America’s Townhall: Previewing the Supreme Court’s 2026–2027 Term
Join the National Constitution Center for a timely conversation previewing the Supreme Court’s 2026–2027 term. Masha Hansford, partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell; Amy Howe, co-founder of SCOTUSblog; and Greg Stohr, Supreme Court reporter for Bloomberg News, will break down the biggest cases on the docket, unpack the constitutional questions at stake, and explore the issues that could have the greatest impact on the Court in the year ahead. Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitution Center, moderates.
When: Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St
America’s Townhall: The Holy Experiment: Religious Liberty, Pennsylvania, and the Making of America
Long before the First Amendment guaranteed the free exercise of religion, William Penn envisioned Pennsylvania as a “Holy Experiment” founded on liberty of conscience. Pennsylvania became a place where people of different faiths sought to live together under laws that protected religious freedom while cultivating civic life. Yet that experiment was also marked by contradiction, compromise, and exclusion. University of Pennsylvania Professor Marci Hamilton and St. Joseph’s University Professor Emeritus Randall Miller join for a conversation exploring how Pennsylvania’s founding shaped the nation’s understanding of religious liberty, what William Penn’s vision achieved, where it fell short, and what this history can teach us about sustaining constitutional democracy today. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program celebrates the opening of Pennsylvania’s Founding: How a City and a Colony Shaped America’s DNA, a special exhibition opening to the public on September 30 at the National Constitution Center, developed in partnership with Drexel University and curated by Drexel’s Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships and Atwater Kent Collection.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 5–6 p.m.
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.
”MAMMA MIA!”
Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, Ensemble Arts Philly kicks off its 2026-2027 Broadway Series with a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago. For over 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that makes “MAMMA MIA!” the ultimate feel-good show.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 29-Oct. 4
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.
”Witch” by Jen Silverman
Quintessence Theatre opens its 17th season with the regional premiere of “Witch” by award-winning playwright Jen Silverman. Directed by Maura Krause, the critically acclaimed play is a sharp and inventive retelling of the classic Jacobean tragicomedy that questions whose soul is worth saving when the devil comes to town. In Witch, a charming devil (Frank Jimenez) arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth Sawyer (Suli Holum) should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to tempt her and her neighbors, unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. Silverman’s inventive retelling of the classic tragicomedy offers audiences a sharp, subversive fable that debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 30-Oct. 25
Where: Quintessence Theatre, 7137 Germantown Ave.
”Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly”
Just in time to mark America’s 250th, Morris Arboretum & Gardens brings America’s past and present vividly to life through three interconnected exhibitions. Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly invites visitors of all ages to take a miniature journey through eighteenth-century Philadelphia. Bustling model trains wind along more than a third of a mile of track, passing handcrafted replicas of iconic landmarks such as Independence Hall, and scenes modeled after events like the Battle of Germantown. Running in conjunction with the Garden Railway, the self-guided exhibition Plants from the Colonial Era highlights the trees, herbs, and flowers that fed, healed, sheltered, and inspired colonial Philadelphians.
When: ends Wednesday, Sept. 30
Where: Morris Arboretum & Gardens, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.
Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation welcomes the return of Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest for its 2026 Season. While Summerfest returns for the season with its signature roller skating in partnership with Independence Blue Cross, DRWC is expanding its wellness programming across its Waterfront parks, offering more opportunities for visitors to stay active through accessible outdoor experiences, including Wellness on the Waterfront: Yoga at Race Street Pier presented by Independence Blue Cross, Tai Chi at Spruce Street Harbor Park, and Fishing with Friends at Pier 68 in partnership with Riverways. The Independence Blue Cross RiverRink has long shaped the Philadelphia Delaware River Waterfront as the go-to destination for seasonal traditions and outdoor recreation. This Summer 2026, Independence Blue Cross RiverRink will transform into Summerfest – offering Philadelphia’s ONLY outdoor roller-skating rink – to create the ultimate family-friendly summer hangout. Against the backdrop of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Summerfest will continue to prioritize accessibility with free entry and flexible, pay-as-you-go options that invite visitors to create their own experience
Where: Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
”Changing Faces of Independence: Pennsylvania in the 1900s” at HSP
How has the face of America changed since the Revolution? And how have new Americans across generations helped keep the nation’s founding ideals alive? From 1890 until 1917, more than 15 million immigrants arrived in the United States. By the 1910 census, nearly 15% of the population was foreign‑born. In Pennsylvania, the growing Italian community helped shape the state by the Declaration of Independence’s 150th anniversary in 1926. Puerto Rican migration to Pennsylvania occurred gradually in the early 20th century but surged after World War II. Following major changes to immigration policy, the Chinese population expanded across the Commonwealth by the Bicentennial in 1976. Their letters, photographs, and community records reveal how these new Americans understood their roles as both Pennsylvanians and citizens of a changing nation. By examining materials left behind in Pennsylvania communities during the decades leading up to America’s 200th birthday, this display highlights the ongoing connection between the nation’s founding ideals and the diverse communities that have worked to bring them to life.
