Cirque du Soleil to Preview “’Twas the Night Before…”
performers from Cirque du Soleil’s iconic holiday show “‘Twas the Night Before…” will visit the Free Library of Philadelphia for a one-of-a-kind experience that is open to the public. The afternoon will begin with Cirque performers reading the classic Clement-Clarke Moore poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” the inspiration behind the show’s spectacular storyline, followed by a festive performance for guests in attendance. “‘Twas the Night Before…” returns to the City of Brotherly Love this holiday season at The Met Philadelphia Presented by Highmark from Dec. 17-27. Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to present its celebrated holiday theatrical, “’Twas the Night Before…,” inspired by the joy of giving and the wonder of the season. Whether you are a child of 5, 50, or 95 years old, you are sure to be wowed by incredible acrobatics and a heart-warming story this upcoming holiday.
When: Monday, Nov. 9 at 1:15 p.m.
Where: Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
WDAS FM, Power 99 and 1-800-TruckWreck giveaway 1,000 turkeys
iHeartMedia’s WDAS FM, Philly’s Best R&B & Throwbacks station, Power 99, Philadelphia’s Hip Hop and R&B station, and 1-800-TruckWreck are teaming up to help Philadelphia families prepare for Thanksgiving with a free community turkey giveaway. 1-800-TruckWreck will donate 1,000 turkeys for distribution to community members. The giveaway will feature a drive-through route around the Sharon Baptist Church parking lot. in an effort to allow all residents to participate in the drive, walk-ups are also encouraged.
When: Monday, Nov. 9 from 2–6 p.m.
Where: Sharon Baptist Church, 3955 Conshohocken Ave.
WXPN Philly Anthems LIVE
WXPN presents two free live concerts celebrating the rollout of Philly Anthems. Supported by The Pew Center For Arts & Heritage, the project inspired 13 original songs from five nationally recognized artists including Christian McBride, Devon Gilfillian, Eliza Hardy Jones, Eric Bazilian, and Lady Alma alongside eight emerging Philadelphia artists, with compositions that reflect the enduring themes of freedom and independence. The Wednesday performance features Eric Bazilian, Eliza Hardy Jones, Moustapha Noumbissi, The Flying Vees, The Bul Bey, and Second Star. Registration is required.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: WPXN, 3025 Walnut St.
Radical Americana: Thoroughlines Symposium
Join CraftNOW for its free annual symposium, as part of Philadelphia’s CraftMONTH, at Moore College of Art & Design. This year’s theme, Radical Americana: Throughlines, celebrates Philadelphia’s historic craft traditions as well as today’s artists and makers who shape the arts community locally and nationally. The 2026 symposium builds on “Radical Americana,” the citywide series of 25 exhibitions organized by The Clay Studio: Center for Innovation in Ceramic Art in collaboration with more than 20 cultural institutions to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. With the addition of Throughlines, CraftNOW broadens the project’s focus to the ideas, materials, and practices that move across generations and communities, inviting audiences to explore the connections that continue to shape Philadelphia’s creative life.
When: Thursday, Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Moore College of Art & Design, 1916 Race 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.
Rocky 50th Anniversary Events
The Philadelphia Visitor Center and partners on the Rocky Season Committee will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary 1976 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Rocky, with a series of events at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “Rocky Steps” on Friday. As part of Rocky Season, presented by Bank of America, the day will bring Rocky fans to the Steps for an afternoon of celebration, including a statue re-dedication event featuring Rocky Shuttle Maiden Voyage, a free “Tiny Steps” Rocky concert by the Philly Pops, and a Guiness World Record attempt for the largest gathering of Rocky Balboas. Events will take place on the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
When: Friday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
Game Night & Book Signing with Jennifer Shahade
The Museum for Art in Wood hosts Philadelphia-based two-time U.S. Women’s Chess Champion and author Jennifer Shahade for an evening exploring art, chess, and gender on Friday. Attendees will experience Donna Dodson’s “Match of the Matriarchs,” an exhibition centered on a monumental, interactive chessboard featuring 32 movable pieces hand-carved from salvaged wood. The exhibition also features Hula Chess, Naked Chess, and Breast Milk vs. Formula, works by Shahade and her collaborator Daniel Meirom.
