Cheap Thrills: Frugal Fun in Philly
From dates to theater to family outings, there’s plenty to do in Philly that won’t break the bank.
Wissahickon Valley Park / Photograph by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
From dates to theater to family outings, there’s plenty of fun things to do in Philly that won’t break the bank. You just need to know where to look.
Dates
Who says a date has to be dinner at a fancy restaurant? (Though you can do that and save a buck too.) Try FDR Park’s Southeast Asian Market (every weekend from May through October) for a feast of à la carte goodies for as little as, say, $10 per person. (Think papaya salad for $5, a grilled beef stick for $1, and countless other wildly affordable delights from the 70-plus vendors.) Then tack on tennis or a ride on North America’s largest swing set at Anna C. Verna Playground — both free.
Love dogs? Take your pups to the Schuylkill River dog park in Fitler Square: Bring (surreptitious) glasses of wine and watch your four-legged friends play while you canoodle. (It’s also a great place to meet your new flame.)
A picnic in a beautiful green space far surpasses restaurant patios — we love the Woodlands, Bartram’s Garden, and the Wissahickon. They’re all free to the public and particularly pretty in the fall. Before you head out, pick up gnocchi and a tiramisu to split by Gnocchi to Go from La Cucina ATM across from Reading Terminal Market for $15.
With Kids
Pay what you wish at the Academy of Natural Sciences Dinos After Dark. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
The tidy little donation-based Fireman’s Hall Museum is located inside a renovated 19th-century firehouse and features interactive experiences where kiddos can try on gear. (Editor’s note: I did this once as a young person, and I still remember it.) They can see pieces of Philly’s firefighting history, like a one-of-a-kind cannon wagon built in 1903.
The Rodin Museum also costs zilch for youth under 18, so they can learn about the famed sculptor to really get them, well, thinking.
And the monthly Academy of Natural Sciences Dinos After Dark shindig lets you enjoy a beer garden while your kids go on a prehistoric journey in Dinosaur Hall. It’s pay what you wish, with a recommended donation of $10.
Have an itty-bitty one? Most libraries around the city offer free story times for babies and toddlers. Check the Free Library website for details.
Looking ahead to the holidays: The Miracle on South 13th Street light display is a family fave for at least one Philly Mag staffer: “It’s free, it’s outside, and you don’t have to worry about the kids asking for this or that.” Also, so festive!
Shows
Photograph by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
Here’s something worthy of applause: the last-minute discounts at the Kimmel Center, Academy of Music, and Miller Theater. Head to ensembleartsphilly.org on Mondays and Wednesdays at noon to find Broadway Series ($35) and Philadelphia Orchestra ($25) digital rush tickets, respectively, or line up at the box office two hours before curtain to see what you can score.
Experience Opera Philadelphia’s world-class performances for just $11 via its new Pick Your Price ticket plan.
And the Curtis Institute’s Recital Series delivers extraordinary music for free. Students and faculty members, many of whom have played on iconic stages, perform in some 100 programs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights throughout the year. Registration is required.
More of a movie buff? The Ritz’s late-night Cine Insomnia programs let you catch offbeat flicks and cult classics like The Shining for $5. Just sign up (for free) to be a loyalty member.
Sundays
Get free admission to the Barnes Foundation on First Sundays / Photograph by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia
The Barnes Foundation offers complimentary admission on the first Sunday of the month (registration required). Expect art activities, readings, access to the first-floor galleries, and special programming.
Pay what you wish on the first Sunday of the month when you visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where you can see such exhibits as “Begin Again: Repetition in Contemporary Art” (through December 30th).
Off the Parkway are Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill, where gratis Sundays give you a peek inside the 19th-century mansion that houses works by Philly artists, and the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, where the second Sunday of the month provides a no-cost look at Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and traveling exhibits, including the November installation depicting the work of Charlotte Schatz, whose colorful sculptures document Bucks County’s industrial past.
Oh: The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Wagner Free Institute of Science, and the Fabric Workshop and Museum always offer admission at no charge.
With Visitors
Seeing the Liberty Bell is always free. / Photograph by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia
The pressure is on when you have friends or family in town, but you can make it easier with a CityPass — particularly if it’s their first trip to Philly and they want to do all the things you’ve done a million times (or always avoid and are dragging your feet on). You’ll get one-time admission to three, four, or five attractions ($59, $77, or $87, respectively, nearly half-price) such as the Zoo, Adventure Aquarium, and the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial.
Always-free sightseeing spots are the Liberty Bell (your guests can see it from outside just fine), the Rocky Statue, LOVE Park, and Elfreth’s Alley. (Though the Alley’s indoor museum costs $3.)
To get to them all: Try Indego bikes. Memberships are $13 per month (or $156 a year), but guest passes are $15 for a full day of riding.
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Published as “Cheap Thrills” in the October 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
