Philadelphia

Get Outside This Weekend: Free and Affordable Fun Things to Do in, Around and Outside Philly for Oct. 11 to 13

We have you covered for free or affordable fun this weekend from the shore to the suburbs

Philadelphia and its surrounding counties always have something going on. There’s a wide variety of Fests taking place this weekend. The Oktoberfests continue throughout the area and down the shore. OutFest and Old City Fest will fill the streets in Philly. And Avalon’s Seafood Festival is sure to fill hungry bellies. We’ve found the top (and affordable) choices of what to do this weekend, Oct. 11-13, in Philly and New Jersey.

What: Oktoberfest

Celebrate German traditions at the boardwalk with pretzels, bratwurst, beer, rides and more.

Where: Morey’s Pier, Wildwood, NJ

When: Friday through Sunday

Cost: Free admission

What: Boo at the Zoo

For three weekends in October, "America's first zoo" becomes a Halloween haven with hay mazes, trick-or-treating and more. Kids are encouraged to wear Halloween attire!

Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia

When: Saturday through Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Included with zoo admission

What: Rittenhouse Fine Craft Fair

More than 140 artists will display their works featuring everything from jewelry to glassworks.

Where: Rittenhouse Square, 18th and Walnut streets, Philadelphia

When: Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: OctoberFEAST at Peddler’s Village

Enjoy the German-inspired fun with beer, bratwurst and live entertainment at this two-day Oktoberfest.

Where: Peddler’s Village, 2400 Street Road, New Hope

When: Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: Free admission

What: Colonial Chocolate Making

Meet three female entrepreneurs and learn how women played a role in the American Revolution, like choosing patriotic beverages like chocolate and coffee. Sample the hot chocolate that the colonists enjoyed.

Where: Betsy Ross House

When: Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Conshohocken Beer Festival

This beer festival offers a wide variety of beer along with food and live music to benefit the Conshohocken Plymouth Whitemarsh Rotary Club.

Where: A.A. Garthwaite Stadium, 100 E 11th Ave., Conshohocken, Pa.

When: Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Cost: $50

What: Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

Check out the studios of Philadelphia’s most talented artists at this two-weekend event. See what they are working on in a variety of mediums.

Where: Various locations

When Saturday and Sunday, and Oct. 19 to 20

Cost: Free

What: Avalon Seafood Festival

Enjoy fresh seafood, kids activities, music and more at this fish-filled festival.

Where: 30th Street, Avalon, NJ

When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend

What: Old City Fest

Crafts, art events and alfresco dining fill the streets of Old City at this fall festival.

Where: Old City, 3rd and Arch streets, Philadelphia

When: Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend

Thousands of people are expected to fill the streets for Old City Fest this Sunday. Jobe Itzkowitz, the Executive Director of the Old City District joins Philly Live to talk about what visitors can expect.

What: Wine Festival to Crush Cancer

Enjoy a wine and beer tasting, along with food trucks, silent auction and live music to benefit the Abramson Cancer Center at Chester County Hospital and Penn Medicine Hospice at Chester County.

Where: Historic Dilworthtown, 1390 Old Wilmington Pike, West Chester, Pa.

When: Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Cost: From $50

What: Philadelphia OutFest

The country’s largest National Coming Out Day celebration is filled with drag shows, good, live music, bar crawls and more.

Where: 13th and Locust streets, Philadelphia

When: Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend

What: Find Your 'Happy Place'

The Happy Place is a bright, interactive, immersive and Instagram-ready pop-up exhibition featuring themed rooms, including a "Pot of Happiness" ball pit.

Where: King of Prussia Mall, upper level of the Plaza between Dick's Sporting Goods and H&M, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA

When: through Jan. 5

Cost: $30 for adults, $20 for children, free for 3 and under

The Happy Place is an Instagram-ready limited time experience at the King of Prussia Mall. NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle got a preview Friday.

What: Jack’s Pumpkin Glow

Numerous hand-carved pumpkins will illuminate Fairmount Park. Marvel at the artistic pumpkins and get inspired to create your own at home.

Where: West Fairmount Park, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia

When: through Nov. 3

Cost: $23 for adults

What: Ghost Ship Hologram

A 90-foot-tall "ghost ship" will be projected docked along the Delaware River near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Where: Race Street Pier, N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA

When: Starts Friday, Wednesdays through Sundays from 7 to 10 p.m. through Nov. 3

Cost: Free

You will soon see a difference below the Benjamin Franklin Bridge as a ghost ship hovers over the water just in time for Halloween.

What: Mural Arts Month

Stroll the streets of Philadelphia or take a trolley tour this month and explore Philadelphia’s many artworks and the positive impact the program has had on the city.

Where: Varies locations

When: October

What: LGBT History Month

Throughout October there will be events and festivals celebrating the LGBT community.

Where: Varies locations

When: October

What: Blooms and Bamboo

This new exhibit brings bamboo art and bamboo installations to the conservatory. 

Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pa.

When: through Nov. 17

Cost: Varies

WhatTerror Behind the Walls

One of the country’s most popular Halloween attractions returns with more creepy zombies and ghosts that pop out as you explore the abandoned halls of this former penitentiary.

Where: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia

When: Friday through Nov. 19 on select dates and times

Cost: Varies

What: Hispanic Heritage Month

Philadelphia will honor and celebrate the Hispanic culture and heritage at a variety of events this month.

Where: Various locations

When: Through Oct. 15

What: PHS Pop Up Garden

Throughout the summer this garden will host creative events, planet exchanges, arts and crafts for the kids and flower crown Fridays.

Where: 15th and South Street, Philadelphia

When: Open through October, Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight and on Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

Cost: Free to enter

What: Dinosaurs Around the World

Visit with dozens of animatronic dinosaurs as you discover and learn about things like volcano activity and fossils.

Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences

When: Through Jan. 20

Cost: From $7 in addition to general admission 

The Dinosaurs Around the World exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is now open for all ages.
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