Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today.
Philadelphia Fringe Festival
When: Through Sunday, Sept. 27, multiple times
Where: Many, many locations
Philly’s biggest theater event of the year is officially back. The Philadelphia Fringe Festival includes hundreds of independently produced performing arts pieces, such as theater, dance, music, comedy and more. Feel uncertain where to start with Philly Fringe? Our guide can help you find the live performances perfect for you.
Philadelphia Honey Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 6026 Germantown Ave.
The buzz is real around this year’s Honey Festival. Those looking for something sweet, can head to the Wyck Historic House and Garden for honey tastings, hive talks at an Apiary, bee beard demonstrations and more. This festival is educational, tasty, fun and kids are more than welcome.
Mexican Independence Day Festival
When: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 to 8 p.m.
Where: 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
The Mexican Cultural Center is throwing its Mexican Independence Day festival once again. The celebration will be held at the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink. The event is part of PECO’s multicultural Series. The celebration will include Mexican artisan crafts, mariachi music, folkloric performances and delicious bites.
Mt. Airy Porchfest
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 1 to 7 p.m.
Where: Multiple porches around Mt. Airy
Get ready to jam with your neighbors at this year’s Mt. Airy porch fest. The volunteer-led event, which allows locals to turn their porches into community stages, will involve different live-music sets throughout the day. Performers range from experienced bands to curious hobbyists.
Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.
Where: 300 S. Broad St.
Ensemble Arts Philly’s annual fall festival is back with a bunch of live performances. Past years have included opera, ballet and more. The festival “doubles as a birthday party,” as the Kimmel Center is turning 25 this year. The festival has partnered with dozens of local arts organizing for a day full of culture, music and connection through the arts.
Philly Halal Food Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, noon to 10 p.m.
Where: 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia
Philly’s Halal Food Festival is here for its fourth year. The festival is a celebration of Philly’s Muslim community and diverse Halal food scene. Held at the King of Prussia Mall, this year’s celebration will include over 60 food vendors, a bazaar for shopping, kid’s activities and more.
Delaware River Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 101 S. Columbus Blvd. and 2 Riverside Dr., Camden
Celebrate Philly’s biggest waterway with the Delaware River Festival. The annual festival is held on both sides of the water, and will include educational vendors, music and family-friendly fun. This includes a live-bird show and facepainting. You can celebrate in both Philly and Camden, by hopping on a ferry to explore both sides.
Philly AIDS Thrift Block Party
When: Saturday, Sept. 26, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: 710 S 5th St.
Philly AIDS Thrift is not only a spot to get a fresh vintage fit, it’s also home to an annual all-day block party that’s back on the 26th. Expect a live DJ, a pie-eating contest, a celebrity dunk tank and more. According to the store, “family, friends, and even your enemies” are encouraged to attend.
Brauhaus Schmitz South Street Oktoberfest
When: Saturday, Sept. 26, noon to 8 p.m.
Where: 700 block of South Street
Philly’s beloved Oktoberfest celebration will be back on South Street with Hofbrau beer and oom-pah music. Brauhaus Schmitz will put up a large biergarten with seating for 1,000 people. There will be traditional Bavarian bites, outdoor games and more.
Linvilla Orchards’ Apple Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media
Linvilla Orchards’ Apple Festival is one of the most quintessential fall festivals on this list. Located at an apple orchard just outside of the city, the festival will include all things apples — apple picking, caramel apples, apple cider. Plus, you can get a headstart on Halloween at the festival’s pumpkin patch.
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival
When: Sunday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 8000-8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue
Chestnut Hill’s Fall Festival will have tents filled with paintings, photographs, jewelry, pottery and knickknacks from local artists and makers — all lined down Germantown avenue’s cozy cobblestone streets. In case of rain, the festival will be rescheduled to Oct. 11.
DesignPhiladelphia Festival
When: Oct. 1-11
Where: Various locations
DesignPhiladelphia Festival is known for showcasing design, from architects to interior decorators and more. The nearly two week fest will be at multiple locations, and includes over 100 workshops, exhibitions, tours and talks. The celebration inspires creatives to think of the ways we build and innovate our urban spaces.
Mt. Airy Arts Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 601 W. Allens Lane
Mt. Airy’s Arts Festival, hosted by the Allens Lane Art Center is back for some creativity and fun. In addition to live performances on an outdoor stage, festival goers can shop for handmade wares, make their own crafts, sample from food trucks and chat with artists.
