By Molly Given
Looking for some fun and unique things to do in Philly this weekend? We’ve got you covered.
‘Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition’ at the Franklin Institute
Locals can step behind the curtain and into the magic with the Franklin Institute’s latest showcase, ‘Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition.’ It’s a full walkthrough of the brand’s most notable artifacts, costumes, and props, and a place to peer behind the scenes at the creative process that brings Universal’s most popular experiences to life.
While walking around the 18,000-square-foot showcase, locals will find 20 interactive stops, and 100 artifacts from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, ‘Jaws’, Illumination’s ‘Minions’, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, ‘Sing’, ‘Jurassic World’, DreamWorks Animation’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, ‘Universal Monsters’ and Super Nintendo World.
‘Universal Theme Parks’ is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening hours available Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets (prices vary) should be purchased in advance online or by calling 215-448-1200.
222 N. 20th Street, fi.edu
Mermaids at the Camden Adventure Aquarium
Camden Adventure Aquarium is making waves once again with the return of its mermaids experience. Set to run every Friday through Sunday (through March 15), this annual festival brings visitors into South Jersey’s own “Mer-World” to see “real-life” mermaids diving among its collection of sandbar, sand tiger and nurse sharks. At the newly reimagined Enchanted Grotto, guests can meet a mermaid on land and capture a professional photo. For a more laid-back encounter, the Mermaid Beach Club lets visitors wave to mermaids lounging among the venue’s rays at Stingray Beach.
Every half hour, the Aquarium’s Rotunda also comes alive with a mesmerizing mermaid-themed light show. Plus, young collectors—and the young at heart—can also take home a piece of the festival through this year’s Mermaid Trading Cards (available from each mermaid they meet), with bonus cards sprinkled throughout the venue.
The Festival will run during typical Adventure Aquarium hours and is included with admission.
1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, .adventureaquarium.com
Black History Month at the Museum of the American Revolution
There’s still time to mark Black History Month at the Museum of the American Revolution with a lineup of special showcases. At the heart of the month is ‘The Declaration’s Journey’, a special exhibit tracing how Black leaders in the U.S. and abroad invoked the Declaration of Independence in their fights for freedom and civil rights. Viewers will be able to see rare and resonant documents, including a Haitian Declaration of Independence, Frederick Douglass’s Fourth of July oration, the Emancipation Proclamation, and a 1799 abolitionist petition led by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen.
Visitors can also check out daily gallery conversations and first-person performances that connect the Revolutionary era to the ongoing struggle for justice. All Black History Month programming is included with regular museum admission ($14-$27, free for certain groups).
101 S. 3rd St., amrevmuseum.org
Ripoff & Duplicate menu at R&D Cocktail Bar
R&D is toasting the nation’s 250th anniversary with a new menu dubbed Ripoff & Duplicate, the 11th themed release from beverage director and partner Aaron Deary. Designed as a glossy, ten-page magazine by Deary himself, the menu doubles as an insider’s guide to the neighborhoods, landmarks, and lore that define Philly. Each cocktail maps a different corner of the city, from where to find standout Puerto Rican fare to the perfect espresso and a team-approved day spent in Fishtown.
The playful name came from a tongue-in-cheek exchange, and the drinks are organized into three sections: Shaken & Citrusy, Stirred & Spirited, and Lighter & Bubbly. Standouts include the electric-blue “Hitchbot”, a Dutch gin sour nodding to the ill-fated robot that met its end in Philly; “Longing for Awnings”, a mezcal-kissed tribute to South Philadelphia row homes; and “Abyssinia”, a wintery whiskey sour inspired by West Philly’s popular Ethiopian restaurant.
1206 Frankford Ave., rdphilly.com
Curtis Opera Theatre’s ‘La Passion de Simone’
Curtis Opera Theatre is continuing its 2025–26 season with a staging of ‘La Passion de Simone’ at the Philadelphia Film Center’s Mainstage Theater on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. This opera-oratorio by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf traces the spiritual and political journey of radical French philosopher and activist Simone Weil.
Single tickets to the Thursday, Feb. 26, performance start at $34 and can be purchased online. The Saturday, Feb. 28 performance is currently sold out, but there is a way to be notified when additional tickets become available (also online).
1412 Chestnut St., curtis.edu
Keywords
things to do,
Philly,
weekend activities,
Black History Month,
Museum of the American Revolution,
Camden Adventure Aquarium,
Universal Theme Parks,
Franklin Institute