Mother’s Day Weekend at the Barnes
With a world-class art collection, expertly guided tours and exclusive programs, a restaurant featuring delicious fare, and a fabulously curated shop, the Barnes has everything Mom could want for a special day. The Barnes is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern paintings, with especially deep holdings by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Assembled by Philadelphia native Dr. Albert C. Barnes between 1912 and 1951, the collection also includes important examples of African art, Native American pottery and jewelry, Pennsylvania German furniture, American avant-garde painting, and wrought-iron metalwork — it is unlike any art museum you’ve experienced. During your visit, you can also discover Freedom Dreams, our new exhibition offering a moving-image meditation on American history, Black identity, and the power of imagination, on view through Aug. 9.
When: ends Monday, May 11
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
Dancing with the Stars: Live!
This year’s all-new stage show will feature your favorite dancers from the No. 1 hit television show, “Dancing With the Stars.” They’ll be performing brand-new numbers dreamed up by Emmy award-winning choreographer Mandy Moore (Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour) as well as some of the viral routines that launched a million TikToks. Come relive DWTS’ smash-hit, record-breaking 34th season live and in person! Seven DWTS season 34 fan favorites and finalists will join the tour for select dates! Comedian Andy Richter (who will serve double duty as co-host), Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel (who will also join as co-host), Parent Trap and Freakier Friday actress Elaine Hendrix (co-hosting as well as dancing) will join the tour as special guest co-hosts. DWTS S34 Finalists, content creator and The Traitors winner Dylan Efron, Team USA champion gymnast Jordan Chiles, and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin are all thrilled to be joining the tour for select shows. DWTS pro Witney Carson will join Robert to perform in select cities.
Where: The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad St.
Night Market
East Market’s vibrant, weekly Night Market transforms Chestnut Walk into a glowing open-air marketplace every Tuesday evening this spring. Weather permitting, visitors can explore a curated mix of local vendors offering fresh food, handcrafted goods, seasonal produce, plants, and much more, all set against the backdrop of live music and a lively happy hour atmosphere. Happy hour specials from the East Market Bar Cart and seasonal samples from restaurants Mi Vida and The Wayward add to the fun. Guests are encouraged to stroll beneath string lights, discover unique offerings at each vendor’s booth and unwind with friends as the sun sets over East Market.
When: Tuesdays through June 16 from 3–7 p.m.
Where: Chestnut Walk, 34 S. 11th St.
”Chicago”
Returning to Philadelphia for the first time in 17 years! There’s never been a better time to experience “Chicago,” Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. You’ve got to come see why the name on everyone’s lips is still… “Chicago.”
Where: Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.
”The Wiz”
L. Frank Baum’s timeless story “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” gets a funky reimagining in this lavish adaptation of a landmark Broadway show based on the book. Diana Ross brings her showstopping star power to the role of Dorothy, here a Harlem schoolteacher who is magically transported to a surreal fantasyland that resembles New York City, complete with man-eating trash cans and a disco paradise.
When: Wednesday, May 13 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, 101 Founders Wy., Bethlehem, PA 18015
The Overbrook Night Market
On Thursday, State Rep. Morgan Cephas, in partnership with Overbrook West Neighbors, Inc., will host The Overbrook Night Market (TONM) 2026 — an outdoor street festival expected to draw thousands of residents and visitors to the Upper Lancaster Avenue corridor for an evening of food, entertainment, local commerce, and community celebration. Lancaster Avenue will be transformed into a vibrant pedestrian festival experience featuring dozens of food trucks and local vendors, live DJs and performances, family activities, interactive community activations, and spotlight opportunities for small businesses across West Philadelphia. Now in its sixth year, The Overbrook Night Market has become one of Philadelphia’s premier neighborhood destination events — serving as both a celebration and a showcase of the continued energy and reinvestment taking place in Overbrook and Overbrook Farms. As Philadelphia enters a year of heightened citywide tourism and neighborhood visibility in 2026, TONM offers a distinctly local example of how community corridors are creating destination experiences that bring residents, families, and visitors together.
