The Best Spring Festivals to Check Out in Philly
Eat your way through your neighborhood and soak up the sunshine at these spring celebrations.
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Fairmount Park / Photograph by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia
It’s finally spring, which means we are entering peak festival season. Every weekend that it’s nice out, it seems some major Philly street will be shut down to traffic and full of people again. But how to choose? Will there be good eats? Almost definitely. Will there be good music? Of course! Will there be puppies? Sometimes!
Bookmark this page, because here are all the Philly spring festivals you won’t want to miss — and we’ll add some more favorites as they announce. Except where indicated, all events are free to attend (and pay-as-you-go for food and other goodies).
Photograph courtesy of Suplex
SuplexMania (and WrestleMania-related festivities)
WrestleMania 40 descends on Philly the first weekend of April with two nights of WWE fireworks at the Linc. It’s gonna be packed, and the city is stepping up accordingly with all kinds of WrestleMania-adjacent events, from watch parties to WWE World at the Convention Center to WrestleCon. And that sounds like a lot. But South Street’s new-ish vintage wrestling store is taking it outside with a block party featuring live wrestling in the street, pop-up shopping, a beer garden, food trucks, and more mayhem.
April 6th, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 628 South Street.
Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
On Monday, April 8th, a solar eclipse will cut across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — that’s the one where the moon blocks out the sun, throwing the sky into darkness. Philly is expected to reach over 90 percent totality, and while lots of places are celebrating, the Franklin Institute is going all out. Their party will include solar-filter tents and eclipse-safe telescopes for eclipse viewing, a beer garden with celestial-inspired food and drinks, a live DJ, solar-eclipse doughnuts from Federal Donuts & Chicken (available to the first 200 guests), and solar-eclipse glasses for purchase. The celebration starts at 1:30 p.m. on the front steps of the museum; the eclipse is expected to begin at 2:08 p.m.
April 8th, 1:30 p.m., Franklin Institute, 222 North 20th Street.
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Fairmount Park / Photograph by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia
Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival
Head to Fairmount Park to celebrate Japanese culture and the beauty of spring through a weekend of performances, food, shopping and lots of sakura. On both days of the festival, there will be a full schedule of performances — from taiko drumming to martial arts to fashion — as well as a Japanese vendor fair, kimono dressing, ikebana workshops, tea ceremonies, origami, and a pop-up beer garden by Triple Bottom Brewing. Sunday will have a tree-planting ceremony, plus a pet parade — be sure to dress your furry friend in their best Barbiecore, as the theme is “Pretty in Pink.”
April 13th and 14th, Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 North Horticultural Drive.
Furry Friends of Frankford Pet Festival
Whether you want to spoil your pets or want to find your fur-ever friend, this is the festival for you. Olde Kensington Boutique and Philadelphia Brewing Company are partnering with the PSPCA for a day of pet-themed games, pet vendors, a pet parade through the neighborhood (at 4 p.m.), and adoptable pets. There will also be a performance by the band Kitty Rotten in the courtyard — they wear cat masks; it’s a delight.
April 13th, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Philadelphia Brewing Company, 2440 Frankford Avenue.
Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival / Photograph courtesy of Manayunk
Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival
Over 50 food trucks and gourmet food vendors will shut down Main Street so you can eat your way through Manayunk. In addition to the mobile food vendors, Manayunk restaurants and businesses will be offering specials throughout the day, and festivalgoers of all ages can enjoy live music from six acts on two stages.
April 21st, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Main Street, Manayunk.
Everyday Futures Fest Block Party
Da Vinci Art Alliance’s annual community arts and science festival runs the entire month of April with exhibits, workshops and interactive experiences focusing on sustainability and the arts. While there is plenty to see and do, the block party is always a good time. The festival will take over the 700 block of Catharine Street with temporary installations, vendors, performances and art activities for all ages.
April 21st, noon-5 p.m., Catherine Street between 7th and 8th streets.
Flavors on the Avenue
East Passyunk will bring out its best with five blocks of pay-as-you-go food, cocktails and craft beer, live music, sidewalk sales, and free family fun. In addition to all the food, there will be vendors, live bands and entertainment throughout the festival, including kids’ activity zones up and down the street.
