Copied to Clipboard
Philly knows how to throw a party.
The City of Brotherly Love is a year-round destination for good food, good times and all-around revelry, including fun festivals, major concerts and brand-new exhibitions.
The first few months see the return of perennial Philly faves, including Dine Latino Restaurant Week and the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, as well as a larger-than-life sports entertainment spectacle in the form of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field.
The warmer months mean festival season, and the good times roll with massive food, culture and art festivals, from the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival and ODUNDE Festival to the Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival and BlackStar Film Festival.
Throughout the year, some of the biggest names in music take to Philly stages, including Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Bad Bunny, The Rolling Stones and many more. Plus, look forward to stunning Broadway productions of shows like Frozen, Mamma Mia! and Hadestown.
And once the leaves get crunchy, you can dive back into both new and classic fall happenings like the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta and the Philadelphia Marathon.
Can’t find your favorite event? Don’t worry: New events are added to this list regularly once they are officially announced.
One important note: Event dates and details can change at any time. Always check ahead with event organizers and/or on official event sites to confirm event dates and times.
Here’s a look at the biggest events, festivals and exhibitions in Greater Philadelphia in 2024.
Ongoing
Want to borrow a banned book? Visit Philadelphia’s Little Free(dom) Library initiative, which launched in February at several Little Free(dom) Library sites across the city, encouraged visitors and locals to explore banned fiction and non-fiction texts by Black authors. Now extended through Women’s History Month — and featuring more banned works by women authors — the updated libraries include books like Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Front Desk by Kelly Yang and more. Spread the love by leaving a book of your own (optional).
Where: Various locations including the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street
Through Sunday, March 24, 2024
The horticultural minds at Longwood Gardens prove winter is more than stark, bare trees with their annual Winter Wonder exhibit. In the Conservatory, Streptocarpus, Saintpaulia and Clerodendrum schmidtii fill up the space in purple and white while hundreds of orchids bloom magnificently. Outdoors, the gardens’ 400 acres pop with yellow and orange witch hazel, while winter grasses provide texture to the landscape.
Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square
Through Sunday, May 19, 2024
Best known as the art director of the fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar (from 1934 to 1959), Alexey Brodovitch shaped the magazine’s modern aesthetic and inspired the works of countless photographers around the world. This new art exhibition at the Barnes Foundation highlights Brodovitch’s major (and often overlooked) contributions.
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Through Friday, May 31, 2024
This citywide art festival celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts initiative. This year, over 40 museums, art schools, galleries and institutions host special exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and more highlighting Black, Brown, women and non-binary artists. Check out the official website for a full list of events.
Where: Various locations including the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street
Through Monday, September 2, 2024
Everything’s clicking into place. Returning to The Franklin Institute for the first time since 2015, The Art of the Brick displays more than 100 works all made completely of LEGOs — from recreations of masterworks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to original works of LEGO sculpture, including a 20-foot-long T. rex dinosaur skeleton. Every piece in the hugely impressive display is the handiwork of contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya, the first artist ever to create an exhibition of LEGO art.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street
Through Sunday, January 5, 2025
In this brand-new exhibition, rare documents, inspired works of art and historical objects paint a fuller picture of Washington’s Headquarters Tent — the Museum of the American Revolution’s signature artifact. The tent served as the battlefield sleeping and office quarters for General George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and the exhibition tells the stories of the many individuals who worked to preserve and pass down this vital symbol of the American republic.
Where: Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street
Dates vary by concert
Philly brings the noise this spring with big concerts by even bigger names. Coming up on stage:
Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street
VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (4)
The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen Street
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, 1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, NJ
Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Field Way
TD Pavilion at the Mann, 5201 Parkside Avenue
Dates vary by event
The Greater Philadelphia region shows some sisterly affection during Women’s History Month with celebratory events taking place around the area, including:
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street
Penn Museum, 3260 South Street
Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street
March 21 – April 7, 2024 (select dates)
The cold never bothered me anyway. Elsa, Anna, Olaf and the rest of the beloved characters from Disney’s smash-hit animated film take the stage at the Academy of Music for this stunning Broadway production. Snowy special effects and intricate costumes complement the soaring score that you know by heart.
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street
March 24 – April 27, 2024 (select dates)
When the cherry blossoms bloom in Fairmount Park, spring has arrived. The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia celebrates the change of seasons with over a month of programming throughout the city featuring Japanese music, arts and culture. Be sure not to miss the festival’s hallmark event: Sakura Weekend, a free, family-friendly celebration on April 13 and 14, 2024 at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum complete with musical performances, cultural activities, workshops, dancing, a beer garden, marketplace and more.
