Get ready, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is this weekend

Grease poles, cannolis, drinks in pineapples, Italian music, and a seven-block-long party can only mean one thing in Philadelphia and that’s because the annual South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is this weekend!

This Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival will take over seven blocks of South Philadelphia in the Italian Market as a celebration of the famous open-air market, its culture and traditions, and all the businesses within it.

If you are planning to drive to South Philly be aware that Ninth Street from Wharton to Fitzwater, including adjacent intersections such as Catherine Street, Christian Street, Carpenter Street, Washington Avenue, Ellsworth Street, and Federal Street, will be closed during festival hours.

The annual Grease Pole climbing competition will be held on both Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The Procession of Saints will start at 11 a.m. at the historic Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi Church at 712 Montrose St.

The procession will pause for a blessing of the market at 9th and Washington, and then proceed along S. 9th to Christian Street, and conclude at St. Paul Catholic Church.

The John Marzano Half Ball Tournament will begin at 9 a.m. at the Christopher Columbus Charter School schoolyard.

Grease Pole Climbing Schedule:

• Saturday, May 18
  • 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 19
  • 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.

Music performances on Saturday, May 18:

• DJ Timmy Desimone
  • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Variable Elements
  • 12- 2 p.m.
• DJ Eric Bartello
  • 2-3 p.m.
• Slay Town City
  • 3-5 p.m.

Music performances on Sunday, May 19:

• DJ Timmy Desimone
  • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Juliano Brothers
  • 12-2 p.m.
• DJ Eric Bartello
  • 2-3 p.m.
• Philly Heart and Soul
  • 3-5 p.m.

Full list of participating vendors:

aym.
12 Steps Down
Action Karate
Addvent
Adorned by Aisha
Afterglow
Alien Bratz
Alma del Mar
Ana Thorne
Annie’s Pooch Pops
Anthony’s Coffee House
Arepa Grub Spot
Art By Alicia
Arte Sania Guatemaltecade Ana
Artevolar
As Seen on TV
Avalon Days Jewelry
Aztec Mexican Grill
Bacon on a Stick
Bakery,LLC
Bee Handmade Boutique
Beekmans Copa Soaps
Bella Italia Genealogy
Bella Vista Neighbors Association
Blue Corn
Body By Rigatoni
BRG Financial LLC
Buena Vista Restaurant
business
Butchs Hot Stuff Hot Sauce
Cadillac Allante XLR Club
Cappuccio’s Meats
Castle Windows
Champagne On A Wednesday
Charmed
Cheers to the Season
Clay For Days
Collectible Art
Color & Flame
Commonwealth Charter Academy
Cousins Maine Lobster
Crochet Vision
Cutco
Cutie Pies Jewelry
D’Abruzzo
Dainty Studios
Di Brunos Brothers
El Pueblo Mini Market
Ela Mella
Ensemble Arts Philly
Esposito’s Meats
Fante’s Kitchen Shop
Foltz’s Pretzels
Fresh Jawn
GeoMetricGem
Gmaturnedbowls
Gorband
Green Mountain Energy
Grow Beautiful, My Darling
Haagen-Dazs
Helen Ethel Jewelry
Hiero Maar
Honorable Oak
Humpty Dumpling
Ice Delights
Insomnia Cookies
Interstate Drafthouse
Isgro Pastries
IV Woodworks
Jazzy River Designs
Jean Broden Art
Jerky Hut
Jersey Graphic Designs
Kaleidoscope
Keith Mountford Fine Art
Knights of Columbus San Salvador Council #283
La Ingrata
Li Ping Corn Company
Life Art by Stacey Granger
Lily Lough Jewelry
Little Brown Box
Little House Candles
Lo Bello Imports
Lorenzo’s
Los Gallos
LS & Co
M&M Links Jewelry
Maker Missya
Melmos Dog Treats
Metz Art Gallery
Mike BBQ
Molly Rose Post Jewelry
Molly’s Book + Records
Moocheeze
Mt Crystal
Nora’s Wishes Studio
NRG
Old Fashioned Kettle Korn
Our Market Project
OxybathandCotton
Pace Roofing
Parcel Island
Patrick Michael Accessories
Paul Carpenter Art
Pet Snobs Boutique
Philly Tacos
Piggyback Treats Company
Psychic Dreams and Crystal Dreams
Ralph’s Italian Restaurant
rdshadez
Redwood Durable
Renewal by Andersen
RethinkTANK llc
ReUp Fashion
Rios
Saravella
Savvy Fit Soaps
Sew Much Cooler
Shady Sunglass Deals
Soldier Solutions
South House
Southwest Expressions
Sparklekat
Spector Sports Art
Spielman Photography LLC
St Paul’s Parish
Stanflield Ceramics
State Farm
Station Bar: Crabs & Macaroni
Stoked Pineapple
Sugar Crunch
SUNDYES.good.vibes
Susan Rifkin Jewelry Designs
Tallutos
Tenangos Philly
Terraintextures
The Deli Collective
The Indigo Sanctuary
The Little Sicilian
The Pasta Truck
The Station Bar
Thrive Flower
Tutto Italiano
Two Robbers
United States Marine Corp
Vacation Village
Variedades Agata
Venisustore
Verizon
Villa Di Roma
Vini Buoni Imports
Vive 1977
Waffl’d
Wild Raven Boutique
Window Nation
Yardsale Press

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PHL17.com.