Read

Philly’s best parks are a SEPTA ride away, and ‘Getting to Green: Routes to Roots’ has the map for it (Billy Penn, September 4, 2026)

The Philly region has been a national hot spot this year — for flood warnings (Philadelphia Inquirer, September 2, 2026)

As seas rise, scientists race to save South Jersey marshes from drowning (South Jersey Climate News, September 1, 2026)

Conservationists to restore wetlands, save habitat for diamondback terrapins in New Jersey (WHYY, September 5, 2026)

Philadelphia sees one of its warmest summers on record (Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6, 2026)

Do

Labor Day @ The Lakes
Monday, September 7 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Avenue
Spend Labor Day at the Lakes and discover all we have to offer! Pick up a Park Passport and make your way through a selection of our programs: nature arts & crafts, spraygrounds, market vendor pop-ups, mini nature center, and special guest Smokey Bear.

SWWAG Workshop: Intro to Fall Planting
Thursday, September 10 from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd
Come to Sankofa Community Farm to learn the basics of planting your fall garden. We will also cover fall maintenance, including best practices in natural agriculture and pest management. See all SWWAG workshops.

Eco Social Realism: Historic Mural Walking Tour
Friday, September 11 from 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Tilt Institute, 1920 N 5th Street
On September 11, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, Jane Golden (Mural Arts Philadelphia founder and former executive director) and Joan Reilly (former COO of Mural Arts Philadelphia) will conduct a walking tour highlighting specific works from the Eco-Social Realism: Historic Mural Activations exhibition at TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image.

DumoLab: Biomaterials Discovery Workshop
Friday, September 11 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Da Vinci Art Alliance, 704 Catherine Street
Join DumoLab and the Biomaterials Working Group for an all-ages, hands-on biomaterials discovery workshop. Touch, play, and experiment with discarded natural materials while exploring texture, structure, and material transformation through making.

Second Saturday: Greenland Nursery and Organic Recycling Center Tour
Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Register for starting point
Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation on September 12 from 10 AM-12 PM for a tour of two West Fairmount Park gems – Greenland Nursery and the Organic Recycling Center, home to the Reforestation Hub.

Birding with Troy Bynum & Yannick Lowery
Saturday, September 12 from 12 – 2 p.m.
Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Avenue
Join Troy Bynum and Yannick Lowery for a special birding program. This workshop welcomes people from traditionally marginalized identities to experience and enjoy nature through birding. No experience is necessary! Learn to identify local bird species using the binoculars and field guides provided.

Attend (Fringe Festival)

Creatures of the Deep
Various times, September 11 – 16
Dark Star Theater @ Yellow Bicycle Theater, 1435 Arch Street
Dive into the deep ocean with black light puppetry! Appropriate for children and families, beautiful and fascinating for any age. 

Plan ahead 

Park after Dark: Moonwalk + Stargazing
Tuesday, September 15 from 6:30 – 8:30

The Big Fall Clean-Up
Saturday, September 19 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

A Skeptic’s Guide to AI
Saturday, September 19 from 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.