TheaterWorksUSA: \u201cThe Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System\u201d<\/p>\n
This action-packed adventure with science teacher Ms. Frizzle is a musical adaptation based on the beloved book series, The Magic School Bus. When the bus gets lost on the way to the planetarium, she saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip. Despite rivalries old and new, the young student heroes must learn to work together or risk getting lost in the solar system forever.<\/p>\n
When: Monday, May 4 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.<\/p>\n
Bill Blagg: The Science of Magic<\/p>\n
For centuries magicians have used scientific principles to make people levitate in mid-air and vanish in the blink of an eye. Illusionist Bill Blagg\u2019s one-of-a-kind educational experience, The Science of Magic, takes students on a \u201cbehind the scenes\u201d journey of the magic world. Students will discover firsthand how magicians use science to create their illusions!<\/p>\n
When: Monday, May 4-5 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.<\/p>\n
Literature to Life: \u201cI Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter\u201d<\/p>\n
Julia is anything but perfect. That was always her sister Olga\u2019s role. But when tragedy strikes, Julia is left to pick up the pieces of her family and soon learns Olga might not have been quite who she seemed. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. S\u00e1nchez\u2014a National Book Award finalist, New York Times bestseller and forthcoming Netflix film\u2014follows a Mexican American teenager in Chicago as she breaks free from suffocating cultural and familial expectations to find her true self. Poignant and funny, this coming-of-age story is a heartfelt reminder of the courage it takes to forge your own path. Content Advisory: Please note that this performance references depression, self-harm and personal trauma; it\u2019s intended for ages 14+.<\/p>\n
When: Monday, May 4-5 at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.<\/p>\n
Hangin\u2019 with the Giants: JazzReach<\/p>\n
Staged as an interactive TV talk show, Hangin\u2019 with the Giants explores the groundbreaking music and enduring legacies of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Animated likenesses of these legendary artists pair with live music performed by the Metta Quartet, bringing the trailblazing innovators of jazz to life.<\/p>\n
When: Tuesday, May 5 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.<\/p>\n
Cinco de Mayo at East Market<\/p>\n
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style as Mi Vida and The Wayward come together for a vibrant patio party filled with flavor, music, and festive energy. Join us for an evening that blends the bold, elevated tastes of Mi Vida\u2019s modern Mexican cuisine with The Wayward\u2019s signature cocktails and lively atmosphere. The patio transforms into a dynamic social scene \u2014 complete with handcrafted margaritas, curated tequila selections, and seasonal bites designed for sharing. Expect a high-energy soundtrack featuring live DJs and festive beats, colorful d\u00e9cor that captures the spirit of the holiday, and interactive moments that keep the celebration flowing from day into night. Whether you\u2019re gathering with friends or making new ones, this is your destination for a Cinco de Mayo experience that feels both upscale and effortlessly fun.<\/p>\n
When: Tuesday, May 5 from 3-6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Chestnut Walk on Ludlow Street at East Market<\/p>\n
Night Market<\/p>\n
East Market\u2019s 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\u2019s booth and unwind with friends as the sun sets over East Market.<\/p>\n
When: Tuesdays through June 16 from 3\u20137 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Chestnut Walk, 34 S. 11th St.<\/p>\n
Greatest Private Collection of Benjamin Franklin comes to Philly<\/p>\n
Ahead of its landmark New York auction of The Jay T. Snider Collection of Benjamin Franklin in June, highlights from the collection will be exhibited at the Library Company of Philadelphia. The Library Company was founded by Franklin in 1731 and is today the first successful lending library and one of Philly\u2019s earliest cultural institutions. The greatest private collection of material related to Franklin to be formed over the last century will be displayed together for the first time in the city he helped build. Almost 50 works will go on display from the distinguished private collection of Jay T. Snider (the highlights in this exhibition alone total over $1m in value). Snider\u2019s collection, in addition to being the most important of Franklin assembled in the last century, is also the most valuable to come to auction.<\/p>\n
Where: Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.<\/p>\n
Mother\u2019s Day Weekend at the Barnes<\/p>\n
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\u2019s greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern paintings, with especially deep holdings by Renoir, C\u00e9zanne, 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 \u2014 it is unlike any art museum you\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
When: Thursday, May 7\u2013May 11<\/p>\n
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.<\/p>\n
Cirque du Soleil\u2019s \u201cLUZIA\u201d<\/p>\n
Cirque du Soleil\u2019s 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 \u2013 a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production.<\/p>\n
When: Thursday, May 7-June 7<\/p>\n
Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, 100 Station Ave., Oaks, PA 19456<\/p>\n
\u201dPaths to Independence, 1765-1787\u201d at HSP<\/p>\n
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 \u2018Royal Brute.\u2019 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\u2014including 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\u2011known 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.<\/p>\n
