Philadelphia

blue

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

Axios Philadelphia Weekender

Weekender

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Philadelphia. Written by local reporters.

Axios Philadelphia Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Philadelphia Alerts

Alert

Axios Philadelphia Partners

Axios Philadelphia

Standard

Philadelphia Members

Membership

Scoop: How Parker's July 4 overhaul tested Wawa ties 

Emails obtained by Axios reveal behind-the-scenes tensions over the "One Philly" concert.

America at 250

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wawa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/04/16/a-brief-history-of-wawa" data-vars-content-id="2811ce16-59af-428f-aaa7-d2db6ce81543" data-vars-headline="Scoop: How Parker&#x27;s July 4 overhaul tested Wawa ties " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/04/16/a-brief-history-of-wawa" target="_self">Wawa</a> played it cool when Mayor Cherelle Parker stamped this year&#x27;s Fourth of July concert and fireworks show with her &quot;One Philly&quot; political slogan.<ul><li>But company officials privately raised questions about how the decision would affect Wawa&#x27;s longstanding sponsorship, emails obtained by Axios reveal.</li></ul>Why it matters: Parker&#x27;s decision to risk the support of one of the region&#x27;s cultural touchstones may have been an unforced error.

Meet Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate: Stacy Garrity

Garrity is looking to dethrone Gov. Josh Shapiro on Nov. 3.

Election

Pennsylvania Stacy Garrity is the Republican candidate running for governor in the Nov. 3 election. The candidate: Garrity won two statewide elections for treasurer, including in 2024 when she <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="received more votes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/02/pennsylvania-treasurer-stacy-garrity-future" data-vars-content-id="05a51476-e45a-48c8-a722-0e65eeafebf6" data-vars-headline="Meet Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate: Stacy Garrity" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/02/pennsylvania-treasurer-stacy-garrity-future" target="_self">received more votes</a> than any Pennsylvania candidate has ever received. <ul><li>She&#x27;s also an Army veteran. </li></ul>☝️ Programming note: The Garrity campaign declined to respond to Axios&#x27; questions.<ul><li>Yes, but: We filled in the blanks where possible using information from her website and past statements. </li></ul>

Video store revival arrives in Philadelphia

Tech fatigue is real, and some people are ditching algorithms for IRL experiences and physical media.

Culture

Video rental stores are making a comeback, and Philadelphia is joining the mini-revival.Why it matters: Tech fatigue is real and some people are ditching algorithms for IRL experiences and physical media.

Eagles' Jalen Hurts likely out rest of season after blood clots found in lungs

Hurts' diagnosis raises concerns about his football future, though the team expects him to recover without any "long-term effects."

Sports

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season after doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="media" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50218378/eagles-jalen-hurts-season-due-blood-clots-lungs" data-vars-content-id="1ef47045-4280-4c0e-b3ae-3fdd83acb73f" data-vars-headline="Eagles&#x27; Jalen Hurts likely out rest of season after blood clots found in lungs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50218378/eagles-jalen-hurts-season-due-blood-clots-lungs" target="_blank">media</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jalen-hurts-blood-clot-update-eagles-qb-out-2026-season/" data-vars-content-id="1ef47045-4280-4c0e-b3ae-3fdd83acb73f" data-vars-headline="Eagles&#x27; Jalen Hurts likely out rest of season after blood clots found in lungs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jalen-hurts-blood-clot-update-eagles-qb-out-2026-season/" target="_blank">reports</a>.Why it matters: The Eagles are in a tailspin, and Hurts&#x27; diagnosis raises concerns about his football future, though the team expects him to recover without any &quot;long-term effects.&quot;

Stack's Bowers launches Philly treasure hunt for rare coins, cash prizes

Competitors in participating cities have a shot at a grand prize coin worth $3,500.

History

Philadelphians looking to channel their inner Jack Sparrow can embark on a treasure hunt for rare coins and currency.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stack&#x27;s Bowers Galleries" data-vars-click-url="https://stacksbowers.com/sell-consign/philadelphia-store/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=15854415751&amp;gbraid=0AAAAABRjxF_Sjgjosl0JkMUDF8brwq5Lq&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwoaLWBhAWEiwAnyitu1YDjq0rsdK74C_duWv5bAmGW4qjaaBfB8IObiD1XjbibjCFrCVSOxoCi_MQAvD_BwE" data-vars-content-id="6553fbac-4e7c-4fa7-b859-a3dcf1fbbdb7" data-vars-headline="Stack&#x27;s Bowers launches Philly treasure hunt for rare coins, cash prizes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stacksbowers.com/sell-consign/philadelphia-store/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=15854415751&amp;gbraid=0AAAAABRjxF_Sjgjosl0JkMUDF8brwq5Lq&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwoaLWBhAWEiwAnyitu1YDjq0rsdK74C_duWv5bAmGW4qjaaBfB8IObiD1XjbibjCFrCVSOxoCi_MQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Stack&#x27;s Bowers Galleries</a> is giving away $40,000 in prizes as part of a nationwide scavenger hunt that kicked off earlier this month.

