July 20, 2012
Roundup: Our Guide To Recurring Summer Series In Philadelphia, From Outdoor Concerts To Weekly Fireworks Shows To Under-The-Stars Movie Screenings

Every night of the week this summer in Philadelphia brings something fun to do, from free fireworks shows to outdoor concerts to the chance to catch a movie while picnicking on the lawn. (Photo credits clockwise from top left: courtesy Schuylkill Banks, courtesy Longwood Gardens, G. Widman for GPTMC, R. Kennedy for GPTMC)
Here at Uwishunu we want to help you plan your nights and weekends by hand-picking the most fun, unique-to-Philadelphia events and activities that are worth your time and dollar.
Summer in Philadelphia is one of the busiest times of the year, making this task all the more important right now.
Below, we present a list of this summer’s recurring series organized by genre, so you can get an idea of what festivals, fireworks shows, movie screenings and more take place on which night of the week.
And remember to follow us on Twitter and check out our Summer Guide for the latest on Philadelphia summertime goings-on.
Check out our guide to summer series, below:
Concerts and Other Entertainment
• Friday Night Concert Series at Morris Arboretum: Fridays, July 20 and 27, 7 p.m.; Fridays, August 3 and 10, 6:30 p.m. The Morris Arboretum is the perfect spot to spend a quiet summer evening, and they’re giving you a great opportunity with the return of their Friday Night Concert Series. All of these concerts will be held in the garden’s beautiful Azalea Meadow. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and don’t forget to pack a picnic.
• Longwood Gardens’ Fireworks & Fountains: Saturday, July 21, 9:15 p.m.; Saturday, August 11, 9:15 p.m.; Saturday, September 1, 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, September 29, 7:15 p.m. The extravaganza, performed six times throughout the summer, combines lavish fireworks, stirring music and the colorfully illuminated fountains of Longwood Gardens.
• The Great American Musical Summer Film Series at Suzanne Roberts Theatre: Every Wednesday from July 11-August 1, 7 p.m. From Barbra Streisand to Jennifer Hudson, this series highlights some of America’s favorite actors and actresses in their best musical roles. Enjoy these films at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, home of the Philadelphia Theatre Company, on the iconic Avenue of the Arts.
• Friday Night Lights – Fireworks At Penn’s Landing: Fridays, July 27–August 31. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation this year will also be introducing a brand new weekly fireworks series called Friday Night Lights, consisting of FREE fireworks displays on six consecutive Fridays, debuting Friday, July 27 and running through Friday, August 31. The fireworks shows will begin at 9:15 p.m. and be launched landside from the quay in the Penn’s Landing Marina, near the new RiverStage at Penn’s Landing.
• University City District 40th Street Summer Series: Saturdays, July 28, August 25, September 22, all 6 p.m. University City District ups the cool factor to combat the summer heat with the return of the 40th Street Summer Series, four free outdoor concerts on Saturdays throughout the summer.
• P.M. @ Penn Museum Summer Nights: Wednesdays through August 29, 5-8 p.m. Featuring a mix of international music styles, these weekly summertime tunes take place in the museum’s gardenscape (indoors in the event of rain) with drinks and bites available at the garden bar. Admission is just $5 for the three-hour fest (5-8 p.m.), and it includes entry to explore the museum’s galleries which are open late until 8 p.m.
• Smooth Jazz Summer Nights at Penn’s Landing: Fridays, August 3-31. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of smooth jazz on Philadelphia’s Waterfront, this year’s series, themed “A Celebration of Women in Music,” will be followed by a landside fireworks display, south of the RiverStage at approximately 9:15 p.m. following the concert.
Read on below for Outdoor Movie Screenings, regular Weeknight Discounts and more.
Under-The-Stars Movie Screenings
• “Steamy Summer Cinema Series” at the National Museum of American Jewish History: July 25; 6 p.m. light reception, 7 p.m. film Join Philadelphia Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey for the last installment of a weekly cinematic celebration that stirs up memories of summer camp, family holidays, bungalows and a little summertime romance. Teis last screening, July 25, will feature A Walk on the Moon starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen and Liev Schreiber.
• Penn’s Landing’s Screenings Under the Stars: Thursdays in July and August; 8:30 p.m. in July, 8 p.m. in August. The RiverStage at Penn’s Landing transforms into an outdoor movie theater. Every Thursday night in July and August, a different popular film will be featured on the big screen. Definitely pack a picnic and bring along a group of friends.
