Free Things to Do in Philadelphia

Community Planting at Cobbs Creek Park

📍 West Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Cobbs Creek Park

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 9:00 AM

Fairmount Park Conservancy volunteer planting at Cobbs Creek Park on Saturday, November 7, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Tools provided; free with registration.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Horticulture Volunteer Day

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Bartram’s Garden

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 9:30 AM

Volunteers will support seasonal plantings, weeding, and invasive species removal. Please plan to meet at the Welcome Center promptly at 9:30 AM. Staff will separate groups and provide instructions and safety protocols for the day. Out of respect and safety for our staff and others, please arrive on time. PLEASE NOTE: Capacity is limited, and we rely on everyone who signs up to show up. Please re

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Your Life, Your Choice!

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Science and Wellness at Parkway Central Library

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 10:00 AM

Join us at Parkway Central Library for an RN-led candid conversation on Advance Care Planning.

Sankofa Farm Stand at the Black Farmer's Market

📍 Philadelphia · Center City & University City · Freedom Greens & Gardens

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 11:00 AM

Come purchase fresh, chemical-free, local produce straight from Sankofa Community Farm every second and fourth Saturday at the Black Farmers’ Market (Freedom Greens and Garden, 5200 Pine St.) now through November! EBT, cash, WIC Farmer’s Market vouchers, and Senior vouchers are all accepted methods of payment (standard retail WIC vouchers are not accepted). You can also shop at the Farm Stand…

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Wagner First Saturday Open House: Monster Mash

📍 North Philadelphia · North & Northwest Philadelphia · Wagner Free Institute of Science

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 12:00 PM

November First Saturday Open House at the Wagner Free Institute on Saturday, November 7, 2026, noon–4 p.m. Explore the free natural-history museum with hands-on teaching specimens and family activities. Not a Halloween event; November First Saturday programming.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

NaNoWriMo @ The Library: Author Masterclasses

📍 University City · South & West Philadelphia · Walnut Street West Library

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 1:00 PM

Staring at the page and looking to level up your craft?

Eczema and You: Learning, Sharing, and Making a Difference

📍 Kingsessing · South & West Philadelphia · Kingsessing Library

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 1:00 PM

Join us for a free community event for people living with eczema and their families!

Author Event: Hazel Ann Lee

📍 Rittenhouse · Center City & University City · Philadelphia City Institute

📅 Sat, Nov 7, 3:00 PM

Dr. Hazel Ann Lee, poet and author, discusses her science fiction book The Astronaut’s Window: Collection of Poems and Short Stories Celebrating Nature.

The Weitzman Second Sunday Community Day

📍 Old City · Center City & University City · The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

📅 Sun, Nov 8, 9:00 AM

First Second Sunday free community day at The Weitzman on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Sensory-friendly morning 9–11 a.m.; regular museum hours continue 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission throughout the museum with themed hands-on activities celebrating the Jewish Diaspora / Sigd. Evening concert is a separate paid program.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Museum of the American Revolution — Veterans Day Free Admission

📍 Old City · Center City & University City · Museum of the American Revolution

📅 Sun, Nov 8, 10:00 AM

From November 8–11, 2026 the Museum of the American Revolution offers free admission to active military, veterans, and Blue Star Families. Museum open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Veterans Day programs on Nov 11 include talks and performances; challenge coins for the first 25 free-admission visitors on Nov 11.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

12th Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival

📍 Center City / Fairmount · Center City & University City · Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Eakins Oval

📅 Sun, Nov 8, 12:00 PM

12th Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Parade kicks off at 12:00 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and ends at Eakins Oval; festival at Eakins Oval runs 12:30–3:30 p.m. Organizer states the parade will be televised on Channel 6.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Open Mic & Gallery

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Bartram’s Garden Barn

📅 Sun, Nov 8, 2:00 PM

Join us for this open mic with Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac. While you’re here, be sure to check out the Meeting of the Condor and the Eagle Indigenous art exhibition. Open gallery hours are from 12–4pm.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Author Talk | Rising from Ground Zero

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Social Science and History Department at Parkway Central Library

📅 Mon, Nov 9, 6:00 PM

Hear from the Rising From Ground Zero authors about 9/11 and the FDNY's Path through Crisis to Transformation

Sankofa Farm Stand at the Welcome Center

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Bartram’s Garden

📅 Thu, Nov 12, 2:30 PM

Come purchase fresh, chemical-free, local produce straight from Sankofa Community Farm every Thursday at the Bartram’s Garden Welcome Center now through November! EBT, cash, WIC Farmer’s Market vouchers, and Senior vouchers are all accepted methods of payment (standard retail WIC vouchers are not accepted). You can also shop at the Farm Stand… at the Black Farmer’s Market (5200 Pine St) every

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Love Your Park Fall Weekend 2026

📍 South Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Stephen Girard Park (signature) and neighborhood parks citywide

