City Cast Philly
🥾 Where to hike in & around Philly
July 7, 2025 · — Siani Colón
Good morning, Philly! One of my favorite things about summer is being one with nature. But I’m tired of visiting the same hiking spots. Luckily we chatted with Inquirer reporters Frank Kummer and Jason Nark about a new tool helping hikers of all levels find the perfect hike. 🌲
And while you’re out hiking, we’ll continue to keep an eye on contract negotiations between District Council 33 and the city. Find updates to city services during the strike on the official city website. Now, here are other activities to do around the city this season.
The Ultimate Philly Summer Bucket List
What are your absolute must-do summer activities in Philly?
Here’s how some of you are hoping to spend the season, rounded out with a few suggestions from the City Cast Philly team.
🏊 Take a Dip
Taking a swim at local pools is at the top of Hey Philly reader Cat C.’s list. Find out here if your neighborhood’s public pool is open this season.
🎻 Listen to the Philadelphia Orchestra at Its Summer Home
Dave G. wants to make it to the Mann Center in Fairmount Park for an orchestral concert. This season, the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform at the outdoor venue backing up Nas and honoring the Eagles' championship season.
🍻 Drink in the Park
Parks on Tap, Philly Parks & Rec’s traveling beer garden, is on Lauren C.’s summer bucket list. Check the calendar to see when the pop-up is landing near your neighborhood.
🍸 Relax at a Rooftop Bar
Samantha E. is keen to hit up some of Philly’s rooftop bars for happy hours, particularly Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Stratus Lounge, and Attico. We’ve got our own suggestions here (plus some patio recs, too).
Sponsored Content
A New Vision for America’s First Penitentiary
Two pathways of learning. One unified purpose. From events and exhibits on the grounds of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site to innovative educational programs through its Center for Justice Education — Eastern State deepens understanding about the criminal justice system and inspires action for a more just future. Learn more at EasternState.org.
What To Do
Monday, July 7
- 🪴 July Plant Swap at PHS Pop-Up Garden (Manayunk)
- 💃 Cumbia Dance Class at Capitolo Playground (Passyunk Square)
- 🎶 Monday Night Jams at Black Squirrel Club (Fishtown)
- 🏳️🌈 Big Gay Writing Project Open Mic at Tattooed Mom (Queen Village)
Tuesday, July 8
- 🎭 MAKE SHOW Open Rehearsals at Studio 34 (West Philly)
- ❓ Trivia Night at Jerry’s Bar (Northern Liberties)
- 🎤 Souletri: An Open Mic Experience at Izlas Latin Cuisine (West Kensington)
- 🛼 80s-00s Quizzo: Vol. 29 at Pub on Passyunk East (Passyunk Square)
- 📖 ”Backroom Deals in Our Backyards” book talk at the Pen & Pencil Club (Center City)
- 📕 Mystery, Mayhem, and Murder… at Falls of Schuylkill Library (East Falls)
- 🔮 Mystic Saraswati’s Tarot Takeover Party at Tattooed Mom (Queen Village)
- 👟 Hot Hunny Walk beginning at Lloyd Hall Recreation Center (Fairmount)
- 🪴 July Plant Swap at PHS Pop-Up Garden - South Street (South Philly)
Wednesday, July 9
- 🤘 Pennypack Music Festival: Irish Night, Ed Kelley’s Birthday Celebration, Jamison and Bogside Rogues at Cannstatter’s (Torresdale)