Where: Various locations including Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 N. Horticultural Drive
After last year’s tough World Series run, Bryce Harper and the Fightin’ Phils return to the Bank with a home opener against former NLDS rival the Atlanta Braves.
Where: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way
Finally … WrestleMania has come back to Philadelphia. The biggest event in sports entertainment touches down in Philadelphia for the first time in 25 years when Wrestlemania 40 brings two nights of high-flying, in-ring action to Lincoln Financial Field. Expect thousands of fans, scores of celebrities and plenty of fireworks (both literal and otherwise). Want more action? Catch your favorite WWE superstars in matches right across the street at the Wells Fargo Center:
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Field Way
Organized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the twice-a-year Dine Latino Restaurant Week aims to boost business at the region’s Latino-owned restaurants. Keep an eye out for deals at participating locations across the five-county region, including El Merkury, Añejo, and Geronimo’s. Also up for spring 2024: the next installment of Dine Latino’s limited series of intimate chef’s tastings featuring Brazas BBQ Chicken’s chef Juan Andres Placencia and his famous “ceviche” and chicken (April 11, 2024).
Where: Various locations including El Merkury, 2104 Chestnut Street
This wildly successful, transformative work by Anaïs Mitchell intertwines the love stories of Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and Persephone. The vibrant, hopeful musical won an impressive eight Tony Awards in 2019, and the 2020 Grammy for best musical theater album.
Sponsored by Visit Philadelphia in partnership with Resy, this conference of culinary minds brings some of the country’s best chefs and food experts to Philly. The four-day event features hospitality panels, culinary collabs at top restaurants, and big-name speakers, including TV host and travel writer Andrew Zimmern, Top Chef judge and producer Gail Simmons, and many more.
Where: Various locations including The Study at University City, 20 S. 33rd Street
Back again at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Jurassic Quest features over 100 lifelike animatronic dinosaurs — like a 60 foot-long Spinosaurus, an 80 foot-long Apatosaurus and a gigantic life-sized T.rex — in realistic, kid-friendly displays dedicated to the Cretaceous, Triassic and of course Jurassic periods. Among other attractions at the world’s largest dino event: walking and stationary rides including some of the largest rideable dinosaurs in North America, interactive raptor training, baby dino meet and greets, a “Tricera-tots” soft play area, fossil digs, Jurassic Jeeps and The Quest interactive challenge.
Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks
Dozens of food trucks and neighborhood restaurants line Manayunk’s Main Street during this big foodie event, dishing out everything from BBQ and sweet treats to wine and craft beer. Also on site: local vendors and live performances on two music stages. The festival is free to attend with pay-as-you-go food and drink.
Where: Main Street
As the world’s first, longest-running and most widely recognized track meet, the Penn Relays features a massive three-day festival each year at the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Franklin Field. The event includes heated competitions between the nation’s top high school, college and professional runners, along with a Carnival Village full of music, parties, merch and apparel stalls, and food and drink vendors.
Where: Franklin Field, 235 S. 33rd Street
Visitors come from afar for this four-day event that emphasizes the strength and resilience of Philly’s community of LGBTQ+ people of color:
Where: Various locations including Club Quarters Hotel Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, 1628 Chestnut Street
One of the nation’s leading art and design fairs returns to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the third time in its 60-plus years. Staged on the museum’s East Terrace, the show features over 40 U.S. exhibitors specializing in fine art, collectible design and antiques.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philly’s resident contemporary ballet company arrives at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts for two days of community, live music and soul-stirring dance. On the main stage, audiences lose themselves in a world premiere by choreographer Natasha Adorlee, the Philadelphia premiere of Takehiro Ueyama’s history-inspired piece, Heroes, and the long-awaited return of Jamar Roberts’ Eros & Psyche.
Where: The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue
Opera Philadelphia brings Giacomo Puccini’s iconic three-act opera to life. The heartbreaking story follows the lovelorn Butterfly — a young geisha named Cio-Cio-San — as she awaits the return of her absent American husband, U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton.
Philly’s own Dave Hause (The Loved Ones, The Flacon) assembles the rock and roll homecoming weekend he’s always wanted — and you’re invited. On the grounds of Manayunk’s Venice Island Performing Arts Center, the Sing Us Home outdoor music festival returns for a second year with a robust music lineup including Langhorne Slim, The Jayhawks, The Loved Ones Strike Anywhere, and, of course, Dave’s own band The Mermaid. Parking is very limited, but the venue is along several bus routes and close to the Manayunk-Norristown Regional Rail station. (Maybe even grab yourself a brew along the way.)