📅 Fri, Nov 13, 9:00 AM

Citywide volunteer weekend November 13–15, 2026 with Fairmount Park Conservancy and Parks & Recreation. Signature site is Stephen Girard Park in South Philadelphia; many neighborhood parks host workdays. All-day multi-site program.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Schuylkill Crossing Opening Ribbon Cutting Celebration

📍 Southwest Philadelphia / Grays Ferry · South & West Philadelphia · Schuylkill Crossing (Schuylkill Banks)

📅 Fri, Nov 13, 12:00 PM

Schuylkill Banks homepage announces Schuylkill Crossing Opening on November 13 with a ribbon-cutting celebration. The Crossing is the swing-bridge trail link near Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge connecting toward Bartram’s Garden. Exact ceremony clock time not listed on the homepage; project page still notes fall 2026 opening.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Second Saturday Guided Hike (birdwatching) at FDR Park

📍 FDR Park · South & West Philadelphia · FDR Park

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 9:00 AM

We’ll hike around multiple spots in the park that serve as sanctuaries and feeding grounds for different bird species.

Sankofa Community Farm Volunteer Day

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 9:30 AM

Volunteers will work alongside Farm staff to support seasonal plantings, harvesting, weeding, invasive species removal, and orchard support. Please plan to meet at the Sankofa Community Farm at 9:30 AM, where you’ll be provided with instructions and safety protocols for the day. Out of respect and safety for our staff and others, please arrive on time. PLEASE NOTE: Capacity is limited, and we rel

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Schuylkill Crossing Community Celebration Volunteering

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 9:30 AM

Join us for the Schuylkill Crossing Community Celebration to help all participants and visitors feel safe and comfortable during the event. Multiple shifts available: 9:30am–12:30pm 12:30–3:30pm Children and youth may volunteer alongside an accompanying adult.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Financial Planning for Life!

📍 Olney · North & Northwest Philadelphia · Greater Olney Library

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 10:00 AM

Join Larry Farmbry for a 2-hour program designed to inform adult and senior participants on the many facets of financial planning.

Guided Swing Bridge Walk with WeWalkPHL

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 10:00 AM

Take a stroll on the new Schuylkill Crossings swing bridge with WeWalkPHL! This guided round-trip walk will follow the Bartram’s Mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail from Bartram’s Garden across the new bridge. The walk is approximately 1.6 miles and will last roughly one hour in duration, though participants are welcome to move at their own pace. Walk will take place entirely on the trail,

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Schuylkill Crossing Community Celebration

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 10:00 AM

Join Bartram’s Garden, SRDC, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, WeWalk PHL, and the East Coast Greenway Alliance for a day of celebratory opportunities to explore the Schuylkill Crossing swing bridge! Enjoy music and refreshments throughout the day, and check out free guided walks and bike rides along the Bartram’s Mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail. Keep going across the brid

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Swing Bridge Opening Weekend: Guided Bridge Ride with Bicycle Coalition

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 11:00 AM

Take a spin on the new Schuylkill Crossings swing bridge with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia! This guided round-trip bike ride will follow the Bartram’s Mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail from Bartram’s Garden across the new bridge. Bring your own bike or borrow one while supplies last (both adult and youth bikes available). The ride is approximately 1.6 miles and will las

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market

📍 Center City · Center City & University City · Dilworth Park

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 12:00 PM

Center City District Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market at Dilworth Park. Listed daily from November 14 through at least November 25, 2026: Saturdays/Fridays typically 12:00–9:00 p.m.; other days 12:00–8:00 p.m. Shop local makers; vendor list still forthcoming on the official series page.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Showing of 'Nuevo Mundo'

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Bartram’s Garden Barn

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 1:00 PM

Join us for this screening of the film Nuevo Mundo (1978, unrated, duration: 1 hour, 35 minutes), which tells the story of a priest in 16th-century Mexico who converts the local population to Christianity by making a statue of the Virgin Mary in the image of local indigenous women. This screening will be followed by an open discussion. While you’re here, be sure to check out the Meeting of the Con

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Flow at Bartram’s Garden: Community Yoga in the Garden

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Coach House

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 1:30 PM

Flow at Bartram’s Garden is a community-centered outdoor yoga series hosted by Healing the Hood Together (formerly Hood Healers PHL), designed to create space for rest, movement, and reconnection with nature. Each class invites participants of all levels to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the healing power of movement in one of Philly’s most beautiful green spaces. This series centers ac

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Author Event: Sophia Demas

📍 Rittenhouse · Center City & University City · Philadelphia City Institute

📅 Sat, Nov 14, 3:30 PM

Hear award-winning local author Sophia Demas who's book Conciousness Beyond Death examines consciousness; she will discuss the numerous miracles she has experienced and written about in books.

Crime and No Punishment: Wealth, Power, and Violence in America

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Social Science and History Department at Parkway Central Library

📅 Mon, Nov 16, 6:00 PM

Marie Gottschalk is the Edmund J. Kahn Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and the winner of the Robert F.

