2014-09-04



With Labor Day now behind us, the late-summer and-early fall festivals kick in to high gear with fests of all sort music events, neighborhood block parties, beer festivals and more filling the city every weekend this month and next. (Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia)

Just because Labor Day has passed doesn’t mean the fun of summer draws to a close.

The next few weeks welcome a variety of late-summer festivals, and right after that, an abundance of early-fall festivals throughout the city.

There are music fests, food festivals, food truck fests, Oktoberfests, block parties — basically every kind of festival you could think of

Check out our list below, mark your calendars, invite your friends and get ready for a fun-filled few months.

Read on for our guide to more than 60 late-summer and early-fall festivals in Philadelphia.

LATE-SUMMER FESTIVALS

Dilworth Park Opening Weekend

September 4-6. Dilworth Park opens with a bang on Thursday, September 4. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on September 4, the park gears up for opening festivities over the course of the next few days (through September 6) — music, happy hour drink specials, a picnic day, family-friendly activities and more. MORE INFO

Philadelphia Fringe Festival

September 5-21. The popular Philadelphia Fringe Festival is back with hundreds of dance, theater, visual arts, music and spoken-word presentations performed in venues of every stripe, from traditional stages to street corners, cars, galleries, cabarets and restaurants. It's all offbeat, daring and avant-garde and entertains Philadelphia for weeks. MORE INFO

Philadelphia Honey Festival

September 5-7. The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild presents the Philadelphia Honey Festival for all lovers of things sweet and local (a.k.a. everyone!). From September 5 through 7, the Wagner Free Institute of Science, Wyck Historic House and Garden and Bartram's Garden open their doors to the honey connoisseurs of Philadelphia. MORE INFO

Delaware River Craft Brewfest

Craft beer lovers, this one’s for you. The Delaware River Craft Brewfest puts the spotlight on craft brews from across the country at an afternoon festival at PPL Park. Sample brews from Redhook Brewery, Goose Island Brewery, Victory and much more. Tickets are $45 for general admission. Bonus: Use promo code VISITPHILLY to receive $5 off tickets (!). MORE INFO



The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival returns on September 6 and 7 with mushroom eating contests, mushroom farm tours, shopping, yummy food and more. (Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia)

Phoenixville Blues Festival

Saturday, September 6. More than 10 blues artists take the stage at the annual Phoenixville Blues Festival on September 6. The free festival keeps guests grooving all day long. With regional musical acts, and talented youth performers also take the limelight for portions of the day. Pair the performances with eats from the numerous vendors and you're set for some late-summer fun. MORE INFO

Doo Wop in the Park in Bristol

Saturday, September 6. The era of bobby socks and poodle skirts is alive and well, jitterbugging at Doo Wop In The Park. Thousands turn out for the ’50s flashback festival with top-name groups performing the tight harmonies that topped the charts. The festival starts at 4 p.m. and runs until the music stops. MORE INFO

MGK Brew Blast at Battleship New Jersey

Saturday, September 6. Board the Battleship New Jersey for the 4th annual MGK Brew Blast featuring more than 50 craft beers, tours of the historic ship and live rock music. The festival is presented by the classic rock station WMGK. Tickets are $45 a piece and are available online. MORE INFO

Northern Liberties Fall Music Festival

Saturday, September 6. Live music fills Liberty Lands Park in Northern Liberties on Saturday, September 6 for the Northern Liberties Fall Music Festival. Bring a blanket and enjoy food truck fare and live music from an array of musicians. The music is slated to begin at 4 p.m. online. MORE INFO

Riverfront Ramble

Saturday, September 6. The Riverfront Ramble in Chester, the largest riverfront festival in Delaware County, returns on Saturday, September 6 to the Wharf at Rivertown on the Chester Waterfront. The day-long festival features an antique car show, live performances, an Iron Chef competition, fitness instruction, a science fair, food and craft vendors, a petting zoo and spectacular fireworks over the Delaware River. online. MORE INFO



The neighborhood of Mt. Airy welcomes food trucks and street food vendors for its annual Mt. Airy Street Fare on September 18. (Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

Longwood Gardens’ Autumn’s Colors Festival

September 6-November 23. The trees and plants of Longwood Gardens burst with autumnal glory at the annual Autumn's Colors Festival. All season long, fall-themed family-friendly activities fill the expansive Kennett Square garden, including the garden railway, lantern celebrations and more. MORE INFO

Many more festivals, below.

