{"id":249633,"date":"2026-07-22T19:28:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/249633\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T19:28:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:28:09","slug":"fun-things-to-do-in-philly-this-weekend-top-family-friendly-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/249633\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun things to do in Philly this weekend: Top family-friendly activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking for some fun and unique family activities in Philly<\/a> this weekend? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n

Morris Arboretum<\/p>\n

There are many reasons to visit Morris Arboretum & Gardens, but the summer especially shines here with unique events, outdoor pop-ups and plenty of other seasonal treats sprinkled into its schedule.<\/p>\n

May marked the seasonal opening for the Garden Railway, which will remain on view to the public through Sept. 30. With this particular fixture \u2014 which is perhaps the most popular feature at Morris \u2014 Philadelphians are able to wander through one of the largest outdoor model train displays in the United States with more than 15 different rail lines running along a third of a mile of track. This year will also mark the Railway\u2019s \u2018Revolutionary Philly\u2019 activation, which boasts scenes inspired by colonial Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Kiddos can additionally enjoy the Bloomin\u2019 Bubbles Kickoff! which runs every Tuesday through Aug. 25 (11 a.m. to noon). Through this series, the venue will transform the Whimsical Woods into a magical bubble party with dancing, crafts, and activities. And finally, the 2026 schedule also features the Garden Highlights Tour, which runs weekdays at 10:30 a.m. and weekends at 1 p.m. (free with admission).<\/p>\n

100 E Northwestern Ave., morrisarboretum.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Outdoor movies in Philly parks<\/p>\n

This summer, more than 20 parks across the city are hosting movie nights featuring a mix of new releases, family favorites, and popular classics with films like \u2018Zootopia 2<\/a>\u2019, \u2018When Harry Met Sally\u2019 on the schedule. The screenings, organized by Philadelphia\u2019s Park Friends Groups, aim to bring accessible entertainment and community gatherings to neighborhoods throughout the city. All locals have to do is grab a blanket, pack some snacks and gather with family and friends.<\/p>\n

Popular titles appearing throughout the season include ‘Hoppers’, ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’, ‘Goat’, and ‘A Minecraft Movie’, with additional selections like ‘Sarah\u2019s Oil’ and ‘You, Me & Tuscany’ rounding out the schedule. Residents planning to attend should arrive shortly before dusk and check with their local Park Friends Group for the most up-to-date information, including any weather-related changes or schedule updates.<\/p>\n

myphillypark.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Summerfest<\/p>\n

Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest has reopened with its popular mix of family-friendly attractions and waterfront entertainment. Visitors can enjoy roller skating, festival rides, boardwalk and arcade games, an 18-hole mini golf course, classic carnival fare, and a variety of seasonal events throughout the summer.<\/p>\n

Just a few steps away from the Independence Seaport Museum, families can also try an exciting lineup of new \u201con-the-water\u201d experiences designed to bring guests even closer to the river. Visitors can pedal across the water aboard Chiliboats (aka aqua bikes), enjoy illuminated swan boat rides beneath the stars, or take in sweeping skyline views from new vantage points over the Delaware.<\/p>\n

The Chiliboats<\/a> are for solo use (though you can ride side by side with friends), while the recently upgraded swan boats now feature larger vessels that can accommodate up to five passengers. The boats have also added enhanced comfort seating and shaded canopies. Guests are encouraged to bring snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and even their dogs for the experience, or check out special after-dark Glow Night Rides via Wheel Fun Rentals.<\/p>\n

101 S Columbus Blvd., delawareriverwaterfront.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Longwood Gardens<\/p>\n

Longwood Gardens began as a quiet Quaker farm in the early 1700s, later becoming a celebrated arboretum known as Peirce\u2019s Park. Its transformation into the destination we know today started in 1906, when industrialist Pierre S. du Pont bought the land to save its trees\u2014and then dreamed much bigger.<\/p>\n

This summer, visitors can experience the Gardens at its peak through the Festival of Fountains season, running through Sept. 27. The activation features vibrant indoor and outdoor displays, fountain performances, three immersive treehouse experiences, giant water platters, and scenic trails through the Meadow Garden lined with wildflowers and tall grasses.<\/p>\n

Guests can also explore the 32,000-square-foot West Conservatory, the relocated Cascade Garden, and the expanded Idea Garden, all introduced as part of the Longwood Reimagined project. Additional programming this summer includes Family Nature Strolls at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. (capacity limited) and daily fountain shows at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15, 3:15, and 5:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, longwoodgardens.org<\/a><\/p>\n

MORE: 6 kid-friendly restaurants to try in Philly this summer<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\tKeywords<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tPhiladelphia,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t things to do,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t family-friendly activities,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t weekend guide,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t Morris Arboretum,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t Longwood Gardens,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t RiverRink Summerfest,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t outdoor movies,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t summer events,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t Philadelphia families\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Looking for some fun and unique family activities in Philly this weekend? We\u2019ve got you covered. Morris Arboretum…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249634,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[91609,35891,63828,71095,69,106777,71,70,106776,74616,289,10691],"class_list":["post-249633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-family-friendly-activities","tag-longwood-gardens","tag-morris-arboretum","tag-outdoor-movies","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-families","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-riverrink-summerfest","tag-summer-events","tag-things-to-do","tag-weekend-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}