One Philly HBCU Week 2026
The inaugural One Philly HBCU Week 2026, a six-day celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities featuring music, faith, career opportunities, Greek life, community events and two marquee HBCU football games at Lincoln Financial Field, makes its debut. One Philly HBCU Week will bring students, alumni, families, faith leaders, employers and HBCU supporters together for events across Philadelphia. The week is hosted by the City of Philadelphia in partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles and community partners. The week culminates at Lincoln Financial Field with two HBCU football matchups: Lincoln University vs. Virginia Union University on Friday, October 30, followed by Delaware State University vs. Norfolk State University on Saturday, October 31.
Where: various locations, including Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Field Wy.
Calavera Creations: Workshop with Ivette Chaires
Celebrate the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos by creating a painted skull inspired by “Living Through Death: Works by Ivette Chaires.” In this hands-on workshop, paint three-dimensional papier-mâché skulls using vibrant colors and patterns. Draw inspiration from the themes of remembrance, celebration, and cultural tradition found throughout Chaires’ exhibition and the decorative skulls used in Día de los Muertos traditions. No painting experience is necessary, and all materials will be provided. The workshop is offered in English and Spanish.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.
The Día de los Muertos Ofrenda
Exhibiting artist Ivette Chaires creates a special Día de los Muertos ofrenda, or altar, at Magic Gardens Museum. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives. They celebrate this brief reunion with food, drink, and mementos of the passed loved one. An ofrenda is an altar built to honor those we’ve lost and to connect both worlds, the living and the dead. Guests to the museum are welcome to leave notes or photos in remembrance of loved ones who have passed and explore the Día de los Muetos-inspired sculptures in Chaires’s exhibition, “Living Through Death.”
When: Wednesday, Oct. 28-Nov. 8
Where: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.
”Gruesome Playground Injuries”
Philadelphia-based Theatre Exile continues its 30th Anniversary Season with “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” a compelling and intimate love story filled with heart, laughter, and a little blood. Directed by Deborah Block, the two-person drama follows Kayleen and Doug, who first meet at age eight in their school nurse’s office, where Kayleen is suffering from a stomachache and Doug is recovering from a reckless dive off the school roof. Over the next 30 years, the two friends repeatedly cross paths, brought together by physical injuries, heartbreak, and a series of questionable choices. Spanning ages eight to 38, “Gruesome Playground Injuries” explores the enduring connection between two people navigating friendship, love, and the lasting impact of their decisions..
When: Thursday, Oct. 29-Nov. 15
Where: Theatre Exile, 1340-48 S. 13th St.
”Topdog/Underdog”
Philadelphia-based Arden Theatre Company continues its 2026/27 Mainstage Season with Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Topdog/Underdog,” a gripping two-person drama exploring brotherhood, rivalry, survival, and the ties that bind families together. Directed by three-time Barrymore Award-winning artist Amina Robinson and co-produced with People’s Light, “Topdog/Underdog” tells the story of brothers Lincoln and Booth, unfortunately named as a joke by their father, foretelling a lifetime of sibling rivalry and resentment. Now adults, they share a single room passing time telling stories, testing each other, and circling the street con game of three-card monte. Haunted by the hands they’ve been dealt, the brothers reckon with what their futures will entail.
When: Thursday, Oct. 29-Dec.13
Where: Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St.
The Philly True Crime Tour
The Philly True Crime Tour is a 21+ BYOB trolley tour exploreing the history and sites of true crime in Philadelphia. Guests will hear stories of some of the most heinous murders committed in the city, delivered by an expert guide. Live musical performances from some of Philadelphia’s most talented artists will also take place on the trolley throughout the experience. Please note: this tour contains graphic and disturbing content and is recommended for adult audiences only.
When: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Where: meeting point at 901 N. Delaware Ave.
Sing Along Broadway
Part concert, part singalong, and part Broadway celebration, the high-energy event invites audiences to belt out favorites from some of musical theater’s most beloved shows in a lively, interactive atmosphere designed for passionate fans and first-time theatergoers alike. Sing Along Broadway transforms the theater into an all-out Broadway celebration, inviting audiences to sing along to some of musical theater’s most beloved songs. Featuring iconic numbers including “Defying Gravity,” “Seasons of Love,” “One Day More,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” the interactive event combines the excitement of live performance with the joy of singing alongside fellow Broadway fans. Throughout the evening, the hosts keep the energy high with Broadway-themed games, comedy, medleys, solo performances, and audience participation both on stage and throughout the theater, creating a one-of-a-kind celebration of the musicals audiences know and love.
