The new season of Abbott Elementary is nearly back in session. From the looks of it, there are some changes coming.
In the Season 6 trailer, which dropped Wednesday, it’s revealed that Tyler James Williams’ Gregory will now be the school’s assistant principal in addition to his regular teaching duties, and Lisa Ann Walter’s Melissa is now a teachers’ union representative.
Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) wears a “Philadelphia’s lucky charm” T-shirt and Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) sports a Kyle Schwarber jersey in an episode of “Abbott Elementary.”Disney/Gilles Mingasson
Gregory’s new role will have him working more directly under Janelle James’ Ava, the hilariously self-absorbed principal of the fictional Philadelphia public school.
“It’s going to be the best year yet,” Ava says in the trailer.
Fresh into her union position, Melissa is at odds with guest star Katy Mixon, who plays a new staff member. “You’re not aware of the hierarchy around here,” Melissa says to Mixon’s character inside the break room. The newcomer retorts with, “I’m not going anywhere.”
The rest of the trailer, which opened with Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” foreshadows another season of chaos in and outside the classroom.
Chris Perfetti’s Jacob is seen leading a PTA meeting line dance. Ava curses out fellow staff, and Gregory is startled by what appears to be an enraged parent.
The teachers and principal of “Abbott Elementary” talk to the school district’s superintendent.Disney/Gilles Mingasson
Of course, there are homages to the city that serves as the series’ backdrop, although the show is filmed in Los Angeles. Janine appears wearing a Penn sweater, Melissa dons a black Eagles sweat jacket, and Jacob tosses a basketball at two characters wearing Sixers jerseys.
The new season follows an eventful Season 5, which hinted at upcoming drama, including a potential engagement between Janine and Gregory, an uptick in Abbott’s student intake due to multiple school closings, plus a power struggle between Ava and Gregory with his new role.
The Season 6 premiere is set to air at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 on ABC. In the words of Janine: “Anything can happen.”
Memorial Hall, which now houses the Please Touch Museum, is pictured in West Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. The building is one of the few surviving structures from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.Tim Tai / Staff Photographer
The Please Touch Museum turns 50 with two days of events for children and their caregivers.
Guests can enjoy toddler sing-alongs, juggling, music, dancing, art-making, story times, and an end-of-day parade on Saturday and Sunday.
While both days are currently sold out, museum organizers are taking walk-ins when possible.
Eastern State Penitentiary hosts Halloween Nights, a festival-like attraction with characters dressed as scary clowns, zombies, vampires and other ghouls — but not prisoners or prison guardsEastern State Penitentiary
🇺🇸 A trip to historical grounds:The Revolutionary Germantown Festival, which marks the devastating loss George Washington endured before retreating to Valley Forge in 1777, is happening this Saturday. The free event will feature living history interpreters, hands-on activities with craftspeople, tours of the Chew House, and other activities.
🎭 A Broadway classic: The Broadway classic, Mamma Mia!, is hitting the stage at the Academy of Music for a limited run. Make your way to the Center City theater before the final curtain call on Sunday.
🍺 Celebrate Oktoberfest in Northwest: Head to Roxborough on Saturday for the 14th annual Roxtoberfest street festival. Visitors can enjoy German-themed entertainment, including live music, a stein-holding competition, a scarecrow walk, and more.
👻 Frightening nights: Visit the haunting cell blocks and frightening attractions at Eastern State Penitentiary during Halloween Nights. The month-long experience kicks off Friday, likely giving even the bravest of guests a scare or two.
📅 My calendar picks this week: Philadelphia Regatta Cup, Proximity: A Street Photography Exhibition, In Community Exhibition. Here’s our full list for the week.
Philadelphia Parallel Parking Association Championship
A sign advertising the 2026 Philadelphia Parallel Parking Association Championship is affixed to a pole across from some fine examples of parallel parking in the city.Courtesy of Adam Wodka
Fifteen competing drivers will test their skills across three events. The first gives drivers a chance to park as close to the curb as possible. The second challenges drivers to navigate a tight squeeze while making the fewest maneuvers. The third will test how well drivers can park under duress.
The free event will take place from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. It will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend.
Tanelsa Franklin-Phillips outside the Film Society Center, in Philadelphia, Oct. 5, 2025.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
🎥 A reel movie fan’s dream: Experience classic movies in 35mm for the 35th anniversary of the Philadelphia Film Festival and the 25th anniversary of the Philadelphia Film Society. Screenings for REEL October are happening at the Film Society Center and running through Oct. 11.
🎨 Builders and makers: Street art and architecture collide at the 22nd Design Philadelphia Festival starting Thursday. The nearly two-week festival will feature lectures, panel discussions, and installations for emerging and seasoned designers.
🎃 Pumpkin patch at Liberty Point: Make your way to Liberty Point this Saturday for pumpkin picking, carnival games, a photo booth, and other fall-themed activities through Nov. 1.
Staffer picks
The Jonas Brothers perform during halftime of an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)Scott Barbour
Here’s a list of the best concerts this weekend.
🎤 Thursday: Rapper Logic will hit the Highmark Mann stage alongside Memphis legend Juicy J and Bay Area native G-Eazy for a supreme rap show.
🎸 Friday: The Jonas Brothers are dropping into South Philly to perform at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with support from singer-songwriter Magnus Ferrell and DJ Deleasa.
