Spring/summer/fall festivals in Philadelphia (Franklin Park, Franklin: for sale, houses, YMCA)

[FromGA]

Are there weekend festivals that are popular / recommended in the city in the spring / summer / fall?

Thanks.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by FromGA

Are there weekend festivals that are popular / recommended in the city in the spring / summer / fall?

Thanks.

There used to be somthing called Super Sunday, a sort of giant block party on the parkway in the fall but it seems to not happen any more.
In the summer the big deal is "Welcome America" which lasts about 10 days and centers around July 4th with concerts, fireworks and other celebrations every day in various parts of the city.

On Saturday May 1st, Rittenhouse Row, the merchant's association has a block party all day. They close Walnut St to traffic between Broad to the square and have booths selling stuff including entertainment and food from local resturants.

There is a similer event in the gayborhood on 13th st called Midtown Village Fall Festival, usually in October.

There are lots of smaller things going on all the time. For example the YMCA is closing the 1700 block of Christian St this Saturday for some kind of block party.

[a75206]

In addition to what Bryson mentioned, there are a ton of other events happening around the city throughout most of the year.

Summers also have food festivals dedicated to one international cuisine or the other almost every week at the Penn's Landing area on Delaware River. Also each night, there are fireworks at Penn's Landing during summmer...I think it's almost nightly.

In Fall, the Rittenhouse Square hosts an open air arts festival with artists from all over the country showing off their various arts, for sale. 18th St gets blocked off on the weekend during that fair.

There is also Odunde festival in south philly.

There is the Philly Jazz Fest in northern philly.

Some sports events basically turn into festivals/block parties... for example, the Philly International Bike Race is a huge party up in Manayunk where thousands of onlookers enjoy the pro cyclists climb the "Manayunk wall". Some of the biggest boat races such as the Dad Vail (biggest collegiate regatta in the world) bring out the crowds on the river. Actually, Kelly Drive and Fairmount Park seem to be closed for various walks/runs/regattas almost every other weekend in late Spring, Summmer, and early Fall.

In winter, the biggest show is probably the New Years Day parade which is unique tradition to Philly, the Mummers Parade. It's not just a few hours deal, it goes pretty much the whole day.

And talking about parades, the original Thanksgiving Day parade was in Philly, and it still goes down every year on the Ben Franklin Parkway. NYC's may be more famous now, but the Philly's is the original and still quite good.

[FromGA]

I am guessing this is what the below two notes were referring to: Philadelphia Intl Festival of the Arts

On Saturday May 1st, Rittenhouse Row, the merchant's association has a block party all day. They close Walnut St to traffic between Broad to the square and have booths selling stuff including entertainment and food from local resturants.

In Fall, the Rittenhouse Square hosts an open air arts festival with artists from all over the country showing off their various arts, for sale. 18th St gets blocked off on the weekend during that fair.

[a75206]

Originally Posted by FromGA

I am guessing this is what the below two notes were referring to: Philadelphia Intl Festival of the Arts

Nope, that is a completely different event, and this was the first year for it. It may only be a one-off event, in fact. The Rittenhouse Row festival and Rittenhouse Arts Show are two different events that are separate from PIFA and separate from each other as well.

PIFA has been on going since April 7th and is just about done now...having had an almost month-long, city-wide multiple disciple arts celebration, focused mainly at the Kimmel Center and other venues along the Ave of the Arts (S. Broad St.).

Rittenhouse Row spring festival:

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival | Rittenhouse Row | Rittenhouse Square | SPECIAL EVENTS | Phillyfunguide.com


Then there is also this beauty:

Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Rittenhouse Sq. PA