When: Thursday, May 7-Sept. 18<\/p>\n
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.<\/p>\n
Friday Night at PMA: AAPI Heritage Month Edition<\/p>\n
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Enjoy live music from Rachel Andie, create your own Chinese zodiac animal portrait with artist Hui-yi Kuo, learn from curator Hiromi Kinoshita, and explore local organizations at our community tabling forum. Drinks and light refreshments available for purchase. Tickets are required.<\/p>\n
When: Friday, May 8 from 5-8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.<\/p>\n
Spring Listening Circle<\/p>\n
On Friday, Calder Gardens will launch the Listening Circles series, a new program inspired by Indigenous talking circles where participants gather to reflect, listen deeply, and share across generations. Guided by Denise Dunkley of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, each session explores a story and opens space for dialogue and sharing lived experiences. For this inaugural program, we welcome special guest Mirian Masaquiza Jerez from the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She shares perspectives from the forum\u2019s 25th session, which focuses on climate change and the health of Indigenous Peoples. For many Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon rainforest, c\u00edrculos de la palabra \u2014 circles of the spoken word or talking circles \u2014 are essential communal gatherings where knowledge, memory, and care are shared. Elders, adults, and the youngest members of the community sit together in a non-hierarchical circle, listening attentively to one another while affirming listening as a collective responsibility. These practices nurture intergenerational bonds and recognize wisdom as something that emerges through presence, reciprocity, and time.<\/p>\n
When: Friday, May 8 from 6-7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Calder Gardens, 2100 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.<\/p>\n
Book Talk: Everybody\u2019s Fly with Fab 5 Freddy<\/p>\n
Join us for a free captivating talk with pioneering graffiti artist and hip-hop icon Fab 5 Freddy about his new memoir, Everybody\u2019s Fly: A Life of Art, Music, and Changing the Culture. Everybody\u2019s Fly is a love letter to the art of seeing, a fascinating account of an inimitable creative life, and a celebration of what it means to shape culture. The book shows how Freddy shattered racial and artistic boundaries, bridging worlds and lifting underground movements into the mainstream. Learn more about how the artist witnessed and affected seismic shifts in art, music, and style during the 1970s, \u201980s, and \u201990s. The conversation will be moderated by Maori Karmael Holmes of BlackStar Projects. The talk, which takes place in the Barnes\u2019s Annenberg Court, will be followed by an audience Q&A. Free to attend.<\/p>\n
When: Friday, May 8 from 6-8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.<\/p>\n
Celebrating Mothers Brunch<\/p>\n
Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) invites you to its annual Celebrating Mothers Brunch. This year\u2019s event highlights resilience in maternal and child health and will honor Sara Lomax, President and CEO of WURD Radio, along with Dr. Arline T. Geronimus, author of Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life on the Body in an Unjust World. The program will be hosted by 6abc\u2019s Tamala Edwards. The brunch brings together leaders, advocates, and community members for an inspiring program, brunch, kids\u2019 activities, and live and silent auctions \u2014 all benefiting MCC\u2019s work supporting pregnant and parenting families and children ages 0\u20133.<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St.<\/p>\n
Northern Liberties Spring Fest debuts<\/p>\n
Northern Liberties Business Improvement District is thrilled to announce its first ever Northern Liberties Spring Fest. Neighbors and visitors are invited to an all-day, all ages celebration of spring with family-friendly entertainment, hands-on activities, neighborhood vendors, artists and makers, food trucks, locally made beer, music and more. Some highlights include two stages with live bands, DJs and cultural performances, 60+artists, makers, vendors, small businesses, restaurants, bars and food trucks, a hot dog eating contest, Kids\u2019 Yoga and movement activities, and family fun zone, toddler play area and family photo moments, and more. Free to attend, open to the public.<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Liberty Lands, 913 N. 3rd St.<\/p>\n
Roxborough\u2019s Spring Festival and Rockin\u2019 the Ridge Car Show<\/p>\n
The 24th Annual Roxborough Spring Fest & Rockin\u2019 the Ridge Car Show returns and this year it carries a little extra weight. Roxborough Spring Fest is one of only 20 neighborhood festivals citywide selected to receive support through Mayor Parker\u2019s RingItOn! initiative, making it an official anchor event in Philadelphia250\u2019s year-long celebration of America\u2019s Semiquincentennial. This year\u2019s festival will include three live performance stages with a full all-day line-up of live bands, the Rockin\u2019 the Ridge Car Show featuring classic, custom and specialty vehicles, 70+ local artisans and food from 15+ trucks and Ridge Ave brick-and-mortar spots and more.<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Ridge Avenue in Roxborough<\/p>\n
Mother\u2019s Day with City Cruises Philadelphia<\/p>\n
City Cruises is helping show the love to mothers this year as they host a Mother\u2019s Day Brunch, an Afternoon Brunch, and a Dinner Cruise. Families will board the Spirit of Philadelphia to celebrate their mothers and create memories that will be treasured forever. Each cruise will include delicious food, classic cocktails, and amazing views of the city.<\/p>\n