April 28th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., East Passyunk Avenue from Broad to Dickinson streets.
Photograph by Laura Swartz
Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Walnut Street will shut down as Rittenhouse businesses come out to play, showcasing the neighborhood’s shopping, fashion, food and drinks. There will also be live music, an artists’ showcase, sidewalk cafes, kids’ activities and giveaways. The festival is on, rain or shine.
May 4th, noon-5 p.m., Walnut Street from 15th to 20th streets, and around Rittenhouse Square.
Maifest Spring Festival on South Street
Brauhaus Schmitz will host its 11th annual Maifest with German beers, live music, dancers and a maypole. (You can get in the spirit by purchasing a flower crown on site.) The event is free to attend, and pay-as-you-go for food and beer, but VIP tickets get you access to indoor bathrooms, a buffet, a giant beer mug and more.
May 4th, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 700 block of South Street.
Brauhaus Schmitz’s annual spring festival features a maypole, traditional German dancers, and lots of beer. / Photograph courtesy of Brauhaus Schmitz
Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival
From furniture to art to antiques, find unique and handmade home goods at this annual street fair. In addition to the over 150 home and garden vendors lining the avenue, you’ll find delicious food, boutique shopping and live music all day. And if you have little ones, swing by the the Jenks Fun Fest kids’ zone.
May 5th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Germantown Avenue between Rex and Willow Grove avenues.
Kensington Derby & Arts Festival
The Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby & Arts Festival is back with the craziest, messiest festival in town. The centerpiece of this festival is the derby portion where teams drive their human-powered vehicles through a three-mile obstacle course that includes challenges like a mud pit — and spills do happen. Prizes are awarded for categories like Best Costume and Best Engineering. The festival also features over 100 local arts and food vendors. And it’s rain or shine, because rain only makes the pièce de resistance even muddier.
May 11th, noon-6 p.m., Frankford Avenue from York Street to Huntingdon Street.
The mud pit at the end of the Kensington Derby and Arts Festival / Photograph courtesy of New Kensington Community Development Corporation
Roxborough Spring Fest
From main-stage acts to singer-songwriters to kids’ tunes, come to Roxborough to rock out all day. Head to Ridge Avenue for two stages of music, plus vendors, food trucks and a student art showcase. Find even more food and vendors in the Pocket Park!
May 18th, noon-6 p.m., Ridge Avenue from Lyceum Avenue to Leverington Avenue.
Italian Market Festival
This South Philly festival goes all weekend. To paraphrase Stefon, it has everything: saints on parade, greased-pole climbers, every Italian delicacy possible, a half ball tournament, live entertainment, art vendors, and more. Now back to that greased pole: Albero della cuccagna (let’s be authentic here) is a tradition where “teams compete in climbing to the top of a greased pole to reach prizes of meats, cheeses, gifts, and money.” So if you really want to get in the spirit — or if you’re just missing that Super Bowl delirium — sign up to climb a 30-foot pole greased with lard at the 9th and Montrose Piazza.
May 18th & 19th, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 9th Street from Wharton to Fitzwater streets.
The Italian Market Festival returns in May. / Photograph by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
Made on American Street Festival
This annual Kensington street fair hosted by Wissahickon Brewing Company, Punchbuggy Brewing and Home Brewed Events features local beer, cider, wine, cocktails and music. Unlike the rest of the events in this guide, this one isn’t free to attend; but tickets include unlimited tastes of beer, cider, wine and cocktails. The festival also includes mini golf by Libertee Grounds, live entertainment, pay-as-you-go food trucks and a vendor marketplace with local artisans.
$45-$75, May 18th, 2-6 p.m., North American Street between Master Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
Northern Liberties Night Market
This evening festival series includes food trucks, shopping stalls, kids’ activities, live music and entertainment. If you miss the spring event, there are summer (July 24th) and fall (September 25th) dates too!
May 22nd, 5-10 p.m., North 2nd Street between Fairmount Avenue and West Laurel Street.
