March is Women’s History Month, which provides us with a great opportunity to honor the contributions of women throughout history and in modern society. Philadelphia hosts a variety of events to celebrate the month, from dance parties to comedy to art and history experiences. Read on to learn about some upcoming events to help you celebrate Women’s History Month.
The Future is Female Dance Party
Riot Nerd, a Philly–based entertainment blog, is hosting a dance party at Ruba Club on Saturday, March 9. The event will feature “all female DJs playing all female musicians/bands/artists of all genres!” Tickets are selling for $13 in advance or $15 at the door, and all proceeds are donated to Planned Parenthood. The event will feature DJs like DAME LUZ, Miss Powers, Baby.com, and more.
The mission of the Women’s Film Festival is to create “a forum that inspires and cultivates a movement to celebrate and unite the power of women in the film and entertainment industry.” Since 2014, their team has showcased a plethora of films in Philadelphia. In 2019 the festival will showcase more than 70 films “made by, for, or about women” from Thursday, March 14– Saturday, March 23. Their opening night film is “This Changes Everything,” a documentary that examines sexism in Hollywood. Tickets for the opening night film with a reception go for $19.50, general admission tickets are $10, and all can be purchased here.
Through Saturday, March 31, the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center is hosting an incredible project that will get you in the spirit of Women’s History Month. Artist Zanele Muholi collaborates with other South African artists and with Philadelphia women to focus on identity, representation, and gender. The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center wants the space to be one where "women's social and economic equity are a central tenet for the transformative experience of participants and audiences." The exhibition can be found at Richard C. von Hess Foundation Works on Paper Gallery.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the National Constitution Center is hosting a variety of special programming, free with museum admission for $10. They are offering a “Women’s History Self–Guided Tour,” as well as “Decoding the Lyrics: ‘Bad Romance: Women’s Suffrage.’” This will analyze the pop song through the lens of women’s suffrage. Finally, a “Giant Game Board Activity” will be an interactive way to explore knowledge of women’s history.
The Bechdel Test Fest is a Philly comedy festival started in 2016 with the goal to “create a place to celebrate the talented and hilarious women (both cis and trans) and non–binary comedians who make up a significant part of the local comedy scene.” CJ Higgins, Chanel Ali, Davine Ker, and more will be performing at the festival this year, which will go from Thursday, March 7– Saturday, March 9. Tickets for an individual night go for $12, while you can by a full pass for $35. You can purchase tickets here.
On Saturday, March 23, The Franklin Institute is hosting “Women in STEM Day.” They encourage all to “join us for a day dedicated to spotlighting female role models and their impact on our world, and hear from the region’s top experts in a variety of STEM fields including medicine, neuroscience, physics, and engineering.” Activities will include a “Science Spotlight,” a Philadelphia Studio Ballet performance, and hands–on activities with a STEM focus. Tickets are included with general museum admission, which costs $23.
An Evening With Women in Leadership
The National Liberty Museum (NLM) will host this event in honor of Women’s History Month and inspired by the one–woman “Welcome The Stranger,” exhibit, which ”reimagin[es] modern and historical ‘superheroes’ at NLM through June.” Additionally, visitors will have the opportunity to hear inspiring women leaders in the art, business, and music industries. Panelists include Cheryl Stoudt, owner of Stoudt’s Brewing Company, and Vernique Fields/Neeek Nyce, owner and DJ of Into Fields Live Entertainment. The event will take place Thursday, March 28 from 7 p.m.–9 p.m. General admission tickets go for $15.
