8 Experiences Coming to Philadelphia This June

The following June happenings will help make the summer heat a little more bearable.
At the festival, experience face-changing, an ancient dramatic art from the Sichuan opera.

EXPERIENCE
Celebrate the light and Chinese culture with the return of the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival (phillychineselanternfestival.org) in the historical space of Franklin Square. From June 21 to August 13, see the remarkable 200-foot-long dragon and a handful of never-before-seen giant lantern installations to elevate the festival. Visitors can also listen to live cultural performances, watch the choreographed fountain light show, snack on Asian and American cuisine, cheers at the Dragon Beer Garden and shop for merchandise. “Franklin Square is transformed into a magical wonderland,” says Amy Needle, President and CEO of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. “Each larger-than-life lantern will once again wow visitors with their amazing craftsmanship, cultural significance and artistic beauty.”The Astrology Massage comes with stunning views from the outdoor sun and fitness deck.

RELAX
This summer, the Rittenhouse (rittenhousehotel.com) welcomes lovebirds, or individual guests, to its luxury spa for a new signature experience: The Astrology Massage. “For over three decades, The Rittenhouse has been celebrated for its place as a luxury urban oasis in Philadelphia, and we’re hopeful that the new programming introduced throughout the year will give guests the opportunity to experience the property’s finest highlights in an inspired new way,” says general manager Reginald Archambault. Starting June 1, the Astrology Massage will take place on the spa’s outdoor terrace and feature essential oils and various wellness elements connected to star signs.Nibble on fresh bruschetta before indulging in bigger plates like gnocchi.

FEAST
Picture this: It’s Sunday at grandma’s house, and the heavenly aromas of gnocchi alla sorrentina, carciofi ripieni and pollo alla parmigiana waft into the dining room. Relive this nostalgic tradition at the Dinner with The Cicalas series (cicalarestaurant.com). “Getting people together for a meal these days is a fading tradition,” says Angela Cicala, who owns Cicala Restaurant with her husband, Joe. “Life is so busy, and everyone is glued to their cell phones, and we hope through these dinners our guests will connect and have real conversations.” The meal welcomes guests to enjoy a family-style dinner around a communal table on June 4 at 6:30 p.m., with more monthly dates to come.JURGI’s new Mini LILI Bags in leather and shearling.

SHOP
New collection alert: JURGI (jurgibrand.com) dropped a handful of bags inspired by the lighthearted summer months. Think of an updated version of the Lili Mini bag in canvas and leather—bright pastel blues, pinks and mints make a pop. Plus, a sporty canvas tennis racket bag and leather laptop case inspired by Founder and Designer Jurgita Stahlecker’s love for tennis and travel. “I hope that customers will be delighted with this new collection of handbags,” says Stahlecker. “My goal is for customers to feel confident and stylish while carrying my designs, whether they are using them for work, travel or a night out on the town. I also hope they will appreciate the versatility of our designs, which are suitable for a wide range of occasions and can complement various outfits.”
Update your summer closet with silk blouses, pastel pants and more.

BROWSE
Luxury Parisian label DMN is making its way to Philadelphia from June 14-18 for a trunk show at Skirt’s (shop-skirt.com) Bryn Mawr location—one of the first boutiques in the country to carry this luxury brand. Browse DMN’s Fall Collection, made entirely in Europe with an array of exclusive prints and tailored timeless pieces like plaid printed outerwear, striking silk blouses and subtle leopard prints in blazers and pants that could be worn together as a full suit. “We love that DMN brings an elevated European vibe to Skirt’s aesthetic, all while the styles are still incredibly wearable, functional and flattering,” says owner Maureen Doron.Oenophiles can expand their knowledge of wine at Panorama Wine Club’s class.

TASTE
Combine tastes of world-class vino with an exclusive group experience at Panorama Wine Club’s (pennsviewhotel.com) monthly wine-tasting class on June 25 at Penn’s View Hotel. “Our inspiration for the classes came from the interest of our guests to learn about wine and our desire to share our knowledge,” says Panorama sommelier William Eccleston. “The Wine Club classes advance that access to the wine world in a focused setting that is not intimidating.” Guests are treated to expert wine education, Sommelier-selected flights, wines by the glass and access to featured classes.Tour the stunning property, which is lush with various flora and fauna.

EXPLORE
Every nature and Champagne enthusiast’s dream is about to come true. Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum (andalusiapa.org) is hosting a Champagne Garden Tour on June 10, giving the public an intimate way to experience the formal gardens of Andalusia. Enjoy a glass of Champagne and light refreshments on the grand, Greek-Columned porch of the house that overlooks the Delaware River, followed by an hour-long tour of the stunning 50-acre property. “This is such a lovely time of day on the river,” says tour host and Andalusia board trustee Kristin Biddle. “Everything takes on a calmness, almost like a hush that sweeps across the property in the late afternoon, so it’s incredibly peaceful.”Talented performers like Masego took the Roots Picnic stage last year.

LISTEN
Festival season is upon us, and Roots Picnic (therootspicnic.com) has a dream lineup that is sure to bring music lovers to their feet. Join Grammy Award-winning headliners Ms. Lauryn Hill and Diddy in The Mann at Fairmount Park from June 2-4 to hear their classic hits alongside local artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Adam Blackstone and Black Thought. “The perpetual beauty of the Roots Picnic is how many genres of music are represented,” says Brandon Pankey, Vice President of Business Development and Operations at Live Nation Urban. “Black artists are not a monolith, and the Roots Picnic is an amazing representation of the distinctiveness of our culture.”