All about Birds with the PA Game Commission

📍 Kingsessing · South & West Philadelphia · Kingsessing Library

📅 Tue, Nov 17, 4:00 PM

Ever wonder what makes a bird a bird? Our avian friends have many qualities that make them unique.

Philadelphia A to Z

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Social Science and History Department at Parkway Central Library

📅 Tue, Nov 17, 6:00 PM

Join us for Philadelphia A to Z, a program that explores a fascinating collection of lost Philadelphia stories, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Bird Names with Liberty Bird Alliance

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Science and Wellness at Parkway Central Library

📅 Tue, Nov 17, 6:30 PM

The names of nearly 150 North American bird species have not aged well, ruffling feathers in the  ornithological world.

Little Explorers: What’s Buzzing and Blooming?

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Bartram’s Garden Courtyard

📅 Wed, Nov 18, 10:00 AM

Who knows what we’ll find in the Garden?  Come with us to explore!   ABOUT LITTLE EXPLORERS: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, March through November, 10-11:30am. Join us for exploration, a garden walk, and stories! Please feel free to bring a snack. Designed for toddlers and preschoolers, ages 2-4. One adult chaperone is required for every two children. For more information, emai

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Intro to AI Series w/ Marianna Kind: Part 2- Do More with AI

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Parkway Central Library

📅 Thu, Nov 19, 2:00 PM

This hands-on session introduces the next evolution of AI: agentic AI - AI systems that can move beyond providing an answer to planning, researching, using tools, and completing a series of steps toward a goal.

Read-Aloud with Rosemary Wells

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Parkway Central Library

📅 Fri, Nov 20, 10:00 AM

Legendary children's author and illustrator Rosemary Wells will read aloud in the Montgomery Auditorium at Parkway Central Library.

Closing Reception

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia · Bartram’s Garden Barn

📅 Sat, Nov 21, 12:00 PM

Join us and Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac  for the closing reception of the Meeting of the Condor and the Eagle Indigenous art exhibition.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Author Talk: Mary Cappello

📍 Rittenhouse · Center City & University City · Philadelphia City Institute

📅 Sat, Nov 21, 1:00 PM

Celebrated author of Swallow, Mary Cappello returns with a new lyrically exuberant book set in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood where her mother, Rosemary, a beloved community organizer, poet, and long-time editor of Philadelphia Poets, lived and died.

Flashbang: Sci-Fi Stories That Will Blow Your Mind!

📍 Logan Square · Center City & University City · Philbrick Hall at Parkway Central Library

📅 Sat, Nov 21, 3:30 PM

In each story, everyday people are searching for something after a rough, weird day.

City of Philadelphia Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration

📍 Center City · Center City & University City · City Hall North Apron

📅 Thu, Dec 3, 6:00 PM

Official 2026 Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at City Hall North Apron on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. Listed on the City of Philadelphia 2026 Resource Hub.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Handmade Holidays

📍 Philadelphia · South & West Philadelphia

📅 Sat, Dec 5, 12:00 PM

Join us in the Garden for our annual celebration of winter, local artists and makers, and community! This free public event is for the whole family, rain or shine. More details TBA.    

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Liberty Bell Center

📍 Old City · Center City & University City

The building also offers self-guided exhibits about this now famous symbol of liberty.

🕑 Daily 9am–5pm

Congress Hall

📍 Independence Square · Center City & University City

Presidents Washington and Adams were both inaugurated in this building.

🕑 Daily: open house 9–10am, tours every 20 min 10am–4:40pm (no tickets needed)

Wagner Free Institute of Science

📍 North Philadelphia · North & Northwest Philadelphia

Our upstairs exhibit hall houses over 100,000 natural specimens, including ancient fossils, glowing minerals and animals from around the globe!

🕑 Tue–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm; select 1st Saturdays

Fairmount Water Works

📍 Fairmount · Center City & University City

Learn about the Water Works’ noteworthy beginnings in the early 19th century as Philadelphia’s water pumping station

🕑 Wed–Sat 10am–5pm

Bartram's Garden

📍 Southwest Philly · South & West Philadelphia

This public park spans nearly 50 acres in Southwest Philadelphia, offering peace, rest, and connection.

🕑 Welcome Center Thu–Mon 9:30am–4:30pm

Awbury Arboretum

📍 Germantown · North & Northwest Philadelphia

Once the home of a prominent Quaker family, the Arboretum has been free and open to the public for over 100 years.

🕑 Grounds daily, dawn to dusk

Laurel Hill Cemetery

📍 East Falls · North & Northwest Philadelphia

While active burial sites, Laurel Hill is also an arboretum that provides public green space for recreation and education.

🕑 Gates 7am–7pm (EDT) / 7am–5pm (EST)

Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church grounds

📍 Queen Village · South & West Philadelphia

The church grounds at Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site are open daily from 5AM to 11PM.

🕑 Grounds daily 5am–11pm

The Rail Park

📍 Callowhill · Center City & University City

The Rail Park Phase One is free & open daily

🕑 Daily 7am–10pm