West Philly Porchfest 2026 performance map screenshot (from Westphillyporchfest.com)

Get ready for a neighborhood-wide block party! West Philly Porchfest is returning for a major milestone this weekend, celebrating its 10th annual edition on Saturday, May 30, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The completely free, do-it-yourself music festival is set to transform the neighborhood into a massive outdoor concert venue, featuring more than 400 free performances across over 190 resident-hosted porches, lawns, and sidewalks. Continue Reading

Dust off your picnic blankets and lawn chairs: cinéSPEAK’s Under the Stars Film Festival is returning to the bowl at Clark Park for its 2026 season.

Transforming the historic neighborhood green space into an open-air cinema, the annual four-week festival will run every Friday night from May 29 through June 19. Each event features a combination of award-winning independent cinema, live musical sets, local food trucks, and connections to neighborhood advocacy groups.

This year’s festival centers around the poignant theme of “community resilience,” curating a lineup that honors how individuals and collectives organize, protect one another, and build solidarity across global and hyper-local movements.

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Movies in Clark Park returns in August. (Photo courtesy UCD)

Summer is just around the corner and the University City District has unveiled a schedule of live events in the neighborhood. From the return of the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll to outdoor movies in Clark Park, here’s what’s in store for the next four months.

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll
June 4 and September 3 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The stretch of Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Street will once again transform for the Dollar Stroll. Neighborhood businesses and community vendors will offer $1, $3, and $5 deals on everything from signature bites and pet supplies to theater tickets. In addition, expect live music and local arts and crafts scattered along the avenue. Go here for more details.

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UPDATE (5/8/26): The Spruce Hill May Fair is still a go for tomorrow, despite rain showers in the afternoon forecast. Organizers are prepared to work around any passing clouds and hope the community will join them regardless of the weather.

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair, the biggest fundraising event for the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA), will be held in Clark Park (43rd and Chester) this Saturday, May 9, 12-6 p.m..

This year’s May Fair is expected to be “larger and livelier than ever,” according to the organizers. It will feature:

• Live music throughout the day, featuring Mad Beatz Philly, Ants on a Log, Settlement Music School Jazz Ensemble, Upholstery, and Steady State.

• Family friendly activities, including a Petting Zoo, moon bounce and obstacle course, free kids games, and Stacey’s Face Painting.

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A West Philly-rooted lineup graces the Trolley Portal Gardens this spring as Pop-Ups at the Portal returns to 40th and Baltimore Ave. starting May 7. University City District is teaming up with local performer and curator  Gretchen Elise to present five weeks of free, interactive, all-ages entertainment. Pop-ups will run every Thursday from May 7 through June 4, 5:30 p.m.– 7:30 p.m., and are fair-weather only.

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Here’s a great opportunity to have your garden soil tested for contaminants. The University City Garden Club is teaming up with the University of Pennsylvania for a free soil testing event on Sunday, May 10. You can bring a sample of your yard or garden soil between 3 and 5 p.m. on that day to the event location at 519 Woodland Terrace (near 40th and Woodland) and it will be tested on the spot by participating Penn researchers. You can also drop your samples off in advance.

Soil will be tested for lead, a dangerous contaminant which can cause serious health problems.

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