Where: Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock Street
Originally known as Wizard World, Fan Expo is the meeting of all things genre, from sci-fi and horror to anime and cosplay. Exhibitors include comics creators, independent artists and game developers. Plus: celebrity Q&As, fan club presentations, hands-on workshops and screening rooms.
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street
Featuring both virtual and IRL events, Philly Tech Week celebrates technology and innovation within the Greater Philadelphia region. Past events included expos, music fests, networking events, coding and gaming sessions, and, of course, parties. For what’s on the agenda in 2024, keep an eye on the official website.
Where: Various locations throughout Philadelphia
Opens Saturday, May 4, 2024 (Saturdays & Sundays)
Attention foodies: The nationally renowned seasonal Southeast Asian Market returns on the weekends to FDR Park. At this massive culinary treasure, visitors can discover over 70 vendors offering traditional dishes, street food and produce native to Asia, plus plants, jewelry and clothing. For the best experience, pack a picnic blanket and don’t forget to bring cash — some vendors are cash-only and there’s no ATM on site.
Where: FDR Park, Pattison Avenue & South Broad Street
South Street’s German beer hall hosts a this traditional German spring festival, complete with a maypole, music, dancing, and, of course, plenty of German beer. Food and drink are pay as you go, and menu items include Deutsch favorites like pig roast, bratwurst and speckwurst. A limited number of VIP packages are available, offering front-of-line perks, a liter mug, six tokens good for a beer or food item each, and access to private restrooms. Prost!
Where: Brauhaus Schmitz, 718 South Street
Talk about “larger than life.” Watch the world’s best driver athletes and their 12,000-pound beasts on four wheels put their skills and speed to the test during Monster Jam at Lincoln Financial Field. See legendary monster trucks like Grave Digger, Max-D and Megalodon in action and come early for competition previews, driver interviews, opening ceremonies, and more before the official Freestyle, Skills and Racing competitions begin.
One of Philly’s premier street festivals, the annual Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival highlights the neighborhood’s reputation as a food and culture hotspot. Dozens of booths line Walnut Street and the area around Rittenhouse Square Park, offering art, beauty, fashion, family fun, food, culinary demonstrations, and beer and cocktail samplings.
Where: Walnut Street from the Avenue of the Arts to Rittenhouse Square
A sweet tradition since 1978, the Strawberry Festival at Peddler’s Village features two days of events centered around fresh, locally grown strawberries. Treats take the form of pastries, jams and chocolate-dipped bites, and strawberries are also available for purchase by the pint. The Strawberry Festival also includes a craft show, live entertainment, food trucks and more.
Where: Peddler's Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska
More than 35,000 athletes traverse a 10-mile course straight down Broad Street — from the Logan neighborhood in North Philly all the way down to The Navy Yard in South Philly — during the largest 10-mile race in the nation. Expect a festival-like atmosphere as thousands of spectators dot the iconic course to motivate runners with music, noisemakers and witty signs. The 2024 race sees a return to the original course design (running from Broad & Fisher streets to The Navy Yard) and an earlier start time. The first wave of athletes crosses the starting line at 7:30 a.m. this year.
Where: Broad Street
DIYers, rejoice! Chestnut Hill’s Home + Garden Festival returns this May, bringing over 200 home, garden, vintage/collectible and artisanal vendors to Germantown Avenue between Rex and Willow Grove Avenues. Shop for your spring and summer project needs or gather DIY inspo from experts and artisans during live demonstrations in the festival’s Makers Village. Bring the whole family – non-crafters (no judgment here) and kids can look forward to live music, a Kids Zone, and, of course, plenty of shops and eateries to explore as you stroll.
Where: Germantown Avenue from Rex Avenue to Willow Grove Avenue
Cheer on fanciful mobile sculptures ridden and driven by humans around a three-mile urban obstacle course in this only-in-Philly event in Philly’s Kensington neighborhood. Also on the docket: live music and great food. Proceeds from the event support the East Kensington Neighbors Association and their ongoing mini-grant program for local nonprofits and businesses.
