See the Orchestra, celebrate Puerto Rican culture, and explore a tiny Philly museum | Things to do

It’s officially fall, and Philadelphia’s arts and events calendar is packed this weekend.

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The Philadelphia Orchestra opens its 127th season, the Puerto Rican Day Parade returns to the Parkway, and fall festivals and cultural celebrations are filling the calendar across the region.

Here’s what to do this weekend:

— Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at [email protected])

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The Philadelphia Orchestra returns for its 127th season on Thursday under music director Nézet-Séguin.

As my colleague Peter Dobrin reports, the season offers a mix of standard repertoire with new scores, film music, family concerts, and familiar and first-time guest artists.

Opening night begins with the U.S. premiere of Joe Hisaishi’s choral piece Orbis, followed by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir.

After opening night, the orchestra will give three performances of the world premiere of a new arrangement of Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Rituals from MASS from Friday to Sunday.

Click here for more details on the 2026-27 season.

🌊 One final lap: Visit Spruce Street Harbor Park one last time before the Delaware River waterfront attraction closes for the season Sunday.

🏇🏽Saddle up for a new screening: Head to Muhammad Abdul-Hadi’s Out West on Friday for a screening of the new documentary Fletcher Street, honoring the long-running North Philly horse stable and riding club.

🎭 Catch the final Fringe shows: Philadelphia Fringe Festival wraps up this weekend, with closing shows including The Adoption Game at Asian Arts Initiative and Murdered Darlings at Deep End Studios.

🥪 Roll up to the Hoagie Throwdown: More than 20 of the city’s sandwich makers will compete at Other Half Brewing during the second annual Heavyweight Hoagie Throwdown.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Philly AIDS Thrift Block Party, Monarch Festival, and the Delaware River Festival. Here’s our full list for the week.

Join thousands on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday to celebrate Puerto Rican culture, music, dance, food, and heritage.

The Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade 2026 will feature bands, dancers, drill teams, and floats marching through Center City.

The free event is hosted by Concilio, which has put on the annual celebration for more than 60 years. For more information, visit elconcilio.net.

🖼️ Get to know your city: The Museum of the Philadelphian, whose mantra is “No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care,” begins a limited run inside a Fishtown rowhouse Friday. The micro museum will showcase distinct local gems, like the short-lived hitchBOT, the hitchhiking robot whose cross-country journey famously ended on a Philadelphia street.

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💐 Step into the Gilded Age: Lynnewood Hall, the iconic Elkins Park mansion, is opening its doors to the public for the first time in 84 years. The 100,000-square-foot home will host Fleurs de Villes: The Gilded Age, a 10-day floral experience inspired by the popular HBO series. The show features life-size mannequins made with thousands of flowers and other floral installations.

👻 Things are getting spooky: Morticia, Wednesday, and the rest of the clan take over Walnut Street Theatre this fall The Addams Family: The Musical.

Here’s pop music critic Dan DeLuca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.

🎸 Thursday: Willie Nelson, a 12-time Grammy winner and bona fide outlaw, is co-headlining a show at Highmark Mann with the legendary Neil Young.

🎤 Friday: The Sex Pistols, with new singer and punk veteran Frank Carter, take the stage at Fillmore Philly on Friday.

🔊 Saturday: The Haverford Music Festival kicks off Saturday, with singer-songwriter Shannon McNally, home-grown vocalist Abby Lee, Philly Englishman Wesley Stace, and bluegrass and country outfit Demolition String Band performing across two stages.

🎤 Sunday: Georgia-raised songwriter Katie Pruitt, who comes off as honest and intelligent in her efforts to make sense of modern life, arrives at Ardmore Music Hall on Sunday.

Tuesday: AC/DC, the electrifying Australian hard rock band, is headlining at Lincoln Financial Field for the “Power Up Tour.”

Check out Dan’s full concert list here.

What year was the first Concilio’s Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade in Philadelphia?

A) 1961

B) 1962

C) 1963

D) 1964

Here’s the answer to last week’s question: What was the original name of Philadelphia Ballet? Answer: Pennsylvania Ballet

Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

That’s all for this week. Go see a show, catch a parade, eat a hoagie, and enjoy the first weekend of fall.

– Earl Hopkins

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