When: Friday, Nov. 13 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd St.
Love Your Park Fall Weekend
From Nov. 13-15, more than 100 local park volunteer groups are hosting cleanups across the city to care for Philadelphia’s public spaces, plant trees and shrubs, and prepare parks for the winter season. Love Your Park is an annual celebration of Philadelphia’s public parks, organized by partners Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, and the Park Friends Network. Volunteer events will focus on a range of activities depending on park needs, including planting and caring for trees, collecting leaves, and removing litter. Tools and gloves are provided and park lovers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. To volunteer at one of the clean-ups, anyone can register at loveyourpark.org.
Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market
Shop small this season with handcrafted gifts from local makers. Positioned beside historic City Hall, Dilworth Park is one of Philadelphia’s most popular public spaces year-round, with a record 12.9 million visitors in 2025. During the holiday season, it becomes a festive destination for residents and visitors alike, all steps from Center City’s premier shopping, dining and arts and cultural venues. The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market complements the neighboring Christmas Village and showcases dozens of local vendors from the Philadelphia region. Visitors can expect everything from home goods and jewelry to skincare, artwork and artisanal treats.
When: Friday, Nov. 13-Jan. 1, 2027 from 12- 8 p.m.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
”Care, Kin, Perspective” at PMG
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens presents “Care, Kin, Perspective,” an exhibition of mixed-media artworks by Mickayel Thurin. Combining textiles, paint, and drawing, Thurin explores self-love, familial bonds, and moments of intimacy through expressive portraits of herself and those closest to her. Bridging fantasy and reality, her work examines empowerment, change, and anxiety while inviting reflection on the relationships that shape our lives.
When: Friday, Nov. 13-Feb. 15, 2027
Where: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 S. St.
The Big Dill — a pickle party
Philadelphia looks to set a world record as the country’s largest pickle party returns to the place where it was born and brined — right here in Philadelphia. The Big Dill®, The World’s Largest Pickle Party®, is bringing its biggest celebration ever home to Philadelphia on Saturday, taking over National Pickle Day itself. Attendees can expect a “Pickle Row” with 20 vendors and unlimited sampling, vendors serving pickle-themed foods, Pickle UP! game show and contests, World Pickle Eating Championship® and Brine Chug Challenge, and more.
When: Saturday, Nov. 14 from 1-9 p.m.
Where: Stateside Live!, 1100 Pattison Ave.
512: The Selena Experience
512: The Selena Experience will bring the music and magic of Selena Quintanilla to Rivers Casino Philadelphia. The high-energy tribute production will celebrate the iconic singer’s biggest hits, including “Como La Flor,” “Amor Prohibido,” “Si Una Vez,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and more. The musicians behind 512: The Selena Experience came together with one goal: to bring the magic of Selena to longtime fans and introduce her music to new generations. The group has played at performing arts centers, casinos and festivals across the country, with sold-out performances along the way. The group also has performed for the Chicago Bulls and for the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan. Named after one of Selena’s hit songs, “El Chico Del Apartamento 512,” the tribute production transports audiences back to the mid-1990s through a high-energy concert experience celebrating Selena’s music and legacy. Tickets are required.
When: Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.
Where: Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.
”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: ends 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: ends Saturday, Nov. 14
Where: various locations across Northwest Philadelphia
Coins, Cards & CHAOS
Coins, Cards & CHAOS, a one-of-a-kind, two-day live shopping and collectibles experience designed to connect collectors, independent sellers, and content creators around sports cards, Pokémon, coins and currency, vintage toys, and more, is coming exclusively to the Valley Forge Casino Resort. At Coins, Cards & CHAOS, collectors are encouraged to bring their own items to sell and trade with each other and the vendors on-site. Experience the thrill of finding a childhood favorite, a rare card, and the energy of a live shopping show. Created by the team behind LiveBuys, CHAOS will bring communities together that often have their own dedicated events including sports cards, Pokémon, coins and currency, action figures, and vintage collectibles. Attendees can explore familiar favorites, discover new collecting interests, and meet the people behind the products and live-selling channels they follow. CHAOS also puts a spotlight on the entrepreneurs building businesses around collecting. By bringing sellers, creators, and shoppers together, the event creates opportunities for face-to-face connections that extend beyond a livestream. Live appearances from world-renowned experts in collecting, pop culture, and live commerce include TikTok, Gary Vaynerchuk’s VeeFriends; Goldin, the company that sold the most expensive Pokémon card of all time; AFA, a renowned appraiser of action figures; and Coin Krewe. Tickets are required.