Where: Trenton Avenue from Frankford Avenue to Norris Street, 2240 Frankford Ave
Celebrate the women in your life with this concert featuring some of today’s biggest names in gospel music. Donnie McClurkin, The Clark Sisters, Ricky Dillard and more put on a powerful show celebrating mothers, daughters and matriarchs of all generations. Upgrade the experience by purchasing a seat at the pre-show supper. Can I get an amen?
Where: The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad Street
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 1-3 p.m. & 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Calling all the party animals – literally and figuratively. Sip on seasonal sips and bubblies from over a dozen fine wineries at this adults-only event at the Philadelphia Zoo. Tickets include tastings and admission to zoo exhibits. Details — including the participating wineries — are coming soon, so stay tuned to the zoo’s official website.
Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Avenue
Music, food trucks and craft brews? Say less. Roxborough pulls out all the stops for this springtime street festival in mid-May. The outdoor shindig takes over Ridge Ave between Lyceum Avenue to Leverington Avenue and features over 50 artists and crafters, dozens of food trucks from local shops, boozy and non-boozy beverage stands, kid-friendly activities, and a main stage with jams by Philly-area performers.
Where: Ridge Avenue from Lyceum to Leverington Avenue
Famous for its delectable cuisine, the South 9th Street Italian Market puts on a boisterous weekend of food and culture, including craft vendors, live music, game tournaments and the very-Philly greased-pole-climbing contest. But the real spotlight? The food, of course. Stroll the market for great deals on homemade sausages, decadent cannoli, imported cheeses, cappuccino, fresh pasta and more.
Where: South 9th Street Italian Market, 919 S. 9th Street
This new exhibition celebrating Pennsylvania-born impressionist artist Mary Cassatt explores gender, labor and feminine agency through over 130 prints, paintings and pastels. Also included: new findings about the advanced processes and materials Cassatt used in the early 20th century. This is the first major showing of Cassatt’s life’s work in over 25 years.
The country’s oldest and largest event of its kind features equestrian disciplines, outdoor exhibitions, special events and an old-fashioned country fair — with nearly 60 vendors — all at the Devon Show Grounds.
Where: Devon Show Grounds, 23 Dorset Road, Devon
Film buffs can find works by established and emerging Latino filmmakers at the annual Philadelphia Latino Film Festival. The lineup includes feature films, shorts, animations, web series and documentaries, along with workshops and discussions.
Where: Various locations in Philadelphia (TBA)
We get it – the story of a clown imagining his own burial doesn’t sound particularly uplifting. But this show is anything but morbid. Embodying the effervescent joy, light-hearted comedy, and daring acrobatic feats this international contemporary circus ensemble is known for, Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo transforms North Broad’s Liacouras Center into a Carnival-like celebration of life.
Philly Beer Week returns this June with 10 days of events, tastings, happy hours, pub crawls and foamy fun. Since 2007, the annual tradition has brought together breweries from around the city — and country — to show us all why Philly is one of the best beer cities. Keep an eye on the official calendar and the Philly Loves Beer Instagram page for Beer Week events announcements.
Where: Locations TBA
The annual music festival curated by and named for Philly hip-hop band The Roots always has the most exciting lineup, highlighting both groundbreaking up-and-comers and legendary acts alike. For the 2024 festival, attendees can look forward to performances from Philly’s own Jill Scott, the incomparable Lil Wayne and 90s rap royalty Nas. Did we mention 2024 Grammy Award-winner Victoria Monety, André 3000 (and his flute), Gunna, Fantasia and Babyface? Whew.
The country’s largest Black and African cultural festival — now in its 49th year and drawing nearly 500,000 attendees — brings an authentic taste of Africa to South Philadelphia. ODUNDE begins with a week of events and culminates on Sunday, June 9, 2024 with an outdoor festival featuring dozens of vendors, live music and performances, and pay-as-you-go African, Caribbean and soul food dishes.
Where: Centered at South Street & South 23rd Street
Don your colors: Philly’s big Pride celebration is back! This year’s event, with the theme of “Be You,” kicks off with a free-to-join march from Independence Mall, followed by a big festival in the vibrant Gayborhood. Festivalgoers can expect live performances, pay-as-you-go food trucks, family-friendly activities and more.
Where: March starts at South 6th and Walnut Streets
VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (1)
This popular twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country (97 years strong in 2024) — returns to the perimeter of Rittenhouse Square and features works by more than 140 professional artists specializing in media ranging from sculpture to paintings.
Where: Rittenhouse Square, 1800 Walnut Street
Philadelphia marks the anniversary of African Americans’ emancipation from enslavement with a parade and festival featuring vendors, food, music and a children’s village. Stay tuned for more info about this year’s event.