When: Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
Where: Perelman Theater, inside the Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.
Arts of India Festival: Arun Ramamurthy Trio & Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio
In this special double bill of Penn Live Arts debuts, violinist Arun Ramamurthy and his trio offer “a beautiful, exotic, ear-opening listening experience” with its fusion of jazz and South Indian Carnatic traditions. Performing music from his latest album, New Moon, as well as other originals and reimagined Carnatic repertoire, Ramamurthy’s set will be followed by the Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio, known for “exceptional vitality and an unmistakable chemistry.” Mahanthappa is one of the era’s definitive alto saxophonists, topping DownBeat’s critics’ polls for eight years with bold reinterpretations of jazz classics and an eclectic mix of songs from across the musical landscape.
When: Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
Afro-Cuban All Stars
Led by Buena Vista Social Club veteran Juan de Marcos, the internationally acclaimed ensemble brings together legendary performers and rising young virtuosos for an electrifying celebration of Cuba’s musical heritage. Blending jazz, danzón, son, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, Afro-Cuban All Stars continues a mission that has inspired audiences around the world: preserving beloved traditions while introducing a new generation of artists and audiences to the richness of Cuban music.
When: Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St.
Halloween Costume Contest at Sesame Place
This year, Sesame Place Philadelphia’s annual costume contest falls on Halloween! The friendly competition features a child and a family costume contest. Guests are encouraged to get creative with their most dazzling costumes for a chance to win prizes, including the chance to march in a special pre-show before the Sesame Street Halloween Parade!
Where: Sesame Place Philadelphia, 100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne, PA 19047
East Passyunk Fall Fest
South Philly’s most beloved Halloween tradition is back and bigger than ever! Nice Things Handmade, in partnership with the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, announces the return of East Passyunk Fall Fest on Saturday. Celebrate all things autumn and make it a spooky Saturday with 110+ artists, makers, vintage vendors, East Passyunk Avenue businesses and community groups line the Avenue alongside live music, pop-up activations, “Hocus Pocus” outdoor screening, trick-or-treating for kids, seasonal food and drinks, live music, pumpkin carving, a dog costume contest, and make-and-take craft stations. Don’t miss the special Halloween-inspired pop-up by the Drunken Knit Wits and South Philly Yarn, bringing extra handmade magic to the day. The festival is no charge to attend and rain or shine, with food, drinks, shopping, and select activities pay-as-you-go.
When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: East Passyunk Avenue from Morris to Dickinson streets
Third annual US Night Market
US Night Market is just like the name says… its for “ ALL OF US.” The NIGHT MARKET is a family-oriented and dog-friendly night market aimed to showcase the diverse cultures and communities of our city. The free family-friendly evening celebrates the diversity and creativity of Philadelphia with an evening of local food trucks, art vendors, and live entertainment. In celebration of Halloween, attendees are encouraged to attend in costume and participate in trick-or-treating and a costume contest.
When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 6-10 p.m.
Where: South Street between 21st and 23rd streets
Halloween House at Fashion District
After last year’s huge success at Deptford Mall, Halloween House Philly has now moved to Center City with double the space, 10 fully themed rooms, new interactive experiences, theme days, a retail shop and plenty of fun for families, friends and Halloween lovers of all ages. Designed to be spooky but never scary, Halloween House Philly takes visitors on a larger-than-life adventure through a winding Halloween ‘maze’ filled with imaginative environments, eye-catching displays, picture-perfect photo opportunities, hands-on activities and interactive challenges around every corner. Unlike traditional haunted houses, there are no live monsters, frightening actors or unexpected jump scares. Instead, guests can explore at their own pace, discover surprises along the way and enjoy a playful Halloween experience that delivers all the fun of the season without the fright. The adventure even concludes with a surprise trick and a surprise treat! Open during mall hours; the haunted house is located directly inside the AMC Entrance.
When: ends Saturday, Oct. 31
Where: AMC DINE-IN Fashion District 8, 1001 Market St.