Kennett Square Mushroom Festival

September 6-7. The mushroom is elevated to rock-star status during the annual Mushroom Festival. The Mushroom Capital of the World puts the fun in fungi with a weekend of culinary events, amusement rides, mushroom farm tours, a street fair, entertainment, an antique car show and more. MORE INFO

Greenfest Philly

Sunday, September 7. Honor Mother Nature at Greenfest Philly, a festival located in Headhouse Square, between Pine and South streets on 2nd Street. On September 7, visit booths to learn how to preserve the earth and make the most of our natural resources, while enjoying bites from some of Philly’s favorite food trucks Farm Truck and Little Baby's Ice Cream to name a few. Also enjoy local beer from an on-site beer garden and groove to tunes provided by Philly musicians. MORE INFO

The Devon Fall Classic

September 11-14. The Devon Fall Classic brings shopping, music, pony rides, a horse show and more to the Devon Horse Show equestrian grounds in the Main Line for a fall festival from September 11 through 14. MORE INFO

The RiverCity Festival hits Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown with live music, food, a beer garden, games and more. (Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia)

Philadelphia Home Grown Music Festival

September 12-14. Local music and local food take the spotlight at the Philadelphia Home Grown Music Festival, a full weekend of live tunes and garden-fresh eats. The festival will take place at a number of urban farms and community gardens (like Bartram Gardens, Manton Street Community Garden and Weaver's Way at WB Saul High School). The full festival program is available right here. Tickets are $10 per day and are available online. The festival closes out with the Urban Country Fair at Philadelphia Peace Park. MORE INFO

Go West! Craft Fest

Saturday, September 13. On September 13, the Go West! Craft Fest returns to The Woodlands in West Philadelphia. While browsing through handmade items from more than 70 vendors, festival goers enjoy performances by jugglers, hoop dancers and acoustic musicians. Kids engage in free crafts-related activities, and hungry patrons dig in to fare from local restaurants and food trucks. In the case of rain, the festival will be on September 14. MORE INFO

104.5 Summer Block Party

Saturday, September 13. Rock out to a live concert presented by 104.5 as the radio station hosts the last of this summer’s recurring Summer Block Party at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. Get down to music by Grouplove, Sir Sly, Wolf Gang and more. The concert is completely free, just be sure to reserve your ticket in advance. MORE INFO

Longwood Gardens’ Fireworks and Fountains

Saturday, September 13. The last Fireworks and Fountains event of the season brings the popular tunes of The Beatles to the forefront and a spectacular fireworks show high above the gardens. The show begins at 8:15 p.m., and tickets are available online. MORE INFO

Graduate Hospital gets its festival on with Bloktoberfest, a family-friendly fest complete with vendors, craft beer, food trucks, music and more. (Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

Doylestown Arts Festival

September 13-14. The free two-day Doylestown Arts Festival takes place in the heart of beautiful Doylestown Borough in Bucks County. This annual festival has grown to include more than 150 exhibitors and a food court. Diverse entertainment is presented at numerous locations throughout the downtown area. MORE INFO

Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards

September 13-November 2. Bring the kids to Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards for a display of more than 100 tons of pumpkins, live music, hayrides, scarecrows, a corn maze and much more. MORE INFO

Mexican Independence Day at Penn’s Landing

Sunday, September 14. The sights, sounds and tastes of Mexico take over the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing during the Mexican Independence Day Festival on September 14. This free celebration features arts and crafts, Mexican rock bands, face painting, Mexican food, dancing and more. MORE INFO

The Philadelphia Collection

September 17-24. Fashion-forward Philadelphians, take note. The style-centric Philadelphia Collection returns this year from September 17 to 24 with a number of fashionable events throughout the city. Put on your finest attire and head out for a week full of fashion shows, trunk shows, lectures, panel discussion, movies and more. MORE INFO

The Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival brings some of the city’s favorite food trucks and street food vendors together for all day foodie affair. (Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia)

Mt. Airy Street Fare

Thursday, September 18. Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy turns into a hub for mobile fare on September 18 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. in celebration of the second annual Street Fare, an evening of more than 40 food vendors, live music, shopping, craft beer and family-fun. MORE INFO

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

Thursday, September 18. Dollar deals fill West Philly when the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns on Thursday, September 18. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., restaurant, bars and vendors will dish out $1 deals of all sort think ice cream from Little Baby's, beer from Dock Street, eats from Milk & Honey Market, treats from Desi Village, food from Gold Standard Cafe and more. Also enjoy live performances, activities and more. MORE INFO

Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show

September 19-21. From September 19 to 21, more than 100 artists set up shop at Rittenhouse Square for its annual fall Fine Art Show. The historic festival dates back to 1932 when art students displayed their work from trees throughout the park. The festival now features artwork by local art students as well as professional artists. MORE INFO

Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary

September 19-November 8. Halloween starts early at the massive Eastern State Penitentiary a gothic, castle-like structure in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood with one of the nation's largest and most ambitious and top-rated haunted attractions, Terror Behind the Walls. The seasonal event is not for the faint of heart, with six frightening attractions and new up-close-and-personal scares. MORE INFO

Enjoy live music, crafts, food and fireworks along the Delaware River in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge on the Chester waterfront. (Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia)

Clark Park Music and Arts Festival

Saturday, September 20. From noon to sundown on September 20, the Clark Park Music and Arts Festival brings local musicians to the stage for free performances all day long. Children are invited to create crafts at stations throughout the park, and adults are encouraged to browse fine goods from local artists and vendors. MORE INFO

Brauhaus Schmitz Oktoberfest

Saturday, September 20. The block of South Street in front of Brauhaus Schmitz shuts down in celebration of its epic Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, September 20. German beer, a pig roast and live music are the themes of the day. Beyond the block party, Brauhaus Schmitz hosts specials, games and giveaways from September 15 through 21. MORE INFO

PHS Fall Festival

Saturday, September 20. Celebrate the start of autumn during the annual PHS Fall Festival at the Navy Yard. Enjoy a day of family-friendly fun including the PHS City Harvest Market featuring local produce; the PHS Kids Zone, where youngsters can participate in games, activities and crafts; a "Garden Giants" demonstration, where growers show off their oversized tomatoes, pumpkins and other gigantic goodies for a panel of judges; and the Marketplace featuring plants, tools, garden accessories and home dcor. This year's festival also features an on-site beer garden with beverages from Yards Brewing Co. and coincides with Franklin Flea, featuring vintage and handmade items from local vendors. MORE INFO

Beginning on September 19, Eastern State Penitentiary its scarier-than-ever Terror Behind the Walls haunted house. (Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia)

Peddler’s Village Scarecrow Festival

September 20-21. The annual Peddler's Village Scarecrow Festival is a family-friendly weekend featuring more than 100 amazing scarecrow creations. Take part in scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin pie-eating contests, pumpkin painting and live music. MORE INFO

Frankford Hall Oktoberfest

Saturday, September 20. From noon to 10 p.m., the annual Frankford Hall Oktoberfest block party closes Frankford Avenue from Girard Avenue to Shackamaxon Street. Stroll the avenue for multiple beer tents, food trucks, carnival games, kid-friendly activities, live German pop music and a ceremonial keg tapping. MORE INFO

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts

Sunday, September 21. The Jenkintown Festival of the Arts is back with two stages of live music, a juried and student art show, brew fest, kid's court, lots of food, artisan vendors and more. MORE INFO

Brazilian Day Philadelphia

Sunday, September 21. The flavors, music and festivities of Brazil take the spotlight a at Brazilian Day Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing. The festival celebrates Brazilian Independence Day with food, shopping, performances and more. MORE INFO

One of Philadelphia's largest celebrations of Latino music and culture, Feria del Barrio brings together thousands to celebrate arts, education and community. (Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia)

Feria del Barrio

Sunday, September 21. Feria del Barrio returns to the El Centro de Oro section of North Philadelphia for its 30th year celebrating family, art and Latin American heritage. The free, annual event offers live entertainment, including art demonstrations, music, dancing and children's games. Bring an appetite to try delicious dishes highlighting Latin American cuisine. MORE INFO

Radnor Fall Festival

Sunday, September 21. Downtown Wayne celebrates fall with an outdoor festival complete with rides, music, art vendors, food, a dog show and more. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the fest, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m. MORE INFO

EARLY-FALL FESTIVALS

Uhuru Flea Market

September 27 and October 18. The Uhuru Flea Market brings a variety of home goods, antiques, clothing, jewelry, records, food and arts and crafts to Clark Park for its annual shopping extravaganza. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both September 27 and October 18 stock up on a wide spectrum of goods to benefit the African People's Education and Defense Fund. MORE INFO

Downington FallFest

Sunday, September 28. The fifth-annual Downingtown FallFest welcomes more than 5,000 guests for a day filled with festive events, including live music, food vendors, craft activities and displays from local businesses. The festival is presented by Victory Brewing Company, so expect a stellar beer garden with delicious brews and bites. MORE INFO

Night Market Philadelphia, the seriously awesome food truck festival, takes to Chinatown for the final event of its 2014 season. Last year, the food truck fete filled Fairmount, pictured above, with food trucks galore. (Photo by D. Tavani for Visit Philadelphia)

Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival

Sunday, September 28. Kicking off Manayunk Restaurant Week, the Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival on September 28 is a foodie's dream, featuring food trucks, gourmet food vendors and specials at Main Street's restaurants. Between bites, attendees enjoy live music and sidewalk sales. MORE INFO

Vendemmia Festival

Sunday, September 28. Wine of all sorts fill Girard Park on September 28 for the annual Vendemmia Festival. Sample an array of red and white wines while celebrating the local winemaking scene. Tickets, which start at $50, are available online. MORE INFO

PumpkinFest at Shady Brook Farm

September 29-October 31. Get in the fall spirit at Shadybrook Farm's PumpkinFest, more than a month of family-friendly pumpkin picking, hayrides, games, hands-on activities and much more. MORE INFO

Chinatown Night Market

Thursday, October 2. Philadelphia's supreme food truck festival returns for the last Night Market of 2014. Join the city's top food trucks in Chinatown an evening of fantastic eats, craft brews and live music. MORE INFO

King of Prussia Beerfest Royale

October 2 and 4. Right outside of the King of Prussia Mall, the King of Prussia Beerfest Royale returns for year three of beer-fueled good times. Groove to live music while enjoying beer from more than 50 brewers and fare from King of Prussia restaurants. Tickets are available online. MORE INFO

The Peddler’s Village Scarecrow Festival returns with an array of family-friendly and fall-centric festivities. (Photo by A. Sinagoga for Visit Philadelphia)

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Saturday, October 4. Explore the restaurants and shops along 13th Street during the 9th annual Midtown Village Fall Festival. The massive neighborhood block party is one of the biggest and best of the season and features music, food, sidewalk sales and much more. Guests can expect a dunk tank, games, multiple stages, tons of drinks and plenty of revelry. MORE INFO

Ambler Main Street Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 4. Downtown Ambler celebrates fall with its annual Oktoberfest complete with a beer garden, food, shopping, music, kid-friendly activities and more. The festivities last all day long on Saturday, October 4. MORE INFO

Revolutionary Germantown Festival

Saturday, October 4. On October 4, 1777, the Continental Army attempted to fight the British out of Germantown. Washington and his troops lost the battle and were forced to retreat to Valley Forge for the winter. Germantown commemorates the event on October 6 during the Revolutionary Germantown Festival with a battle reenactment, tours, food vendors and more. MORE INFO

Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival

Saturday, October 4. More than 140 teams race fiberglass dragon boats, complete with heads and tails, on a 500-meter course on the Schuylkill River during the Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival, an annual fall event that draws thousands of participants and spectators. MORE INFO

Old City celebrates its restaurants, shops and attractions with the first-ever Old City Fest on October 12. (Photo by B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia)

The Great Pumpkin Festival at The Institute Bar

Saturday, October 4. Get your pumpkin beer on at The Institute Bar’s annual Great Pumpkin Festival. From 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the festival puts the spotlight on more than 90 pumpkin beers and ciders, in addition to pumpkin cocktails. The festival spans both inside and outside the Callowhill-area bar. Note that the festival is ticketed — but tickets include all-you-can-drink spirits. Tickets start at $47. MORE INFO

Bacon Festival at Xfinity Live!

Saturday, October 4. Bacon has long outgrown its label as a breakfast staple and could now be considered a cultural icon. Xfinity Live! is celebrating the joy of salty, crispy, fatty foodstuff during the inaugural Bacon Festival. The day-long block party will feature bacon-centric foods from local food trucks and restaurants, the 2014 Pennsylvania Bacon-Off, a bacon eating competition, cocktails, live music and more. Click here to purchase tickets. MORE INFO

Phoenixville Food Festival

Saturday, October 4. For its second year, the Phoenixville Food Festival brings together some of the area's best food trucks for a day-long festival. From noon to 6 p.m., sample fare from a variety of sweet and savory trucks and shop items from an array of art vendors. The festival comes right before restaurant week in the Chester County town, which runs from October 5 through October 9. MORE INFO

Morris Arboretum Fall Festival

October 4-5. Morris Arboretum presents its annual Fall Festival, on October 4 and 5, set amidst 92 acres of exquisite plant life and horticultural displays. This year's family-friendly activities include scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and apple tasting. MORE INFO

The Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll brings $1 food, drink and shopping deals to West Philly.(Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia)