Where: Various locations including Malcolm X Park, 5100 Pine Street
Things heat up in the City of Brotherly Love with concerts all summer long. Big names include:
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a glowing, 200-foot-long serpent and dozens of other handcrafted creations. The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival invites you to explore Franklin Square under the light of massive, intricate lanterns depicting fantastical creatures, familiar critters and more. As you roam, learn and buy from expert artisans, take in cultural performances, and indulge in classic Asian cuisine and American comfort food. The park’s regular attractions remain open alongside the installations, so feel free to hop on the Parx Liberty Carousel, play a round of mini-golf (both at discounted rates), or catch a fountain show before you go.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street
One of the largest outdoor art fests in the tri-state area returns to Philly’s Manayunk neighborhood for two days of food, fun and creativity. This free-to-attend festival highlights artwork and crafts by artists from around the country, from glass and ceramics to photography and paintings.
You may not know the names of these 19th- and 20th-century leaders in the American art scene, but you would recognize their work (French’s Seated Abraham Lincoln is the centerpiece of Washington, D.C’s Lincoln Memorial and Saint-Gaudens’s Diana sat atop Madison Square Garden until it found a permanent home welcoming guests to Philly’s own Museum of Art.) For the first time ever, the Michener brings the sculptures of the two contemporaries (and rivals) together in conversation to explore the role public art plays in reflecting, informing and sometimes obscuring truths about our nation.
Where: Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown
This West Philly festival draws thousands of revelers each year to celebrate jazz music in all its flavors. Tap your toes to some of Philly’s funkiest jazz musicians, visit community vendors to buy locally made goods, or take a load off with cool treats and summer eats at the food trucks. The Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Fest is free to attend, with pay-as-you-go food and refreshments. For updates and this year’s lineup, keep an eye on the festival’s Instagram.
Where: Saunders Park Greene, N. 39th Street & Powelton Avenue
*Insert jungle noises* Take a sip on the wild side at the Philadelphia Zoo’s Summer Ale Festival. This 21-and-up annual event features live music and entertainment, scrumptious food trucks, open animal exhibits, and over 100 award-winning craft beers, seltzers and ciders. Tickets are required and include complimentary parking, a souvenir tasting cup and a free shuttle from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. Keep an eye out: The full list of breweries, food trucks and live music will be announced soon on their website.
Follow Fanny Brice, a wide-eyed girl from the Lower East Side, as she embarks on an unlikely journey to stage superstardom. A love letter to the world of theater, this beloved musical features an updated songbook from Harvey Fierstein, which includes classics like Don’t Rain On My Parade, People and I’m the Greatest Star.
Showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world, the BlackStar Film Festival brings features, shorts, documentaries, panel discussions and parties to multiple venues in the city. The Oscar-qualifying fest celebrates some of the most influential voices in filmmaking and visual arts.
Featuring the infectious music of ABBA, this feel-good, mother-daughter musical transports audiences to a gorgeous Greek island as a soon-to-be bride searches for her father on the eve of her wedding.
Produced by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, this annual celebration of folk music features a lineup of contemporary and legendary folk artists. Genre-bending band Gangstagrass is set to take the stage in 2024 and more artists will be announced in the coming days. Also on the dockets: camping, workshops and activities.
Where: Old Pool Farm, 1323 Salford Station Road, Harleysville
Crazy. Colorful. Cool. Part music festival, part foodie paradise, this rain-or-shine affair brings over 120 purveyors of the best-in-plant-based food and drink directly to you. In between bites, dance to fun music courtesy of fun DJs and yet-to-be-named special guests, snap shots at the Insta-ready interactive art installations, and connect with other sustainability-minded festival goers — whether you identify as vegan, plant-based, omnivore or anything in between.
Where: Marine Parade Grounds, The Navy Yard, S. Broad Street
Ukrainian folk music and dance, authentic food (including barbecue), and traditional arts and crafts are hallmarks of the Ukrainian Folk Festival in North Wales, returning for its 33rd year in late summer. Tickets are required (sold at the gate) and a portion of proceeds go toward humanitarian aid for victims of the war in Ukraine.
Where: Ukrainian American Sports Center, 1 Lower State Road, North Wales
Did you know that the “Mushroom Capital of the World” is just outside of Philadelphia? To celebrate its unusual claim to fame, the charming town of Kennett Square hosts a two-day Mushroom Festival every September, full of fungi-themed food, live music, special exhibits, chef demonstrations and family-friendly activities.
