18 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend
Zella Day plays the Foundry at the Fillmore on Friday. Photo by Samuel Richard
FRIDAY, JULY 8
Zella Day @ Foundry at the Fillmore
Singer-songwriter Zella Day hails from Pinetop, Arizona, but skips the indie sound for what Billboard calls “modern pop with a touch of Western Bohemian flair.”
Russell Peters @ Punch Line Philly
After a successful (and uneventful) Dave Chappelle show at Philly’s brand new comedy club, next up is Russell Peters celebrating his 25 years in the biz. He’s performing all weekend but there are very few tickets left.
Invisible Threads @ Arch Enemy Arts
Old City gallery Arch Enemy Arts opens two shows on Friday: group exhibit Invisible Threads, featuring new work from 11 artists, and space-themed paintings from Jason Hernandez in Celestial Comfort.
Jesse Bermudez Day @ Painted Bride Art Center
Come for the salsa lesson, stick around to show off your new salsa skills at this Siempre Salsa Philly dance party with music from Pablo Batista and the Mambo Syndicate.
Blobfest @ The Colonial Theatre
Phoenixville hosts its annual tribute to 1959 sci-fi horror classic The Blob with a weekend-long festival.
Parks on Tap @ Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
Traveling beer garden Parks on Tap pops up at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden all weekend. For the kids, Saturday and Sunday is also Family Tanabata Weekend, a Japanese festival with traditional activities like origami making.
SATURDAY, JULY 9
The Broad to Schuylkill Scavenger Hunt starts at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Photo by Mike Servedio/ANS
Broad to Schyulkill Scavenger Hunt @ Academy of Natural Sciences
Test your Philly knowledge — and your teamwork skills — at a scavenger hunt set up by the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Wagner Free Institute of Science, with help from several other local institutions, including the Franklin Institute, the Barnes and the Mutter Museum. To qualify for prizes, which include tickets and memberships, you have to turn in your scavenger hunt sheet at Frankford Hall — which is also conveniently the after-party site.
Liberty Lands Music Fest @ Liberty Lands Park
Proceeds from this combined flea market and music festival support the park and the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association.
Watermelon Woman @ Caplan Theater at the University of the Arts
Director Cheryl Dunye will be in attendance for the 20th anniversary screening of this gutsy Philly-filmed movie about a young black lesbian trying to make a documentary. It’s part of LGBTQ film festival qFlix Philadelphia.
Bob Saget @ Borgata
If you’re down the shore this weekend, head to Atlantic City after the beach to see the polar opposite of Danny Tanner.
Hispanic Fiesta @ Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
Part of the PECO Multicultural Series, this celebration of music, entertainment, food and crafts from a range of Latin American countries is back for its 35th year. The festivities run both Saturday and Sunday.
Saved by the 90s @ The Trocadero
Unsurprisingly, Saved By The 90s plays hits from the ’90s, from boy band pop to angsty grunge.
John Carpenter: Live Retrospective @ Keswick Theatre
Horror Master John Carpenter also wrote the scores for many of his movies. He’ll be playing a mix of music from his films and from his two albums, Lost Themes and Lost Themes II.
Members Exhibition @ Savery Gallery
More than 70 members of the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center have a photo on display at Savery, up through the end of the month.
SUNDAY, JULY 10
The Chamanas, from Chihuahua, Mexico, play free Latin music festival Nuevofest. Photo provided
Nuevofest @ FringeArts
WXPN’s Latin Roots Live! presents this free concert featuring seven visiting Latin artists, including iLe, the singer from Puerto Rico’s Calle 13, and The Chamanas, blending traditional Mexican folklore with bossa nova and indie pop. You need to RSVP.
Shared Rooms @ Prince Theater
LGBTQ film festival qFlix Philadelphia wraps up with the East Coast premiere of rom-com Shared Rooms, with writer/director Rob Williams in attendance.
Ben Kronberg @ PhilaMOCA
Stand-up comic Ben Kronberg, who’s been on Comedy Central’s The Half Hour and Jimmy Kimmel Live, has a laid-back style that works well with his one-liners.
Petapalooza @ Chestnut Hill
Step aside, humans, this one is for the pets — I’m assuming dogs; I don’t think cats want to be captured by the “pet caricaturist.” Dogs can dip into pools set up along Germantown Avenue and have their futures divined by a paw readers, while owners check out pet-related exhibits and vendors.
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