🔊 Saturday: South Korean rock band Wave to Earth will grace the Met Philadelphia stage with their lo-fi, indie surf-rock jams as part of their “Pieces Tour.”
🎤 Monday:Stanley Simmons, whose music floats between folk and indie-rock, is set to headline at World Cafe Live on Monday.
❓Pop quiz
Where did the Please Touch Museum originally open its doors?
A) Memorial Hall
B) Academy of Natural Sciences
C) Franklin Institute
D) Parkway Central Library
Here’s the answer to last week’s question: What year was the first Concilio’s Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade in Philadelphia? Answer: 1964
Ask Earl anything
Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.
I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.
That’s all folks! Enjoy your weekend, and feel free to sharpen up your parking skills if you feel so inclined. This writer here will certainly appreciate it.
– Earl Hopkins
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On Wednesday, PFS unveiled the first 50 films that will play as part of the film festival, which runs from Oct. 15-25.
The lineup includes films such as the Venice Film Festival-premiering Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine. Among the star-studded lineup are the Cannes-premiering films Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord and Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, andBeth de Araújo’s Josephine which premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Simon Stone’s Elsinore, which stars Andrew Scott, is also part of the program.
Outside the filming of David Lynch’s “Eraserhead” at the Film Society Center on Oct. 5, 2025.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
PFF35 will also host the world premieres of four films by area filmmakers in the Filmadelphia section. That list includes Hoag Kepner’s Big Phan, Doree Simon Hatfield’s Gentle By Birth, Andrew Sullivan’s I Don’t Want to Drink Your Blood Anymore, and Max Korman’s Joy Will Prevail.
Among other program highlights are Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas, Danny Boyle’s Ink, and William and David Greaves’ Once Upon a Time in Harlem, a film that was shot in 1972 by William Greaves but completed by his son David years after his death.
J. Andrew Greenblatt, PFS CEO and executive director, said this year’s milestone is “incredibly special” and he and other organizers anticipate this year’s edition will be the most expansive in the festival’s history.
“This one, I think, will be larger, with features and a couple dozen narratives we’ve had for the last several decades. The intention is for it to be larger than that.”
Like every year, this year’s festival will feature filmmaker Q&As, red carpet events, opening and closing night parties, and surprise guests.
Moviegoers take in a recent screening at the Philadelphia Film Center.Philadelphia Film Society
Greenblatt anticipates upward of 110 films will be screened throughout the 11-day festival, across PFS’s three theaters.
The PFS will also host a preliminary event that honors both the 35th anniversary of the festival and the 25th anniversary of PFS. That event, called Reel October, is a two-week showcase of films projected on 35mm at Film Society Center.
The series kicks off with screenings of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Robert Rodriguez’s El Mariachi on Sept. 30, and ends on Oct. 11 with The Exorcist.
Greenblatt said the dual celebration is one he and other programmers have anticipated for years.
“It’s a lot of fun and something we have been planning for a long time because it’s something special for the industry. And it’s something we haven’t taken lightly,” he said.
Philadelphia Film CenterPhiladelphia Film Society
PFS board director Jen Su said these collective efforts are designed to demonstrate how the festival has forged community and continuously sparked viewers’ curiosity.
“They come because they genuinely want to discover something new, hear from filmmakers and experience films together in a theater,” she said.
But it’s also a moment, she said, for viewers to look ahead at the next generation of filmmakers and to inspire emerging storytellers to continue pursuing their dreams.
The full festival lineup will be announced on Oct. 7.
The 35th Philadelphia Film Festival takes place from Oct. 15-25. Festival badges and passes are available for purchase. filmadelphia.org.
It’s officially fall, and Philadelphia’s arts and events calendar is packed this weekend.
The Philadelphia Orchestra opens its 127th season, the Puerto Rican Day Parade returns to the Parkway, and fall festivals and cultural celebrations are filling the calendar across the region.
Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin introduces Lang Lang at the Kimmel Center’s Marian Anderson Hall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The Philadelphia Orchestra returns for its 127th season on Thursday under music director Nézet-Séguin.
As my colleague Peter Dobrin reports, the season offers a mix of standard repertoire with new scores, film music, family concerts, and familiar and first-time guest artists.
Opening night begins with the U.S. premiere of Joe Hisaishi’s choral piece Orbis, followed by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir.
Julia Masli, whose “ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha” is playing as part of the Philadelphia Fringes Festival 2026Andrew Levy
🌊 One final lap: Visit Spruce Street Harbor Park one last time before the Delaware River waterfront attraction closes for the season Sunday.
🏇🏽Saddle up for a new screening: Head to Muhammad Abdul-Hadi’s Out West on Friday for a screening of the new documentary Fletcher Street, honoring the long-running North Philly horse stable and riding club.
🎭 Catch the final Fringe shows:Philadelphia Fringe Festival wraps up this weekend, with closing shows including The Adoption Game at Asian Arts Initiative and Murdered Darlings at Deep End Studios.
🥪 Roll up to the Hoagie Throwdown: More than 20 of the city’s sandwich makers will compete at Other Half Brewing during the second annual Heavyweight Hoagie Throwdown.
📅 My calendar picks this week: Philly AIDS Thrift Block Party, Monarch Festival, and the Delaware River Festival. Here’s our full list for the week.
