It’s time to finally use your PTO and get outside! June kicks off a jam-packed summer season throughout Philadelphia with outdoor festivals, the world’s biggest sporting event, and seasonal pop-ups. Here’s how to make the most of the official start of summer.
Take to the Streets
Center City’s Open Streets is back, now pedestrianizing streets in Midtown Village. This iteration is switching things up with evening hours every Tuesday in June. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy live music, double dutch, and pop-up mini-golf.
Visit a Philly-Area Farm
Eat seasonally by stocking up on summer fruits and veggies! Take a day trip outside of the city to nearby farms like Linvilla Orchards, Highland Orchards, or Shadybrook Farm to pick your own strawberries, cherries, and raspberries. Be sure to visit Shadybrook on June 6 and 7 for the farm’s Strawberry Festival.
Consider What’s Next for America
As the semiquincentennial approaches, from now until July 2 artists across the city are responding to the question “What Now?” as we ponder what’s next for the United States. Explore more than 30 performances and installations from Art Philly on topics ranging from the climate crisis to the contributions of Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
Show Off Your Pride
It’s Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s march and festival will be June 7 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway instead of the typical Gayborhood location. There's a $10 admission. If you can’t make it, other Pride events around the city include the month-long Philly Pride Arts Festival and the South Street Queer Pride Night Market on June 7. For sapphics looking for love in a sober setting, MonoGAYmous’s Red Velvet singles event is at Bar Palmina on June 7.
Celebrate and Learn About the End of Slavery
June 19 commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The annual Juneteenth parade will depart from the Highmark Mann Center at 12:30 p.m. and conclude at Malcolm X Park, where a marketplace will already be in full swing and a music festival begins at 5 p.m. At Bartram’s Garden, there’s a Juneteenth Jubilee on June 14 with free workshops and storytelling. And over in Germantown, the Johnson House is celebrating its 20th Juneteenth Festival on June 20. Continue learning about the history of slavery and abolition in Philadelphia with these tours.
Celebrate the Start of Summer
Although we’ve been feeling summer temperatures for weeks now, we don’t officially transition seasons until June 21, when you can soak up the sun on the longest day of the year. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a celebration ahead of the solstice on June 18 with food, music, and free archery. On June 20, the Franklin Institute is throwing a block party with an opportunity to view the sun through the museum’s telescope. In Torresdale, Glen Foerd is leading an eco-craft event on the actual solstice, making art with sun printing and natural dyes.