- ✂️ Creative Collage Workshop with GrioX Arts at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink (Old City)
- 🎺 Garden Jams: West Philadelphia Orchestra at the Penn Museum (University City)
- 🎤 Ugh!: An Evening of Sing-along and Never Ending AHHHHHHS at Fringe Arts (Old City)
- 🍽️ Supper Sessions on the 7100 & 7200 blocks of Germantown Avenue (Mt. Airy)
- 💻 Creative Coworking with Blue Stoop (Virtual)
- 🎭 The MOMENT: A Queer Variety Show + Vendor Market at The Nest (Fishtown)
- 🛍️ Talent Show, Community Art Gallery, and Market at Hall Pass (Callowhill)
- 👛 Victorian Puzzle Purse Workshop at At My House (Queen Village)
- ♟️ Club for Connection: Chess Meet at Bok Bar (South Philly)
- 🎨 Indigo Dyeing with Lucia Alber at Tacony LAB Community Arts Center (Tacony)
- 📖 Reading Club at Indy Hall (Northern Liberties)
- 🚲 Wednesday Night Ride starting at Jefferson Square Park (Pennsport)
Thursday, July 10
- 🐻 Movie Screening: “Paddington in Peru” at Schuylkill Banks (Center City)
- 📖 “Long Bright River” Q&A with Author Liz Moore hosted by Spotlight PA (Virtual)
- 🌐 Opening Reception of “Digital Sanctuaries” by Rayan Elnayal at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture (Olde Kensington)
- 💰 Budget Wrap-Up: What’s New in FY26 & What It Means for You hosted by Committee of Seventy (Virtual)
- 🏛️ Second Thursdays at the Franklin Institute (Logan Square)
- 🌕 Buck Moon on Fire at Pentridge Station (West Philly)
- 👟 Stroll After Hours (Manayunk)
- 🎧 Ladies Hip-Hop Night at Club 624 (Queen Village)
- ⚖️ Know Your Rights Training at Wooden Shoe Books (Queen Village)
- ✏️ Inside/Outside Prison Letter Writing at the Drexel Writers Room (University City)
- 🖼️ New Now VIII 2nd Thursday Reception at InLiquid Gallery (Olde Kensington)
- 🎨 Front Street Walls Dedication on Front Street between Columbia Avenue and Oxford Street (Fishtown)
- 📘 “It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World” Book Talk at Making Worlds Cooperative Bookstore & Social Center (Walnut Hill)
- 🎸 Os Mutantes at PhilaMOCA (Poplar)
- 🖼️ “Clocked Out” Opening Night at Gross McCleaf Gallery (Manayunk)
- ⛳ Mini-golf Queer Mixer at Libertee Grounds (Francisville)
- 🎨 Clay Play: Pinch Pot Piggy Banks at Artifact Studio (Germantown)
- 🎶 Vinyl Tap 215: Refuge at Bartram’s Garden (Kingsessing)
Friday, July 11
- 🎷 Jazz Night at 49th Street & Baltimore Avenue (Cedar Park)
- 🎶 Sound Type: Mars Kumari x Alex Smith at Asian Arts Initiative (Callowhill)
- 🎭 Improv Comedy: The N Crowd at Sawubona Creativity Project (East Passyunk)
- 🍿 Cinema in the Cemetery: “Death Becomes Her” at Laurel Hill East (East Falls)
- 🖼️ Summer 2025 Opening Celebration at Institute of Contemporary Art (University City)
- 🎨 Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia’s art exhibition at Tacony LAB (Tacony)
- 🍝 Midnight Pasta Party at BLDG39 at the Arsenal (Bridesburg)
- 📜 Perimeter Printmaking at Cherry Street Pier (Old City)
- 🎨 Clay Workshop: Sunset Sculpting at Pentridge Station (West Philly)
- 🛍️ Philly Punk Rock Flea Market at Sheet Metal Workers Union (Pennsport)
- 🖼️ ”Down the Shore” Opening Reception at Arch Enemy Arts (Old City)
- 🎉 Scribes on South Annual Gala at Tattooed Mom (Queen Village)