• Movie Nights on the Schuylkill Banks: Every other Thursday at 8:30 p.m. through August 23. Schuylkill Banks 2012 Movie Nights are running for another season with viewings every other Thursday evening until the end of August. Movies begin at dusk, between 7:45 and 8:30 p.m., with free snacks provided by Dranoff Properties’ Locust on the Park and Left Bank.
• Moonlight Movies In Mt. Airy: Fridays at 8:30 p.m. through August 17. Enjoy free movie screenings outside the Lovett Library Park in Mt. Airy every Friday night this summer. Movies begin at 8:30 pm.; seating on the green starts at 8 p.m. In case of inclement weather, movies will be shown at the Cliveden Carriage House at 6401 Germantown Avenue (enter from Cliveden and Morton Streets at the rear of the property).
• Race Street Pier Summer Film Series: Saturdays at 8 p.m. throughout the summer. The Race Street Pier welcomes free weekly viewings of independent films from major festivals like Sundance and SXSW throughout the summer season on Awesome Fest’s brand new state-of-the-art, 30-foot outdoor airscreen appropriately named “The Awesome Screen.”
• French Films Under the Stars at Bistrot La Minette: Mondays and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 p.m. through September. Bistrot La Minette’s popular “Movies Under the Stars” is set in the restaurant’s beautiful garden patio, satisfying Francophiles with authentic atmosphere, food, drink and film.
Summer Food Specials
• Route 6 Maryland Steamed Crabs Night: Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Get down and dirty Wednesday nights at Starr’s Route 6 with Maryland Steamed Crabs Night; they offer Maryland Steamed Crabs sold individually (pay as you go) at market price (minimum of three), complete with bibs and mallets. Enjoy these succulent crustaceans alongside other delicious dishes like chicken fried lobster tails, fried shrimp or stuffed flounder.
• Twin Lobster Dinner at Oyster House: Wednesdays through August, 5-10 p.m. ednesday night this summer, Oyster House brings back their successful Twin Lobster Dinners, a summery seafood plate featuring two steamed lobsters, as well as corn on the cob and drawn butter for just $26.
• Fried Chicken Tuesdays At Supper: Tuesday nights throughout the summer. At $25 a pair, diners can enjoy Prensky’s noted pastrami fried chicken with a choice of one weekly rotating side dish from Blue Elephant Farm, a privately owned organic farm in Newtown Square, as well as two flour biscuits.
• Historic Philadelphia Tippler’s Tour: Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. through December 27. Enjoy beers, cocktails, and appetizer-style snacks at four taverns while your Colonial tippler leads you in song and toasts. Discover what taverns were like in the Colonial days and even find out what nimptopsical means.
• Center City Sips: Wednesdays through August 29, 5–7 p.m. Enjoy $5 cocktails, $4 wine, $3 beer and half-price appetizers at an impressive 88 bars throughout Center City.
• Dining Under the Stars in Media: Wednesday evenings through September. Every Wednesday evening from now until September, State Street in Media from Jackson to Orange closes to bring you “Dining Under the Stars,” a supping experience that offers an appetizing blend of new and traditional dishes, as well as assorted international and good old comfort food plates.
Weeknight Discounts
• Cool Wednesdays in Old City: Every Wednesday in July and August. Don’t know how to get over the hump day? Old City’s got you covered. Unwind and cool down after work in one of Philadelphia’s most historic and upbeat neighborhoods. Every Wednesday in July and August, from 5-8 p.m., enjoy the district’s numerous happy hours, peruse the art galleries (open late) or shop at the many boutiques, book stores and wine and gourmet shops.
• Baltimore Ave Dollar Stroll 2012: August 6, September 20, 5:30-8:30 p.m. From 42nd to 50th Streets, more than two dozen local businesses, food trucks and vendors will serve snacks and drinks accompanied by live music and performers for — you guessed it — $1.
• $5 after 5: Summer Nights at the National Constitution Center: Thursdays 5-8 p.m., through August 30. Get $5 admission to the NCC each Thursday through August 30 when you enter from 5-8 p.m. It’s a great opportunity to escape the heat and spend an evening cooling down in the A.C. while taking in some of the summer’s richest programming.
• First Fridays: First Friday of the month throughout the year. First Friday in Manayunk, Kennett Square, Old City, Doylestown, Northern Liberties, on Frankford Avenue and Chestnut Hill includes awesome discounts on art, food, clothing and more and late-night access to restaurants and art galleries.












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