When: Thursday, May 14 from 6-10 p.m.
Where: Lancaster Avenue between 61st and 63rd streets
”The Black Clown”
Opera Philadelphia’s 2025-2026 Season concludes this month with the company’s return to the Miller Theater for the Philadelphia Premiere of “The Black Clown,” based on the poetry of Langston Hughes, a defining voice in jazz poetry and a central figure during the Harlem Renaissance. Co-created by music supervisor and bass-baritone Davóne Tines (performing in the title role), composer Michael Schachter, and director Zack Winokur, this music theater experience fuses vaudeville, gospel, opera, jazz, and spirituals to bring Hughes’ verse to life onstage. Deemed a 2019 NYT “Critics’ Pick,” with former productions praised as “an electrifyingly ambivalent whole” and “exquisitely layered” by The New York Times, “The Black Clown” animates and colors a Black man’s resilience in the face of oppression. Written in 1931, Hughes’ powerfully dramatic monologue is organized into two columns: the ‘mood,’ which highlights musical and emotional cues, and the ‘poem,’ the narrative core of the work. Together, these columns express a strong sense of being “Black in a white world,” with the perspective paralleling Hughes’ personal interpretation and the societal perception projected onto Black individuals.
When: Thursday, May 14-17
Where: Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St.
Yoga at Independence
Take a breath and enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces at Independence National Historical Park with Yoga at Independence. This free program is open to all ages and experience levels, from beginners to advanced yogis. Sessions are led by Monarch Yoga instructors and offer a welcoming, relaxed environment to start your day. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mat or towel.
When: Saturday, May 16 at 9 a.m.
Where: Lawn behind the Second Bank of the United States, 420 Chestnut St.
Community Paddle Boating
Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and Independence Seaport Museum for free paddle boating on FDR Park’s Edgewood Lake. While pedaling, use the kid-friendly binoculars provided to spot turtles, ducks, blooming flowers, and maybe even a great blue heron – the long-legged shorebird the boats are built to resemble.
When: Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: FDR Park Boathouse, 1500 Pattison Ave. and S. Broad St.
3rd Annual EcoFair
Green Philly is bringing back EcoFair for its third year on Saturday. This free, family-friendly event transforms the Delaware River waterfront into a one-stop destination for sustainable shopping, hands-on learning, and community connection. EcoFair brings together local vendors, nonprofits, and interactive experiences to make sustainable living accessible, approachable, and actionable for Philadelphians of all ages. At the heart of EcoFair is the Sustainable Marketplace, where attendees can shop eco-friendly products, meet local businesses and nonprofits, and discover practical ways to live greener, right here in the Philadelphia region. Attendees can also join a free mobility and movement class at 12:30 PM led by Alex Brazinski, focused on flexibility, joint health, and balance in an inclusive, all-levels environment — registration required.
When: Saturday, May 16 from 12–4 p.m.
Where: Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
”The Philly Killer: Legionnaires’ Disease and the Past and Future of Infectious Disease” at Mütter
“The Philly Killer: Legionnaires’ Disease and the Past and Future of Infectious Disease,” opening on Saturday, explores the outbreak of an unidentified, deadly pneumonia in Philadelphia during the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations. This mysterious outbreak generated feverish media coverage, a flurry of conspiracy theories, a frenzy of fast-paced epidemiological investigations by local, state, and federal workers, and even Congressional hearings. Referred to as the “epidemic of the century” in 1976, this outbreak is now largely forgotten. Despite the outbreak fading from national memory, Legionella bacilli remain the leading cause of waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States. The Philly Killer invites audiences to consider how public health — including disease outbreaks like this one — reflects physical, bureaucratic, and social infrastructures.
Where: The Mütter Museum, 19 S. 22nd St.
