Between the chilly mornings, light sweater afternoons, cold nights, and spontaneous fall rain, it’s not hard to tell that we’re definitely in October. In addition to Halloween, sweater weather, and fall flavors that we enjoy around this time, there are also a lot of other things to get excited about this month! Here are 5 fun things to do in the Philadelphia area this October…
1. Philadelphia Outfest – October 11th- Washington Square West (Central stage at 13th& Locust) Philadelphia’s biggest National Coming Out Day event is celebrating its 25 th anniversary. Explore the Gayborhood and celebrate Philadelphia’s LGBT community during the block party, which features entertainment such as drag shows, live music, games, bar crawls, contests and more. For more information, visit the official site at http://www.phillygaypride.org/
2. Harry Potter Festival – October 16-17th– Chestnut Hill Who doesn’t love a little Harry Potter? Relive the childhood classic story with film screenings, a Firebolt 5k and 1 mile Nimbus Walk to support Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences, Quidditch Tournament, re-creations of games and activities from the book on Saturday, and the sold-out Harry Potter Pub Crawl Contest on Sunday (check out this link for Uwishunu’s ticket giveaway contest), all set in an immersive atmosphere where neighborhood shops and restaurants in Philly transform into neighborhood shops and restaurants from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. For more information, visit the official site at http://www.chestnuthillpa.com/showcase/harry-potter-festival
3. Philadelphia Film Festival – October 22nd– November 1st– Center City East The Philadelphia Film Society hosts its 24 th annual film festival, an 11-day event showcasing the best films from foreign and indie moviemakers from around the world. The event kicks off with a showing of stop-motion animated film Anomalisa on October 22 nd at Prince Theatre, and closes on November 1 st with “Where to Invade Next”, a thought-provoking but humorous documentary directed by Michael Moore. In between, you can visit the theater to catch multiple films and shorts organized into 15 categories, including a “Graveyard Shift” category just in time for Halloween! For more information and the full lineup, visit http://filmadelphia.org/festival/
4. Open Source – October 2015 – Philadelphia For anyone interested in public art and murals, this is the event for you! The Open Source: Engaging Audiences in Public Space outdoor exhibition by The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program will feature artworks by 14 international artists, including Shepard Fairey, SWOON, Jonathan Monk, and Sterling Ruby. The art installations spread throughout Philadelphia will focus on themes like recycling and reuse, mental health, immigration, and empowering youth through the arts. In addition to the actual art pieces, the exhibit will also host events such as tours, workshops, special events, and lectures and programs hosted by the artists and curator, Pedro Alonzo. For maps and more information on the artists and supporting events, visit http://opensource.muralarts.org/
5. Visit Pier 68 – October 2015 – South Philly Enjoy the last of the mild fall weather this month at Pier 68, the brand new waterfront location that just opened on October 1st. The revamped pier area boasts ideal fishing spots, serene picnic areas,, a lawn with hammock seating, and scenic trails with a view of the Delaware River waterfront, just perfect for a study break getaway with friends or a romantic evening walk! For more information on the newly completed hangout spot, visit the Delaware River Waterfront website at http://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/pier-68