Women’s History Month Events in Philly
Celebrate trailblazers with tours and museum exhibits, support women-owned businesses at markets and food-and-drink events, and more.
The Betsy Ross House is just one Philly landmark celebrating Women’s History Month all through March. / Photograph by Laura Swartz
March is Women’s History Month, so it’s a great time to learn about some of the amazing women who helped shape our nation, challenge our ideals, and effect change. Inspire the next generation of trailblazers with tours and museum exhibits, support women-owned businesses at markets and food-and-drink events, and much more.
Women’s History Month at the Betsy Ross House
On select weekends in March, come to the Betsy Ross House for re-enactors on Saturdays and free storytelling on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On March 2nd, meet Betsy Ross in two different stages of her life — a young seamstress and an older revolutionary making musket cartridges for the Continental Army — along with her wealthy landlord Hannah Lithgow.
Their March 16th event is a $20 “Crafternoon” guided by Betsy herself. Betsey and her daughter Clarissa Claypoole (also an upholsterer) will guide. you in some stitches on an authentic 18th-century upholstery project. You’ll also learn to sew your own lavender sachets to take home. The event also gets you access to the house for a self-guided tour.
Finally, on March 23rd, meet two prominent women of the 18th century — Julia Stockton Rush and Elizabeth Drinker — as they share their views on politics and life in colonial Philadelphia.
On Sundays, the Once Upon A Nation storytelling bench will be visited by storytellers sharing short, interactive and little-known tales of unsung heroines all month long. All Sunday events are free.
Weekends in March from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street.
Badass Women’s History Walking Tour
Book a two-hour tour with Beyond the Bell to learn about cool colonial women, change-makers and more pioneers who have made their mark on our city, from forgotten founding mother Hannah Callowhill Penn to Pride pioneer Barbara Gittings. Tours are offered daily at 11 a.m. for $59 per person. Book your spot online.
Visit Harriett’s Bookshop on the Sisterhood Sit-In trolley tour. / Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Sisterhood Sit-In Trolley Tours: “Sitting Pretty”
Running twice a day on Saturdays in March, these two-hour rides guided by Minista Jazz, StarFire and Jenesis El travel through different Philly areas (including Reading Terminal, South Street and Northern Liberties) to highlight women’s history and Black woman-owned businesses. Tickets are $50, and are available online.
Saturdays through March, departs from Harriett’s Bookshop, 258 East Girard Avenue.
Women’s Way Wednesdays at Stratus Rooftop Lounge
Stratus Rooftop Lounge and Sisterly Love Collective team up to present Women’s Way Wednesdays, weekly Women’s History Month pop-ups celebrating local woman-owned and operated businesses. It kicks off on March 6th with Liz Grothe of Couch Cafe and Melissa McGrath of Sweet Amalia Market. Following events feature Sashia Liriano and Diana Widjojo on March 13th, and Cybille St. Aude-Tate and Maria Hernandez on March 20th. The March 27th finale will be a Sisterly Love Collective cocktail party. Drinks for each event will include craft cocktails that use spirits from women-owned distilleries, wines by the glass from women winemakers such as Cecile Perrin and Kristin Barnhisel, and local brews from Love City Brewing, Philadelphia Brewing Company and Attic Brewing Company. Tickets are $35 and will include “bites” by a different chef each week, live entertainment and a cash bar. All proceeds from the ticket sales and a portion of proceeds from featured cocktails, beer and wine will benefit the nonprofit Women’s Way and the Sisterly Love Collective.
Wednesdays in March, 5:30-8 p.m., Stratus Rooftop Lounge, 433 Chestnut Street.
Women’s Way Wednesdays at Stratus Rooftop Lounge celebrate Women’s History Month weekly in March. / Photograph by Christopher Devern
Women’s History Month Celebration at Philadelphia Museum of Art
PMA hosts an an evening of programs and art-making activities with pay-what-you-wish admission. Join artist Manuela Guillén for a drop-in art workshop, dine at Stir with chef Tonii Hicks, and join a guided exploration of the contributions of women to the artworks in the museum.