Clover Market pops up in Bryn Mawr
Clover Market, the award-winning open-air market known for its curated selection of handmade and vintage goods, will pop up in Bryn Mawr this Sunday. The popular seasonal market will feature 90 hand-selected vendors offering a diverse mix of artisan goods and vintage finds. Shoppers can also enjoy a lineup of some of the region’s most popular food trucks, live music, and family-friendly activities throughout the day. The market is free to attend, and friendly leashed dogs are welcome.
When: Sunday, May 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Downtown Bryn Mawr,
Lansdowne Arts on the Avenue Festival
Join us for a vibrant celebration of art, music, and community in the heart of Lansdowne. Since 2003, the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation has brought this free, all-ages festival to life, transforming our historic downtown into a lively, open-air gallery where local makers, visual artists, performers, and neighbors come together. The event features 70+ juried artists working in painting, sculpture, fiber, ceramics, jewelry, and more, live music and performances throughout the day, demonstrations and interactive art experiences for all ages, food trucks, a beer garden, and great downtown shopping, and a walkable festival footprint that encourages exploration of Lansdowne’s. Come for the art, stay for the community. Join us in celebrating 21 years of creativity in Lansdowne!
When: Sunday, May 17 from 12-6 p.m.
Where: Lansdowne Farmers Market, 30 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, PA 19050
”Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Fats Waller Musical Show”
Amina Robinson — Barrymore award-winning director of Theatre Horizon’s “The Color Purple” — returns to helm this electrifying world of the Harlem Renaissance, where the music was hot, the nights were alive, and every spotlight shone with possibility. “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” the Tony Award-winning celebration of Fats Waller, brings the era’s jazz houses and juke joints to life with an unforgettable evening of romance, humor, dance, and pure joy. Featuring timeless hits like “Honeysuckle Rose,” “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie,” “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” and the iconic “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” this dazzling show honors a musical genius who forever changed the sound of American music.
When: ends Sunday, May 17
Where: Theatre Horizon, 401 DeKalb St., Norristown, PA 19401
Open Streets: West Walnut
Center City District (CCD) is pleased to return Open Streets in 2026, beginning along West Walnut Street, this spring. CCD, with support from Rittenhouse Row and the City of Philadelphia, transforms one of Philadelphia’s most popular shopping and dining destinations, 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut and Walnut Street from Broad to 19th, by temporarily closing streets to vehicular traffic. During these closures, pedestrians are invited to stroll nearly eight blocks of car-free space while enjoying shopping, dining, and activities for all ages.
When: ends Sunday, May 17
Where: Walnut Street (Broad to 19th) & 18th Street (Locust to Chestnut)
”The Weight of Time” at Morton Contemporary
Morton Contemporary is proud to present “The Weight of Time,” an intimate exhibition featuring a group of ten artists all presently incarcerated at SCI Phoenix prison in Pennsylvania. Each artist offers a deeply personal reflection on coming of age and growing old behind bars, collectively forming a portrait of lives shaped by confinement and the passage of time. As a unified body of work, this group exhibition powerfully depicts a community of men navigating the realities of daily life in prison as they meditate on the past, endure the present, and reach toward an uncertain future.
When: through Monday, May 25
Where: Morton Contemporary Art Gallery, 115 S. 13th St.
”The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales”
This spring, Arden Children’s Theatre invites families into a hilariously twisted world where classic fairy tales don’t go quite as expected in its final production of the 2025/26 season, “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.” Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, adapted by John Glore, the production brings the book’s whimsically fractured fairy tales to life for kids and adults alike. Directed by Steve Pacek, the laugh-out-loud production is where fairy tales get scrambled, mixed up, and turned upside down. Classic fairy tales get scrambled and turned upside down. The Ugly Duckling doesn’t become a beautiful swan, just a Really Ugly Duck. A princess kisses a frog and ends up with a mouthful of slime. Familiar characters wander in and out of the wrong stories, narrators lose control of the plot, and the title character himself, a very smelly cheese, tries to steal the spotlight.
