Nosferatu at the cemetery, #MTERC, CiderFest, and more this weekend

It’s been a pretty dreary week so far, but with any luck we’ll see weather this weekend to get us excited about fall. Here are some ways to get out of the house, have a fun time, learn something new, or support a good cause.

Count Orlock: still scary

On Friday at 8pm, catch Cinema in the Cemetery at Laurel Hill, with a special screening of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 classic Nosferatu ($12). It’s presented by Not So Silent Cinema, so you can see the movie (originally dubbed a “symphony of horror”) the way it was meant to be seen: with a live organ. The spooky chords will echo around the gravestones as you visit the Transylvanian Count Orlock, who, honestly, is still a creep-fest almost 100 years later.

“Do not hurry, my young friend. Nobody can escape his destiny.” But do get your tickets in advance. And bring blankets, chairs, and a picnic (doors open at 7pm). In case of rain, the show will move to Saturday at 8pm.

Improv for a cause

If you’re in the mood for something interactive, local playwright and theater-maker Monica Flory (recently seen at this year’s Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival) hosts a recurring fundraiser at Philly PACK in Pennsport (233 Federal Street). The format is simple: Come with a $20 donation (this month, funds are going to Philly Community Bail Fund), take off your shoes, grab a glass of wine, and play improv games. No prior experience needed — just a sense of fun and a willingness to connect with your neighbors. It runs from 7:30 to 9pm.

March to End Rape Culture

On Saturday at 11am, Philly’s annual March to End Rape Culture (#MTERC) will be another worthy destination, especially given this month’s news. Gather for a kickoff rally at Thomas Paine Plaza featuring a wide range of speakers and performances, calling out the ways that sexual violence is an accepted part of everyday life and what we’re doing to change that. It’s designed as an especially supportive space for all survivors of rape and abuse and their advocates, who can connect with local activists and resource groups, and there will be onsite therapists to provide emotional support.

Homemade posters to carry during the march are encouraged, and the event is inclusive of all genders, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, and races (offensive signs, including transphobic or racist content, will be removed). The march takes on elements of rape culture like victim-blaming, rape jokes, silencing of survivors, objectification of bodies, racism, homophobia, intimate-partner violence, and much more. All speeches will feature ASL interpreters.

Cider and clay

On Saturday from 12pm to 5pm, the Fairmount Park Conservancy’s CiderFest arrives ($45 for general admission) for “a sparkling autumn afternoon” at six historic houses. A ticket includes a 2oz tasting glass and unlimited cider samples from local brewers like Fishtown’s Kurant, Bella Vista’s Hale & True, Kensington’s Original 13, and Germantown’s Young American Hard Cider. There’ll be free food samples, pay-as-you-go food trucks, live music, art, and self-guided tours of each historic house. And don’t worry about driving: a general-admission ticket also covers transportation to each site on the Philly Phlash’s CiderFest Loop.

Also on Saturday, you can find all-ages fun at the Clay Fest in South Kensington with the Clay Studio, celebrating its new location with a day of free activities at 1425 N. American Street (across from the Crane Arts Building). Wear some old clothes and roll up your sleeves. A “Group Sculpting” activity runs for the duration, as attendees turn 1,000 pounds of clay into a collaborative artwork inspired by the neighborhood. There’ll also be artist demos, “Plarn Bombing” (crochet yarn made from recycled plastic bags), potter’s-wheel battles, chances to try the wheel yourself, silk-screening, clay-printing, clay animation, raku firing, an ice-cream social, and more.

Puerto Rican Day Parade

On Sunday, get outside some more at the Puerto Rican Day Parade (hosted by El Concilio), when Latinx music, poetry, and dance take over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The parade boasts 1,500 marchers, expects more than 5,000 attendees, and will be broadcast live on 6ABC. This year, the theme is Renacer de Puerto Rico (the Rebirth of Puerto Rico), focusing on recovery efforts since Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. island one year ago.

“Puerto Rico’s road to recovery has been met with optimism by its natives and those across the world who refuse to become disheartened by their home’s current state,” organizers say. “It is important to highlight the resiliency of a culture whose motivation for revival is exponential in the rebuilding and reconnecting of their community.” The parade runs from 12pm to2pm and begins at 24th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.