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 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.
Saturday historical encounters include abolitionist Ona Judge, a Colonial-era midwife, and Betsy herself. 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.
Additionally, there will be a special after-hours event on Thursday, March 20th focused on 18th-century midwifery. Meet an 18th-century midwife, then listen to a talk by Penn professor Kathleen Brown focusing on women’s health in Colonial times. The event is free, but RSVP is required online.
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 lesbian pioneer Barbara Gittings. Tours are offered daily at 11 a.m. for $59 per person. Book your spot online.
Deeply Rooted Trolley Tours by Harriett’s Bookshop
Starfire hosts two-hour, hop-on-hop-off tour that visits Black woman-owned spaces throughout Philadelphia including shopping and food. Riders will receive a copy of the book Homegirls & Handgrenades by Sonia Sanchez, a journal, and a tote bag from Harriett’s Bookshop.
$50, Saturdays in March, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Harriett’s Bookshop, 258 East Girard Avenue.
Harriett’s Bookshop hosts a trolley tour for Women’s History Month. / Photograph via Visit Philly
Women’s Way Wednesdays at Stratus Rooftop Lounge
Stratus Rooftop Lounge and Sisterly Love Collective are once again teaming 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 5th with chef Karla Torres of La Ingrata. Following events feature Vee To of Ogawa Sushi & Kappo on March 12th, and chef Amaryllis Rivera Nassar of Amy’s Pastelillos on March 19th.
The March 26th finale will be a Sisterly Love Collective cocktail party. Featured guests will be Natalia Lepore Hagan of Midnight Pasta Co., Lisa Calvo of Sweet Amalia Oysters, Angie Brown of Rex at the Royal, and more women in food and drink. It will also include pairings and tastings: women-owned breweries Attic Brewing Company, Philadelphia Brewing Company, and Love City Brewing, wine tastings from Pray Tell Wines, JLOHR Vineyards, Famille Perrin, Marques de Caceres, rum tastings by Sofia Deleon of Tenango Rum, and more.
Tickets include “bites” by a different chef each week, a drink ticket, 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.
$35-$75, Wednesdays in March, 5-8 p.m., Stratus Rooftop Lounge, 433 Chestnut Street.
Photograph courtesy of Stratus Rooftop Lounge
Riot Nerd’s Ladies of the 2010s Dance Party
In one night, both locations of Milkboy will be playing the best female artists from the 2010s. On Chestnut Street, DJ Riot Meg will be spinning; on South Street it’s DJ 21SparksFly. Both parties are 21+.
$5-$15, March 8th, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Milkboy, 401 South Street and 1100 Chestnut Street.
Mujeres Making Empanadas
Jezabel’s hosts a hands-on empanada-making workshop in honor of Women’s History Month. Join a communal table and learn to make fillings and dough, then enjoy your treats together. Tickets are available on Resy.
$80, March 8th, 11:30 a.m., Jezabel’s, 206 South 45th Street.
MNYK Wingwomen Program and Shopping Crawl
Dozens of female-owned businesses in Manayunk have teamed up to help support women in the community. The fourth annual MYNK Wingwoman Program invites neighbors, visitors, friends, customers and clients to donate essential items for prenatal and postnatal parents and menstrual health and wellness. Items can be brought to dozens of participating business locations on Main Street through March 31st. All collected items will be donated to Grab-N-Flow, which stocks no charge-to-the-community menstrual and postpartum product sheds that are open to those in need and are located throughout Philadelphia. For those that want to make a monetary donation, MNYK Wingwomen is also supporting Woman Against Abuse, Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence advocate and service provider, and one of the largest domestic violence agencies in the country. Everyone that donated this year will receive a MNYK Wingwomen vinyl sticker as a special thank you for supporting this important program. Donations can also be dropped off during the first Wingwomen Shopping Crawl on International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at over a dozen shops and retailers in Manayunk.
We Dissent
Love City Brewing and Home Brewed Events host a market featuring women, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ and allied makers. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Pay-as-you-go, March 9th, Love City Brewing 1023 Hamilton Street.
Women’s History Month at the Trestle Inn
The Trestle celebrates Women’s History Month with happy-hour dance parties every Friday in March. Expect a guest DJ lineup (Lola Kinks, Germanica, Lady Prowl, and Lil Helleion), 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 Lady Hoofers. In addition, March 27th will be Les Pierettes, a Night of Fem Clowns.
No cover, Fridays in March, 6-9 p.m., the Trestle Inn, 339 North 11th Street.
Women Mean Business
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 refreshments by South Philly Co-Op. Tickets are available online.
$18, March 13th, 6-9 p.m., Society Hill Dance Academy, 1919 East Passyunk Avenue.
Sister Sunday Market at the Logan Hotel
For their fourth year, the Logan is hosting a market featuring 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 live music, and food and drink available for purchase. The event is free to attend.
Pay-as-you-go, March 23rd, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Logan Hotel, 1 Logan Square.
Fishtown’s Hotel Anna & Bel honors its feminine past through its design. / Photograph courtesy of Hotel Anna & Bel
A Womanly Retreat With Anna & Bel
Hotel Anna & Bel is tapping into its history for Women’s History Month. The space was once the Penn Asylum for Indigent Widows and Single Women, a shared home managed entirely by women for the widows of Philadelphia — and its design was inspired by its feminine past. Throughout March, the hotel’s “Womanly Retreat” package includes a bottle of bubbly upon arrival, in-room face masks, and a $100 credit to be used at the hotel’s dining venues, Bastia and Caletta.
Rates from $329 per night, March 1st-31st, Hotel Anna & Bel, 1401 East Susquehanna 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. There will also be a special trivia night on March 8th.
March 1st-31st, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street.