March 8th, 5-8:45 p.m., Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Riot Nerd International Women’s Day Dance Party
Head to Milkboy South Street as DJ Riot Meg plays the best female artists from the 2010s. The dance party is 21+ and takes up both floors of Milkboy ($5 cover).
March 8th, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Milkboy, 401 South Street.
CultureFest at the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum celebrates women artists and creatives with a day of performances, art-making, storytelling and gallery tours. From West African traditional music to Indian dance to the Clay Studio’s pottery demonstrations and beyond, the festival lifts the voices of women and women-identified artists across genres. All activities are included with museum admission.
March 9th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Penn Museum, 3260 South Street.
Three Aksha preserves and promotes Indian culture through classical Indian Bharatanatyam. They’ll be performing at the Penn Museum’s Women’s History Month event in March. / Photograph courtesy of Three Aksha
Sister Sunday Market at the Logan Hotel
For their third year, the Logan is hosting a market featuring over 30 woman-owned businesses in their courtyard. Vendors range from jewelry to self-care products to baby gifts to Philly fan gear. There will also be food and drink from Urban Farmer available for purchase. The event is free to attend.
March 10th, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Logan Hotel, 1 Logan Square.
I’m Every Woman Happy Hour at the Trestle Inn
The Trestle celebrates Women’s History Month with a guest DJ lineup, a special happy hour and a featured whiskey cocktail. All month long, they’ll be offering the Who’s That Lady? cocktail made with whiskey from women-owned distillery, Uncle Nearest — $2 from each cocktail supporting the nonprofit Women in Vinyl. The “I’m Every Women Happy Hour,” celebrating the First Ladies of Disco, will be held on March 15th with Trestle Special dancer Butterfly Jones appearing as “a Donna Summer-esque diva.” There’s no cover for this event.
March 15th, 6-9 p.m., the Trestle Inn, 339 North 11th Street.
Cheers to Women: A Celebration of History, Brews and Community
Roxborough’s Pocket Park hosts this outdoor get together featuring a women-owner vendor marker, a book signing with Tara Nurin (author of A Woman’s Place Is in the Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches, and CEOs), live music and more.
March 23rd, noon-4 p.m., Roxborough Pocket Park, 6170 Ridge Avenue.
Wine Class: Female Winemakers & Women-Owned Wineries
Mollie Battenhouse, national director of wine for Jackson Family Estates, will lead a wine-tasting class alongside Panorama’s William Eccleston. The class will feature Panorama’s “Women in Wine” flight, and give background on each of the five woman-owned wineries and respective wines in the flight. For the entire month of March, Panorama will be offering that flight for $44, but if you want to be guided through it, be sure to grab your ticket ($50 online).
March 24th, 3 p.m., Panorama, 14 North Front Street.
Women Mean Business: Rock Your Revenue
East Passyunk Avenue and She Rocked It host a panel discussion with local women entrepreneurs about their experiences, challenges and successes in running and growing their businesses. The event includes opportunities for Q&As and networking, as well as light bites and drinks by Manatawny Still Works. Tickets are $10 and will be available online as the event gets closer.
March 26th, 6-9 p.m., Society Hill Dance Academy, 1919 East Passyunk Avenue.
Women’s History Month at the National Constitution Center
With nearly 100 original artifacts — including Lucretia Mott’s diary, a ballot box used to collect women’s votes in the late 1800s, a letter from jail written by a White House picketer, Pennsylvania’s ratification copy of the 19th Amendment, and various “Votes for Women” ephemera — explore the constitutional arguments and historical context of the fight for suffrage over 70 years at NCC’s The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote exhibit. Additionally, you can see the daily show, “The Four Harriets of History,” make “Votes for Women” suffragette crafts and participate in “Remember the Ladies” trivia. On weekends, kids can visit the Suffragist Story Corner.
March 1st-31st, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street.
