Free things for grown-ups in Philadelphia

21 listings in Philadelphia, PA: free concerts, theater, art and nights out, no kids required.

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Tomorrow 9 listings

Attractions

Self-guided tour of the U.S. Mint

Mon–Fri 9am–4:30pm

United States Mint at Philadelphia

Watch coins being made on a free, self-guided tour of the Philadelphia Mint. No reservations needed. Weekdays 9am–4:30pm (last entry 4:15pm); closed federal holidays. Visitors go through a metal detector, and cameras, food and drink aren't allowed.

Verified Oct 27 · usmint.gov

No catch

Attractions

See the Liberty Bell

Daily 9am–5pm

Liberty Bell CenterPhiladelphia

The Liberty Bell Center on Independence Mall is free with no tickets: entry is first come, first served. Everyone goes through airport-style security screening, so allow time and leave bags light. Open daily 9am–5pm.

Verified Oct 27 · home.nps.gov

No catch

Entertainment

Free Rare Book Department tour at Parkway Central Library

Mon–Sat at 11am

Parkway Central Library, Rare Book DepartmentPhiladelphia

See treasures from the Free Library's Rare Book Department on a free daily tour, Monday–Saturday at 11am, on the third floor of Parkway Central Library.

Verified Oct 27 · libwww.freelibrary.org

No catch

Attractions

Congress Hall at Independence National Historical Park

Daily: open house 9–10:30am; tours every 20 minutes 10:40am–4:40pm

Congress Hall, Independence National Historical ParkPhiladelphia

Congress Hall, where the early U.S. Congress met, is part of Independence National Historical Park and open daily. Drop in for the morning open house (9–10:30am) or join a ranger tour that runs every 20 minutes from 10:40am to 4:40pm. It's inside the Independence Square security area: enter through the security screening on the south side of Independence Hall.

Verified Oct 27 · National Park Service

No catch

Attractions

Independence Hall morning open house, no ticket needed

Daily 9–10:30am

Independence HallPhiladelphia

Each morning from 9 to 10:30am, Independence Hall holds an open house that needs no ticket. The guided tours later in the day need a timed ticket with a $1 reservation fee, so the open house is the free way in. Arrive early and allow time for security screening.

Verified Oct 27 · National Park Service

No catch

Attractions

Wagner Free Institute of Science museum

Tue–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm

Wagner Free Institute of SciencePhiladelphia

A Victorian natural history museum in North Philadelphia with original cases of fossils, minerals and specimens, free to visit year-round. Open Tuesday–Friday 9:30am–4:30pm, plus a free open house on the first Saturday of most months (noon–4pm). The museum asks visitors to register on Eventbrite.

Verified Oct 27 · wagnerfreeinstitute.org

Catch: Register your visit on Eventbrite (the museum's site links there)

Show 3 more tomorrow
Attractions

Institute of Contemporary Art at Penn, always free

Wed–Sun 11am–6pm (Thu until 8pm)

Institute of Contemporary ArtPhiladelphia

The ICA on Penn's campus shows new contemporary art and is free for everyone. Open Wednesday–Sunday 11am–6pm, Thursdays until 8pm.

Verified Oct 27 · icaphila.org

No catch

AttractionsFree (usually $23)

Free Penn Museum admission with an ACCESS or EBT card

Tue–Sun 10am–5pm

Penn MuseumPhiladelphia

Show a current ACCESS/EBT card at the Penn Museum ticket desk for free admission (adult tickets are $23). Walk-up only. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays and major holidays.

Verified Oct 27 · penn.museum

Catch: Only for: current ACCESS/EBT card holders (walk-up only)

AttractionsFree (usually $23)

Free Penn Museum admission for K-12 teachers

Tue–Sun 10am–5pm

Penn MuseumPhiladelphia

K-12 teachers get into the Penn Museum free (adult tickets are $23). Walk up to the ticket desk. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays and major holidays.

Verified Oct 27 · penn.museum

Catch: Only for: K-12 teachers (walk-up only)

This weekend 4 listings

Attractions

Portrait gallery at the Second Bank of the United States

Thu–Mon 12–5pm

Second Bank of the United StatesPhiladelphia

The Second Bank of the United States on Chestnut Street, part of Independence National Historical Park, holds the park's portrait gallery of early American leaders. Walk in Thursday through Monday, noon–5pm.

Verified Oct 27 · National Park Service

No catch

Classes & fitness

Barnes Create & Connect art workshop for Parkinson's

Sat, Oct 31, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Barnes FoundationPhiladelphia

A free art-making workshop at the Barnes for people living with Parkinson's disease and their care partners; no art experience needed. Saturday, October 31, 10am–noon, the last session of the fall series. Space is limited, so register ahead.

Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org

Catch: Only for: people living with Parkinson's disease and their care partners · Free registration required; space is limited

AttractionsFree (usually $20)

Free First Sunday at the Brandywine Museum of Art

Sun, Nov 1, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Brandywine Museum of ArtPhiladelphia

The Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford (home of the Wyeth collections) is free on Sunday, November 1, the last Free First Sunday of the season. Open 9:30am–4:30pm. Adults normally pay $20.

Verified Oct 27 · brandywine.org

No catch

Kids & family

Free First Sunday Family Day at the Barnes

Sun, Nov 1, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Barnes FoundationPhiladelphia

On PECO Free First Sunday the Barnes opens its collection and the Noguchi to Asawa exhibition for free, with hands-on art and a scavenger hunt for ages 2 and up (10am–4pm), storytime at 10:30 and 11:15am, and Cambodian classical and folk dance at 1 and 2:30pm. Space is limited, so register for a free spot when registration opens Thursday, October 29, at 10am.

Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org

Catch: Free registration required (opens Thu, Oct 29 at 10am); capacity is limited

Coming up 5 listings

Entertainment

ARTZ @ The Museum at the Barnes (dementia and care partners)

Wed, Nov 11, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Barnes FoundationPhiladelphia

A free guided visit to the Barnes for people living with dementia and their care partners, led with ARTZ Philadelphia. Wednesday, November 11, 1:30–2:30pm. Register ahead through ARTZ Philadelphia.

Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org

Catch: Only for: people living with dementia and their care partners · Free registration required (through ARTZ Philadelphia)

Entertainment

On Practice: Pew Fellows in Conversation at the Barnes

Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

Barnes Foundation, Comcast NBCUniversal AuditoriumPhiladelphia

A free evening talk in the Barnes auditorium with Pew Fellows Rose Jarboe, José Ortiz-Pagán and George Rodriguez on how they experiment and make work, moderated by Zach Blackwood of the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Wednesday, November 11, 6–7:15pm.

Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org

Catch: Free registration required

Entertainment

Christmas Village in LOVE Park

Sat, Nov 21 – Sun, Dec 27

LOVE Park & City HallPhiladelphia

The German-style holiday market at LOVE Park and City Hall is free to walk through, with vendors, lights and holiday decorations. Open November 21 to December 27, 2026: noon–8pm Sunday–Thursday and noon–9pm Friday–Saturday, with Thanksgiving 9am–5pm and Christmas Eve noon–5pm. Closed November 23–25 and December 25.

Verified Oct 27 · philachristmas.com

No catch

Entertainment

Brandon Shimoda and Rea Tajiri in conversation at the Barnes

Wed, Dec 2, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Barnes FoundationPhiladelphia

A free talk at the Barnes in which poet Brandon Shimoda and filmmaker Rea Tajiri discuss Japanese American incarceration, memory and creative practice. Wednesday, December 2, 6–7pm.

Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org

Catch: Free registration required

Kids & family

Free First Sunday Family Day at the Barnes: Student Art Show

Sun, Dec 6, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Barnes FoundationPhiladelphia

On PECO Free First Sunday the Barnes opens its collection for free, with a Student Art Show (10am–1pm), hands-on art and a scavenger hunt for ages 2 and up (10am–4pm), storytime at 10:30 and 11:15am, and traditional Japanese string music by Masayo Ishigure at 1 and 2:30pm. Space is limited, so register for a free spot when registration opens Thursday, December 3, at 10am.

Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org

Catch: Free registration required (opens Thu, Dec 3 at 10am); capacity is limited

Always free 3 listings

AttractionsFree (usually $18)

Free Thursday evenings at the Delaware Art Museum

Thursdays 4–8pm, April–December

Delaware Art MuseumWilmington

General admission to the Delaware Art Museum is free Thursdays 4–8pm from April through December (adults normally $18). Parking behind the museum is free.

Verified Oct 27 · delart.org

No catch

Attractions

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Open year-round

Valley Forge National Historical ParkPhiladelphia

Walk or bike the grounds where Washington's army camped in 1777–78. There's no entrance fee or pass needed. Ranger programs run for families; trolley tours cost extra.

Verified Oct 27 · home.nps.gov

No catch

Services

Free small business mentoring from SCORE Greater Philadelphia

By appointment: request a mentor online

SCORE Greater Philadelphia

SCORE pairs small business owners and people starting a business with volunteer mentors, free for as many sessions as you need, in person through a local chapter or by video. SCORE Greater Philadelphia is SCORE's local chapter. Eligibility: Anyone starting or running a small business.

Verified Oct 27 · score.org

Catch: For small business owners and would-be owners · Mentoring is free; some SCORE workshops and courses charge a fee