When: Saturday, Nov. 14-15 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Valley Forge Casino Resort, 1160 1st Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406
”Evanescence: We Are Still Fading” at Morton Contemporary
Join Morton Contemporary and former NBA player turned painter Neil Anthony Edwards to celebrate his latest collection. Neil Anthony Edwards returns to Philadelphia for his second solo exhibition at Morton Contemporary Gallery: “Evanescence: We Are Still Fading.” Edwards’ sold-out 2025 show, “We Are All Fading,” focused on a single era. This year, the artist widens the lens, moving from the 1910s through the Roaring Twenties to the 1960s, while closing with two larger-than-life icons: Philadelphia’s own Rocky Balboa and LeBron James. In this series, each decade speaks to the next. The tailored elegance of the 1910s, the daring glamour of the 1920s, and the cool confidence of the 1960s — all hang side by side, showing how every generation borrows from the last, reinvents it, and leaves its own mark. Fashion remains Edwards’ language, and here it reads less like a snapshot and more like a family album for an entire culture.
When: Saturday, Nov. 14-Dec. 12
Where: Morton Contemporary Art Gallery, 115 S. 13th St.
Handel at Home
Step into the musical world of the early American republic, when private gatherings for music, poetry and conversation were central to social and cultural life. Mezzo-soprano and Penn artist-in-residence Meg Bragle leads Handel at Home, a program inspired by the talent, curiosity and hospitality of the 18th-century women who were at the heart of these flourishing artistic circles. Joined by soprano Mary Wilson and harpsichordist Hanbyeol Lee, and set in the historic Powel House, this intimate performance offers a taste of Philadelphia’s lively colonial salons through opera, oratorio and keyboard works by George Frideric Handel, one of the most celebrated composers of the era.
When: Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 & 7 p.m.
Where: Powel House, 244 S.3rd St.
Fall Series 2026
The season opens with an immersive world premiere by acclaimed New Zealand choreographer Loughlan Prior, whose theatrical storytelling and cinematic imagination have made him a BalletX audience favorite with his 2024 work, Macaroni. With designer Emma Kingsbury and composer Frank Moon, Prior transports audiences into the hidden speakeasies of Prohibition-era Philadelphia, where jazz, glamour, and danger flourished behind locked doors and whispered passwords. The program also features the return of two celebrated BalletX works: “Switching the Groove (2023),” Amy Hall Garner‘s electrifying fusion of ballet, rhythm, and musicality, and “In the Wake (2025),” Christian Denice‘s moving meditation on resilience, remembrance, and healing.
When: ends Sunday, Nov. 15
Where: Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S Broad 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: ends Sunday, Nov. 15
Where: Theatre Exile, 1340-48 S. 13th St.
”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.
”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: through Sunday, Dec. 13
Where: Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd 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.
”Match of the Matriarchs” by Donna Dodson
“Match of the Matriarchs” centers on a monumental, interactive chessboard featuring 32 movable chess pieces hand-carved by Donna Dodson from locally salvaged wood. Modeled on female archetypes and marine beings, including cephalopods, cetaceans, and mermaids, Dodson’s sculptures transform the traditionally hierarchical game of chess into an exploration of matriarchal power and ecological symbolism. Through Dodson’s interpretation, chess becomes a space for challenging its longstanding associations with masculine intellect and mastery, emphasizing the queen’s formidable power and the emergence of new strategies. The reclaimed wood’s varied tones, cracks, and scars connect the game to the material’s history, evoking endurance, adaptation, and transformation.
When: through Sunday, March 14, 2027
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd 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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