Firstival

Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania hosts a Firstival on Saturday, November 14, from 11 AM to 1 PM. It's a free event, and it's part of 52 Weeks of Firsts, a citywide celebration produced by the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee to mark America's 250th anniversary in 2026. The series runs from January 3 to December 26, with a free Firstival every Saturday from 11 AM to 1 PM. Each one opens with a ceremony and adds a storyteller, family activities, music, and a sculpture painted by Mural Arts Philadelphia.

This particular Firstival lands at Penn, which Benjamin Franklin founded and which claims the title of the nation's first university. That connection sits right at the center of the school's identity—one built on scientific curiosity and innovation. The campus holds its own history of firsts, from Franklin's kite experiment to the ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, and Rittenhouse's orrery. College Hall stands there as a reminder of where it all started.

If you're heading over, the event is at Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, on Saturday, November 14, from 11 AM to 1 PM. It's free.