When: Thursday, Oct. 1-Jan. 8, 2027
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.
October First Friday
This First Friday, stop into the Museum for Art in Wood for extended evening hours and experience its latest exhibition, “Out of Place WARP Wood 2026.” The exhibition features the work created by six artist fellows during the two-month-long Windgate Wood Arts Residency Program (WARP-Wood) and emphasizes the research, exploration, and the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment. Also on view in the Museum’s research library is “A Room of Their Own,” presenting the work of ten artists. While visitors are upstairs, be sure to explore the Museum’s permanent collection of over 1,400 objects. Don’t forget to shop the Museum Store for unique handmade objects, jewelry, artworks, and books.
When: Friday, Oct. 2 from 5-8 p.m.
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd St.
Hot Ones returns to Fishtown
Join Evil Genius Beer Company as guests taste through progressively hotter and hotter wings with sauces from the official Hot Ones lineup! As you taste you’ll be provided with question cards with hotter and hotter questions to chat about with your table. At the end of each round guests can share their answers with the entire crowd and the person with the best story will win a comp beer. Tickets come with ten wings (vegetarian option available) and access to all 10 sauces! Please note that only ticket holders will be permitted entrance to the event area. Any spectators who wish to watch the event but not participate must purchase a Spectator Ticket which does not come with wings.
When: Friday, Oct. 2 from 7-9 p.m.
Where: Evil Genius Beer Company, 1727 N. Front St.
The Jonas Brothers come to Philly
The Jonas Brothers are taking it everywhere, all over again. Following an overwhelming response to their sold-out celebrations at Madison Square Garden, Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas bring The Burning Up All Over Again Tour to Philadelphia. What began as a one-of-a-kind event honoring the iconic “Burning Up Tour,” the blockbuster arena run that became a defining moment for the band and a generation of fans, is now hitting the road, bringing one of the Jonas Brothers’ most unforgettable live experiences to fans across the country. Bringing even more excitement to the tour, Magnus Ferrell, Franklin Jonas, and All Time Low will join the Jonas Brothers as special guests on select dates.
When: Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad St.
Michael Mayo at the Annenberg Center
Called “one of the most creative and commanding singers” by WRTI, Los Angeles-based vocalist and composer Michael Mayo makes his Penn Live Arts debut. A sought-after collaborator among jazz and pop greats, Mayo brings his quartet for a dynamic mix of standards and originals from his two-time Grammy® Award-nominated release, Fly. Moving fluidly through jazz, neo-soul and R&B, Mayo’s commanding vocalese reveals “an inventiveness and versatility that already establish[es] him as one of the voices to watch in the creative jazz scene of tomorrow” (Jazz Magazine).
When: Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
ArtsQuest Oktoberfest
Each fall, ArtsQuest’s Oktoberfest transforms Bethlehem into a lively celebration of German heritage, complete with traditional music, dancing, authentic cuisine, and seasonal brews. Held at SteelStacks, the festival blends old-world traditions with the energy of one of Pennsylvania’s premier arts and cultural destinations, offering visitors live performances, artisans, family activities, and fan-favorite dachshund races set against the scenic views of the former Bethlehem Steel campus. With its festive atmosphere and rich cultural programming, Oktoberfest has become a signature autumn event in eastern Pennsylvania.