Día de Muertos: Honoring Our History
The Visitor Center will host a Día de Muertos gathering featuring a sugar skull craft session and “Roses and Rainbows: A Queer Icon Coloring Book.” Winners of the Pets & People Costume Contest will also be announced. At 3 p.m. a documentary short “Gay Pioneers” will be screened, courtesy of the historic advocacy group who initiated the Annual Reminder Day demonstrations, Equality Forum. Jeremy Schulz, a queer chaplain and 2026 Roothbert Fellow, will lead a celebration of life.
When: Sunday, Nov. 1 from 1-4 p.m.
Where: Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market St.
”The Great Gatsby”
Set in the Roaring Twenties, the story follows eccentric and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of the lost love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan. Through its fascinatingly nuanced characters – driven by complex inner lives, erupting with extravagance and longing – this epic tale has always been destined to sing. Now, it comes to life across North American stages, with a grand, Tony Award-winning production design befitting the 21st century. The production also carries a special connection to the Philadelphia region. The musical’s Tony Award-nominated book was written by Kait Kerrigan, a Doylestown native and Muhlenberg College graduate whose work has been seen on stages across the country. Philadelphia audiences will have the opportunity to experience a Broadway phenomenon shaped in part by one of the region’s own theatrical voices.
When: ends Sunday, Nov. 1
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.
Stephen King’s “Misery” adapted by William Goldman
Hedgerow Theatre Company opens its 2026-27 season with Stephen King’s “Misery,” a chilling psychological thriller about obsession, fame, and survival adapted to the stage by William Goldman. After a devastating car accident leaves novelist Paul Sheldon stranded in a remote cabin, he awakens under the care of Annie Wilkes, his self-proclaimed “number one fan,” whose devotion quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. Featuring Emma Gibson (Beginners) and Bruce Graham (The Philly Fan) in a riveting two-person showdown, the production traps audiences inside a tense, unpredictable battle of wills where admiration turns terrifying. Suspenseful and darkly entertaining, Misery launches the new season with an electrifying theatrical experience that will keep audiences on edge until the very last moment.
When: ends Sunday, Nov. 1
Where: Hedgerow Theatre Company, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media, PA 19063
”The Addams Family: The Musical”
A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, “The Addams Family: The Musical” is the magnificently unhinged hit musical featuring everyone’s favorite creepy, kooky characters. Wednesday Addams is the ultimate princess of darkness and has fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family… a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
When: ends Sunday, Nov. 1
Where: Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut 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
”The Magicians Table”
The Magicians Table’s limited five-week engagement brings audiences into an intimate world where astonishing close-up magic, live music, handcrafted cocktails, immersive storytelling, and laugh-out-loud comedy combine to create an unforgettable adults-only night out. “The Magicians Table” will feature touring magicians as well as a selection of artists from across the Philadelphia region.
When: through Sunday, Nov. 22
Where: SEI Innovation Studio, inside the Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad 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.
”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.
The 20th Annual Small Favors
The Clay Studio celebrates the 20th annual Small Favors, a popular exhibition challenging artists from around the world to create unique artworks in four-inch cubes. The 2026 exhibition celebrates two decades with its largest collection to date, featuring over 500 intricate artworks by 300 artists on display and for sale in The Clay Studio’s Jill Bonovitz Gallery. The popular exhibition includes works submitted by nationally known artists, similar to what they typically create, at a reduced scale or something entirely new and unique, alongside works by some of the best of Philadelphia’s up-and-coming artists. The 2026 collection features world-famous artists like Sergei Isupov, local legends like Roberto Lugo, and up-and-coming artists like Janina Myronova installed alongside talented emerging artists.
When: through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027
Where: The Clay Studio Center for Innovation in Ceramic Art, 1425 North American St.
”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: through Friday, Jan. 8, 2027
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.
Marcel Duchamp exhibit at PMA
The first major U.S. retrospective dedicated to Marcel Duchamp in more than 50 years, this exhibition will explore the range and arc of this artist’s illustrious career. Marcel Duchamp will feature a chronological display of more than 300 works of painting, sculpture, film, photography, printed matter, exhibition design, and the unclassifiable works known as readymades. It will present Duchamp’s most renowned creations, including two works only on view at the PMA, his magnum opus, The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass) and Étant donnés, Duchamp’s final major work in which he reflected upon his lifelong artistic obsessions.
When: through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
”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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