Mural Mural on the Wall: A series of murals on the side of a commercial bank at Broad Street and Castle Avenue in South Philadelphia depicts neighborhood scenes like this colorful one, spotlighting Philly’s illustrious jazz legacy that gave us Billie Holiday, Archie Shepp, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Clarke, Nina Simone, and countless others. Photo by Randy Giancaterino
May has been called the month of renewal, rebirth, hope, and endless possibilities. We call it the month of endless events. From jazz music to a look at religious freedom in history, drink up from the fountain of spring with these low-cost or free activities.
Mind Your Health
Thursday, May 14, 2026. It’s girls’ talk, and more. Sign up for the latest session of She Shines Comfy Couch Conversations’ virtual women’s empowerment event — Your Mind Matters: Exploring Mental Wellness through Faith, Work, and Lived Experience. Navigate the ongoing mental health crisis and take a deep dive into healing and wellness during Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Get insight from wellness experts Tara Wayns Scott, Vice President of Global Human Resources, GSK Pharmaceuticals; Dr. Katerina Edmunds, Be Set Free Counseling Ministry & Education Center; Dr. Raeven A. Maddox, Outpatient Family Therapist at Creative Services, Inc. & Adjunct Professor at LaSalle University, and Dr. Marquita Williams, Deputy Commissioner of Executive Operations, the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavorial Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. They will explore how work, faith, community, and your experiences impact mental health. Free, 7 p.m. EST. Tune in on Facebook: @sheshinessisterhood or YouTube: @sheshines_sisterhood.
Sunday Jazz Tribute to Whitney, Miles & Elvis
Sunday, May 17, 2026. Check out Music Legends Matinee, a tribute to Miles Davis, Elvis Presley, and Whitney Houston performed by Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble. While it will certainly be an eclectic mix of music, it promises to be entertaining. It will be a presentation of the PNC Arts Alive Jazz Cultural Voices Series hosted by The Philadelphia Clef Club. Enjoy the artistry and influence of these iconic performers through Arpreggio Jazz Ensemble’s reimagined arrangements of jazz, rock, and R&B classics. Founded in 1979 by bassist Warren Oree, Arpeggio is the house band for the Friday Night Jazz series at The Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill. Arpeggio has performed in Europe, South America, and the Caribbean islands and recorded nine albums. $35 per ticket; 3 p.m. EST. to 5 p.m. EST. Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, on the Avenue of the Arts, 736 S. Broad St. Email: info@clefclubofjazz.org, 215-893-9912 or https://clefclubofjazz.org/event/music-legends-matinee-featuring-the-music-of-miles-davis-elvis-pressley-whitney-houston-jazz-cultural-voices or https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/music-legends-matinee-featuring-the-music-of-miles-davis-elvis-pressley-whitney-houston-jazz-cultural-voices
Soca artist Anika Berry. Photo courtesy of the Mummers Museum
A Fancy Festival Of Fun & Fanfare
Sunday, May 17, 2026. Chill out at the Festival of Many Colors, a beautiful mash-up of the sounds of the Philadelphia Mummers string bands, Caribbean Carnival, and Carnaval de Puebla. Take in the parade of colorful performances, feathery costumes, and enjoy craft activities. Experience a vibrant community celebration of cultural expression and America’s 250th anniversary. Enjoy the feet-stomping music and dance of the Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra; the Hueyxolotl Aztec Dancers; the 2026 Philadelphia Mummers Parade champion Quaker City String Band; Anika Berry, Trinidadian-American Soca artist; the New Sound Brass Band, and Banda La Poblanita with Danza Tonantzin. Free but pre-register, noon to 6 p.m. EST. Mummers Museum, 1100 S. 2nd St. 215-336-3050 or https://www.mummersmuseum.org/fomc/fomc-spring/
Film Looks At America’s Religious Freedom
Monday, May 18, 2026. Enjoy the timely film screening of Free Exercise: America’s Story of Liberty, once described as “the most comprehensive film ever.” The documentary will spotlight the history and meaning of the ‘Free Exercise’ clause of the U.S. Constitution. It will feature relevant stories from six faith communities highlighting the importance of religious freedom in America. Following the screening, discuss the film afterwards. It is part of Interfaith Philadelphia’s ongoing Religious Freedom: Then & Now initiative probing Philadelphia’s central role in shaping religious liberty in history. Free but pre-register; 7 p.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST. Snacks and beverages included. Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. Email: ash@interfaithphiladelphia.org, https://www.interfaithphiladelphia.org/movienight_christchurch/
Play Shatters Myths In American History
Tuesday, May 19 to Sunday, May 31, 2026. In The American Play, a Black Abraham Lincoln impersonator operates an historical attraction in which visitors meet other historical lookalikes. According to the promotional material: “The America Play is a daring exploration of the fractured stories that shape our nation…. This play challenges us to redefine what it means to be American in the context of our current political landscape.” The production is a thought-provoking view about “the myths of American identity.” The play is from American playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award recipient. It is directed by and starring Co-Artistic Director Lindsay Smiling. The production is co-directed by Mark Wade. $20 for students to $89 per ticket. (The May 20th opener is sold out.); various times and prices: 2 p.m. EST & 7 p.m. EST. Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. 215-546-7824 or wilmatheater.org
Boogieman Dela at ‘Pop -Ups at the Portal’ 2026
Jazz It Up With Boogieman Dela & Friends
Thursday, May 21, 2026. Head out to Trolley Portal Gardens in Southwest Philly for a “Pop-Ups at the Portal 2026” performance by Boogieman Dela & Friends presented by the University City District. Vibe to a fusion of hip-hop, jazz, and soul. Philly’s Boogieman Dela fuses hip-hop and rap vibes with neo-soul, R&B, and jazz. Check out Nelly Line Dance to get in the groove. Free but pre-register; 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST. Trolley Portal Gardens, 40th Street and Baltimore Avenue. RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1364574275233889/https://www.universitycity.org/news/pop-ups-at-the-portal-2026-lineup
FunTimes To Honor ‘Women of Influence’ Connected To Foster Care
Friday, May 22, 2026. Only about half of the youth in foster care are employed by age 24. But some women experiencing the foster-care system have risen beyond those odds, excelling to create impactful lives. Mark your calendar for the FunTimes Magazine Women of Influence: From Foster Care to Impact Awards Dinner, honoring two organizations and three women connected to the foster-care system. The focus will be on organizations, as well as women of color, who are change-makers. The goal is to spotlight the stories and achievements of those who are and were part of the foster-care system. The event will recognize a segment of the community often overlooked during May’s National Foster Care Month.
Award recipients will be: Dr. Nikia Owens, President and CEO of Campaign for Working Families, Inc.; Dr. Victoria Best, Executive Director & Founding CEO of Victoria Urban Outreach Tutoring Service (VUOTS); Olga Ashby-Bacon, Certified Nursing Aide, York Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and foster care giver; Progressive Life Center Philadelphia (PCL), provider of specialized foster-care services in Philadelphia and Delaware counties, and Friends of the Children Philadelphia, a crusading nonprofit that has redefined the youth-mentoring model by creating the nation’s first and only long-term professional mentoring program. City Council member Jamie Gauthier will also present ceremonial citations to the recipients. $10 per person registration fee; 5 p.m. EST to 8 p.m. EST. Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 419 S. 6thSt. (6thand Lombard streets). Email: info@funtimesmagazine.com, funtimesmagazine.com. Visit us on social media: #WomenOfInfluence #FosterCareToImpact #CommunityImpact #BlackWomenLead #FunTimesMagazine.