When: through Sunday, May 31
Where: Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St.
Cirque du Soleil’s “LUZIA”
Cirque du Soleil’s iconic Big Top returns to the greater Philadelphia area for the first time since 2023 with its delightfully-imaginative and visually-stunning production LUZIA, a waking dream of Mexico. Audiences are invited under the famed Big Top to escape to an imaginary Mexico: a sumptuous world suspended between dreams and reality. In a series of grand visual surprises and breathtaking acrobatic performances, LUZIA takes audiences on a surrealistic journey through a vibrant world filled with wonders, playfulness and striking artistry. Smoothly passing from an old movie set to the ocean to a smoky dance hall or an arid desert, LUZIA cleverly brings to the stage multiple places, faces and sounds of Mexico taken from both tradition and modernity. Rich in awe- inspiring moments, LUZIA enchants by incorporating rain into acrobatic and artistic scenes – a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production.
When: through Sunday, June 7
Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, 100 Station Ave., Oaks, PA 19456
Stamp Rally
April marks the return of Historic Germantown’s highly-anticipated spring Stamp Rally. The theme for the popular program is “Trees of Germantown.” The free program allows participants to pick up a passport book and collect stamps at various sites, providing residents and visitors with a fun, interactive way to explore Germantown. Participants have the opportunity to discover the neighborhood through an entertaining scavenger hunt, with prizes awarded to those who complete the challenge.
When: through Sunday, June 21
Where: various locations throughout Germantown
”America Today: Voices in Contemporary Print” at the Print Center
“America Today: Voices in Contemporary Print” brings the works of more than 30 artists from across the country together to explore core principles of democracy, including civil rights, social justice, racial equality, and political engagement. With Philadelphia at the center of America’s founding, the exhibition bridges past and present, inviting audiences to reflect on how democratic ideals continue to evolve at a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. Featuring widely recognized artists whose work has been exhibited in major museums around the world, “America Today” offers a compelling opportunity to engage with contemporary perspectives on urgent national issues.
When: through Saturday, July 25
Where: The Print Center, 1614 Latimer St.
”Muliebrity” by Viola Bordon
Philadelphia-based interdisciplinary textile artist and educator Viola Bordon blends sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and fibers to explore the interplay between materiality and environmental fluctuation. Her textile-focused practice draws upon pre-industrial craft techniques like weaving and quilting, intertwining them with inquiries into contemporary issues in our society. For Radical Americana, Bordon conducted research at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to create her exhibition, Muliebrity, where she examines the invention and evolving meanings of American liberty in the national identity.
When: through Sunday, July 26
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd St.
”Freedom Dreams” at the Barnes
As Philadelphia and the nation prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, Freedom Dreams brings together powerful works by artists in film, video, and installation that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the memories, dreams, and histories of Black Americans. The exhibition features works by Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary, and Tourmaline, all exploring history, archives, and cultural memory. Freedom Dreams highlights the fluid boundary between past, present, and future and encourages viewers to reflect on how Americans of color have shaped identities and created spaces of resistance, joy, and resilience in the face of systemic oppression. The exhibition is co-curated by Maori Karmael Holmes, Chief Executive and Artistic Officer of BlackStar Projects, and James Claiborne, Fleischner Family Vice President for Engagement at the Barnes.
When: through Sunday, Aug. 9
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
”Printmaking by the People: Posters for a Reimagined Declaration of Independence” at Parkway Central Library
What would the Declaration of Independence say if ordinary people from all walks of life came together to write it today? This spring, Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Free Library of Philadelphia present Printmaking by the People: Posters for a Reimagined Declaration of Independence, an exhibition of hundreds of posters created by Philadelphians who were asked to share their visions of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This special exhibition is part of Printmaking by the People, the largest 2026 public art and engagement project in Philadelphia inspired by the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. The vibrant, colorful, and compelling artworks in the exhibition were created by hand in 35 artist-led workshops, held in 13 neighborhoods across the city. Over a thousand people attended these workshops, utilizing various printmaking techniques to bring their ideas to life—including some of the very same techniques used to communicate during the time of the American Revolution. The result is hundreds of unique posters and prints, representing a rich and diverse assemblage of aspirations for our nation, our city, and ourselves, as we move into the next chapter of our country’s historic journey.
