17 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend
Tour the National Constitution Center during PoliticalFest. Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
FRIDAY, JULY 22
PoliticalFest @ Various Locations
Get a hands-on social studies lesson at PoliticalFest, organized by the Democratic National Convention’s host committee. Seven sites around the city are participating with exhibits, games, talks and performances about American history, politics and government. One $15 ticket gets you into everything, so whether you’re a visitor or a local now’s a good (and inexpensive) time to check out the National Constitution Center, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia History Museum, the Heritage Center of the Union League of Philadelphia, the National Liberty Museum, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Convention Center. It starts Friday and runs through July 27. Convention attendees get in free.
National Hammock Day @ Spruce Street Harbor Park
Celebrate this most important of national holidays at Spruce Street Harbor Park with music from DJ Greg Mungan and $5 Lazy Hammock Blood Orange Witbier drafts. As if you needed a reason to laze in a hammock.
Twilight in the Gardens @ Philadelphia Magic Gardens
Tour mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar’s labyrinthine gallery with indie-pop band Circadian Rhythms providing the evening’s soundtrack. It’s BYOB.
The American President @ Dilworth Park
Michael Douglas’ president woos Annette Bening’s lobbyist during Political Moviefest at Dilworth Park.
SATURDAY, JULY 23
The Philadelphia Orchestra plays the score to Frodo’s quest.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers @ The Mann
Watch The Lord of the Rings on a giant screen while the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Boys Choir perform the score live.
Back to Back to Black: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse @ Ardmore Music Hall
Vocalist Remember Jones is covering Amy Winehouse’s entire Back to Black album, with help from Philly’s Ginger Coyle and a 15-piece orchestra.
Femme Fest @ Liberty Lands Park
The “female-centric artists” of femme. collective are hosting a party at Liberty Lands park to raise money for their Fringe Festival performance in the fall, with art vendors, dancers, face painting and a yoga class. A $5 cup gets you beer and sangria all day.
Election Collection at Carré d’artistes opens Saturday.
Carlo Trevisan: Election Collection @ Carré d’artistes
Commemorate Hillary Clinton’s (presumptive) nomination with a painting of the candidate by Italian artist Carlo Trevisan. Or go for the one of the donkey. The opening reception is Saturday.
All the President’s Men @ Dilworth Park
The four-night Political Moviefest at Dilworth Park concludes with this 1976 film about Watergate, starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.
40th Street Summer Series @ 40th and Walnut
July’s installment of the family-friendly outdoor concert series features Dendê & Band blending Afro-Brazilian music with world rhythms, with openers PaPa Ed Stokes and Kunu Bi. There’s also free ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s and free smoothies from Honeygrow (until they run out, so don’t be late).
Pop-up Tours @ Philly Tour Hub
Take an election-themed walking tour of the city designed by Philly Tour Hub and Urban Adventures. Choose from the I’m With Her: Hillary Clinton and Philly’s Founding Women or the Feel the Bern: Bernie Sanders and Philly’s Revolutionaries options.
SUNDAY, JULY 24
Check out the 360-degree views from One Liberty Observation Deck. Photo by Rachel Vigoda
Girls and Boys on the Bus @ Pipeline at the Graham Building
Get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into covering a presidential campaign, courtesy of Committee of Seventy and Young Involved Philadelphia. Chris Satullo, who was an Inquirer columnist and director of news and civic engagement at WHYY, leads a discussion with Scott Detrow of NPR, Caitlin Huey-Burns of RealClearPolitics, Jenna Johnson of the Washington Post, Dan Merica of CNN and Zeke J. Miller of Time magazine.
Robert Kelly @ Punch Line Philly
Robert Kelly — from Louie CK’s Louie and Inside Amy Schumer — is performing at the brand new comedy club right next to the Fillmore Philadelphia.
Punk Rock Flea Market @ Spruce Street Harbor Park
Add to your collection of band tees or get a Mohawk when the Punk Rock Flea Market pops up on the waterfront.
Brandi Carlile closes out the XPoNential Music Festival on Sunday.
Brandi Carlile @ BB&T Pavilion
The three-day XPoNential Music Festival on the Camden waterfront closes out with case/lang/viers, Old Crow Medicine Show and Brandi Carlile. During the day the fest is next door at Wiggins Park, with performances by Mavis Staples, Chicano Batman, The Marcus King Band, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, and more.
Philly From the Top @ Liberty Place
In town for the DNC? One Liberty Observation Deck, with its 360-degree views from the 57th floor, is open until 10 p.m. and free for DNC press and delegates. Volunteers get $5 off, and the rest of us can save $5 with the code “Liberty.” Tours pointing out highlights of Philly history and architecture are always free after admission.
DNCC the Night Away @ U-Bahn
Crossroads Campaigns, a political consulting firm up from D.C. for the DNC, is hosting a party the night before the convention kicks off.
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