It turns out that shad used to be hugely important to the Delaware River economy, a fact our quirky friends in Fishtown (where else?) exploit with their annual Alosa sapidissima-feteing festival at Penn Treaty Park. It’s true that Lambertville has been doing a shad festival for decades, but the city’s is cooler: We’ve got shad à la Johnny Brenda’s and some of the best bands around, lots of local crafts (love the bottle-cap cuff links!) and craft beers, and—perhaps our favorite part—valet bike parking. Date in April 2011 TBA; check the website.

Shadfest | Penn Treaty Park, Delaware Avenue and Columbia Street, Fishtown, PA