What to do in Philadelphia from April 19 through 25

It’s Easter weekend, and the Philadelphia area knows it. There are countless egg hunts, including one at the Reading Terminal, and the annual Easter Promenade on South Street. But there’s also something new: a Peeps contest in Peddler’s Village. Staff writer Grace Dickinson visited the 12-day exhibit; she explored the history of Peeps dioramas and photographed 17 of the 70 entries. Peeps your heart out.

Parks on Tap, the wildly popular program that turns various city parks into de facto beer gardens, returns to us in the coming week (see below). Tangential to that, Patrick Rapa spent time on several city park benches, sussing out which ones are best for spring. To determine the winners, he had to use his “personal preference and butt instinct.”

As always, there’s lots more happening, including the Cher/Chic concert at the Wells Fargo Center, a 4/20 film screening, a pop-up market for oddities, and run along MLK Drive that supports the Clean Air Council. Get out and explore.

—Jenn Ladd (@jrladd, jladd@philly.com)

The PSPCA rolls into Philadelphia Brewing Co. with some fuzzy, adoptable friends on Saturday. Set your empty cat carrier by the door, get a beer, take a free tour of the veteran Kensington brewery, then pick out a cuddly (or curmudgeonly) friend to take home forever. — Jenn Ladd

Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Philadelphia Brewing Co., 2440 Frankford Ave., free, 215-427-2739, philadelphiabrewing.com

Springtime temps are here to stay, just in time for the kickoff of the 23-week Parks on Tap series. For its first stop, the roving beer garden heads to the Azalea Garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Schuylkill-side green space will be decked out with chairs, hammocks, and two trucks serving up wine, beer, and snacks Wednesday through Sunday. If you drop by on opening day, consider taking advantage of pay-what-you-wish night at the Art Museum. The taps will roll up Lincoln Drive, to Rittenhouse Town, next month. — Grace Dickinson

1 to 10 p.m., Wednesday, also various times Thursday through Sunday, Azalea Garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., pay as you go, parksontap.com

For a twist on the standard Easter egg hunt, head to the Reading Terminal, where thousands of eggs will be squirreled away in the corners and crevices of the massive foodie destination. The grand search kicks off at 8 a.m. and is followed by a storytime session in the book nook (9 a.m.) and an egg-dyeing workshop inside City Kitchen (9:30 to 11 a.m.). The Easter Bunny will also be on site to hop into family photos. — G.D.

8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Reading Terminal Market, 51 N. 12th St., free, readingterminalmarket.org/events

The Easter Bunny, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cottontail, a “mile-high Easter bonnet,” and the bunny hop are among the highlights of this nearly 90-year-old tradition. Beyond a slew of photo ops, the afternoon celebration along South Street brings music from the Philadelphia Freedom Band, Easter treats of all sorts, and best-dressed contests for all ages — including categories for babies, pets, and whole families — in Headhouse Square. — G.D.

12:30 p.m., Sunday, starts near South Fifth and South Streets, ends at Headhouse Square, free, 215-413-3713, southstreet.com

For a shopping trip to remember, head to the pop-up Philadelphia Oddities Market, where you can stock up on skulls, occult-inspired collectibles, taxidermy take-homes, and other eccentric keepsakes. Dozens of vendors — After Life Anatomy, Necronomicharm, and Your Gothic Granny, to name a few — will set up shop, and food trucks Pitruco Pizza, Nick’s Roast Beef, the Cow and the Curd, and Cupcake Carnivale will be slinging eats. — G.D.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 23rd Street Armory, 22 S. 23rd St., $5, instagram.com/theodditiesmarket

The Battleship New Jersey isn’t just for kids, as this tour drives home. With a frosty brew or a cold glass of wine in hand, enjoy a curator-led tour of a ship that has toured the world, enjoying views of sunset over Philadelphia’s skyline. You can also expect to hear and see some spicy sailor stories and “adult-oriented” sailor art. — J.L.

6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Battleship New Jersey, 100 Clinton St., Camden, $34.95, 866-877-6262, ext. 108, battleshipnewjersey.org

All-female contemporary company Pasion y Arte heads to Fleisher Art Memorial for an evening of rhythmic and spirited movement. The ensemble performance will marry the more theatrical flamenco of today with the earlier tablao-style, informed by intimate shows in small Spanish cafés. Wine and light refreshments are included. — G.D.

8 to 11 p.m., Friday, Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St., $30, pasionyarteflamenco.org

Koresh Dance Company presents the world premiere of this production, inspired by artist Henri Matisse’s famous La Danse painting — which itself is often associated with another famous work of art, Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Both poetry and an original musical composition will serve as the score for the performance. — G.D.