Celebrate at the Puerto Rican Day Parade
Erika Sanchez dances with other members of the Rumbero Jeep Club during the 2024 Puerto Rican Day Parade in Philadelphia.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Join thousands on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday to celebrate Puerto Rican culture, music, dance, food, and heritage.
The free event is hosted by Concilio, which has put on the annual celebration for more than 60 years. For more information, visit elconcilio.net.
Fall fun this week and beyond
Lynnewood Hall is getting a second chance under new ownership.Monica Herndon
🖼️ Get to know your city: The Museum of the Philadelphian, whose mantra is “No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care,” begins a limited run inside a Fishtown rowhouse Friday. The micro museum will showcase distinct local gems, like the short-lived hitchBOT, the hitchhiking robot whose cross-country journey famously ended on a Philadelphia street.
💐 Step into the Gilded Age:Lynnewood Hall, the iconic Elkins Park mansion, is opening its doors to the public for the first time in 84 years. The 100,000-square-foot home will host Fleurs de Villes: The Gilded Age, a 10-day floral experience inspired by the popular HBO series. The show features life-size mannequins made with thousands of flowers and other floral installations.
👻 Things are getting spooky: Morticia, Wednesday, and the rest of the clan take over Walnut Street Theatre this fall The Addams Family: The Musical.
Staffer picks
Here’s pop music critic Dan DeLuca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.
🎸 Thursday:Willie Nelson, a 12-time Grammy winner and bona fide outlaw, is co-headlining a show at Highmark Mann with the legendary Neil Young.
🎤 Friday:The Sex Pistols, with new singer and punk veteran Frank Carter, take the stage at Fillmore Philly on Friday.
🔊 Saturday: The Haverford Music Festival kicks off Saturday, with singer-songwriter Shannon McNally, home-grown vocalist Abby Lee, Philly Englishman Wesley Stace, and bluegrass and country outfit Demolition String Band performing across two stages.
🎤 Sunday: Georgia-raised songwriter Katie Pruitt, who comes off as honest and intelligent in her efforts to make sense of modern life, arrives at Ardmore Music Hall on Sunday.
Tuesday: AC/DC, the electrifying Australian hard rock band, is headlining at Lincoln Financial Field for the “Power Up Tour.”
Amid global mayhem and disorder, the comforting distraction of a comedy show is always welcome.
Whether it’s a witty punch line or a well-timed quip, comedy has the power to help us better understand our world or forget about the sadness that exists within it.
Lucky for you, this fall features a lineup of world-class acts and emerging comics who will perform at clubs and theaters in the region.
Here’s a list of the comedy shows we’re most excited about.
Bert Kreischer: Secret TimeNetflix
Bert Kreischer
Oct. 9-10, the Met
There aren’t a lot of things guaranteed in life, but at least three are certain: death, taxes, and a shirtless Bert Kreischer. The Florida-born comedian is bringing his wild, no-holds-barred brand of comedy to the Met Philadelphia for his “Permission to Party World Tour.” He will perform back-to-back nights at the historic venue. ticketmaster.com.
Kathy Griffin attends the official opening of Paula Abdul’s Flamingo Las Vegas residency “Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl” at the Cromwell Las Vegas on Oct. 24, 2019.Ethan Miller / MCT
Kathy Griffin
Oct. 15, Keswick Theatre
Kathy Griffin, the Emmy-winning comedian and queen of the celebrity D-list, is back in the region for a one-night-only show in Glenside. Catch the fiery redhead in action at the Keswick Theatre. keswicktheatre.com.
The comedian Earthquake (Nathaniel Stroman). SiriusXM
Earthquake
Oct. 23, Rivers Casino
Check the Richter scale when comedian Earthquake descends onto Rivers Casino this fall. The veteran comic is bringing his brash, quick-hit humor to the Fishtown venue for a seismic night of laughter. riverscasino.com.
Aussie comedian Jim Jefferies portrays … an Aussie comedian named Jim.Matthias Clamer / FX
Jim Jeffries
Oct. 24, Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Jim Jeffries, the Australian comic best known for starring in FX’s Legit and heading his own late-night talk show on Comedy Central, returns to the region for his “Son of a Carpenter” tour. axs.com.
Joanne McNally
Oct. 29-31, Punch Line Comedy Club
Joanne McNally, who’s headlined sold-out shows in her native Ireland and other parts of the world, is bringing her dark, edgy comedy to Philly this fall. She’s stopping by Punch Line in support of her “Pinotphile” show all Halloween weekend. ticketmaster.com.
Comedian and impressionist Matt Friend in New York.Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post
Matt Friend
Nov. 6, the Block at Harrah’s Philadelphia
Comedian and master impressionist Matt Friend, who can embody folks from President Donald Trump to Jeff Goldblum, Andy Cohen, and King Charles III on command, is hitting the stage at Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester. ticketmaster.com.
Tony Baker
Nov. 6-8, Punch Line Comedy Club
When comedian Tony Baker isn’t roasting your favorite comic or putting on his film critic cap, he’s gracing the comedy stage. The veteran stand-up is slated for a three-night stint at Punch Line Philly this fall. ticketmaster.com.
