Weekend event picks: Museum and film festivals, music & more

Like putting gas in a car is necessary to make it run, putting fun into your weekends makes them worth remembering. Get ready to Instagram real hard, you won't want to forget a moment.

Back for the 23rd year is the Philadelphia Film Festival, showcasing films from biggie directors (Alejandro Gonzales, Jean-Marc Vallee), A-list actors (Bill Murray, "St. Vincent," Zach Galifianakis, "Birdman), documentaries ("I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story"), world narratives ("Force Majeure") and more at various theaters around the city from Thursday, Oct. 16 through Friday, Oct. 24.

A trifecta of deliciousness comes in the form of the Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits at Valley Forge Casino Resort (1160 1st Ave., King of Prussia). See food demos from reality-TV favorites from Bravo's "Top Chef" Nicholas Elmi and "Next Food Network Star" Nicole Gaffney. Grab a bite from "Zagat Restaurant Row," stacked with favorites like Pacific Prime and The Iron Room. The festival runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Features, shorts, documentaries, parties, you name it. Screenings at the FirstGlance Film Festival, held at the Franklin Theater in the Franklin Institute (222 N. 20th St.) include "Leaving Circadia," "Seahorses," "Southern Comfort" and "A Teen's Guide to Understanding and Communicating with People with Autism." Films begin at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19.

"Dancing Queen" forever. And other hits from the '70s, performed by the Philly Pops accompanied by Finnish a capella ensemble, Rajaton, at the Kimmel Center (300 S. Broad St.). "Era of Abba" has three showtimes: 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19.

Yer a wizard, Philly. Chestnut Hill takes over the role of Hogwarts for Quidditch, Horcrux hunt and defense against the Dark Arts classes along Germantown Ave. on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival. (The Quidditch tournament kicks off at 10 a.m. at Chestnut Hill College at 9601 Germantown Ave.)

Decorated shells, shell game show, a club for shells. Who the shell knew the Philadelphia Shell Show and Ocean Festival would be so cool? Get your shell on at the Academy of Natural Sciences (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19.

Unearth old habits … err, artifacts at International Archeology Day at the Penn Museum (3260 South St.). Get behind-the-scenes tours, see a 6,500-year-old skeleton, and kids can try out an Indiana Jones-style obstacle course from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Class up your evening on Saturday, Oct. 18 with an auction and gala at Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel (201 N. 17th St.). The National Liberty Museum is hosting the soiree, in which more than 250 pieces of glass art will be auctioned off. Starting at 5 p.m. with a champagne reception, the event also includes a five-course dinner during the live auction.

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts students take audiences into dreamland on Saturday, Oct. 18, interpreting their own nighttime thoughts into acrobatic reality during "Dreams: An Evening Circus Soiree." The spectacle goes off at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (5900A Greene St.).

Not to be confused with Made in America, Made on American Street features a competition, giving attendees a reason to try all the beer and barbecue they can stomach on Sunday, Oct. 19. It takes place at Philly Homebrew Outlet (1447 N. American St.) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Before the Forbes Under 30 Summit starts, get down with DJ Afrojack, rapper Wiz Khalifa, singer-songwriter LP and Philly natives and hip-hop duo OCD: Moosh and Twist for the Forbes Under 30 Music Festival, at the Piazza at Schmidts (1001 N. 2nd St.). Over 30 attendees allowed at the Sunday, Oct. 19 concert, which begins at 3:30 p.m.

Search for buried treasure — or buried records at North Bowl (909 N. 2nd St.) for their Second Annual Record Bazaar. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, vendors will be selling and swapping (so bring something to barter with!) vinyl.