7:30 p.m., Thursday, additional shows through Sunday, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., $10-$40, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org

In advance of Earth Day (which falls on Monday), join in this annual charity race, which raises funds for the Clean Air Council. This year’s event invites you to choose from 5K and 10K run options as well as a 3K walk. Little ones can also join in the fun with the half-mile kids’ run or a 250-yard dash. All the action happens on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive alongside the Schuylkill. Afterward, families are invited to partake in eco-friendly make-and-take crafting and interact with vendors representing sustainability-driven companies. — G.D.

7:30 a.m., Saturday, race starts on Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, $10 to $50, cleanair.org/runforcleanair

Although this 1975 medieval spoof opened to mixed reviews in its day, it has spawned countless quotable quotes and memorable gags. Even before Spamalot, its Broadway counterpart, came along in 2004, the movie had endeared shrubberies, clopping coconuts, and killer rabbits to generations of comedy-consuming Anglophiles. See it on the big screen at the Philadelphia Film Center. — J.L.

4:20 p.m., Saturday, Philadelphia Film Center, 1412 Chestnut St., $9, $8 for seniors, $4 for children, filmadelphia.org

Texas songwriter Ryan Bingham has the kind of scuffed-up voice and a dirt-road sound that signals Americana authenticity, but the constituent parts in his sound haven’t always come together in a satisfying whole. The singer, whose tunes were featured in Jeff Bridges’ 2009 Oscar-winning movie Crazy Heart, has found his sweet spot with his new album American Love Song. Produced by Charlie Sexton, it’s loaded up with slithering slide guitar and mixes joyous excursions like “Jingle and Go” with forthright love songs and anti-Trump resistance salvos, such as the pointedly unsubtle “Situation Station.” His best album yet. — Dan DeLuca

8:30 p.m., Friday, Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., $35, 215-232-2100, utphilly.com

Don’t blame Philadelphia jazz singer Laurin Talese for having lived in Cleveland before she arrived here nearly 20 years ago to study vocal performance at the University of the Arts. She’s ours now. Along with adopting the Sound of Philadelphia’s creamy, soulful harmonies as part of her sonic diet (check out her 2016 album, Gorgeous Chaos, for proof), Talese developed her fierce vocal chops performing at the Five Spot’s legendary Black Lily series and singing backgrounds for the always-dynamic Bilal, the toast of Germantown. Like him, Talese refuses to remain true to jazz’s standard songbook, instead seeking out its limitations, then soaring — literally and figuratively. — A.D. Amorosi

7 and 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, South Jazz Kitchen, 600 N. Broad St., southjazzkitchen.com

Underrated Atlanta trio the Coathangers have been knocking out tuneful top-notch garage-rock since the mid ’00s. The band’s sixth album, The Devil You Know, finds husky-voiced drummer Stephanie Luke trading lead vocal duties with more winsome-voiced guitarist Julia Kugel. The band’s sound is less chaotic and raucous than in its punky early days, but their more sophisticated sound is still plenty energetic and packs a humanist punch, whether addressing addiction on “Step Back” or gun violence on “F the NRA.” With Big Bite and Sixteen Jackies. — D.D.

8 p.m., Saturday, Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., $15-$17, 215-627-1332, undergroundarts.com

One could argue that Cher never stops retiring and that Chic never stops playing “Good Times.” Great. That’s a world I’m overjoyed to live in, especially since Cher refuses to keep her mouth closed about her sociopolitical beliefs while still remaining glamorous and camp — c’mon, 2018’s Dancing Queen, her own album of ABBA covers? One can only imagine what manner of gypsy-tramp-thief costuming and staging she’ll bring to the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. As for Nile Rodgers’ Chic, they could have simply continued to play their hit disco-party oldies and crowds would have continued to lap it up. Nah. Chic released its potent and fresh-sounding album It’s About Time, the first in decades, in 2018, with a second volume to follow this year. Recalling how each of these performers made disco magic in the ’70s (Cher with “Take Me Home,” Chic with everything they did), I’d give a tooth to hear them together. — A.D.A.

8 p.m., Saturday, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., $47.95-$500, 1-800-298-4200, wellsfargocenterphilly.com

Peter Bjorn and John were three albums into their career in 2006 when the world fell in love with “Young Folks” and its irresistible bouncy hooks and whistling. To their credit, the three Swedes haven’t attempted to re-create that inescapable hit, although subsequent albums have sometimes seemed like willful attempts to distance themselves from their cheerful signature tune. Last fall’s Darker Days, however, embraced bright, punchy pop songs, with playful twists and turns and perky melodies. A recent follow-up EP, EPBJ, offers three stripped-down tracks that would have been out of place amid the album’s exuberance. The band begins a short U.S. tour here on Wednesday at the Foundry. — Steve Klinge

8:30 p.m., Wednesday, the Foundry, 29 E. Allen St. $22, 215-309-0150, thefillmorephilly.com