{"id":302458,"date":"2026-10-08T17:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T17:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/302458\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T17:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T17:10:09","slug":"things-to-do-around-philly-rocky-anniversary-delco-arts-fest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/302458\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to do around Philly: \u2018Rocky\u2019 anniversary, Delco Arts Fest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Delaware
\nSecond Annual Wilmington International Film Festival<\/p>\n

Where: Multiple venues, including Theater N<\/a> and The Screening Room<\/a>
\nWhen: Thursday, Oct. 8 \u2013 Sunday, Oct. 11
\nHow much: $15 per individual screening, $150 all-access festival pass<\/p>\n

Among the area\u2019s recurring film festivals, the Wilmington International Film Festival<\/a> is staking its claim as a major player. It returns with a four-day slate of more than three dozen films from around the world, spanning narrative features, documentaries and short films. Highlights include festival selections from South by Southwest and the Tribeca Festival like \u201cSeahorse,\u201d \u201cAdam\u2019s Apple\u201d and \u201cHow to Feed a Dictator.\u201d\u00a0 The festival also comes with filmmaker Q&As, industry networking events, live music, international food and a closing awards brunch.\n<\/p>\n

New Jersey
\nThe Z Street Band Springsteen Experience<\/p>\n

Where: Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway,<\/a> Pitman, N.J.
\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m.
\nHow much: $35\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

We all know the E Street Band, but did you know there\u2019s also a Z Street Band<\/a>? They\u2019re a tribute group fronted by Los Angeles-based vocalist Paulie Z. <\/a>The group recreates everything Springsteen, from signature songs like \u201cBorn to Run\u201d and \u201cGlory Days\u201d to deeper cuts like \u201cNight\u201d and \u201cRacing in the Street.\u201d The Z Street Band brings Springsteen\u2019s catalog to life for fans looking for a nostalgic connection to one of rock\u2019s most enduring groups. They\u2019ll be in South Jersey <\/a>on Saturday night.\n<\/p>\n

Special events
\n\u2018Rocky\u2019 Season<\/p>\n

Where: Multiple venues
\nWhen: Through Thursday, Dec. 3
\nHow much: Various prices<\/p>\n

Yes, Philly embraced a fictional boxer who captured the city\u2019s underdog spirit and grit so well they will forever be associated with it. Philadelphia marks the 50th anniversary of \u201cRocky,\u201d<\/a> originally released on Dec. 3, 1976, with a citywide celebration. <\/a>The lineup includes Rocky Philadelphia Bus Tours<\/a> through filming locations, the Rocky Run<\/a>, the Meat Market Challenge<\/a> at Reading Terminal, a \u201cRocky\u201d-themed event<\/a> at the National Dog Show, a concert with the Philly Pops<\/a>, a Rocky Steps challenge<\/a> and a statue rededication.<\/a> It goes through Rocky Day on Dec. 3.\n<\/p>\n

OURfest Weekend 2026<\/p>\n

OURfest celebrates National Coming Out Day<\/a> and LGBTQ+ History Month <\/a>with its annual celebration weekend.<\/a> It kicks off with multiple parties,<\/a> including Porkroll Outfest featuring Chicago house pioneer Derrick Carter. <\/a>Though Philly Pride Fest relocated to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in June, Sunday\u2019s Out for Good block party stretches across several blocks in the Gayborhood. Expect live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, drag shows, poetry, big bands, community choirs and youth activities, along with an \u201cAll House, All Night\u201d dance party.\n <\/p>\n

Next Gen Festival<\/p>\n

Millennials, Gen Alpha and Gen Z, stand up. There\u2019s a festival focused just on you.<\/a> Though it\u2019s billed as appropriate for all ages, it emphasizes the city\u2019s future through wellness, connection and creativity activations. It starts with a 2.2-mile social run before heating up with live music, DJ sets, visual art, sports and wellness activities. A marketplace features local vendors and makers.\n<\/p>\n

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival<\/p>\n

Where: 1700 S. Ninth St.\u00a0<\/a>
\nWhen: Sunday, Oct. 11, noon \u2013 8 p.m.
\nHow much: Free, pay as you go<\/p>\n