Inside Philly's weird new micro museum in Fishtown

A new Philly micro museum celebrates our love of booing, pole climbing and being haters.

News

Some of the wildest theories about why Philadelphia is the way it is will soon have a home inside a micro museum in Fishtown.<ul><li>They&#x27;re plucked from the most credible place on the planet: Reddit.</li></ul>Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Museum of the Philadelphian" data-vars-click-url="https://museumofthephiladelphian.org/" data-vars-content-id="77aaf10c-3c16-4358-8ea2-5a8faa12fc59" data-vars-headline="Inside Philly&#x27;s weird new micro museum in Fishtown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://museumofthephiladelphian.org/" target="_blank">The Museum of the Philadelphian</a> is the city&#x27;s history and culture writ large — in miniature.

Next steps for Independence Mall slavery exhibit remain unclear

A federal appears court cleared the Trump administration's exhibit changes, but questions remain over what will be on display come July 4.

Politics

After months of legal back-and-forth over a slavery exhibit at Philadelphia&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President&#x27;s House" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/19/trump-slavery-exhibit-independence-national-historic-park-restored" data-vars-content-id="58d3cac1-5f40-47c6-9b09-afd6d303b269" data-vars-headline="Next steps for Independence Mall slavery exhibit remain unclear" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/19/trump-slavery-exhibit-independence-national-historic-park-restored" target="_self">President&#x27;s House</a>, a federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration. But what visitors will see there come July 4 remains unclear. Why it matters: Independence Mall will be at the center of the nation&#x27;s 250th anniversary celebrations in less than two weeks.

Trump administration restores slavery exhibits at Independence Park

The reinstatement of the exhibits at one of America's foremost historic sites is a defining win for Philadelphia.

Politics & Policy

The National Park Service began restoring the slavery exhibits at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia nearly a month after they were taken down as part of President Trump&#x27;s effort to fight &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="improper ideology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/28/smithsonian-trump-executive-order" data-vars-content-id="90de532e-eccf-46e6-b624-797d6b04e6d1" data-vars-headline="Trump administration restores slavery exhibits at Independence Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/28/smithsonian-trump-executive-order" target="_self">improper ideology</a>.&quot;Why it matters: The return of the panels at one of America&#x27;s foremost historic sites is a defining win for Philadelphia — and could strengthen a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="separate ongoing legal challenge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/18/nx-s1-5718006/trump-national-parks-lawsuit" data-vars-content-id="90de532e-eccf-46e6-b624-797d6b04e6d1" data-vars-headline="Trump administration restores slavery exhibits at Independence Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/18/nx-s1-5718006/trump-national-parks-lawsuit" target="_blank">separate ongoing legal challenge</a> to the Trump administration&#x27;s attempt to rewrite American history at other national parks.

How an old Philly bread factory inspired Bethlehem's holiday baking exhibit

The curator was inspired by his dad's time working in a Philly bakery.

When Bethlehem museum curator <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mark Steigelman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.historicbethlehem.org/about-us/our-staff/mark-steigelman/" data-vars-content-id="b4fa3d21-1872-4c96-95f1-ae01011f61bb" data-vars-headline="How an old Philly bread factory inspired Bethlehem&#x27;s holiday baking exhibit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.historicbethlehem.org/about-us/our-staff/mark-steigelman/" target="_blank">Mark Steigelman</a> needed inspiration for a new holiday exhibit, he turned to a story he knew well: his dad&#x27;s flour-dusted college tales of working at the old Penn Fruit bread factory.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Baked into Bethlehem&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.historicbethlehem.org/visit-us/experience/baked-into-bethlehem/" data-vars-content-id="b4fa3d21-1872-4c96-95f1-ae01011f61bb" data-vars-headline="How an old Philly bread factory inspired Bethlehem&#x27;s holiday baking exhibit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.historicbethlehem.org/visit-us/experience/baked-into-bethlehem/" target="_blank">&quot;Baked into Bethlehem&quot;</a> in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Christmas City, USA" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/05/bethlehem-pa-christmas-village" data-vars-content-id="b4fa3d21-1872-4c96-95f1-ae01011f61bb" data-vars-headline="How an old Philly bread factory inspired Bethlehem&#x27;s holiday baking exhibit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/05/bethlehem-pa-christmas-village" target="_self">Christmas City, USA</a> sifts through the region&#x27;s baking lineage, reaching back to Moravian settlers&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lovefeasts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.moravian.org/2018/11/the-lovefeast/" data-vars-content-id="b4fa3d21-1872-4c96-95f1-ae01011f61bb" data-vars-headline="How an old Philly bread factory inspired Bethlehem&#x27;s holiday baking exhibit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.moravian.org/2018/11/the-lovefeast/" target="_blank">lovefeasts</a> — candlelit Christmas meals capped with sweetened buns baked in beehive ovens.

