map of Philadelphia with location pins dropped and connected to draw an outline of the liberty bell

Culture

Event Picks for Philly Tech Week

Tim Reardon | Social Strategy

Friday, May 3rd marks the start of the 9th Annual Philly Tech Week – a weeklong event that gathers Philadelphia techies for live demos, parties, seminars and much more. This fun-filled week is jam-packed with events so we rounded up our favorites for you and your friends to check out.

Date: Friday, May 3
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Old City
Tickets: Free
Science and art come together as the Philly Tech Week kickoff and First Friday happens to land on the same day. The galleries along Old City will open the doors and invite the public to check out their latest installations. Make sure to stop by Linode HQ (249 Arch Street) where visitors are invited into their lobby space for a night of networking, games, snacks, and beverages from local vendors.

Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Location: Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Center City)
Tickets: Free
In collaboration with the Philadelphia Science Festival, Philly Tech Week invites kids and adults to check out their exhibit featuring the world of code and video games. Folks will be able to learn what it takes to create a game and what master skills you need to build your own unique game!

Date: Monday, May 6
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Fitler Club (Center City)
Tickets: $20 – 35
Did you always want to create your own company but didn’t really know where to start? During Startup Storytelling, folks will be able to get the 411 from entrepreneurs on why they decided to create their own company and what inspired them to start their dream. Registration can be found here.

Date: Tuesday, May 7
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Comcast NBC Universal Lift Labs, Comcast Technology Center (Center City)
Tickets: $35-55
Now in its 5th year, women in tech are invited for a special celebration featuring discussions from female leaders in technology within our regional community. Learn about success stories, meet new friends, and enjoy celebratory cocktails throughout the evening. Registration can be found here.

Date: Wednesday, May 8
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Landmark Americana University (West Philadelphia)
Tickets: Free
Congratulations on your hard work coding today – you deserve a drink! Mingle with local developers during Philly Tech Week’s annual Dev Happy Hour. Make new connections, have a beer (or two), and munch on some appetizers.

Date: Wednesday, May 8
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Drexel University URBN Annex (West Philadelphia)
Tickets: Free
It’s time for you and your friends to put your creative hats on during PhillyChi’s Annual Design Slam. The evening will challenge your design skills as teams will be presented with a challenge faced by a local organization. Participants of all levels of experience are encouraged to join. The event is free but registration is required.

Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Bresslergroup (Center City)
Tickets: Free
Meet some of the brilliant minds from Bresslergroup as they sit down for a talk about their five-month project “Music: Not Impossible”, a surround-body wearable that uses haptics to create a one-of-a-kind experience by transforming songs into vibrations. Following the discussion, you’ll get a live demo of “Music: Not Impossible” as well as demos from other IoT companies. Beer and snacks will be provided. Register here.

Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Comcast Technology Center (Center City)
Tickets: $30 – 50
As always, the tech-filled week closes out with a bang during their annual Signature Event Celebration! This night has no shortage of fun as it includes live music, an open bar, live demos from sponsors, and giveaways throughout the event. This event usually sells out, so get your tickets before it’s too late.

Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Trenton Avenue between York and Norris St (Kensington)
Tickets: Free
Things get a little weird, creative, and spectacular as the Kensington Derby & Arts Festival celebrates human-powered transit and neighborhood arts to close out Philly Tech Week. Everyone is invited to celebrate the city’s culture, art, and inventions for a fun tech-minded Saturday.