House. $23-50 tickets.
Ongoing
Weekends through Sunday, June 22: TERRA: Bodies & Territories
A work of experimental dance theater by Silvana Cardell, set in a forest with a multigenerational ensemble of women and femme dancers, ranging in age from 7 to 70. Performed within the forest of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Includes a gallery exhibit and 3-D experience. $30 tickets. June 13-15, 20-22 (6 p.m. nightly, plus 2 p.m. Sunday matinees).