Actor/comedian Chris D’Elia, in an image processed using digital filters, performs his stand-up comedy routine as part of the Aces of Comedy series at the Mirage Hotel & Casino on Aug. 25, 2018, in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller / MCT
Chris D’Elia
Nov. 7, Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Comic Chris D’Elia, who’s notched hit specials, TV shows, and global tours through his nearly 20-year career, will wrap up a string of European shows before dropping into Parx Casino for his “Go For It The Tour.” Catch the stand-up in action this November. axs.com.
Not every social media-based comic can succeed on the stand-up stage, but Chicago’s Mojo Brookzz has made the transition look easy. His compelling stories and impressive crowd work, which draw millions of views online, is why he’s become one of the fastest rising stars in the comedy game. Catch him at the Met Philadelphia for his “Outta Pocket Comedy Tour.” livenation.com.
Tim Dillon
Nov. 14, Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Anyone who’s tuned into comedian Tim Dillon’s Netflix special, or listens to his hit podcast, knows there are very few boundaries that he won’t cross. The Long Island-born stand-up constantly delivers steaming-hot political and cultural takes, and the crowd at Parx Casino can expect the same blend of bold commentary and observational humor this fall. tix.axs.com.
Craig Robinson at the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sept. 5, 2021. Joel C Ryan
Craig Robinson
Nov. 19-22, Helium Comedy Club
Don’t be fooled: comedian Craig Robinson, known for roles in The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Pineapple Express, is certainly a recognizable face in film and TV. But he made his bones on the comedy stage. He is rolling into Philly to perform at the Helium Comedy Club. philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com.
In this Sept. 17, 2018 file photo, Michelle Wolf arrives at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.Jordan Strauss
Michelle Wolf
Dec. 5, Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Hershey’s own Michelle Wolf, who racked up writing credits as a contributor for Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah before landing her own Netflix special, is heading to Bensalem’s Parx Casino this December. The Emmy-nominated comic will discuss everything from motherhood to gender roles, politics, and menopause during her “Best Job in the World” tour stop. axs.com.
Emily Catalano
Dec. 7-9, Helium Comedy Club
From her late night stand-up debut on Conan to being added on the New York Times’ “Best Comedy of 2024″ list, it’s safe to say Emily Catalano is drawing national attention. The Los Angeles-based stand-up is dropping into Center City for three nights at Helium Comedy Club. philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com.
Jim Gaffigan will perform two nights at the Miller Theater.Bronson Farr
Jim Gaffigan
Dec. 11-12, Miller Theater
Emmy-winning comic Jim Gaffigan, whose decades-long career spans TV and film, hits the comedy stage for his “Everything Is Wonderful” tour. The veteran comic will perform all new material, complete with the same sly delivery, across three shows and two nights at Miller Theater. ensembleartsphilly.org.
Tommy DavidsonCourtesy of Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson
Dec. 18-20, Helium Comedy Club
Tommy Davidson, whose Martin spinoff series, Varnell Hill, premiered this month on Paramount+, is back on the stand-up circuit. The longtime comedian will perform three nights at the Helium Comedy Club to close out this year’s fall lineup. philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com.
Lynnewood Hall, the historic Elkins Park mansion constructed during the Gilded Age, is opening to the public for the first time in 84 years.
Starting Friday, the 100,000-square-foot home will host “Fleurs de Villes: The Gilded Age,” a 10-day floral exhibition honoring the history of the period and the characters of the hit HBO series, The Gilded Age.
“It’s kind of a rebirth of an icon,” said Edward Thome, executive director of the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation, which owns and operates the property. “There’s been so much anticipation and so many years closed off.”
From left: Tyler Schumacher, facilities site manager; Edward T. Thome, executive director; and Angie Van Scyoc, chief operating officer, of the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation Inc., in 2023. The group is restoring the property and is opening it to the public for the first time in 84 years on Friday.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
The exhibition will have 15 life-size mannequins made by local floral designers, using thousands of flowers. The displays will capture the essence of the scenes and characters from The Gilded Age, including Peggy Scott, Larry Russell, Bertha Russell, and Agnes van Rhijn.
Guests can observe live floral demonstrations, vote on their favorite floral mannequins, and take a tour that explores the site’s history and ongoing restoration.
The exhibition, which runs through Oct. 4, is a collaboration between the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation Inc. and Fleurs de Villes, the Vancouver-based entertainment company that has organized more than 170 flower shows globally.
Karen Marshall, cofounder of Fleurs de Villes, said she was intrigued by the architectural wonder and stories linked to the mansion. “It’s something magical,” she said.
The ballroom at Lynnewood Hall, in Elkins Park, on June 29, 2023.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
She hopes that Fleurs de Villes will not only draw visitors back to the site, but that the exhibition will grow to be an annual revenue generator, furthering the foundation’s preservation of the space.
Nineteenth-century industrialist Peter A.B. Widener first welcomed guests to his 34-acre estate in December 1899. Back then, it was hailed as one of the finest residences in the country.
In the decades since Widener’s death in 1915, the assets inside the home were auctioned off, and the property changed hands until it was left abandoned for three decades. In 2023, nearly 125 years after Lynnewood Hall’s completion, Thome and his partners purchased the site for $9.5 million and have spent “several million” reviving it.
Chief operating officer Angie Van Scyoc said the partnership with Fleurs de Villes was “serendipitous.”