When: Sunday, May 10 from 12-2 p.m. for brunch, and 5-7:30 p.m. for dinner<\/p>\n
Where: depart from Penn\u2019s Landing, 401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.<\/p>\n
Barnes Cinema: \u201cTime\u201d by Garrett Bradley<\/p>\n
This program features Time (2020), directed by Garrett Bradley, one of the artists featured in our Freedom Dreams exhibition. This powerful documentary follows Sibil Fox Richardson as she fights for the release of her husband, who is serving a 60-year prison sentence. Through lyrical filmmaking and archival imagery, the film meditates on love, endurance, and the temporal weight of incarceration. The film will be followed by a short lecture and conversation with Chi-ming Yang, a professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania. This screening is part of a special three-part series curated by Maori Karmael Holmes of BlackStar Projects in conjunction with Freedom Dreams, which brings together film, video, and installations that invite viewers to engage deeply with the memories, dreams, and histories of Black Americans. Tickets include admission to the Barnes collection and \u201cFreedom Dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9 from 1-4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.<\/p>\n
\u201dBotany of Nations\u201d Workshop Series: Natural Dyeing<\/p>\n
Every aspect of natural dyeing involves a relationship. Join ethnobotanist Marja Eloheimo for a presentation and demonstration exploring these connections, with hands-on opportunities to engage in the process. Participants will hear more about the colors derived from plants featured in the exhibition and learn the steps involved in safe, kitchen-based dyeing techniques. Eloheimo will share the histories of these plants, and participants will take home naturally dyed materials to use in a simple project of their own.<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9 from 1\u20134 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.<\/p>\n
Nick Di Paolo comes to Philly<\/p>\n
In this day of watered-down comedy, Nick Di Paolo\u2019s brutally honest performances remind us of what great stand-up should be: funny, socially relevant and a little bit reckless. His strong political opinions and razor wit make him a perfect fit for talk radio. He currently hosts \u201cThe Nick Di Paolo Show\u201d Mondays through Thursdays and has been featured on \u201cThe Nick Di Paolo Show\u201d on SiriusXM and \u201cThe Nick & Artie Show\u201d on DirecTV. He has performed on \u201cThe Tonight Show,\u201d \u201cLate Night with David Letterman,\u201d \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live\u201d and \u201cConan O\u2019Brien.\u201d He was twice nominated for an Emmy for his writing on HBO\u2019s \u201cThe Chris Rock Show.\u201d He has also had three half-hour stand-up specials on Comedy Central, and four one-hour specials: \u201cA Breath of Fresh Air\u201d (2019) and the wildly popular \u201cRaw Nerve,\u201d \u201cAnother Senseless Killing\u201d and \u201cInflammatory.\u201d He was one of the stars on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and a standout on many Comedy Central Roasts. Not limited to stand-up, radio and writing, he has had acting roles on FX\u2019s \u201cLouie,\u201d \u201cInside Amy Schumer,\u201d \u201cThe Sopranos,\u201d \u201cCop Show\u201d and CK\u2019s critically-acclaimed \u201cHorace and Pete\u201d as well as many other sitcoms. Tickets are required.<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.<\/p>\n
Spring Art Star Craft Bazaar<\/p>\n
The Art Star Craft Bazaar, an award-winning retail art and craft show organized and juried by Art Star. This upcoming show will mark the 22nd year of Art Star\u2019s Flagship Art Star Craft Bazaar. Art Star has chosen a line-up of the best art and craft vendors from the region and beyond. The show will feature a thoughtfully curated mix of handmade goods by returning Art Star favorites and over 30 fresh, new vendors. Jewelry, pottery, housewares, clothing, men\u2019s and women\u2019s accessories, art, prints, stained glass, stationary, bath and body products, dolls, art, woodworking, and more will be available. The festival layout has been reworked so Art Star can accommodate more vendors than ever \u2014 80+! The Bazaar will also feature Make + Take stations, where DIY lovers of all ages can create something to take home for an affordable fee. Project Joy will lead hands-on workshops using her popular color cells (a stained glass\u2013like material), guiding participants in creating mandalas, 3D flowers, and other designs. Guests can also learn print making with Second State Press. A handful of pop-up food vendors (Philly Taco, Irv\u2019s Ice Cream, Tokio Sushi, and more to be announced) will be available on-site, along with a full cash bar for customers to sip a drink while they shop or relax in the beer garden. Art Star will give away 75 free event totes at 11 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. each day. Guests are encouraged to visit the free raffle table for a chance to win a handmade item donated by participating vendors. Free to attend, open to the public.<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, May 9-10 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.<\/p>\n
Mother\u2019s Day with City Cruises Philadelphia<\/p>\n
City Cruises is helping show the love to mothers this year as they host a Mother\u2019s Day Brunch, an Afternoon Brunch, and a Dinner Cruise. Families will board the Spirit of Philadelphia to celebrate their mothers and create memories that will be treasured forever. Each cruise will include delicious food, classic cocktails, and amazing views of the city.<\/p>\n
When: Sunday, May 10 from 12-2 p.m. for brunch, and 5-7:30 p.m. for dinner<\/p>\n
Where: depart from Penn\u2019s Landing, 401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.<\/p>\n
A Sweet Mother\u2019s Day Awaits at Glen Foerd<\/p>\n