The festival must go on! After being rescheduled from last weekend, the St. Nicholas fest <\/a>will continue its long-running celebration of Italian Americans with a full slate of food, music and cultural programming. Centered around traditional cuisine from pasta, sausage and peppers to cannoli and zeppole, the festival also features live performances, family-friendly activities, artisan vendors and community programming. And yes, The Three Tenors<\/a> will still perform.\n<\/p>\n

Arts and culture
\n\u2018Liberation\u2019<\/p>\n

Bess Wohl<\/a>\u2019s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play<\/a> set in the \u201870s centers on women in a consciousness-raising group in small-town Ohio. Set in the past and the present, it begs the question of how much feminism has changed women\u2019s lives \u2014 or not. Directed by Philadelphia Theatre Company co-artistic director Taibi Magar,<\/a> this production is the first regional staging following its Broadway run. Sunday\u2019s performance includes a pre-show conversation about Philly\u2019s own women\u2019s liberation movement.\n<\/p>\n

Imbolo Mbue: \u2018Every Story Is a Love Story\u2019<\/p>\n

Author Imbolo Mbue<\/a> wrote The New York Times best-seller \u201cBehold the Dreamers<\/a>,\u201d a prescient example of how the debate over immigration impacts real lives. It won the PEN\/Faulkner Award for fiction and was a selection for Oprah\u2019s Book Club. Mbue comes to Philadelphia to discuss <\/a>her new novel, \u201cEvery Story Is a Love Story.\u201d<\/a> It follows Wolo, a grieving man who is rocked when the woman responsible for his wife\u2019s fatal car accident contacts him. Mbue will discuss the book with University of Pennsylvania scholar and educator Justin McDaniel.\u00a0<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Delco Arts Week<\/p>\n

Where: Multiple venues
\nWhen: Through Sunday, Oct. 11
\nHow much: Various prices<\/p>\n

Delaware County, believe it or not, is now viewed as a credible destination for arts and culture. From filming shows like the 2021 HBO series \u201cMare of Easttown\u201d<\/a> to the annual arts celebration,<\/a> the area has arrived. This year\u2019s fest encompasses 60 events, including workshops, live performances, film screenings, visual art exhibitions and hands-on community programming. They include drop-in, hands-on arts workshops and the one-night Delco Film Festival,<\/a> rounding out a county-wide celebration of the county\u2019s imprint on the arts.\n<\/p>\n

\u2018A Gambler\u2019s Guide To Dying\u2019<\/p>\n

Generally, we at WHYY\u2019s \u201cThings to Do\u201d desk try to avoid telling you about sold-out shows, since, obviously, there are no tickets available. However, this production intrigued us, and there\u2019s still hope via the waiting list. The Philadelphia premiere of Gary McNair\u2019s acclaimed one-man play<\/a> is set inside an actual pub, as part of Inis Nua\u2019s \u201cPop-Up Play in a Pub\u201d series. Tickets include a meat or vegan savory pie and a drink voucher. The production follows a lifelong gambler and master storyteller who, after receiving a terminal diagnosis, wagers that he can outlive the prognosis.\n<\/p>\n

\u2018UnRavelled\u2019<\/p>\n

The East Coast premiere of Jake Broder<\/a>\u2019s stage work <\/a>combines theater, live music, neuroscience and visual art into a single narrative through the lived realities of those experiencing frontotemporal dementia. The production follows scientist-artist Anne Adams and composer Maurice Ravel, who suffered from early cognitive decline,<\/a> through parallel storylines. As Adams\u2019 condition worsens, she\u2019s inspired in part to Ravel\u2019s \u201cBol\u00e9ro.\u201d The production is part of Penn Live Arts\u2019 Accelerator Program<\/a> in partnership with Penn Medicine, which includes post-show discussions and workshops.\n<\/p>\n

\u2018Michelle Angela Ortiz \u201800: Stories of Us\u2019<\/p>\n

Where: Moore College of Art, 1916 Race St.<\/a>
\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 10 \u2013 Saturday, Jan. 16
\nHow much: Free<\/p>\n