The nonprofit has been working with a landscape architect to explore the possibility of starting a flower show of its own. Less than two weeks before Scyoc was scheduled to fly to a flower show for research purposes, Marshall inquired about bringing Fleurs de Villes to Lynnewood Hall.
The reception room at Lynnewood Hall, in Elkins Park, on June 29, 2023.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
This encouraged Thome and Scyoc to “step up” and put a plan in motion.
“It was really just amazing timing,” Scyoc said. “An interesting full-circle moment that we’re grateful for.”
The exhibition, Scyoc said, is part of a larger plan for programming in 2027, which includes opportunities for filmmakers to shoot at the estate. She said her hope is that the exhibition will remind visitors about the “forgotten” site, and show them what ongoing history is being made within its walls.
Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation is at 920 Spring Ave., Elkins Park. The floral exhibition runs Sept. 25-Oct.4, open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Adult tickets are $30.50. lynnewoodhallpreservation.org.
Ed Sheeran took the stage in South Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since the British singer-songwriter became the unwitting center of international political debate.
“This week has been the worst of my life, and today has been the weirdest,” Sheeran said to the sizablecrowd to begin his performance at Lincoln Financial Field.
Rapper Macklemore was fired as the opener of Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” last week after he performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall,” about pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University while showing footage of the war in Gaza and repeatedly shouting “Free Palestine.”
Macklemore’s dismissal from the tour led to outcry among some, who saw it as the quashing of free speech.Other opening acts subsequently left the tour in protest, including Sheeran’s backing band.
He began the show solo, stepping onto an empty stage at 8:14 p.m. and delivered a speech seemingly read off a teleprompter, at one point getting emotional, saying he never wanted to be a political artist. He opened his set addressing the controversy.
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I am so, so sorry,” he told the crowd.
FILE – Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran performs during “Ed Sheeran’s Play: Live from New York” presented by TikTok at Domino Square in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Sept. 13, 2025. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)Andy Kropa
He directly addressed the war in Gaza saying, “What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific, and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and the loss of civilians’ lives. Children’s lives.”
Healso said that his show had to be altered because of the events of the previous week — including his stage setup and backing band. Later in the three-hour set, he admitted that Macklemore’s exit from the tour led to a lost connection with longtime friends, many of whom urged him to cancel his tour. The new band and the broader audience on Saturday encouraged him to go on, he said.
Throughout the night, the sympathetic audience cheered and shouted “We love you, Ed” when Sheeran reaffirmed his intention to make music that unifies fans of differing creeds and political views. The crowd ranged from young children to gray-haired fans, each appearing to have their own distinct relationship to the songs sprawled across Sheeran’s catalog.
Concertgoers arrive at Lincoln Financial Field before Ed Sheeran’a concert on Saturday. (AP Photo/Allie Ippolito)Allie Ippolito
Sheeran may not consider himself a political artist, but the blowback from last week’s events largely altered his stage show.
“I hope you enjoyed my supporting acts,” he jokingly said to the amused audience. Of course, there were no supporting acts after the likes of Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Lukas Graham, and his backing band, Beoga, quit in solidarity with Macklemore.
Sheeran said that he removed a secondary stage that had been a part of his other concert stops, fearing retribution from the audience. “I took the B stage out because I was afraid of what would happen if I stood in the middle, and I will admit that,” he said.
But that change was unwarranted in South Philadelphia, as the outside pressures had little effect on the crowd, who danced in the aisles and aimed their cell phone cameras at Sheeran throughout the night.
He also introduced his new backup band, consisting of a drummer, guitarist, bass player, keyboardist, and violinist, who came on board on three days’ notice, knowing “the world may hate them” for performing along his side. The band impressed with its sharp performances of “Galway Girl” and “Nancy Mulligan.”
People gather for a protest near NRG Station, outside the Ed Sheeran concert at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
In a show that was marked by inconsistency, the musical star glided through his catalog of hits with an acoustic guitar and a series of loop pedals at his feet. As he sang hits like “The A Team” and “Castle on the Hill,” Sheeran layered his vocals and percussions, creating a live arrangement of synchronized sounds and stacked melodies.
The experience, with pyrotechnics and vibrant graphics displayed on a background screen, was akin to attending what felt like an open-air studio session. Though the clashing of unregulated sounds on songs like “Take It Back” occasionally drowned out his lyrics.
Sheeran’s pensive demeanor at the top of the show soon grew to comfort, as he rattled off jokes and peppered the crowd with stories linked to his songs.
Thousands gathered at Lincoln Financial Field for Ed Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” on Sept. 19, 2026.Earl Hopkins
Sheeran seamlessly transitioned from jubilant, up-tempo records like “Sapphire” and “Galway Girl” to emotional tracks such as “Eyes Closed.”
But the stories Sheeran shared of his first cheesesteak experience in Philadelphia back in 2012 and the past heartaches that led to songs like “Old Phone” often spiraled into disconnected tangents that pulled audiences out of an already lengthy concert experience.
“This is where we can congregate, and we all have differing opinions, but then we all come together for one night and agree on the same thing. And I think it’s a wonderful thing,” he said.
After what started as a week like no other Sheeran has faced in his music career, he said Saturday was “the best show [I’ve] ever had.”
