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A guide to fun things to do in Philadelphia this weekend.

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Halloween festivities, live music, sports and fall markets fill the Philadelphia area this weekend. Here's what's happening from Thursday through Sunday.

🧥 A Philadelphia pop-up shop featuring furs, shearling and leather garments from Daniel's Leather. | Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Airport | Free | Thursday, 10am | Details

🐛 A family-friendly presentation explores spooky plants and animals found in Cobbs Creek. | Free | Thursday, 6pm | Details

🧟‍♂️ Xfinity is throwing a Halloween pop-up bash at National Mechanics in Old City. Count on a scavenger hunt, giveaways and themed cocktails. Registration required. | Free | Thursday, 7-9pm | Details 

🧵 Browse handmade crafts, artwork, gifts and other goods from local makers at this fall market in East Fairmount Park. | Free | Friday, 10am

🏀 The Philadelphia 76ers host the New York Knicks in an NBA Cup matchup. | Friday, 7pm | Tickets: $116+

👽 Taqueria Amor is running the Taq Area 51 Halloween pop-up bar with themed cocktails and a spooky menu. | Sept. 10 - Nov. 1

🎃 Adventure Aquarium is hosting its annual Fintastic Pumpkin Glow, a family-friendly event featuring glowing sculptures and more than 100 carved pumpkins through Nov. 1.

🎤 A Halloween eve comedy showcase at Pulaski Hall featuring Lamarr Todd, Uncle DuD, Frank Neblettt, Mario Colavita and Kendra Shine. | $25 | Friday, 7pm

🎤 Vince Staples brings his Cry Baby Tour to Franklin Music Hall, with Private School opening. | Friday, 8pm | Tickets: $56 for general admission.

🏈 Lincoln University and Virginia Union meet in an HBCU football showcase at Lincoln Financial Field. | Friday, 7pm 

📚 A Halloween horror-literature convention featuring author panels, awards and signings in Philadelphia. | Saturday, 12pm

🎧 A 21+ Halloween dance night at NOTO Philadelphia featuring hits by Drake and Bad Bunny. | Saturday, 10pm

🎃 A family-friendly Halloween trunk-or-treat with decorated cars, candy and activities in Ardmore. | Free | Saturday, 12pm

🏒 The Philadelphia Flyers host the Utah Mammoth. |Sunday, 4pm | Tickets: $36+

What's happening Oct. 29-Nov. 1

You Philly social rundown of can't-miss events.

Illustration of a scarecrow throwing up the "rock on" hand symbol and wearing an event wristband. 

Halloween festivities, live music, sports and fall markets fill the Philadelphia area this weekend. Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s happening from Thursday through Sunday.

News

Culture

Philadelphia announced Monday that it would reinstate its citywide mask mandate beginning April 18 due to rising COVID cases.

Why it matters: With the decision, the city will become one of the only major American localities to require masks in public.

The decision comes just over a month after the city originally dropped the mandate, moving to the "All Clear" response level of its four-tier system.

What's happening: Rising COVID case counts had fueled speculation that the city could move to the second tier of its COVID response system — "Mask Precautions" — as the Inquirer reported last week.

The "Mask Precautions" tier means that two or more of the following conditions are true in the city: average new cases per day are less than 225, hospitalizations are less than 10 and cases have increased by more than 50% in the previous 10 days.

Between the lines: The city's decision is at odds with the CDC, which currently does not recommend mandated masking for Philadelphia.

The CDC's assessment takes in several factors, including low community spread, high levels of vaccination and population immunity, and reductions in hospitalizations and deaths.

What they're saying: The Omicron subvariant BA.2 is believed to be driving the current spike in cases in the city, Philadelphia Health commissioner Cheryl Bettigole said during a virtual news conference on Monday. 

"This looks like we may be at the start of a new COVID wave, like Europe just saw," she said. 

Meanwhile, the move is drawing some backlash, including from a major restaurant and lodging industry group in the state.

Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) spokesperson Ben Fileccia called the mandate a "major blow" to small businesses.

"While the rest of the Commonwealth has moved forward navigating life with COVID, Philadelphia has stepped back by imposing another mandate and expecting it to be enforced by businesses and their employees," he said in a statement.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to add comment from Philadelphia Health commissioner Cheryl Bettigole and the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

National

Philadelphia to reinstate mask mandate

It's one of the only major American localities to require masks in public.

Philadelphia <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/PHLPublicHealth/status/1513578815058022409" data-vars-content-id="aeb26341-0c0c-42e2-abab-96290e0e2bda" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia to reinstate mask mandate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/PHLPublicHealth/status/1513578815058022409" target="_blank">announced</a> Monday that it would reinstate its citywide mask mandate beginning April 18 due to rising COVID cases.Why it matters: With the decision, the city will become one of the only major American localities to require masks in public.

COVID

It's almost the weekend. Sports, festivals, art exhibits and music to our ears. Here's your rundown:

📷 A one-night photography exhibition showcases Reuben "Big Rube" Harley's "Lipheele" collection, with print sale proceeds supporting his medical expenses. | 1431 N. Cadwaller | Thursday, 6pm

🏀 The Boston Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers for a preseason matchup that could feature LeBron James' second appearance in a Sixers uniform. | Xfinity Mobile Arena | Friday, 7pm

🎷 Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society perform a three-set evening of Roaring '20s and pre-war jazz with vaudeville touches. | Black Squirrel Club | Friday, 7:30pm

🎸 Brand New brings its anniversary concert celebrating 20 years of "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me." | TD Pavilion at the Mann | Friday, 8pm

🛍️ Browse vintage and antique finds at a flea market at Drexel University. | Saturday, 8am

🎸 Grammy-winning country group Little Big Town brings its "For the Art of It" Tour to The Met in Philadelphia. | The Met | Saturday, 7:30pm

🎃 Awbury Arboretum's free annual Harvest Fest brings autumn activities and community celebration to The Farm at Awbury. | Free | Sunday, 12am

🪴 Shop discounted houseplants, including plants that need a little extra care, at Plant and People's annual end-of-season Ugly Plant Sale. | Free | Sunday, 10am

🎤 Wild Indigo's October poetry reading features National Book Award winner Patricia Smith, Philadelphia artist Cvgebird and poet Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez, with an open mic and ASL interpretation. | Sunday, 5pm

🏒 The Philadelphia Flyers host the Ottawa Senators for a regular-season NHL game at Xfinity Mobile Arena. | Saturday, 7pm

Editor's note: A listing about a fair at Dilworth Park has been removed after Center City District officials said the multi-day event was not authorized.

Weekender: What's happening Oct. 15–18

Fill up your social calendar with these can't-miss events.

Illustration of a cherry pie with "weekend" cut out of the crust. 

May your weekend be sweeter than cherry pie. Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

It&#x27;s almost the weekend. Sports, festivals, art exhibits and music to our ears. Here&#x27;s your rundown:

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What's happening Oct. 29-Nov. 1

Weekender: What's happening Oct. 15–18

Philadelphia to reinstate mask mandate