May 24
Student Workout Sesh – From 7-8 p.m. at Blink Fitness in the Whitman Plaza on Oregon Avenue, A free workout class hosted by a Blink Fitness personal trainer. All students are welcome, including non-members. Students should come ready to sweat and have fun. Register at https://forms.gle/KaBnMq5LTu4cyKER6.
May 25
Sisterhood of the Varjo Dress – At 6:30 p.m. at the American Swedish Historical Museum. Design critic Alexandra Lange will give a virtual talk going beyond the aesthetic elements of Marimekko clothing by exploring the meaning their designs had for feminist icons. Her essays, reviews and profiles have appeared in numerous design publications. In this talk, inspired by her 2017 New Yorker article “Jane Jacobs, Georgia O’Keeffe and the Power of the Marimekko Dress,” Lange will offer a history of the artists, writers and designers who chose Marimekko as their uniform from the 1960s onward, describing how the dress designs aligned with their cultural politics and expanding opportunities for women. The talk will be held over Zoom. Register at https://www.americanswedish.org/events.
May 25
Jazz & Joe – At 7:30 p.m. at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Episcopal Church, 8 Christian St., a free two-hour concert by The Jazz Sanctuary Quintet. Visit http://www.thejazzsanctuary.com.
May 26
Twilight in the Gardens – from 7-10 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. A live musical performance by I Think Like Midnight and guided art workshop by Dyymond Whipper-Young. Every month features a different genre of music and new teaching artist who helps guests create a work of art to take home.
Tickets are available at www.phillymagicgardens.org or via phone (215-733-0390, Ext. 119) two weeks prior to each event and are $25/adults, $20/students and seniors and $16/PMG members. Space is limited. Purchase ahead of time.
May 31
Grown Ass Book Fair – From noon to 4 p.m. at Latchkey, 1502 E. Passyunk Ave., a collaboration with The 8th House. Attendees will have the opportunity to relive the magic of the middle school book fair at Latchkey with a host of thematic goods available for purchase including books, zines, stickers, VHS tapes and friendship bracelets. The fair will see the debut of Latchkey’s graphic novel collection, bringing comics back to East Passyunk Avenue for the first time in years. Graphic novels sold at Latchkey will also be 20 percent off cover price. Additionally, the ‘90s- and early 2000s-inspired book fair will feature fun throwback activities. Customers dressed for the occasion will receive 10 percent off their Grown Ass Book Fair purchases; butterfly clips and jellies are encouraged. The best of the “middle school”-dressed may walk away with a free Tamagotchi virtual pet for their efforts (while supplies last). Polaroid photos will be available for $3 and can be taken in front of Latchkey’s “Teen Hearthrob” wall, a collage of favorite faces from back in the day.
June 2-4
Rittenhouse Fine Arts Festival – The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show is celebrating its 96th year in the Square in Center City, securing its distinction as the oldest outdoor fine art show in the country. Nearly 150 artists from around the country and Canada will return to Rittenhouse Square, June 2-4, for one of the nation’s best, originals-only fine art shows.
More information can be found on the RSFAS website: www.rittenhousesquarefineart.com.
June 3
Collaborative Woodcut Printing with Alexis Nutini – From noon to 3 p.m. at No. 5 Butchie Alley, located directly behind 1175 S. 13th St. Enter the Alley on Federal just before 13th and look for the Isaiah Zagar Mural. Participants will learn traditional printing techniques as well as improvisational skills that will lead to exciting and unexpected visual effects. Printing sessions will take a collaborative approach using the instructor’s vast library of graphic imagery. With dozens of preexisting images and patterns, participants will quickly understand the use of color in woodcut printmaking. Specifically, how two colors of ink layer to create a third and the way underlying colors influence the next colors printed over one another. By the end of the workshop each participant will have created their own series of one-of-a-kind colorful prints. $50. All materials and lite fare are included. More info at terrisaulin.com.
June 4
Scandinavian Celebration Day – From noon to 4 p.m. at the American Swedish Historical Museum in FDR Park, explore Scandinavia at the first-ever Scandinavian Celebration Day. Learn about traditions through food, music, games, language conversation tables, a quiz walk through the exhibitions, and meet and greet opportunities with local Honorary Consuls. An introductory half-hour guided Museum tour will be offered at 1 pm and 3 pm. Register at https://www.americanswedish.org/events.
June 11
Odunde Festival – At 23rd and South streets, the festival attracts up to 500,000 people annually and is the largest African American street festival held in the country. The Odunde festival, whose concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, celebrates the coming of another year for African Americans and Africanized people around the world. It is an occasion highlighted by a colorful procession from 23rd and South Street to the Schuylkill River where an offering of fruit and flowers is made to Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of the river. Odunde is also known for its authentic African marketplace featuring vendors from around the world selling merchandise from African nations, the Caribbean and Brazil.
