If you’re looking for the perfect weekend plans, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 of the best things to do in Philly this weekend. This is your cue to explore, celebrate, and make the most out of the city.
Experience LUMINISCENCE: An Immersive Celebration of Light, Music and Story
After wowing more than a million people across the world, LUMINISCENCE is finally coming to Philadelphia with a special series of shows inside the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul. This one-of-a-kind experience brings together Philly’s history, incredible visuals, and music to showcase the cathedral in a way most people have never seen it before. With America 250 approaching, it’s a chance to experience a different side of Philadelphia that many people didn’t even know exists.
Looking for a quick, sun-soaked getaway without leaving the Philly area? Valley Beach at Valley Forge Casino Resort is officially open for the summer, bringing back its popular 20,000-square-foot poolside destination with live entertainment, themed parties, DJs, and cabanas through the end of August. This season also adds new programming like Live Band Karaoke and Latin Nights, plus tribute concerts and weekend dance parties. Guests can purchase day passes for the pool or reserve private cabanas, making it an easy summer escape just outside Philly.
One of the most dazzling things to do in Philadelphia this weekend is the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, returning to Franklin Square for the summer. Visitors can enjoy a glowing immersive experience with over 1,100 handcrafted lanterns—including a show stopping 200-foot dragon. Additionally, enjoy mini-golf, a beer garden, and a fountain light show. Tickets start around $27, with weekend timed entries and a new unlimited-entry pass for this who want to come back again and again.
One day only — explore Burpee’s historic Fordhook Farm for free on August 15, 2026. If you’re up for an easy day trip outside the city, the Burpee Summer Open invites the public to Fordhook Farm in Doylestown for one day only on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free and visitors can tour Burpee’s 61-acre trial gardens, visit the restored Seed House, attend talks by George Ball, enjoy kids’ activities, food trucks, and shopping.
Sip four themed cocktails aboard a haunted historic ship this August. For a spooky, boozy twist on a classic Philly landmark, the Pirates and Rum Experience transforms the historic Gazela tall ship at Penn’s Landing into a haunted cocktail event on August 27, 2026. Tickets are $55 per person (21+), include four themed cocktails, and the 90-minute experience runs aboard the Gazela at 301 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA.
Sip botanical cocktails and share seasonal plates with panoramic rooftop views when Pomelo opens Aug. 8. If you’re looking to add a brand-new spot to your weekend lineup, Pomelo Rooftop Terrace, a new rooftop bar and restaurant atop The Brandywine (a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel) in Radnor, opens Saturday, August 8, 2026, offering botanical cocktails, seasonal shareable plates, indoor/outdoor seating, fire pits, and seating for 136 guests.
Sip complimentary Peroni at Philly’s Portals pop-up — free and no passport required. If you’re looking for an easy, no-cost stop to add to your weekend lineup, Peroni brings its Peroni Portals pop-up to three Philadelphia locations Aug. 13–15, offering complimentary Peroni Nastro Azzurro and an Italian aperitivo-style experience. The pop-ups are free to attend, with samples available to guests 21+ while supplies last.
Students skate free every Sunday in August at RiverRink Summerfest — starting Aug 2! For a budget-friendly weekend outing in Philly, Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest is offering free roller skating to Philadelphia students (K–college) every Sunday in August, beginning Sunday, August 2. The festival also launches Pay Your Shoe Size Thursdays starting August 6, where skate admission and rental equals your skate size (for example, $7 for size 7).
Enjoy complimentary affogatos, Sunday yoga, and a $100 credit this August at Hotel Anna & Bel. If you’re looking for a low-lift Philly weekend escape, Hotel Anna & Bel in Fishtown is offering August-only seasonal experiences — complimentary Nespresso affogatos on select weekends, Sunday outdoor yoga, and a $100 hotel credit for guests named Anna/Bel/Annabelle — alongside amenities like a heated pool, wellness terrace, infrared sauna, and the Anna Suite by Anthropologie Home.
Browse taxidermy, curiosities and hands-on workshops at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo. If you’re looking for something delightfully offbeat to do this weekend, check out this traveling marketplace of taxidermy, preserved specimens, handcrafted oddities, metaphysical items and sideshow entertainment at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on Aug. 15, 2026.
Philadelphia’s sweetest summer tradition returns to Reading Terminal Market on Aug. 15 — admission is free! If you’re looking for a delicious way to spend your weekend, Reading Terminal Market hosts its annual Ice Cream Festival on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 12:00 to 16:00 at 12th & Filbert Streets. The free, outdoor event features local creameries, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and pay-as-you-go treats.
