September 27-29: Light up the Crescent | River to River tour | Wissahickon bike tour | Pearl Street block party | Garden Court community dinner | Puerto Rican Day Parade | Renaissance Arts Day

With a mix of sun and partial clouds and temperatures in the low 70s, this weekend’s weather looks ideal for the outdoor tours and festivities happening throughout the city. Enjoy!

PARADE: Light up the Crescent

Friday, September 27. 7p.m – 9p.m. Southwest corner of Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Decorate yourself and your bicycle for this glowing bicycle parade from Rittenhouse Square Park to the Grays Ferry Crescent. The parade is mean to mimic and celebrate the Pennsylvania state insect, the firefly. Once at the Crescent, parade participants will be part of a “swarm” interacting with fabricated fireflies with cell phones and other lights. Free

TOUR: River to River, Vine to Pine

Saturday, September 28. 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street. This weekend the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides offers its fourth annual, free “River to River, Vine to Pine,” walking tour. The tour kicks off at the National Constitution Center in Independence Park at 8 a.m. and winds its way to a close around 8 p.m. at the Schuylkill River’s Fairmount Water Works. The tour is divided into four consecutive, two and a half hour stages with different launches for each stage. Participants are invited to walk the entire tour or join at any stage. More information and a map of the stage launch locations are available online. Free. 

BIKE: Wissahickon Bike Tour

Saturday, September 28. 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Valley Green Inn, Valley Green Road at Wissahickon. Hidden City invites you to bike along through the Wissahickon Valley as they share info about the valley’s pivotal role in Philadelphia’s military, industrial and religious history. The tour is about six miles roundtrip and includes stops at points of interest including the Cave of Kelpius, America’s first doomsday cult, and an abandoned goldmine near the forgotten sculpture of William Penn. The tour includes some hiking on foot, so bring a bike lock and wear comfortable shoes. Register online. Cost: Members $18.75, Non-members $25.

BUILD & FEAST: Pearl Street Block Party

Saturday, September 28. 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. 1200 block of Pearl Street. The Asian Arts Initiative (AAI) has launched on a program to transform the four-block, former alley that is Pearl Street. Join AAI this Saturday for a block party to celebrate the rich cultural diversity and artistic community in the Pearl Street neighborhood. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., guests are invited to construct tables and chairs with landscape architect Walter Hood. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., live performances, interactive artwork and displays will fill street, and at 5 p.m. guests are invited to a community feast utilizing the table and chairs assembled onsite that day. Free.

SUPPORT: Garden Court Community Association Progressive Dinner

Saturday, September 28. 5:30 p.m. 4603 Cedar Ave. The Garden Court Neighborhood Association has been busy organizing events to help local residents learn more about the neighborhood and boost their sense of community. This Saturday community members are invited to “Progressive Dinner 2013,” a night of appetizers, dinner, dessert and dancing to raise funds for various community projects in Garden Court. The night will begin with appetizers at 4601 Cedar Avenue. Then guests will break into groups of 10 to 20 and enjoy entrees at various locations throughout the neighborhood. At 8:30 everyone will come back together for desserts and dancing at Take the Lead Dance Studio at 47th and Pine streets. To register contact Mary-Knight Young at 267.521.9303 or maryknightbell@gmail.com. Cost: Members $35, Non-members $40

CELEBRATE: 2013 Puerto Rican Day Parade

Sunday, September 29. 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 18th Street to Eakins Oval. Philadelphia’s largest and oldest outdoor celebration of Latino and Puerto Rican heritage, the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, is back this Sunday. The parade includes colorful floats, festive dances and upbeat music. This year, the parade could draw more than 1,500 marchers and participants, a projected 6,000 spectators and 70,000 or more viewers watching a live stream from WPVI ABC 6. Free.

CRAFT: Renaissance Arts Day

Sunday, September 29, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The Rotunda, 40th and Walnut streets. The Renaissance Arts Day brings historic arts and crafts demonstrations and classes to The Rotunda this Sunday. The day includes demonstrations of armored tournament combat, explorations of science in the middle ages, children’s activities (from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.), dancing, comedy and music. Free

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