- 🪴 Healthy House Plants: Repot and Plant Care Class at Plant and People (West Powelton)
Saturday, July 12
- 🎤 Off the Vine Community Showcase at Two Locals Brewing Co. (University City)
- 🍦 Ice Cream Festival on Filbert at Reading Terminal Market (Center City)
- 🥾 Second Saturday Guided Hikes at Belmont Plateau (Fairmount Park)
- 🍰 Cake Party: A 4th Birthday Cake Tasting Celebration at New June Bakery (Brewerytown)
- 🌊 Borski Splash! A Community Celebration at Borski Park (Bridgesburg)
- ✍️ Drawing Workshop at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture (Olde Kensington)
- 🔎 The Deadly Nudes Scavenger Hunt at The Philadelphia Museum of Art (Fairmount)
- 🧵 Bring Your Own Craft at Washington Square Park (Society Hill)
- 🧘 Tending Our Gardens: A Portal into Family Care & Wellness at Reinhard Street Farm & Kitchen (Southwest Philly)
- 🚲 Free Bike Rentals at Bartram's Garden (Kingsessing)
- 🥐 Brunch in the Garden at The Navy Yard (South Philly)
- 👶 Mama Moves – Baby Wearing Fitness Event at The Liberty Lands (Northern Liberties)
- 🎉 Katika Festival at The Lawn (University City)
- 🧑🌾 Northern Liberties Farmers Market: Summer Block Party at Piazza Alta (Northern Liberties)
- 🫂 Collab Philly at Triple Bottom Brewing (Poplar)
- 🪩 Watermelon Glow: A Summertime Pop Up at Pentridge Station (Cedar Park)
- 🖼️ Chinatown History Exhibit Open House at Crane Community Center (Chinatown)
- 📖 Athenaeum Young Friends: Bring Your Own Book Review at The Athenæum of Philadelphia (Society Hill)
- 🪴 Afternoon Lunch & Wine Bottle Succulent Workshop at Penn's View Hotel (Old City)
- 🎾 Wimbledon Women’s Final Watch Party at Lions Sports Bar (Chinatown)
- ✂️ Transforming Our Realities | A Collage Workshop at NextFab (Norris Square)
- 🌿 Wild Foraging with Lady Danni at FDR Park (South Philly)
Sunday, July 13
- 🎉 Barnes on the Block at The Barnes Foundation (Logan Square)
- 👨 Dads for All presents Dadness & Mayhem (RSVP for location)
- 🎶 Martha Graham Cracker & Friends: The Live Aid Tribute Concert at Union Transfer (Callowhill)
- 🎊 Culture Fest at Liberty Point (Society Hill)
- ✍️ Sketch Club with Black Hippie Art at The Arts League (Spruce Hill)
- 🐐 Summer Grief Walk with the Goats at The Farm at Awbury (East Germantown)
- 🇫🇷 Bastille Day Block Party at The Good King Tavern (Bella Vista)
- 👟 CAICU Walking Tour beginning at Las Parcelas (Norris Square)
- 🎨 PECO Family Jams: Paper Quilting with Katie Kaplan at Magic Gardens (South Philly)
- 🐟 Red Fish Blue Fish: A Fishadelphia Celebration at Pentridge Station (West Philly)
- 🩺 Penn Medicine Community Health Fair at Community of Compassion CDC (Cobbs Creek)
- 🧘 Yoga with FLOW at The Daily (West Poplar)
- 🪴 Plant Swap at Plant and People (West Powelton)
- 🧵 Fiber Arts Meetup at Indy Hall (Northern Liberties)
- 🎶 Radio Fresca at El Techo (Rittenhouse)
- 🍸 Drinks We Love: Nico Diaz Pop-Up at Caletta (Fishtown)
Monday, July 14
- 💃 Cumbia Dance Class at Capitolo Playground (Passyunk Square)
- 🎺 Monday Night Jazz Jam at Black Squirrel Club (Fishtown)
- 💬 Monday Mango Meetups at Sunday Girl (Old City)
- ❓ Quizzo at Strangeloves (Center City)
I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your regular edition of Hey Philly. ✨
Free · Daily