A $25 million, state-of-the-art habitat bringing guests nearly nose-to-nose with vulnerable bears. If you’re looking for a fresh, family-friendly stop this weekend, Philadelphia Zoo has opened the $25 million Francis J. Carey Bear Country, a state-of-the-art habitat that expands space for Andean and sloth bears and adds immersive viewing areas, heated pools, climbing structures, and a new Zoo360 trail. The exhibit is open daily and is included with regular zoo admission and memberships.
Trade screens for shimmer and live sound at Candlelight Spring in Philadelphia. For a serene, standout night out this weekend, Candlelight Spring brings a limited run of candlelit tribute concerts to the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, pairing live musicians with seasonal floral scenography and warm candlelight. The programs offer intimate, immersive performances dressed in pastel petals and artful greenery for a quietly celebratory evening.
An intimate, design-forward cocktail bar serving playful, elevated drinks and thoughtful bar food. For a polished night out in Society Hill, Known Associates is an intimate cocktail destination from Chef Christopher Kearse and the PS & Daughters design team, offering inventive cocktails and elevated bar food in a European café–inspired setting. The menu features creative cocktails like Bittered in Bond and zero-waste TNT alongside standout dishes such as Pommes Frites and the Burger Au Poivre.
Explore 42 acres of native plants and historic landscapes at Stoneleigh — admission is always free. For a peaceful weekend reset just outside the city, head to Stoneleigh in Villanova, a free, 42-acre public garden operated by Natural Lands. You’ll find native-plant displays, historic landscapes, and tranquil garden rooms, and the estate is open Tuesday through Sunday for leisurely walks, wildlife watching, photography, and seasonal programs.
The Boardwalk brings nostalgic Jersey Shore vibes indoors — opening March 28 at Adventure Aquarium. If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly outing just across the river, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ is unveiling The Boardwalk, an indoor, Jersey Shore–inspired experience featuring Horseshoe Crab Harbor touch exhibits, face painting, photo ops, meet-and-greets, and an ocean-themed VR attraction. The Boardwalk opens on March 28 and admission is included with a regular aquarium ticket.
New Hope ranked No. 5 Best Small Town in the Northeast by USA Today’s 10Best. If you’re up for an easy weekend escape from Philly, New Hope, PA just earned national recognition in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards—ranking No. 5 for Best Small Town in the Northeast and No. 7 for Best Small Town Cultural Scene. The Delaware River–front Bucks County town is known for its walkable downtown, galleries, theaters like the Bucks County Playhouse, and easy day-trip proximity to Philadelphia.
Experience a blindfolded tasting that intensifies your other senses. If you’re looking for a dinner outing with a twist this weekend, Dining in The Dark is a blindfolded tasting event at The Twisted Tail in Philadelphia that aims to heighten your other senses; menus include vegan, seafood, and meat options and tickets are available for events this May.
Explore historic ships, watch artisan boatbuilding, and enjoy candlelit concerts at the Independence Seaport Museum. For a waterfront pick on your Philly weekend itinerary, head to the Independence Seaport Museum along the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing—one of the largest maritime museums on the Atlantic Coast. It’s home to historic vessels like USS Olympia and the WWII-era submarine Becuna, plus hands-on boatbuilding, interactive exhibits, and seasonal Candlelight concerts.
If you’re looking for an easygoing way to soak up summer vibes during your Philadelphia weekend, head to Spruce Street Harbor Park—open now for the season and a much anticipated summer staple. Relax in a hammock, enjoy the river breeze, play games, eat delicious food, sip some spirits, and make memories with your family. It doesn’t get any better than this! You can learn more about hammock rentals an ore by visiting their website. We will meet your there!
Where: 301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd
Knoebels is the nation’s largest free-admission amusement park. If you’re up for a quick weekend day trip from Philadelphia, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is a family-owned, free-admission park known for classic wooden coasters like the Phoenix, a 900,000-gallon Crystal Pool and old-fashioned amusement-park traditions. TripAdvisor named Knoebels the best amusement park in the U.S. in its 2026 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” awards.
Paddle from Glen Foerd across the Delaware River to one of South Jersey’s best-kept natural escapes. For an outdoor adventure this weekend, Glen Foerd is hosting a guided four-and-a-half-hour kayak excursion to Amico Island State Park on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, with tandem kayaks, a picnic lunch, and guided exploration of the island’s trails and shoreline.
Students skate free every Sunday in August at RiverRink Summerfest — starting Aug 2! If you’re looking for a budget-friendly weekend plan in Philly, Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest is offering free roller skating to Philadelphia students (K–college) every Sunday in August, beginning Sunday, August 2. The festival also launches Pay Your Shoe Size Thursdays starting August 6, where skate admission and rental equals your skate size (for example, $7 for size 7).