Where: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Oktoberfest Hot Glass Experiences
Work one on one with a hot glass instructor to create your own piece of art from molten glass – choose between a pumpkin or a sleeping kitty. Ages 6 and up, no experience necessary. Pieces need 48 hours to cool, and participants need to return to the festival to pick up their work or to have it shipped directly, pay a shipping charge. Twenty-minute time slots are available every day of Oktoberfest starting at 5 p.m. on Fridays and noon Saturdays and Sundays. Please arrive 10 minutes before your time slot.
Where: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015
14th Annual Roxtoberfest
Roxborough Development Corporation (RDC) will bring back the 14th Annual Roxtoberfest, transforming Ridge Avenue into one of Philadelphia’s biggest and best-loved Oktoberfest and fall festival celebrations. Roxtoberfest has grown from a small neighborhood street festival into one of Philadelphia’s oldest and best-attended Oktoberfests, attracting thousands of neighbors and visitors for a day packed with live entertainment, local food and drink, family-friendly activities, shopping, community fun and plenty of Oktoberfest and fall harvest spirit. Come ready for live music, 100+ vendors, pet costume contest, Oktoberfest costume contest, cemetary tours, scarecrow walk, kids’ root beer liter lift, wellness village and more. Don your best pair of lederhosen, sip on New Ridge Brewing Co. beer, and join us on Ridge Avenue between Lyceum Avenue and Leverington Avenue, with a Scarecrow Walk extending from Leverington Avenue to Hermitage Street. The event is no charge and open to the public, with food and drink pay-as-you-go.
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 from 12-6 p.m.
Where: Ridge Avenue from Lyceum Avenue to Leverington Avenue
Manayunk’s Out & About Festival
In honor of National Coming Out Day, this event will feature LGBTQ+ performers, organizations, shows and entertainment to promote Manayunk as a safe place that welcomes everyone. Activities and performances will include a drag story time, open-air drag show, karaoke dance party and Rocky Horror Picture Show Live Shadowcast by the Transylvanian Nipple Productions. The day will be filled with activities including a Queer Run 5K with Philadelphia Runner, a Drag Story Time, and more.
Where: Main Street Manayunk
The Annual St. Nicholas of Tolentine Authentic Italian Festival
South Philadelphia will be a sea of red, white and green as a beloved tradition with roots back to the early 1900s returns to South Philadelphia. The Annual St. Nicholas of Tolentine Authentic Italian Festival will bring out thousands of people to celebrate. One of the largest authentic Italian festivals of the year is back and starts with the annual religious procession throughout the neighborhood with a long line of the Statues of Saints and their faithful following. Food vendors will include The Kitchen Consigliere, Termini Bros Bakery and Del Buono Bakery. Food favorites include everything from meatball and porchetta sandwiches, pasta and gravy, cannolis, arancini, broccoli rabe, eggplant rollata, escarole and beans, tripe and more. Entertainment will include a special surprise performance by The New York Tenors, plus City Rhythm Orchestra, Quaker City String Band, City Rhythm “Sound of Philadelphia Dance Party,” DJ Spanky Brown, DJ Bob Kelly, Nick Desiderio, Matthew Maisano and more. Family and fun for the kids will include rides, face painting, games, sand art and more. The festival is no charge and open to the public, with food and drink pay as you go.
When: Sunday, Oct. 4 from 12-8 p.m.
Where: 1700 block of South 9th Street
“Horsegirl & Cowdaddy” by DJ Hills
On the outskirts of a small southern Pennsylvania town, Horsegirl (de la Brisa) shares a quiet life of familiar routines with her reserved but devoted father, Cowdaddy (Smiling). She works at a dollar store, paints horses she has never ridden, and spends her evenings watching television with her dad and imagining the life of the mother who left them years ago. When Horsegirl falls for Bethel (Ni-Ni), an ambitious transmasculine teacher new to town, their relationship awakens new possibilities and sparks a startling physical transformation. Bethel urges Horsegirl to pursue her unrealized potential, but Cowdaddy worries she is becoming someone else’s project. Blending queer romance, family drama, sharp humor, and magic, Horsegirl & Cowdaddy asks who gets to define a meaningful life and whether happiness must always mean leaving something behind.
When: through Sunday, Oct. 4
Where: The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St.