When: through August 2026
Where: Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
“Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” at AAMP
The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) presents a cultural milestone exhibition “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design.” The acclaimed exhibition, celebrating the power of art, identity, and imagination, marks its Philadelphia debut with nearly 80 original costumes from films that have shaped global culture — including “Black Panther,” “Selma,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Amistad,” “Dolomite is My Name,” “Coming 2 America,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and, for the first time ever, “Sinners.” As the first Black woman to win two Academy Awards, Ruth E. Carter has transformed costume design into a form of cultural storytelling, honoring the past while envisioning what’s possible for the future. Her journey from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Hollywood’s most celebrated stages resonates deeply with Philadelphians.
When: through Sunday, Sept. 6
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St.
”Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition” at Franklin Institute
Step inside the creative and innovative world of theme parks through the lens of Universal’s fan-favorite attractions, including “Jaws,” “Illumination’s Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets” and “Sing,” SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, “Jurassic World,” DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” Universal Monsters, and more. Play your way through eight themed galleries, where 100 original artifacts bring each experience to life. From authentic costumes and iconic props to early concept models, experience the creativity, artistry, and innovation behind Universal’s most epic attractions. Snap a photo, storyboard a ride, design and animate horror masks, cue a live show, and experiment with animation and projection mapping — all while hearing directly from the creators, animators, and show writers who make it happen. “Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition” is a timed-entry exhibit, which allows the museum to manage the number of guests in the exhibit, providing the best possible experience for everyone. Advanced tickets are recommended.
When: through Monday, Sept. 7
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
”Paths to Independence, 1765-1787” at HSP
In 1763, most American colonists proudly saw themselves as members of the British Empire. Yet by 1776, many were ready to break from Britain and condemn King George III as a ‘Royal Brute.’ Paths to Independence explores how this remarkable shift happened in just over a decade. The exhibit showcases rare documents from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania—including letters, pamphlets, broadsides, prints, and early drafts of the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. Tracing the complex path to American independence, these documents reveal the ideas of well‑known leaders such as Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Wilson, as well as the everyday Philadelphians whose experiences shaped the struggle for independence.
When: through Friday, Sept. 18
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.
”Ancient Egypt in Watercolors: Paintings and Artifacts from Dra Abu el-Naga” at Penn Museum
Spotlighting century-old watercolor paintings by Egyptian artist Ahmed Yousef, Ancient Egypt in Watercolors: Paintings and Artifacts from Dra Abu el-Naga will go on view at the Penn Museum. Last exhibited in Cairo during the 1920s, the watercolor paintings have been carefully preserved in the Penn Museum’s Archives for more than 100 years. They have never been on display in the United States. Ancient Egypt in Watercolors reveals the often underappreciated, but critical function of art in archaeology. The 1,500 sq. ft. exhibition highlights elaborately decorated tomb chapels during the New Kingdom (approximately 1550 BCE-1070 BCE), a “golden age” that marked the height of Egypt’s power and wealth. Many affluent officials built their tombs at Dra Abu el-Naga — a key part of the larger Theban Necropolis. Their tomb paintings show scenes from everyday life and imagery depicting the journey to the netherworld — illuminating how much the ancient Egyptians valued family bonds, honoring their ancestors, and continuing one’s identity into the next life. Ancient Egypt in Watercolors will close in November—just ahead of the grand opening for the Penn Museum’s Egypt Galleries: Life and Afterlife on Dec. 12.
When: through November 2026
Where: Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
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