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).
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.”
$15, free for kids 12 and under; April 5th and 6th, 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, Morris Animal Refuge, and Fishtails Animal Rescue 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 5th, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Philadelphia Brewing Company, 2440 Frankford Avenue.
Open Streets: West Walnut
For four consecutive Sundays in April, 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut streets 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), specials at stores and restaurants, and a kids’ zone with free activities. On April 20th, there will be an Easter bunny visit and scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to noon.
April 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th, 10 a.m-5 p.m., 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut streets and Walnut Street from 15th to 19th streets.
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 festival-goers of all ages can enjoy live music from six acts on two stages.
April 27th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Main Street, Manayunk.
Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival / Photograph courtesy of Manayunk
Panda Fest
For the first time, one of the biggest outdoor Asian street food festivals in the country is making a stop in Philly. A giant inflatable panda will grace Dilworth Park for one glorious weekend as more than 80 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, and while they appear to be sold out, there is a waitlist as well as a resale market — where there’s a will, there’s a way.
$12-$15, plus pay-as-you-go for food and merch; April 26th-27th, Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street.
Northern Liberties Farmers Market Block Party
To celebrate its reopening for the season, the Northern Liberties Farmers Market is kicking things off with a bang. They’ll be having an extra-long day with live music and entertainment, free mini fitness classes, family-friendly activities, plus lots of food vendors and wine from Mural City Cellars.
April 26th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 1099 Germantown Avenue.
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 27th, 11 a.m.-4 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, sidewalk cafes, kids’ activities and giveaways. The festival is on, rain or shine.
May 3rd, noon-5 p.m., Walnut Street from 15th to 20th streets, and around Rittenhouse Square.
South Street Live
South Street’s annual spring festival is really multiple festivals in one. First, we’ve got Brauhaus Schmitz hosting its 12th 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. Head east and it’s Free Comic Book Day with live music and cosplay on the 600 block of South Street. Keep going and hit up the South Street Vinyl Block Party on the 500 block (where Repo is, naturally). There’s also an artists’ row, a sustainability hub, Derby Day celebration and watch party, a Renn Faire at Queen & Rook, and more!
May 3rd, noon-8 p.m., 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 demonstrations and musical performances all day.
May 4th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Germantown Avenue between Rex and Willow Grove avenues.
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 three stages of music, plus vendors, food trucks, a kids’ zone, and a student art showcase. Find even more food and vendors in the Pocket Park!
May 10th, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Ridge Avenue from Lyceum Avenue to Leverington Avenue.
The Italian Market Festival returns in May. / Photograph by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
Italian Market Festival
This South Philly festival goes all weekend. And 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 17th & 18th, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 9th Street from Wharton to Fitzwater streets.
Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival
This brand-new festival spans 10 days and features performances by emerging and established circus artists and companies, both local and national. Performances will include free public performances, workshops for families, as well as paid performances, and take place across the city with venues including FringeArts, Christ Church, and Cherry Street Pier.
May 23rd-June 1st, multiple locations.