Standard Tap Sausage Fest
The nights are getting longer, the air is getting cooler, and the corner of 2nd and Poplar is once again lit by the playful glow of dancing neon sausage in the window. Standard Tap, the Northern Liberties corner tavern widely credited as Philadelphia’s first gastropub, will host its annual Sausage Fest, serving a ten-sausage menu spanning Portugal, China, Scotland, Thailand, Germany, France, Morocco, the Chesapeake and Philadelphia itself, all made in house and all paired with a rotating list of local festbier and German-style drafts. The celebration marks the first Sausage Fest led by Chef Patrick Bones, who took the helm of the Standard Tap kitchen in earlier this year, and arrives as Philadelphians look for the kind of unpretentious, deeply local autumn ritual that has kept this tavern at the center of the city’s beer and food conversation since it opened on New Year’s Eve 1999. For true sausage lovers, Chef has created Philadelphia’s most over-the-top sausage creation with the Wiener World Tour, featuring every single new sausage together on one grand platter, plus a souvenir Sausage Fest T-shirt to remember the occasion.
When: through Sunday, Oct. 4
Where: Standard Tap, 901 N. 2nd St.
CityPickle at Dilworth Park
CityPickle is returning to Philadelphia, presented by Visit Delaware, at Dilworth Park City Hall in partnership with the Center City District for another seasonal pop-up of outdoor pickleball. Thanks to our 2026 partner, Visit Delaware, players can reserve professional-grade courts. Whether stepping onto the court for the first time or a seasoned pro, players of every skill level are invited to experience pickleball in one of Philadelphia’s most iconic spaces. Standard court reservations can be made one week in advance through the CityPickle app. Advanced court bookings are currently available, allowing guests to reserve both courts. This option is ideal for event planning, including parties, a gathering with friends and family, a networking event, or corporate team building.
When: through Sunday, Oct. 18; weekdays from 12-7 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
The Joan Bressler Set in Philadelphia Screenwriting Competition
The Joan Bressler Set in Philadelphia 2027 Screenwriting Competition, which is presented by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, is open to all screenwriters, world-wide, who submit a feature length screenplay or an original TV pilot length screenplay that can be shot in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Whether you’re an experienced writer or fresh talent, we want to celebrate voices in storytelling while highlighting the opportunity and potential of Philadelphia locations by focusing on scripts that can be brought to life locally. And showcase the city and surrounding region as a viable and compelling setting for film and television. Your screenplay has the opportunity to carry forward a legacy of creative excellence, supported by the resources and partnerships of our city’s film office community. All genres accepted. Writers do not need to be from Philadelphia, and scripts do not need to be explicitly set in Philadelphia. They must simply be feasible to shoot in the Philadelphia region. This year, the competition features over $20,000 in cash prizes, alongside direct industry exposure and detailed feedback opportunities for participating writers.
When: deadline is Monday, Oct. 19
Open Streets: West Walnut
Since launching in September 2024, Open Streets: West Walnut has become a signature Center City experience, welcoming an average of more than 10,500 visitors each Sunday. The pedestrian-only streets serve as an extension of public space, with room for expanded al fresco dining and sidewalk retail. Businesses along the route may offer special promotions, in-store entertainment, or exclusive experiences. Food and beverages will be available exclusively from restaurants located along the route. Throughout the season, guests can enjoy live music and family-friendly experiences, and relax at in-street seating pods. The Fulton Fun Zone, located at the corner of 18th and Chestnut, will feature rotating programming including live broadcasts of Philadelphia Eagles games, mini golf, and seasonal activities.
When: Sundays through Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Along Walnut and 18th streets
”Girl from the North Country”
Philadelphia-based Arden Theatre Company opens its 2026/27 Mainstage Season with the acclaimed “Girl from the North Country.” The musical, written by Conor McPherson, uses reimagined songs by Bob Dylan to create a moving American story of resilience in uncertain times. In a run-down boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota, strangers cross paths — experiencing love, loss, and everything in between. Amongst the dust and deep in the throes of the Great Depression, these wayward travelers fill the guesthouse with music, hope, and soul.
When: ends Sunday, Oct. 25
Where: Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St.