Where: 600 S. Broad Street, Kennett Square
Spotlighting the bustling arts scene in Bucks County, the Doylestown Arts Festival is a two-day juried art, music and food showcase along the streets of Doylestown. This year — the festival’s 33rd anniversary — attendees can expect over 150 artists specializing in glass, pottery, wood, printmaking, live art demonstrations, music and a vast food court.
Where: East State & North Main Streets, Doylestown
WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, brings together musical legends and new performers along the Camden waterfront at this can’t-miss annual fest at Wiggins Waterfront Park. This year’s lineup includes The Walkmen, Rosanne Cash, Pete Yorn and many more.
Where: Wiggins Waterfront Park, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
The fall edition of this twice-a-year event — the oldest outdoor fine arts show in the country — brings paintings, glassware, sketches and more to Rittenhouse Square for an outdoor gallery featuring work by talented artists and crafters. Stay tuned to the event’s official website for upcoming details about featured artists.
Where: Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street & South 18th Street
This ain’t your grandfather’s baseball team. The TikTok-famous baseballers take the field in South Philly for nine innings of trick pitches, choreographed dances and epic entrances.
¡Wepa! Thousands of spectators line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for this annual parade and celebration of Latino culture. More than 1,500 marchers make their way down the Parkway each year, featuring traditional Latino music, dance performances, floats and more.
Where: Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Produced by the Center for Architecture and Design and celebrating its 20th year, DesignPhiladelphia is a multi-day fest highlighting the city’s design excellence, the skills of local designers and the impact of design on everyday life. Be on the lookout for panels, parties and tour announcements.
Prost! Transport yourself to Germany without leaving Bucks County as Peddler’s Village hosts its annual OctoberFeast. Over the course of two days, visitors can sample beers in the beer garden, enjoy fare from food trucks, and delight in German brass music and folk dances.
The Philly Bike Ride invites cyclists of all skill levels to cruise through 20 miles of car-free streets. The closed-course route takes bicyclists from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and back, past popular monuments. The ride ends with a festival featuring music, food and activities. Registration is required to participate in the Philly Bike Ride, but the finish line festival is open to the public and free to attend.
October 19-20 and 26-27, 2024
Hundreds of artists and community spaces open their doors to the public during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), an annual tradition that seeks to make workshops, galleries and other creative spaces more accessible. Studios west of Broad Street are open October 19 and 20, 2024; studios east of Broad Street are open October 26 and 27, 2024.
Where: Various studios and galleries in Philadelphia (TBA)
Rowers of all levels — high school, college, elite and world champions — converge on the Schuylkill River for the two-day Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. The race winds along Kelly Drive, which offers optimal viewing points and a festive atmosphere featuring food trucks, artisans, athlete meet-and-greets and more.
Where: Kelly Drive & Fountain Green Drive
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s modern Broadway blockbuster returns to the city of its namesake’s greatest achievements (from Revolutionary War artillery officer to presidential advisor and founder of the first national bank) and his romantic downfall (the Reynolds affair). Don’t miss your shot to be in the room where it happens when Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and the rest of the revolutionary gang arrive at the Academy of Music.
Fall’s premier fruit steals the scene during this annual fall festival at Peddler’s Village. From fresh apple cider to apple pies, no apple delicacy is off limits for tasting and purchase.
Among the largest festivals of its kind, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival celebrates and showcases the stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders in film, performance art, music and other creative expressions during its multi-day run and during special events throughout the year.
Museum-quality handmade jewelry, textiles and mixed media are on display and for sale during this juried show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Now in its 48th year, the show features 195 artists representing 13 different categories of art and design.
One of the country’s premier — and most scenic — running events sends thousands of athletes through historic Center City, past the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, while spectators (some with cheeky signs) cheer them on. The weekend often includes an 8K race, a half-marathon, a Children’s Run and more.
The nation’s oldest Thanksgiving Day parade — celebrating its 105th year — brings larger-than-life floats, spectacular marching bands, dazzling dancers, A-listers and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
First weekend of December 2024 (official date TBA)
Yo, Philly! Last year, on the 47th anniversary of the Rocky movie premiere, Sylvester Stallone returned to Philly’s famous Rocky Steps to announce Rocky Day as the city’s newest holiday. For this year’s second annual celebration, guests can celebrate Philly’s most iconic film with a weekend full of Rocky-themed activities and special events. Stay tuned for more info about this year’s event.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks, including tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, or the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?