The Best Fall Festivals to Check Out This Season in Philly
Fall is coming, so mark your calendars to celebrate, eat and explore your way through Philly.
The mud pit at the end of the Kensington Derby and Arts Festival, which returns this fall. / Photograph courtesy of New Kensington Community Development Corporation
School’s back in session, pumpkin spice lattes have the audacity to be sold already, and fall will soon be upon us. So get your sweaters out of storage and start marking your calendars for the fall festivals sure to give you all the cozy vibes around town.
Be sure to check back here, as things are constantly changing and being added.
And don’t despair, spooky season enthusiasts: Halloween events will be in a whole separate article later this month (and pumpkin-related festivities, which are somehow different than Halloween). Looking for Oktoberfests? Check back soon for those, too.
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Philadelphia Fringe Festival (and related events)
This annual citywide celebration of contemporary art and performance features over 1,000 events throughout the city. Whether you’re into dance, circus, comedy, avant-garde performance art, theater or music, there’s truly something for everyone — including kid-friendly shows and free stuff, too.
Leading up to — and concurrent with — Fringe is the independently produced Cannonball Festival beginning September 1st at Crane Arts’ Icebox Project Space, the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, Asian Arts Initiavite, and Christ Church Neighborhood House. See the lineup here.
September 4th-28th, various locations.
Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll
West Philly restaurants and other vendors offer $1, $3, and $5 food specials for over 10 blocks of Baltimore Avenue. Plus, live music, activities, and a block party at 48th and Baltimore.
September 4th, 5-8 p.m., Baltimore Avenue from 40th to 51st streets.
Philadelphia Honey Festival
Now in its 16th year, the Philadelphia Honey Festival brings a day of bee-centric activities to Wyck historic house. The festival has fun for all ages, with beekeeping demos and talks, food trucks, vendors, and even a guy with a beard of bees!
September 6th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wyck Historic House, 6026 Germantown Avenue.
Kennett Square Mushroom Festival / Photograph by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia
Mushroom Festival
Kennett Square is the “mushroom capital of the world,” so of course they’re going to go all out for fungus. The two-day festival has plenty of mushroom-centric food, plus live music, kids’ activities, music, cooking demos, and more.
September 6th & 7th, 101 South Union Street, Kennett Square.
Spring Garden Sunflower Festival
This family-friendly block party includes a full schedule of live music, more than 50 artists and vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, and a kids’ zone with crafts and games.
September 6th, noon-8 p.m., 1700 to 1900 Fairmount Avenue.
Open Streets: West Walnut
For six Sundays in September and October, the Best of Philly-winning event returns! Take to the streets as 18th from Locust to Chestnut, and Walnut Street from 15th to 19th streets will be closed to vehicular traffic. From 10 a.m to 5 p.m. on those days, the streets will be open to pedestrians, along with live entertainment (think music, dance troupes, strolling performers) and a kids’ zone with free activities.
Sundays from September 7th through October 12th, 10 a.m-5 p.m., 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut streets and Walnut Street from 15th to 19th streets.
Feria del Barrio
This North Philly celebration of Latino culture dates back to 1979, and includes live music and dancing, food, arts and crafts, and much more.
September 7th, noon-5 p.m., North 5th Street between Huntingdon and Lehigh streets.
Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest
Head to the Kimmel Center as Ensemble Arts Philly gears up for its new season with live performances, free activities with regional arts and cultural organizations, ticket deals, giveaways, and more. On the schedule: the Philadelphia Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, BalletX, Philadanco, the Philly Pops, and more resident companies.
September 13th, 11 a.m-3 p.m., Kimmel Center, 300 South Broad Street.
Philly AIDS Thrift 20th Anniversary Block Party
Everyone’s favorite donation-drop-off spot and treasure-hunting destination is turning 20 and they’re throwing a birthday bash in Queen Village. The nonprofit thrift store benefiting HIV/AIDS service organizations will celebrate in style with live music, DJ Robert Drake, carnival games, a “celebrity dunk tank,” food trucks, shopping, a pie-eating contest and more merriment.
September 13th, noon-6 p.m., 710 South 5th Street.
Philly AIDS Thrift’s annual birthday block party / Photograph courtesy of Philly AIDS Thrift
South Wayne PorchFest
Like West Philly’s summertime event, but on the Main Line! Stroll the neighborhood for a day of free music played on the porches of south Wayne (Midland Avenue, St. Davids Road and Windermere Avenue). The streets will be closed to motor traffic, so you can enjoy nearly a mile of music (or just bring a blanket and post up somewhere, there are no rules).
September 13th, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Midland Avenue, St. Davids Road and Windermere Avenue, Wayne.
Upper Darby International Festival
Upper Darby calls itself “The World in One Place,” and this festival, now in its eighth year, pays homage to that with plenty of food, music, dancing, a kids’ zone and a Parade of Flags.
September 20th, 1-6 p.m., Five Points Intersection at 100 Garrett Road, Upper Darby.
Family Fest Block Party at Evil Genius
Evil Genius Beer Company hosts a family-friendly block party featuring kids’ activities, vendors and music.
September 20th, noon-6 p.m., 1727 North Front Street.