This POW from Philly has dedicated his life to speaking up for vets

Ralph Galati is the grand marshal of the Philadelphia Veterans Day Parade on Sunday.

Before leaving for the Vietnam War, Philadelphian <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ralph Galati" data-vars-click-url="http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=54" data-vars-content-id="00834130-f2d5-430c-a0f8-95e1bba79481" data-vars-headline="This POW from Philly has dedicated his life to speaking up for vets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=54" target="_blank">Ralph Galati</a> warned his pregnant wife that a knock at the door signaled bad news — one that&#x27;d come days after she delivered their child.Why it matters: Galati endured 14 months of torture, interrogation and deprivation as a POW in Hanoi in the early 1970s — and has dedicated his life since to advocating for fellow veterans.

Ice skating on Philly's rivers once a pastime, but don't try it now

Bitterly cold temps are sticking this week, causing parts of the Schuylkill River to appear frozen over.

Ice skating on the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers was once popular in Philadelphia.Reality check: That was centuries ago.

When Jimmy Carter came to Philadelphia

The late former president embraced the city's "brotherly love" mantra.

Ahead of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jimmy Carter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/29/jimmy-carter-dead-us-president-obituary" data-vars-content-id="4b762132-2214-47af-a521-06312691fc13" data-vars-headline="When Jimmy Carter came to Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/29/jimmy-carter-dead-us-president-obituary" target="_self">Jimmy Carter</a>&#x27;s national <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="funeral service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/30/jimmy-carter-funeral-plans" data-vars-content-id="4b762132-2214-47af-a521-06312691fc13" data-vars-headline="When Jimmy Carter came to Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/30/jimmy-carter-funeral-plans" target="_self">funeral service</a> Thursday morning, we&#x27;re looking back at how the late former president embraced Philadelphia&#x27;s &quot;brotherly love&quot; mantra, making heartfelt connections during visits here over the years.The big picture: Carter, who died Dec. 29 at the age of 100, is being honored Thursday with a national day of mourning.

Philadelphia's Weitzman Museum closer to joining Smithsonian

It could be the first Smithsonian museum based in Philly as well as the first focused exclusively on Jewish American history.

The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is one step closer to joining the Smithsonian.Why it matters: If it pans out, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Weitzman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/04/22/oy-yo-sculpture-philadelphia-weitzman-museum" data-vars-content-id="530efa40-c140-45ba-aed3-3beeaa3b0a5e" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia&#x27;s Weitzman Museum closer to joining Smithsonian" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/04/22/oy-yo-sculpture-philadelphia-weitzman-museum" target="_self">Weitzman</a> would be the first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Smithsonian" data-vars-click-url="https://www.si.edu/" data-vars-content-id="530efa40-c140-45ba-aed3-3beeaa3b0a5e" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia&#x27;s Weitzman Museum closer to joining Smithsonian" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.si.edu/" target="_blank">Smithsonian</a> museum based in Philly as well as the first focused exclusively on Jewish American history.

Swann Memorial Fountain turns 100

The massive fountain on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was first turned on in 1924.

Neighborhoods

Philadelphia&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Swann Memorial Fountain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/07/25/philadelphia-art-museum-calder-gardens" data-vars-content-id="6361fcc7-9f40-46c9-bc3d-378ff64dd452" data-vars-headline="Swann Memorial Fountain turns 100" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/07/25/philadelphia-art-museum-calder-gardens" target="_self">Swann Memorial Fountain</a> in Logan Square turns 100 years old this month.Why it matters: The popular fountain is a must-see for tourists and becomes an unofficial (and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="illegal" data-vars-click-url="https://billypenn.com/2018/07/11/no-youre-not-allowed-to-swim-in-swann-memorial-fountain/" data-vars-content-id="6361fcc7-9f40-46c9-bc3d-378ff64dd452" data-vars-headline="Swann Memorial Fountain turns 100" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://billypenn.com/2018/07/11/no-youre-not-allowed-to-swim-in-swann-memorial-fountain/" target="_blank">illegal</a>) swimming hole on sweltering summer days.