Chestnut Hill Fall For the Arts Festival

Sunday, October 5. Chestnut Hill transforms into an outdoor arts and crafts marketplace during the Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival on October 5. More than 150 talented artists from throughout the country display and sell their creations in media ranging from watercolor paintings to jewelry. Live entertainment, children's rides and alfresco dining round out the excitement during this free event. MORE INFO

DesignPhiladelphia

October 9-17. The entire city celebrates DesignPhiladelphia, the largest festival of its kind in the U.S. with more than 120 events showcasing the work of 500 designers, architects and creatives. Each fall, venues across the city host exhibits, lectures, workshops, demonstrations and tours that highlight product, interior, architecture, multimedia, urban-planning, graphic and fashion design. MORE INFO

Old City Seaport Festival

October 10-12. Tall ships from around the U.S. line Philly's waterfront during the Old City Seaport Festival every fall. Guests can climb aboard to tour the Delaware River, and on land, they enjoy live music, crafts, vendors and family-friendly activities that engage visitors in Philly's maritime history. MORE INFO

RiverCity Festival

Saturday, October 11. The Fishtown Neighbors Association presents the RiverCity Festival, a waterfront party with live music, a 5k run, hospitality and wellness tents and food and drink aplenty — thanks to an on-site beer garden featuring a variety of local craft brews. MORE INFO

Outfest returns to the Gayborhood with live entertainment, shopping, food and more on October 12. (Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia)

Bloktoberfest

Saturday, October 11. Craft breweries, neighborhood vendors, live music and food trucks come together on South Street West for Bloktoberfest, an all-ages block party. Proceeds benefit local charities and programs. MORE INFO

Kennett Brewfest

Saturday, October 11. Kennett Square celebrates the local (and not-so-local) beer scene with a full day beer fete on Saturday, October 11. Sip brews from more than 90 breweries while enjoying music, food and shopping, too. MORE INFO

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

October 11-12 and 25-26. Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, which is produced in conjunction with The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, allows guests to get an exclusive look into the worlds of some of the city's most celebrated artists. On two weekends in October, a number of artists in neighborhoods all over the city open their workspaces for tours of all sort — self tours and guided tours. MORE INFO

Old City Fest

Sunday, October 12. For the first time ever, the city’s Old City neighborhood presents Old City Fest, a full day of food, music and shopping from the neighborhood’s businesses including Franklin Fountain, Scout Vintage and Smak Parlour. The festival is presented in celebration of DesignPhiladelphia’s 10th anniversary, but certainly has a vibe of its own. MORE INFO

Memphis Taproom celebrates Oktoberfest in its backyard beer garden with local beer and hot dogs from an on-site food truck. (Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

OutFest

Sunday, October 12. Philly's OutFest is the biggest National Coming Out Day event in the world, and with good reasonthe street carnival features a sports area, family zone, craft market, live music, dance parties and much more. MORE INFO

Philadelphia Film Festival

October 16-26. The Philadelphia Film Festival, an 11-day citywide event, showcases a range of short and feature-length, domestic and international films enhanced by special events and filmmaker Q&As. MORE INFO

Harry Potter Festival

October 17-18. Quidditch tournaments, horcrux hunts, sorting-hat demos and other magical Hogwarts activities delight fans of the boy wizard during the 4th annual Harry Potter Festival. Muggles beware as costumed wizards roam Chestnut Hill for a weekend packed with potions, spells, scavenger hunts, falconry, wizard chess, parades and more. MORE INFO

Memphis Taproom Thirstoberfest

Saturday, October 18. Sip more than 20 craft brews in Memphis Taproom's outdoor beer garden and fill up on fresh hot dogs from the Taproom's on-site hot dog truck at the annual Thirstoberfest on Saturday, October 18. Cheers! MORE INFO

The town of Ambler raises a glass to Germany and German brews at its annual Oktoberfest celebration complete with food, family-friendly activities and beer. (Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

Reading Terminal Market Harvest Festival

Saturday, October 18. Reading Terminal Market is undoubtedly one of the best places to savor the bounty of fall, and on October 18, visitors are invited to do just that during the Harvest Festival. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a portion of Filbert Street is closed to traffic and transformed into an urban farm, complete with hay bales and corn stalks. Kids and adults walk through an on-site pumpkin patch, ride an authentic farm tractor and enjoy freshly prepared donuts, candy apples and other seasonal goodies. MORE INFO

Pumpkin Days Celebration at Tyler Arboretum

October 18-19. Celebrate fall with pumpkins galore at the annual Pumpkin Days Celebration at Tyler Arboretum. Also tour the foliage-promising grounds on a hayride and take part in a variety of family-friendly activities. MORE INFO

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