Ed Sheeran performs in Tampa, Fla., as a part of his “Subtract Tour.” The tour made a stop at North Philadelphia’s the Met on June 2, 2023.Mark Surridge
Is the Ed Sheeran concert scheduled for Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field going to go on?
As of Friday afternoon, it appears that it is. But later than initially announced.
The start time for the concert, initially advertised at 5:30 p.m. to accommodate openers has now moved to 8 p.m., per the concert listing on the ticket resale site Ticketmaster.
The enormously popular British singer-songwriter’s Loop Tour has been in crisis since earlier this week when rapper Macklemore was dropped as an opener over pro-Palestinian comments he made during two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 4 and 5. He performed his 2024 song “Hind’s Hall,” about pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University, showing footage from the war in Gaza and shouting out “Free Palestine.”
Macklemore was dropped from the tour under pressure from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft by promoters Messina Touring Group, who told Rolling Stone that several venues “will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup.”
Those venues include Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., which Kraft owns, and Lincoln Financial Field, where Sheeran’s tour is scheduled to resume on Saturday.
All of Sheeran’s opening acts — Finneas, Danish pop artist Lukas Graham, Irish band Beoga, and Irish singer Aaron Rowe — have since quit in solidarity with Macklemore.
Given the late start, it is unlikely that any opening acts will be added to the Philadelphia stop. The least expensive tickets on the resale site which were priced at $91 on Thursday were available at $66.30 on Friday afternoon.
Ed Sheeran performs during filming for the Graham Norton Show, at BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre, Wood Lane, in London, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, to be aired on BBC One on Friday evening. (Jas Lehal/PA via AP)Jas Lehal
“Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave [Sheeran] an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” Macklemore’s Monday social media post reads.
In a statement obtained by USA Today Sports, Kraft acknowledged his decision that Macklemore’s “participation in the Sept. 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”
“Too many lives have been lost, and there has been too much suffering,” he wrote, “but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.”
The Linc is owned by the city, but its day-to-day functions and events are managed by the Eagles. This week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the respective owners of the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons decided to not host the Sheeran concert if Macklemore was not removed from the bill, and that “Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie would soon reach the same conclusion, as the owners traded phone calls and prepared to address the situation.”
The Eagles did not respond to the Inquirer’s request for comment on whether Lurie played any role in the decision to drop Macklemore. The Philadelphia mayor’s office and Messina Touring Group did not respond to requests for comments either.
On Tuesday, Sheeran took to social media to say that he was in touch with venue owners, promoters, and activists to “find a mutual resolution for all.”
He respects Macklemore’s “strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” he said, but found it hard to “build bridges” with venue owners and promoters because of the way the rapper “conveyed part of his message” during his shows at MetLife.
Not removing Macklemore, Messina representatives said in a Monday statement, would “result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.”
Local grassroots organizations have spoken out in protest of Macklemore’s removal from the tour lineup.
The local office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, published an open letter on Wednesday to the Philadelphia Eagles, City of Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Group, and other groups.
The group criticized the decision to remove Macklemore from the “Loop Tour,” calling it a violation of free speech.
“This is about more than one artist or one concert,” the organization stated. “It raises serious questions about free expression, public accountability, and whether advocacy for Palestinian human rights can become grounds for exclusion from a major venue operating on publicly owned property.”
FILE – Macklemore performs at Austin City Limits Live during the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on March 17, 2023. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)Jack Plunkett
The group has submitted a right-to-know form with the state’s office of open records, requesting information about which party told the Messina Touring Group that Macklemore was no longer able to perform.
A coalition of pro-Palestinian protesters announced Friday they will rally outside the South Philly stadium an hour before Sheeran’s concert.
Adi Chattopadhyay, a West Philly resident who intends to participate in the demonstration, said the protest is to combat the silencing of pro-Palestinian advocacy and the suppression of freedom of speech.
The rally, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, will include speakers from Writers Against the War on Gaza, the Boycott Cooknsolo Coalition, and Shut Down Day & Zimmermann, according to a statement.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft watches warm ups prior to the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)David Zalubowski
Regarding the expected protests in South Philly on Saturday, Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson Tanya Little said in a statement: “As with all large events at the stadium complex, the Philadelphia Police Department is working closely with venue and event organizers to help ensure the safety of concertgoers, employees, and neighborhood residents.”
“PPD routinely monitors large events and assesses staffing needs to ensure an appropriate police presence. The Department will continue to monitor the event and make any necessary adjustments based on public safety needs.”
Staff reporter Maggie Prosser contributed to this article.
British pop tunes, pulsating electro-funk, retro-soul, and other genres will take center stage across several concerts and music festivals — everywhere from Revolutionary War grounds to the Delaware waterfront.
There’s also the opening of Philadelphia Ballet’s new home, the celebration of Latin culture and heritage, and more to explore this weekend.
The Philadelphia Ballet Center for Dance on North Broad Street on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia’s new eye-catching, four-story home for ballet on North Broad Street officially opens its doors Friday.
After 19 years of trying to consolidate its operations in one building, the Center for Dance on North Broad Street’s arrival is a significant feat.
Architecture critic Inga Saffron argues that the ballet’s building has missed an opportunity to show, as well as tell, what’s going on inside.
Take a peek yourself during the center’s open house. Guests can enjoy studio tours, dancer meet-and-greets, arts and crafts, and beginner-friendly dance lessons.
