Fall is a lovely time to be in Philadelphia. Along with the changing leaves and the crisp weather comes a superabundance of neighborhood and citywide festivals sure to satisfy any age group or interest. Below are some of the very best festivals Philadelphia has to offer:
Longwood Gardens Autumn Colors Festival
Dates: Sept 7th through November 24, 2013
Longwood Gardens celebrates the harvest season with Autumn’s Colors, a festive showcase of fall colors, giant pumpkins, unusual gourds and live concerts. Longwood’s landscapes glow with shades of yellow, orange, purple and red trees. Golden honey locusts and ginkgoes, scarlet sweet gums and sourwoods and ruby northern red oaks add bursts of color.
Date: September 28th, 2013
Philadelphia will welcome back thousands of college students during its annual Campus Philly College Day, a city-wide day of discounts, giveaways, entertainment and free admission to museums and more on September 29. Throughout the day, students will gain free admission to museums and attractions in Historic Philadelphia, Center City and along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Date: September 21st, 2013
StrEAT is the kick-off of the five day Manayunk Restaurant Week on Saturday, September 29. Main Street will be lined with some of Philadelphia’s best food trucks with specialties ranging from ice cream to Asian delicacies.
New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival
Dates: September 28-29, 2013 Sat 10-6 / Sun 10-5
The New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival highlights the work of premier artists and artisans specializing in photography, watercolors, oils, pastels, pen and ink drawings, silver and gold jewelry, ceramics, wearable art, glass, wood, sculpture and furniture. Exhibitors sell the works on display in booths lining Union Square.
Date: September 29th, 2013 12-4pm
Come for the local foods, crafts and entertainment and stay for the beer garden with craft brews from Victory Brewing Company during the Downingtown FallFest.
Date: October 3rd, 2013
It’s time for another round of Night Market Philadelphia, the roving outdoor food truck bazaar that visits neighborhoods throughout the city to dish up mobile eats, live music and crafts. Centered around 10th and Race Streets will be dozens of the city’s best mobile food vendors plus live bands, local artists’ crafts and much more.
Dates: October 11-13th, 2013
Independence Seaport Museum is launching the Old City Seaport Festival, a weekend-long fest with Tall Ships, live music, crafts, vendors and activities along the waterfront plus refreshments from food trucks and a beer garden area on the museum’s outdoor second floor balcony.
Revolutionary Germantown Festival
Date: October 5, 2013 10am-5pm
On October 4, 1777, the Continental Army attempted to fight the British out of Germantown. Washington and his troops lost the battle and were forced to retreat to Valley Forge for the winter. Germantown commemorates the event on October 6 during the Revolutionary Germantown Festival with a battle reenactment, tours, food vendors and more.
Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival
Date: October 5, 2013
Stroll up Kelly Drive along the Schuylkill River for Philadelphia’s colorful annual celebration of an ancient Chinese tradition, the Dragon Boat Festival. The boats, festooned in brilliantly colored dragon heads and tails, are manned by teams of 20 paddlers and compete against each other in several heats throughout the day.
Date: October 5, 2013 12-5pm
The Fourth Annual RiverCity Festival is presented by the Fishtown Neighbors Association at historic Penn Treaty Park. The festival reinforces friendships in the community, promotes exciting local businesses and showcases everything that makes Fishtown stand out as a neighborhood with tremendous history and vibrancy.
Date: October 6, 2013
The six-block outdoor party is back, with food samples from Midtown Village restaurants, sidewalk sales, handmade items from artisans and crafters and the “Little Villagers” family-friendly area complete with a free moon bounce, sidewalk chalk and pumpkin painting.
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival
Date: October 6, 2013
Germantown Avenue is transformed into a festive outdoor arts and crafts marketplace at Fall for the Arts, with more than 150 artists displaying their works. Meanwhile, markets, restaurants and bars set up shop outside on the street serving festival-goers delicious eats and drinks. There will also be children’s activities, including face-painting and amusement rides, as well as live music on two stages and lots of alfresco dining.
Date: October 13, 2013
Don’t miss Philadelphia’s Outfest, a National Coming Out Day (NCOD) Festival that attracts more than 20,000 people to the region. The annual block party embraces the GLBT lifestyle and freedom. Philadelphia was one of the first cities to organize around NCOD on a large scale by creating a block party to showcase the many facets of the community.
Dates: October 10-18, 2013
Approximately 200,000 people are estimated to explore the world of design during more than 150 events held throughout the city. Design Philadelphia aims to celebrate and promote Philadelphia as a design capital and destination. It’s awesome.
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013 12-8
Time: Noon-8 pm
Rounding out the city-wide celebrations is the four-block South Street Bloktoberfest festival inviting guests of all ages to flock to the annual festival for beer, food and live music. Featuring multiple stages, beer from around the world and neighborhood resto’s and food trucks, the free-to-attend event marks its fourth year of beer chugging traditions.
Before the Bridge Music Festival
Date: October 12, 2013 12-10pm
Before the Bridge continues the long time tradition of Collingswood’s support of independent music, bringing artists from as far away as Brooklyn and Virginia.
Downingtown Friends Fall Festival
Date: October 12, 2013 9am-4pm
Celebrate fall with a full day of music, delicious foods, activities for children, as well as plants, crafts, and a silent auction.
Dates: October 17-27, 2013
Now in its 21st year, the Philadelphia Film Festival is 11 days of cinematic splendor, with more than 250 screenings of independent, feature, documentary and short films.