As Hispanic Heritage Month<\/a> continues through Oct. 15, it\u2019s the perfect time for Philadelphia artist and Moore College alum Michelle Angela Ortiz <\/a>to showcase 25 years of public art and studio work of \u201cStories of Us,\u201d<\/a> an exhibition exploring family, immigration and community. Curated by Erica F. Battle,<\/a> it opens with a reception<\/a> that also features fellow Moore alum \u201996 E Bond\u2019s exhibition \u201cLanguage Studies.\u201d An artist conversation with Ortiz happens later this month, with a screening and panel discussion of \u201cLas Madres de Berks\u201d in November.\n<\/p>\n

Open Studios Bok<\/p>\n

Where: Bok Building, 1901 S. Ninth St.\u00a0<\/a>
\nWhen: Friday, Oct. 9, 5 p.m. \u2013 9 p.m.
\nHow much: Free<\/p>\n

Bok opens all nine floors of the former South Philadelphia vocational high school for Fall Open Studios,<\/a> a free, semiannual event where visitors can meet the artists, makers and small businesses working inside the building. More than two dozen participating studios include ceramicists, photographers, jewelers, designers, printmakers, fashion and craft artists, with pop-up art and music, food vendors and community partners. An added incentive is Bok Bar, which will be open throughout the night. Oh, and Darnel\u2019s Cakes<\/a> is among the food and drink vendors. IYKYK.\n<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours<\/p>\n

Where: Multiple locations
\nWhen: West of Broad, Saturday, Oct. 10, Sunday, Oct. 11, East of Broad, Saturday, Oct. 17 and 18, noon \u2013 6 p.m.
\nHow much: Free<\/p>\n

The Bok Building is not the only space connecting artists to potential buyers. Twenty-five years in, POST does the same, opening the doors of more than 150 artist studios<\/a> and creative spaces across the city for a free, self-guided look at Philly\u2019s makers and creators. The first weekend focuses on studios west of Broad Street, the next on studios east of Broad. Participating artists are in disciplines including painting, ceramics, photography, mixed media, drawing and metalworking, among others, while special programming includes demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions, artist talks and receptions.\n<\/p>\n

Marcel Duchamp<\/p>\n

French artist Marcel Duchamp<\/a> was a multi-genre creator. The first major U.S. retrospective of his work <\/a>in 50 years reveals his unique talents with\u00a0 300 works spanning six decades in nearly every medium, from painting, sculpture and photography to film, printed matter and \u201creadymades.\u201d The show includes some of his best-known works including \u201cNude Descending a Staircase (No. 2),\u201d \u201cThe Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even\u201d and \u201cL.H.O.O.Q.\u201d PMA holds the world\u2019s largest Duchamp collection and co-organized the exhibition with New York\u2019s Museum of Modern A<\/a>rt, where it was earlier this year.\n<\/p>\n

\u2018Stars and Stripes Forever\u2019<\/p>\n

Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.\u00a0<\/a>
\nWhen: Thursday, Oct. 8, Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.,\u00a0 Sunday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m.
\nHow much: $55.16 and up\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Ballet 2026-27 season opener<\/a> is inspired by the ongoing celebration of America\u2019s 250th birthday. Choreographer Jerome Robbins<\/a>\u2019 \u201cFancy Free,\u201d the story of three sailors cutting loose in New York City; Eliot Feld\u2019s<\/a> \u201cVariations on \u2018America\u2019\u201d; and two Balanchine works, \u201cWho Cares?\u201d set to George Gershwin<\/a> and \u201cStars and Stripes,\u201d choreographed to John Philip Sousa,<\/a> kick off the year with a celebration of American talents and a nod to patriotism.\n<\/p>\n

Sports
\n8 Seconds Rodeo<\/p>\n

We saw what Beyonc\u00e9 accomplished by highlighting Black cowboy culture, picking up a country album of the year Grammy for her efforts.<\/a> Photographer Ivan McClellan<\/a> started documenting Black cowboys; now he\u2019s the founder of the 8 Seconds Rodeo,<\/a> returning to Philadelphia for a second year. It brings more than 30 of the country\u2019s top Black rodeo athletes to compete in bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing and mutton bustin\u2019 for a $60,000 purse. Get there early because the Git Down Preshow includes line dancing, roping lessons, interactive activities and family-friendly entertainment.\n<\/p>\n