June 11
Flavors on the Avenue – Originally scheduled for April 30, the East Passyunk festival will now take place on June 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The outdoor street festival showcases South Philadelphia’s finest culinary offerings, as well as boasting live entertainment, 100+ craft vendors, stellar sidewalk sales, fun-filled family-oriented activities, and much more. This all-ages event is free to attend and spans from Broad Street to Dickinson Street.
June 23
Twilight in the Gardens – from 7-10 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. A live musical performance by Vincenca and guided art workshop by Joyce Mercer. Every month features a different genre of music and new teaching artist who helps guests create a work of art to take home.
Tickets are available at www.phillymagicgardens.org or via phone (215-733-0390, Ext. 119) two weeks prior to each event and are $25/adults, $20/students and seniors and $16/PMG members. Space is limited. Purchase ahead of time.
July 12
Garden Party Happy Hour – From 5-8 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St., enjoy a happy hour and crafting event in the colorful mosaicked wonderland. All drinks are included with admission, so guests can enjoy a cold beer, delicious wine from Chaddsford Winery and tasty beverages by Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Whiskey. Popcorn and pretzels along with treats from Ramona Susan’s Bakeshop will also be offered. After attendees are done making art they can try out the “tile bingo” game, and listen to a DJ from BridgeSet Sound on hand to spin vinyl tunes.
Tickets are $25/adults and $16/PMG members, and attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Proceeds from these events help support education and outreach programs. Space is very limited, so guests are encouraged to register as soon as possible via http://phillymagicgardens.org/.
July 28
Twilight in the Gardens – from 7-10 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. A live musical performance by Wind Music for Movement and guided art workshop by Soyan Unkow. Every month features a different genre of music and new teaching artist who helps guests create a work of art to take home.
Tickets are available at www.phillymagicgardens.org or via phone (215-733-0390, Ext. 119) two weeks prior to each event and are $25/adults, $20/students and seniors and $16/PMG members. Space is limited. Purchase ahead of time.
August 2-6
12th edition of the BlackStar Film Festival – the festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities of color, showcasing films by black, brown, and indigenous artists from around the world. Once again hybrid, this year’s festival will offer opportunities for in-person attendance in Philadelphia and virtual participation online. Select in-person screenings will take place at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, and Lightbox Film Center in Philadelphia. For ticket info, visit www.blackstarfest.org.
August 12
3ICE North American Tour – At 1 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center, three-on-three professional North American ice hockey league makes a stop in South Philly. Each stop on the tour features four of the eight league teams, comprised of professional ice hockey players competing in three-on-three format for two eight-minute periods with a running clock. The single-elimination format includes two first-round games, a consolation match and a title game, for a total of four games each night. Individual tickets on sale at wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
August 25
Twilight in the Gardens – from 7-10 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. A live musical performance by Rego and guided art workshop by Jihan Thomas. Every month features a different genre of music and new teaching artist who helps guests create a work of art to take home.
Tickets are available at www.phillymagicgardens.org or via phone (215-733-0390, Ext. 119) two weeks prior to each event and are $25/adults, $20/students and seniors and $16/PMG members. Space is limited. Purchase ahead of time.
September 22
Twilight in the Gardens – from 7-10 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. A live musical performance by Daniel de Jesus and guided art workshop by Brijette Zachary. Every month features a different genre of music and new teaching artist who helps guests create a work of art to take home.
Tickets are available at www.phillymagicgardens.org or via phone (215-733-0390, Ext. 119) two weeks prior to each event and are $25/adults, $20/students and seniors and $16/PMG members. Space is limited. Purchase ahead of time.
October 11
Garden Party Happy Hour – From 5-8 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St., enjoy a happy hour and crafting event in the colorful mosaicked wonderland. All drinks are included with admission, so guests can enjoy a cold beer, wine from Chaddsford Winery and beverages by Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Whiskey. Popcorn and pretzels along with treats from Ramona Susan’s Bakeshop will also be offered. After attendees are done making art they can try out the “tile bingo” game and listen to a DJ from BridgeSet Sound on hand to spin vinyl tunes.
Tickets are $25/adults and $16/PMG members, and attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Proceeds from these events help support education and outreach programs. Space is very limited, so guests are encouraged to register as soon as possible via http://phillymagicgardens.org/.
October 27
Twilight in the Gardens – from 7-10 p.m. at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. A live musical performance by Black Butterfly and guided art workshop by Emily Smith. Every month features a different genre of music and new teaching artist who helps guests create a work of art to take home.
Tickets are available at www.phillymagicgardens.org or via phone (215-733-0390, Ext. 119) two weeks prior to each event and are $25/adults, $20/students and seniors and $16/PMG members. Space is limited. Purchase ahead of time.