Looking for some fun and unique things to do in Philly this weekend? We’ve got you covered.
Chestnut Hill’s Night of Lights
Chestnut Hill is lighting up this fall with the return of their annual streetscape exhibition, Night of Lights. The beloved event from Chestnut Hill Conservancy lets visitors learn about architecture, archives, and local history along the 8000 to 8700 blocks of Germantown Avenue—and it all begins with a “Flip the Switch” opening ceremony on Friday, Oct. 3 (6:30 to 7 p.m. at 8708 Germantown Ave).
Following that, other kickoff festivities will include family-friendly activities and music from various acts, including local jazz group Limited Time Only (LTO), Flute of the Spirit, Rich Rudin and Lynn Riley (from Maplewood Music Studio), Matteo Bofinger, Ralph Salerno, Second Story Walkup, and students of Yes! And…Collaborative Arts.
The event will ultimately transform Chestnut Hill’s main street into a vibrant nightly streetscape exhibit with local histories and illuminated architecture, projecting images from the Conservancy and other archives throughout six storefront windows. Each window will hold a different theme, with topics covering the West Mt. Airy Neighbors Historic Preservation Initiative, Mapping the Wissahickon, Celebrating Teaching Artists, Friends of the Cresheim Trail and more. Night of Lights officially runs Oct. 3 to 6 (7 to 9 p.m.)
Panda Fest
Philly’s first introduction to Panda Fest featured two days of sold-out foodie fun in April—but that wasn’t the last iteration of this popular event in 2025. Organizer Xuan (BiuBiu) Xu is bringing the food and culture fest back to the City of Brotherly Love this weekend (Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5), and this next installment will be “even bigger and better,” adding more vendors, additional capacity and more space while housed in Dilworth Park.
A giant 15-foot inflatable panda will greet guests upon entry, and locals can then peruse through cuisines from throughout Asia, including China, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and more. There will also be Asian cultural performances, family activities, games, raffles, merchandise, and other themed fun for the occasion.
Philadelphia’s Panda Fest will feature more than 60 Asian food vendors and 100 different types of street food (including some panda-themed bites). GA tickets come out to be $14, while VIP tickets cost $25 apiece. With the latter option, all attendees will receive two free gifts (note, children under the age of 5 can enter for free.)
1 S 15th St., dragonfests.com
Fall Tea at The Rittenhouse Hotel
The Rittenhouse’s Mary Cassatt Tea Room has debuted a new line-up of fall teas and bites to be enjoyed in their indoor/outdoor venue. Flavors of tea span seasonal sippers like Hazel’s Tonic and Emerald Nectar, plus, the locale will also be whipping up freshly baked scones (like blueberry, oat, brown butter, and apple) for the harvest season. Reservations are available online.
210 W Rittenhouse Sq., rittenhousehotel.com
Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary
Every year, Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary sets out to become a completely immersive haunted experience, but they’ve also added some new and improved visitor features in 2025 to make it their “most ambitious season yet.”
Running select nights through Nov. 8, the main pull of the annual attraction are the five haunted houses, each dressed with a theme. Those brave enough to participate can make their way through Nightmares, Big Top Terror, the Machine Shop, The Crypt, and a new iteration dubbed Dark Tides. This year also brings a brand-new outdoor scare zone dubbed Apocalypse Pass, enhanced set designs in each portion of the venue, and a redesigned event flow.
And with all of that excitement, some people might be ready for a drink. At The Bloodline Lounge, guests can indulge in vampire-themed food and drinks in this darkly styled watering hole. There’s also the Fair Chance Beer Garden, and it features Detroit-styled pizza from Down North, bites from Corneey’s Corn on the Cob and Gourmet Popcorn, beer from Triple Bottom Brewery and soft drinks.
The Beer Garden is also there to do some good as they invite those who oblige to participate in hands-on activities that invite conversation and reflection on Eastern State’s history and legacy of criminal justice reform. VIP ticket holders also get access to a speakeasy in Al Capone’s Cell (with one free beverage.) Tickets start at $49.
2027 Fairmount Ave., easternstate.org
Pepsi Philly Eats Fest
This culinary-clad event is hosting a slew of local spots in Eakins Oval to showcase the many different flavors of Philadelphia cuisine. The event will feature 25+ signature dishes from five neighborhoods across Philly. According to a release, South Philly staples like Philip’s and Oregon Steaks will bring the cheesesteaks, Chickie’s & Pete’s will serve up its famous Crabfries, Café Carmela will serve up Italian flavors from the Northeast, and other treats will be on the docket. The day will also feature performances from Clipse, Ari Lennox, and Philly’s own Freeway, plus appearances from Eagles legend Brian Westbrook, the Eagles cheerleaders, drumline, and Swoop.
This free event will be held at Eakins Oval from noon to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 4.
2541 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, pepsi.com/localeats