Food and drink
\nY\u00e8Sh\u00ec Chinatown Night Market<\/p>\n

Where: 10th and Race St.\u00a0<\/a>
\nWhen: Thursday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m. \u2013 10 p.m.
\nHow much: Free, pay as you go<\/p>\n

Food and culture lovers, head down to Chinatown for the one-night, outdoor festival<\/a> that transforms the neighborhood into a street market filled with food, music and local vendors. Presented by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation,<\/a> the event features more than 90 vendors offering everything from restaurant specials and food trucks to street eats, desserts, crafts and handmade goods, alongside live performances, DJ sets and community activities.\n<\/p>\n

Beer Festivals
\nOktoberfest<\/p>\n

Where: 23rd Street Armory, Philadelphia
\nWhen: Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. \u2013 11:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 10, 1 p.m. \u2013 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. \u2013 11:30 p.m.
\nHow much: $75 Friday; $80 Saturday (VIP tickets only; other tiers are sold out)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s October, so naturally there\u2019s an Oktoberfest \u2014 and Brauhaus Schmitz\u2019s is the biggest and most authentic in the city, or so they say. Eight years in, they\u2019ve earned the right to brag. The festival features food, entertainment and 32 German draft beers, the most you can get outside of Germany. Tickets are getting scarce, so grab yours while you can.\n<\/p>\n

Kennett Square Brewfest<\/p>\n

Where: Kennett Square, Pa.
\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 10, 1:30 p.m. \u2013 5 p.m.
\nHow much: $24-$60<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d rather head to the \u2018burbs for your beer fix, the Kennett Square Brewfest has been serving up suds for 29 years. The festival offers drinks, entertainment, food and more \u2014 making it a solid way to spend a fall afternoon outside the city.\n<\/p>\n

International Cheese & Wine Festival<\/p>\n

Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave.<\/a>, Oaks, Pa.
\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 10, Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. \u2013 6 p.m.
\nHow much: $57.91 and up<\/a><\/p>\n

There are more than 100 cheeses and wines available for sampling at this fest,<\/a> all included with your admission ticket. You\u2019ll get a mini cheese tray and a tasting glass, then follow color-coded flights of ch\u00e8vre, Brie-style cheeses, blue cheese and handmade cheddars matched with wines and\/or nonalcoholic pours. Local wineries, cideries and breweries are also on hand, with sommelier-led pairing seminars for those ready to take their cheese game to the next level.\n<\/p>\n

Philly Vegan Restaurant Week<\/p>\n

Where: Multiple venues
\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 10 \u2013\u00a0 Sunday, Oct. 17
\nHow much: Various prices<\/p>\n

Carnivores take a step back during this annual restaurant week<\/a> dedicated to those who prefer their meals plant-based. Participating restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus ranging from $25 to $45, with everything from plant-based versions of comfort food to more upscale cuisine. Whether you\u2019re already vegan or just curious, it\u2019s a chance to try some new things at a discount, while discovering the multitude of eateries offering vegan food in the area.\n<\/p>\n

Music
\nKRS One<\/p>\n

A foundational figure in hip-hop, KRS-One <\/a>brings four decades of hip-hop history to the Philly \u2018burbs,<\/a> where the Bronx-born emcee and founding member of Boogie Down Productions continues a career that\u2019s made him a global icon. The Grammy-nominated artist hasn\u2019t changed his fundamental message of education and awareness, as per his 2025 album \u201cTemple of Hip Hop Global Awareness.\u201d<\/a> It adds fresh material to a set list expected to include classics like \u201cSound of da Police,\u201d \u201cLove\u2019s Gonna Getcha\u201d and \u201cStep Into a World (Rapture\u2019s Delight).\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Mad Skillz: A Night of Hip-Hop and Spoken Word<\/p>\n