Atlanta-based Verdict Still Out sends Philly Fashion Week collection down the runway that’s as rebellious as it is patriotic.Courtesy of Philly Fashion Week
🎨 Sho your creativity: Food vendors, street dancers, musical ensembles, and of course, the work of artists from across the city, will be on display at LOVE Park during the ODUNDE Art Sho on Friday.
🎺 Jazz up your weekend: More than 20 locations will be celebrating Montco Jazz Fest with live performances, free swing dancing, and an outdoor movie night. Swing by for special tributes to jazz greats across 30-plus events.
🧵 Straight from the runway: Watch stylish Philadelphians strut their finest garments during Philly Fashion Week. There will be runway shows, shopping events, a design competition, and the Avant-Garde Ball and Philadelphia Fashion Awards at Vault XXVII.
🎉 Happy birthday to the Kimmel: In celebration of the Kimmel Center’s 25th anniversary, the venue is hosting the FREE Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest on Saturday. The event will shine a light on performance groups such as Opera Philadelphia, the Philly Pops, and others.
📅 My calendar picks this week: Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show, Upper Darby International Festival, Hero Thrill Show. Here’s our full list for the week.
Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off this week
This Hispanic Heritage Month, don’t miss out on these free events.Fairmount Park Conservancy
Philadelphia will honor the culture and contributions of the Latin American community through Hispanic Heritage Month.
Upcoming events include international dance celebrations, music performances, and food festivals from now through Oct. 15.
On Saturday, salsa your way to the Esperanza Arts Center to see international dancers Ashley Rivera and Elian Gomez. They will join the local salsa orchestra, Siempre Salsa All-Stars, who will be backed by singer Carlos Sanchez and percussionist Willie Torres.
There will also be the Sazón Latin Food Festival at Two Locals Brewing on Saturday. The event will boast Caribbean, Central and South American cuisine, plus other pay-as-you-go offerings throughout the day.
Additional events will take place at various Free Library of Philadelphia branches throughout the month-long celebration.
Late summer fun this week and beyond
The inaugural “StrEAT Food Festival” on Main Street Saturday launches Manayunk’s first Restaurant Week.
🍲 Restaurant week in Manayunk: Have a festive evening at Manayunk Restaurant Weekend. Prix fixe lunch and dinner specials, ranging from $15-$45 per person, and other offerings will take place at local faves like Lucky’s Last Chance, Mia Ragazza, Bayou Bar & Grill, and others through Sunday.
🎃 Experience Halloween underwater: Who says it’s too early for Halloween? Fintastic Pumpkin Glow is bringing the seasonal treat to Adventure Aquarium. Glowing pumpkins in the shape of stingrays, sharks, and sea turtles will be on display through Nov. 1.
🎷 Celebrating Coltrane: The celebration of John Coltrane’s 100th birthday continues at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On Sunday, activities include hands-on art making, gallery activities, and a live performance by The Hines Creative Arts Legacy Youth Ensemble.
🖼️ New exhibition at the Barnes: The Barnes Foundation’s newest exhibition, “Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America,” highlights Asian American artists affected by incarceration and forced relocation during World War II. The exhibition opens on Sunday and runs through Jan. 10, 2027.
Staffer picks
Ed Sheeran played an intimate concert at Royal Dublin Society Nov. 3, 2025 as part of Spotify’s Billions Club recognition.Courtesy Spotify
Here’s pop music critic Dan DeLuca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.
🎤 Friday: After an earlier show at Liacouras Center, Boyz II Men is back. Only this time, as headliners with the Philly Pops at TD Pavilion at the Highmark Mann on Friday.
🎸 Friday and Saturday: The War on Drugs returns to action for a headlining performance at the Queen in Wilmington on Friday. On Saturday, the group heads to the Jersey Shore for Asbury Park’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival at 8 p.m.
🔊 Friday to Sunday: XPoNential Music Festival is back on the Delaware River waterfront in Wiggins Park in Camden. The weekend kicks off with Los Angeles brother act Dawes headlining, followed by performances fromAlaska-born singer John Gourley’s Portugal. The Man, retro-soul band St. Paul & the Broken Bones, and others.
♾️ Friday to Sunday: David Pianka’s electronic music-plus fest, Making Time ∞, is in its sixth year at Fort Mifflin, the Revolutionary War-era fort near Philadelphia International Airport. Over 120 acts will perform this weekend, including DJ-producers like Bicep, Daphni, Skee Mask, and Jewelsea.
🎤 Saturday: British megastar Ed Sheeran is slated to take center stage at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday for his “Loop Tour,” which he plays solo, building layered tracks by triggering prerecorded instrumentals with foot pedals.
For nearly 40 years, Keith Haring’s We the Youth has been a highlight in Philadelphia’s Point Breeze neighborhood.
The vibrant figures dancing across the facade of a three-bedroom rowhouse at 22nd and Ellsworth Streets is the only collaborative Haring mural that remains intact in its original location.
Now it’s one step closer to being added to the city’s Register of Historic Places. On Wednesday, an advisory group of the Philadelphia Historical Commission unanimously approved its nomination to be included.