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival
When: Sunday, Oct. 4, noon to 8 p.m.
Where: 1700 block of South 9th Street
South Philly’s St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival is an homage to the city’s Italian immigrant roots. Music and great Italian eats like pizza and cannoli will be in abundance. This year’s procession of saints starts at 1700 South 9th street right in front of St. Nicholas Church.
Brauhaus Schmitz Armory Oktoberfest
When: Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10
Where: 23rd Street Armory
In addition to its South Street celebration, Brauhaus Schmitz is hosting a second even larger Oktoberfest celebration at the 23rd Street Armory. The stone castle will have room for 4,000 attendees and will be decked out with traditional Bavarian tents, food and beer.
OURfest
When: Friday, Oct. 9 to Sunday, Oct. 11
Where: 12th and Spruce streets to 13th and Walnut streets
OURfest is back with three days of LGBTQ+ celebrations. It all begins Friday Oct. 9 with a kickoff party. Then, Saturday’s festivities will be a Lost in Space theme at Voyeur Nightclub — dancing goes until 6 a.m. Sunday is the main event with a National Coming Out Day parade through the Gayborhood.
Reading Terminal’s Scrapple and Apple Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 1136 Arch St.
What could be more Pennsylvania fall than Reading Terminal’s Scrapple and Apple Festival? The festival will have local scrapple and apple bites to try, as well as live music and family entertainment. What’s more, you can check out the various scrapple sculptures on display from the market’s scrapple sculpting competition, which takes place Oct. 15.
Manayunk Fall Fest
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Main Street
Autumn vibes are headed back to Main Street. Manayunk’s Fall Fest returns with local artisans, live music, food trucks, games and last but not least, a mac n’ cheese crawl. If you are curious to sign up for the cheesy fun, tickets are available here.
East Falls Fest
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Ridge and Midvale
If you love the Schuylkill, but have never actually been on it, East Falls Fest will launch boats from the East Falls River Landing. The neighborhood celebration will have live music, artisan tents, free pumpkin decorating, a beer garden, tacos and sweets and cookies from LeBus and Famous Fourth Street.
GOAToberFest
When: Saturday, Oct. 17. 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd
If you love goats then GOAToberFest might just be up your alley. Proceeds for this fundraising festival help the Philly Goat Project. The event takes place at the Conservatory at Laurel Hill West Cemetery. Halloween costumes and Bavarian tracht are welcome. You can also go on a goat walk, take a pic with a goat, and even win a special goat-made painting!
Philly Coffee Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18
Where: 23rd Street Armory
Looking for the perfect fall fest to start your day off right? The Philly Coffee Festival is “an immersive coffee experience” with live entertainment, snacks, as well as beans and drinks from specialty roasters. Kids are welcome, and if you’re more of a tea person, they have that too.
Cherry Hill Harvest Festival
When: Sunday, Oct. 18, noon to 4 p.m
Where: 100 Bortons Mill Road, Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill is holding its big Fall Festival with a petting zoo, free pumpkins (perfect timing for Halloween), food trucks, crafts, a beer garden, live music and more. Held at Croft Farm, the festival is a great way to dive into the autumn vibes.
Community Arts Center Fall Fest
When: Sunday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford
Wallingford’s Community Arts Center Fall Fest is filled with 30 different art vendors, a pumpkin painting contest, kids activities and tours. Carmona Mobile Foods food truck will be on site, as well as Conshohocken Brewing Company.
Philly Flannel Fest
When: Sunday, Oct. 25, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: 441 High St.
When it comes to fall fabric, flannel is the clear winner. Wear your coziest plaids to this year’s Philly Flannel Fest at the Braid Mill in Germantown. The party will have live music — plus cocktails, yummy food and a craft marketplace with clothes, gifts and more.
The Big Dill
When: Saturday, Nov, 14
Where: 1100 Pattison Ave.
Pickle enthusiasts rejoice! The Big Dill, “the world’s largest pickle party”, is coming back to Stateside Live! on National Pickle Day. Not only do people eat pickles at this event, they dress like pickles. Plus, after our recent discovery of the deliciousness of pickles on cheesesteaks, we found out that this fest has been taking things even further with “dilly cheesesteaks.”
