Philly Beer Week, The Roots Picnic and more to do in Philly

FOOD & DRINK

Philly Beer Week
June 3-12
Various locations
Philly loves its beer—so much so that there’s a whole week dedicated to the joy of drinking it. Restaurants and breweries across the city roll out all kinds of Philly Beer Week specials and events, starting with a kickoff party Friday night at The Fillmore Philadelphia. There, the “Hammer of Glory” will arrive to much fanfare to tap off Brotherly Suds 7, a rybock lager brewed by eight local breweries. From there, the Beer Week activity list runs the gamut from movies to relays to sudsy barbecues. Check phillybeerweek.org for the full list of to-dos.

Coffee & Tea Festival Philly: Iced
June 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Navy Yard
4747 S. Broad St.
$20
Forty coffee and tea purveyors from Philly and beyond pour up some of their finest iced beverages at this caffeinated fête at the Navy Yard. Attendees should expect to chug down iced java and teas, ready-to-drink beverages, tea-infused frozen products and more—all safely beyond the glare of those uppity purist baristas.

MUSIC

Make The World Better Benefit Concert
June 3, 7:30-11 p.m.
Union Transfer
1026 Spring Garden St.
$5-$300
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin is throwing a concert to benefit his Make the World Better Foundation, which works to cultivate parks and other public spaces in underserved neighborhoods. On the bill are Philly indie-folk act Hop Along and sweet-voiced Alabama singer-songwriter Waxahatchee. Heads up: The[tab]$200 and $300 tickets get you VIP access to a pre-show BBQ, where you can mingle with the bands, Connor Barwin and some of his fellow Eagles players, like Jason Kelce, Vinny Curry, and Chase Daniel.

The Roots Picnic
June 4, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
601 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
$95-$225
You know it’s summer when The Roots throw a picnic. The homegrown hip-hoppers bring back their annual music fest to Penn’s Landing for the ninth year. Headliners this year include Atlanta rapper Future, dreamy gospel and soul singer Leon Bridges, and R&B mainstay Usher, who will be backed up by Questlove, Black Thought and the rest of The Roots. Also look out for a blush-worthy performance by potty-mouthed Cheltenham rapping sensation Lil Dicky.

West Philly Porchfest
June 4, noon-6 p.m.
Porches in West Philadelphia
Free
West Philly turns into one big music festival of its own Saturday for the West Philly Porchfest, which invites locals to open up their porches to local musicians. Stroll from yard to yard to take in the acts—playing everything from folk to rock to punk. Shows will take place within three two-hour time slots throughout the day, depending on neighborhood location. Look for the full lineup at westphillyporchfest.com.

FESTIVALS

Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl
June 4, noon-4 p.m.
Along Fairmount Avenue
Free
More than 40 artists showcase work of all types at this eclectic art crawl around the Art Museum district on Saturday. Guests can expect to ogle all the mediums–from painting and printmaking to sculpture and mixed media–situated on the streets, in restaurants and area businesses. Kids can get in on the action, too, thanks to the day’s lineup of family-friendly activities. They’ll stay entertained at craft-making workshops, face-painting booths, and a sidewalk chalk art session.

Elfreth’s Alley Fete Day
June 4, 1-5 p.m.
Elfreth’s Alley Museum
124-126 Elfreths Alley
$10-$60
Dating back to the 1930s, this annual gathering is one of Philly’s oldest block parties. The quaint cobbled stone street will come alive Saturday afternoon with live music, refreshment stands and craft demonstrations. The best part, though, is the chance to peek inside some of the 18th-century abodes that line the historic alley. Look out for residents welcoming guests for tours throughout the day.

Salsa Night at the Piazza
June 4, 7-10 p.m.
The Piazza at Schmidt’s
1001 N. 2nd St.
Free
The Piazza will be all sorts of caliente Saturday night at Siempre Salsa Philly and Philadelphia Dance Foundation’s Salsa Night. The lively fiesta begins with free salsa lessons, at 7 p.m., before transitioning into a full-on dance party to authentic Latin tunes at 7:30.

COMEDY

Duofest Comedy Festival
Through June 5
Philly Improv Theater
2030 Sansom St.
Various prices
Comedic duos get their time in the spotlight during this festival that celebrates “the kind of comedy that comes in twos.” Acts both local and national are on the bill, like Philly groups Sad Trombone and Michael Loves Greg, and Juliet & Juliet and Creamy from Minneapolis and Los Angeles, respectively. Besides the shows, workshops teach aspiring funny folk the art of physicality in improv, free form delivery and more.

KIDS

Philadelphia International Children’s Festival
June 2-4
The Annenberg Center
3680 Walnut St.
Various prices
Looking for cultural opportunities for your little one? You’ll find plenty to keep them busy at this three-day festival that has something for every type of interest. Playing By Ear combines classical music with circus arts, master storyteller will spin some fascinating yarns, and, when it comes time to play again, the festival Fun Zone will be open with hands-on activities and interactive performances. See the full schedule at annenbergcenter.org.