Delaware River Festival
This “coast-to-coast” event brings a family-friendly fun and water-centered learning to both the Philadelphia and Camden waterfronts. You can ride the RiverLink Ferry between the two locations which will both host environmental exhibitors who will talk about preserving the watershed. Plus, there will be free kids’ activities, crafts, games, paddle-boating, live bird shows, and more. You can also explore Independence Seaport Museum for free that day. And you’ll have a great view of the sailboats racing in the Philadelphia Cup Regatta happening that day.
September 27th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia and Wiggins Park, Camden, NJ.
Mt. Airy Arts Festival
For its third year, Allens Lane Art Center hosts an afternoon of free art-making activities for all ages, plus live music, art exhibits, food trucks, and vendors.
September 27th, noon-4 p.m., Allens Lane Art Center, 601 West Allens Lane.
Block Party at the Rail Park
Friends of the Rail Park are teaming hosts its annual fall block party: an afternoon of music, hands-on arts activities, food trucks, and more.
September 27th, 1-4 p.m., 1300 Noble Street.
DesignPhiladelphia
The oldest design festival of its kind in the country, DesignPhiladelphia celebrates the history, artists, and innovation that makes Philadelphia such an attraction for culture and design with over 100 open houses, exhibits, a kids’ festival, and more across two weeks.
October 1st-12th, various locations.
Out and About in MNYK
In honor of National Coming Out Day in October, Manayunk hosts a festival on Main Street and beyond. Entertainment includes live music, vendors, artists and LGBTQ+ organizations. Expect drag queen storytime, roller derby, a karaoke competition, a drag show by the Philly Drag Mafia, and more. And head to Venice Island for a live shadowcast of Rocky Horror Picture Show (tickets for that here).
October 4th, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Main Street, Manayunk.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Chinatown hosts its annual celebration at the Friendship Gate with lion dances, a mooncake-eating contest, art activities and games, and a lantern parade at night.
October 4th, noon-7:30 p.m., 102 North 10th Street.
Revolutionary Germantown Festival
For over four decades, Germantown has hosted a day of family entertainment, food, music, and reenactments of the Battle of Germantown around the neighborhood’s historic sites. It’s a fun way to learn about the people who lived through and fought in the Revolution right here in Philadelphia.
October 4th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Avenue.
Panda Fest
After its Philly debut last spring, one of the biggest outdoor Asian street food festivals in the country is returning this fall. A giant inflatable panda will once again grace Dilworth Park for one glorious weekend as more than 60 food vendors, plus dozens of craft vendors, will set up shop. Also: live performances, games, kids’ activities, and more panda-themed fun. (Your ticket also includes panda ears, so you can really look the part.) Tickets are sold by the timeslot, here.
$12-$30, plus pay-as-you-go for food and merch; October 4th & 5th, Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street.
St. Nicholas Festival
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival
This annual festival takes over the 1700 block of South 9th Street, starting with a procession of saints and filling the day with Italian food, live entertainment, kids’ rides and games, and a joyous dance party.
October 5th, noon-8 p.m., 1700 block of South 9th Street.
Chinatown Night Market
Neighborhood restaurants and local food trucks converge on Chinatown for a nighttime street festival.
October 9th, 6-10 p.m., 10th and Race streets.
OURfest
In celebration of National Coming Out Day, Pride 365 is planning a festival with the theme “Out Loud, Out Front: Power, Protection & Pride.” The block party will include grassroots organizations, live entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden, dance spaces, and interactive art installations.
October 12th, 13th Street from Walnut to Pine and 12th Street from Locust to Pine.
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival
This festival welcomes the season with over 100 arts and craft vendors, live art demonstrations, live music, shopping, food, and fun for the family all along Germantown Avenue.
October 19th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Germantown Avenue between Willow Grove and Rex avenues.
Chestnut Hill’s Fall for the Arts Festival returns this October. / Photograph courtesy of Chestnut Hill
Dilworth Park Maze Days
From October 15th through 31st, the Hay Maze returns to Dilworth Park’s lawn. But the real party happens on October 18th, as Dilworth transforms into a fall festival with an afternoon of music, fresh apple cider making, and an outdoor movie screening.
October 15th-31st (festival on October 18th), Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street.
Manayunk Fall Fest
New for this year, Manayunk’s Fall Fest will fill Main Street with food trucks, vendors, and kids’ activities. But wait, there’s more: There’ll be a Mac n’ Cheese Crawl, where Manayunk restaurants will put their own spin on the classic comfort food. And a $21 wristband will let you try them all!
October 18th, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Main Street, Manayunk.
Kensington Kinetic Derby & Arts Festival
After missing their usual spring date, the unique Kensington festival returns this fall! Costumed teams pedal tricked-out, homemade vehicles across three miles of obstacle courses throughout the neighborhood to reach the pièce de résistance: the mud pit. Some will make it through, some will break down — either way, you’ll have a blast watching it. And since the Kensington Weirdo Fest is sitting this year out, this is your best chance for some wacky, offbeat vibes this fall. Plus, Halloween costume contests, and Awful Wrestling (a carryover from Weirdo Fest with wacky WWE-style matches) in the evening.
October 25th, noon-6 p.m., Frankford Avenue from East York to Sergent Street.