Richmond, Virginia native Mad Skillz <\/a>has showcased them over a multi-decade career. Once known primarily as a battle emcee, he\u2019s evolved into a spoken-word artist. That hard work culminated in his first Grammy Award this year for best spoken word poetry album for \u201cWords For Days, Vol. 1.\u201d<\/a> He\u2019s now also an educator at the University of Richmond, where he teaches a class called \u201cThe Voice of Hip Hop in America.\u201d He\u2019ll be in Philly performing with a full live band<\/a> and a DJ.\n<\/p>\n

DJ Shadow Celebrates 30 Years of \u2018Endtroducing\u2019<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t know what the scheduling gods were thinking because it\u2019s criminal to schedule two of the best golden-age hip-hop acts on the same night, but here we are. DJ Shadow<\/a> comes to Philly<\/a> to mark the 30th anniversary of \u201cEndtroducing\u2026..,\u201d<\/a> the landmark 1996 release credited with redefining instrumental hip-hop. He\u2019s joined by pioneering producer\/DJ Prince Paul,<\/a> whose work with De La Soul and others helped shape the genre. Both a live performance and a retrospective, the show revisits the album and its production, offering a rare chance to hear two of hip-hop\u2019s most influential producers share their process.\n<\/p>\n

Teddy Swims: The Ugly Tour<\/p>\n

Though it only topped the chart for a week, Teddy Swims\u2019 breakout hit \u201cLose Control\u201d became the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 hit in chart history at 112 weeks. The Grammy-nominated, Diamond-certified singer is touring behind \u201cI\u2019ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition),\u201d<\/a> the expanded version of his 2023 debut. The Ugly Tour is Swims\u2019 biggest North American arena run yet, with St. Paul & The Broken Bones and MarcLo joining him in Philadelphia, <\/a>following high-profile festival appearances including Coachella, Stagecoach and Bonnaroo.\n<\/p>\n

Jessie Ware: The Superbloom Tour<\/p>\n

British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware<\/a> comes to Philly<\/a> to support her latest release \u201cSuperbloom.\u201d<\/a> The album, released in April, follows her 2023 release \u201cThat! Feels Good!\u201d<\/a> that earned a Grammy nod and included the dance-floor anthem \u201cFree Yourself.\u201d A former Mercury Prize nominee whose music has also featured collaborations with Sbtrkt and Sampha, her live show is built around dancing, singing and celebration.\n<\/p>\n

Foster The People \u2013 Good Mourning Sunshine Tour
\n\"MarkMark Foster, singer and songwriter of the band Foster the People, performs at the Estereo Picnic music festival in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ivan Valencia)<\/p>\n

Continuing a run that follows the band\u2019s 2024 comeback album \u201cParadise State of Mind,\u201d<\/a> their first full-length release in seven years, Foster The People<\/a> are out on the Good Mourning Sunshine tour. It comes with a cool idea \u2014 a playlist generator<\/a> to listen to before the show. The Los Angeles-based group, best known for their early hits like \u201cPumped Up Kicks,\u201d has leaned heavily into reinvention in recent years, debuting a new live production at Coachella before a global run, which includes a Philly tour stop.\u00a0<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Big Band Coltrane at Historic Bethel AME<\/p>\n

Shayne Frederick<\/a> and Josh Lee & the Extended Family <\/a>combine for a fresh take on John Coltrane,<\/a> reimagining the jazz legend\u2019s compositions through the expansive sound of a big band.<\/a> The performance is part of Coltrane 100,<\/a> the citywide celebration marking what would have been Coltrane\u2019s 100th birthday.\n<\/p>\n

Up Next
\nPhilly Music Fest<\/p>\n

Where: Multiple venues
\nWhen: Monday, Oct. 12 \u2013 Sunday, Oct. 18
\nHow much: Various prices\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Philly Music Fest <\/a>celebrates its 10th anniversary with a week of 25 local or Philly-connected artists performing across six indie venues, continuing its \u201cPhilly Is Our Genre\u201d mission of showcasing the city\u2019s musical diversity. This year\u2019s lineup includes Philly-raised Gregory Alan Isakov,<\/a> RJD2,<\/a> Immanuel Wilkins,<\/a> Madi Diaz,<\/a> Mo Lowda & the Humble <\/a>and more, spanning genres indie, rock, folk, jazz, punk, metal and hip-hop.\n <\/p>\n