If approved at next month’s Philadelphia Historical Commission meeting, the mural will be added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. That would make it the first outdoor mural to be an officially designated and protected landmark in the city’s history. It’ll be only the fifth mural to be designated as such, after The Dream Garden inside the Curtis Center, the New Deal-era murals inside the Family Court building, the frescoed ceiling at Old City’s St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, and Iron Plantation Near Southwark inside the Southwark Station Post Office in South Philly.
Keith Haring, who died in 1990, with his painted carousel. MUST CREDIT: Sabina Sarnitz/Luna Luna/Keith Haring Foundation/Artestar
Haring, the Reading, Pa., native, whose bold drawings and vivacious paintings meld the worlds of graffiti and contemporary art, became one of the defining artists of his generation. He died in 1990, at age 31, due to AIDS-related complications.
In 1987, Haring and a group of 14 Philly and New York students collaborated on We the Youth to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution.
In 2013, Mural Arts Philadelphia undertook a massive restoration of the Haring mural, located on a shared party wall at 2147 and 2149 Ellsworth Streets. In recent months, organizations have advocated for the designation of the pop artist’s mural.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the nomination was presented by Alex Till, a historic preservation planner for the City of Philadelphia, who referenced designation criteria A and E because of the mural’s artistic and cultural significance.
“We the Youth” sits at 22nd and Ellsworth Streets, with a small park next to it. Photo from 2013.Steve Weinik / Mural Arts Philadelphia
According to the City of Philadelphia website, criteria A is considered for “significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth, or Nation or be associated with the life of a person significant in the past.” Criteria E is for the work of a “designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth, or Nation,” according to the website.
Till was joined by Mural Arts Philadelphia founder and former leader Jane Golden; Jenny Greenberg, executive director of the Neighborhood Gardens Trust; and Simon Castets, executive director of the Keith Haring Foundation.
Golden said the mural is a part of the “unique fabric of Philadelphia.”
“There are few opportunities to preserve history while it is still physically present and still connected to our city and our community. This is the moment,” Golden said.
Erica Bryant mimics a Keith Haring figure. “We the Youth,” a Keith Haring mural created in 1987 at 22nd and Ellsworth Streets, has been restored by artists from the Mural Arts Program. Photo from 2013. ( MICHAEL S. WIRTZ / Staff Photographer )Michael S. Wirtz / Staff Photographer
Greenberg said amid the ongoing threat of development and gentrification in this city, it is almost rare to find a mural that has been at the same site for 40 years. And this is why historical designation is necessary.
“The mural’s location reflects Haring’s commitment to making art accessible to the public, regardless of socioeconomic status, and to engaging young people as creative partners,” she said.
The advisory group, comprising architects, historians, and preservation experts, agreed that the mural meets the criteria. After nearly an hour of deliberation, including comments from Philadelphia residents who tuned into the Zoom meeting, the group approved the nomination and recommended it to the commission for next month’s meeting.
The commission will vote Oct. 9. If approved, We the Youth would be the city’s first designated mural in over four years.
A potential historic designation will not affect the larger property and will be restricted to the mural and the wall it is painted on. The building’s owner will be required to maintain the structural integrity of the wall and commit to set obligations, with Mural Arts making any necessary restorations to the mural itself.
If the mural is designated, the building’s owner, listed as “2147 Ellsworth LLC” in city records, will not be allowed to remove or alter the appearance of the mural without the Historic Commission’s review.
While speakers were impassioned by the possibility of historical designation, 2147 Ellsworth LLC manager Ori Feibush, serving as a representative at Wednesday’s committee meeting, opposed the nomination.
Kutztown, Pa., native Keith Haring came back to Philadelphia at the height of his worldwide popularity in 1987 and painted a mural at 22nd & Ellsworth Streets with the help of neighborhood kids from the Brandywine Workshop. This photo, from May 27, 1999, shows the mural before restoration. (Tom Gralish/Staff photographer)
Feibush warned that the designation would impede the building’s renovation efforts, which may require the demolition of the rowhouse’s interior, based on analysis from engineers. Since purchasing the property eight years ago, Feibush said his company has worked diligently to reduce water infiltration and minimize movement to “preserve the mural.”
Despite years of efforts, he said, the mural has delaminated from the underlying salmon brick and is in a fragile condition.
“The removal and, ultimately, reinstallation of the mural here is the only path to create something that can be here long term,” Feibush said.
By gaining historical designation, he said, there will be temporary plans made to preserve the site, rather than long-term fixes that will ensure the mural lasts “another 100 years,” rather than the five to seven he projects.
“We the Youth,” a Keith Haring mural painted in 1987 at 22nd and Ellsworth Streets, was restored to its original vibrancy in 2013 by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. [File Photo]Michael S. Wirtz / Staff Photographer
“This mural we hope will forever be at this location, but the only way this location could have a mural is without a designation,” he said.
Committee member Jeff Cohen was one of several who questioned whether historical designation and preservation could happen simultaneously. He and his fellow member Elizabeth Milroy agreed that both methods should be carefully studied and explored before next month’s commission meeting, ensuring that all scenarios are properly vetted and that all attendees’ views are considered.
The committee then opened the meeting to the public. Several Point Breeze residents, many of whom live within walking distance of the mural, supported the historical designation.
An earlier version of the article misstated the murals included in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. It has been updated to include the frescoed ceiling at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church in Old City.