”Living Through Death” by Ivette Chaires
Ivette Chaires, the 2024 Julia Zagar Residency for Women Artists recipient, is a multidisciplinary artist deeply influenced by her surroundings. She uses sculpture, printmaking, and photography to explore traditional themes in Mexican Folk Art. Living in Puebla, Mexico, Chaires draws inspiration from local traditions such as Día de Muertos, which led her to specialize in cartonería, a traditional Mexican craft of creating papier-mâché sculptures, figures, and decorative objects by layering paper and glue over a framework and painting or embellishing them. For the past 15 years, she has focused on traditional cartonería, creating calaveras and teaching workshops, blending craftsmanship with cultural storytelling. In “Living Through Death,” Chaires merges contemporary imagery with traditional techniques and patterns.
When: through Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.
”Ron Tarver: The Long Ride Home, Black Cowboys in America” at Print Center
The Print Center is proud to present Ron Tarver: The Long Ride Home, Black Cowboys in America, an exhibition that reveals the depth, breadth, beauty and visual poetry of Black cowboys throughout America. Until recently, popular culture had not recognized the vital Black contribution to our national stories of “The American West.” The Long Ride Home offers a contemporary counter-narrative to the traditional whitewashed myths. Tarver’s insightful photographs of Black Western heritage affirm a thriving culture of Black-owned ranches, rodeos, parades, inner-city cowboys and retired cowhands, from rural ranches to big city riding clubs — many in Philadelphia.
When: through Saturday, Nov. 14
Where: The Print Center, 1614 Latimer St.
Historic Germantown 250th Stamp Rally
This fall, Historic Germantown is challenging Philadelphians to put their knowledge of local history to the test while discovering some of the remarkable people who helped shape Germantown, Philadelphia, and beyond. The free Historic Germantown 250th Stamp Rally will turn Northwest Philadelphia into a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt, inviting visitors to explore 23 historic and cultural sites, collect stamps, and uncover the identities of trailblazers connected to Germantown’s past and present. For this Stamp Rally, Historic Germantown isn’t revealing the names of its featured figures. Instead, visitors will follow clues at each stop and scan QR codes to uncover individuals ranging from artists and abolitionists to educators, activists, and innovators. The experience is part of Historic Germantown’s year-long celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and offers a fun, interactive way for families and history lovers to discover the people behind the neighborhood’s history. The Stamp Rally runs through November 14, with prizes available along the way. Visitors who collect six or more stamps and/or scavenger hunt answers can earn a set of Trailblazer Trading Cards featuring 18 influential figures, with additional prizes for reaching 14 and 20 stops. The experience concludes with a Stamp Rally Wrap Party on November 14 at the Historic Germantown Visitor Center, featuring refreshments, prizes, and grand-prize raffle drawings.
When: through Saturday, Nov. 14
Where: various locations across Northwest Philadelphia
”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.
”At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic” at Arthur Ross
The Arthur Ross Gallery’s fall exhibition, “At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic,” asks visitors to consider the role of visual culture in creating collective conceptions of Philadelphia and its residents, including America’s first international celebrity Benjamin Franklin, in the decades just before and after the nation’s founding. The 41 works on view — including paintings, prints, drawings, and sculpture — portray notable figures alongside depictions of daily life in Philadelphia. In addition to historical pictures and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries, the exhibition will include images of the era made to celebrate important national anniversaries, such as the marking of America’s 150th in 1926, through to the present moment, inviting exploration of Philadelphia, the birthplace of the nation and its first capital.
When: through Sunday, Dec. 13
Where: Arthur Ross Gallery, 220 S. 34th St.
”A Nation of Artists” at PMA, PAFA
With storied histories of their own, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (the country’s very first art school and museum) delve into the richness and diversity of American art history. The two institutions team up with avid art collector (and Phillies’ managing partner) John Middleton and his wife and partner Leigh for this blockbuster exhibition titled “A Nation of Artists.” Threading together 300 years of American art, the collection features over 1,000 portraits, sculptures, furniture, photographs and more across both museums. Viewers find some of art’s biggest names — including Mary Cassatt and Charles Willson Peale — exhibited side-by-side with oft-overlooked Black, Indigenous, immigrant and historically underrepresented artists and contemporary talents. “A Nation of Artists” debuts as a cultural milestone celebrating the nation’s creative and artistic legacy at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
When: through Monday, July 5, 2027
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
When: through Sunday, Sept. 5, 2027
Where: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.
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