Top Spring and Early Summer Festivals in Philadelphia

Philadelphians love their festivals. Whether it’s local artisans and craftspeople sharing their wares on Penn’s Landing, a traditional Yoruba-style street fair on South Street or a craft beer party on East Passyunk Avenue, there’s always a reason to celebrate in neighborhoods in and around Center City. Mark your calendar for a few fantastic festivals in 2013.

Devon Horse Show

May 23-June 2

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is a multi-day horse-centric event. The Devon Horse show is the largest and oldest multi-breed outdoor horse festival in the country and runs from May 23 to June 2. The Country Fair section of the event incorporates food vendors, super candy offerings, shops, an art gallery and more. A number of events in addition to horse shows occur over the multiday festival. The full schedule of events is available here. MORE >>

Hidden City Festival

May 23-June 30

The Hidden City Festival shines the light on Philadelphia landmarks that are often looked over. The festival, which lasts from May 23 through June 30, welcomes local and national artists who are slated to create visual and performing arts installations at each site. Landmarks range from The Athenaeum of Philadelphia to Congregation Shivtei Yeshurun-Ezras Israel, a South Philadelphia storefront synagogue. MORE >>

Memorial Day Weekend at Chaddsford Winery

May 24-27

All weekend long, Chaddsford Winery hosts live music and of course lots of wine in celebration of the holiday weekend. From May 24 to 27, head out to the winery for a number of events. MORE >>

Fireworks and Fountains at Longwood Gardens

May 25

Just in time for Memorial Day, Longwood Gardens hosts its first Fireworks and Fountains event of the summer. On May 25, watch the attraction’s fountains light up and fireworks erupt to the music of Elton John. The event runs through the summer. MORE >>

40th Street Summer Series

May 25

All spring and summer long, University City District, The Rotunda and Penn join forces to present a series of outdoor concerts in the warm weather. The 40th Street Summer Series welcomes acclaimed performers of all types; from jazz to a ukulele orchestra. The first concert is on Saturday, May 25 and features the Brooklyn Qawwali Party, a jazz fusion group that incorporates the sounds of Pakistani folk music. The next concert is on Saturday, June 29 and features the Philadelphia Ukulele Orchestra. MORE >>

NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship at Lincoln Financial Field

May 25-27

Philadelphia plays host to some of the best college lacrosse players in the country. The NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship is coming to town and bringing with it a number of festive events for visitors and locals alike. Lincoln Financial Field will be abuzz with talented athletes and their friends and family to cheer them on from May 25 to 27. Attendees can check out the LaXperience Fan Fest just outside of the field. The area has a place for guests to show off their lacrosse skills, food and drink vendors, live entertainment and a chance to meet some of the championship’s biggest stars. MORE >>

Celebration of Black Writing

Ends June 1

Marking its 29th year in 2013, the citywide Celebration of Black Writing, hosted by Art Sanctuary, serves as one of the oldest African-American literary events in the nation. The month-long festival, themed Beautiful Without Permission: Celebrating the Literary Achievements of Black Women, features author readings and workshops for emerging writers and closes with a family day, complete with some of Philadelphia’s best food trucks, vendors, performances and more. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award goes to playwright Ntozake Shange, author of For Colored Girls Who Have onsidered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, and artist Nnenna Freelon. MORE >>

Radio 104.5 Summer Block Party

June 8, July 13, August 3, September 14

The Piazza hosts a score of great events all spring and summer long including the 104.5 Summer Block Party which welcomes popular bands to Philadelphia. For more information and the full lineup click here. MORE >>

PECO Multicultural Series

June-September

Every weekend of the summer is a new reason to celebrate at the PECO Multicultural Series, which brings the cultures of the world—from Ireland and Portugal to Israel and the Caribbean—to Penn’s Landing. MORE >>

Clark Park Music and Arts Festival

June and September (TBD)

Held on Saturdays closest to the summer solstice and fall equinox, the Clark Park Music and Arts Festival brings together music of all genres, arts and crafts, vendors and family activities in one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhood gathering spaces. MORE >>

Philly Beer Week

May 31-June 9

The local obsession with all-things fizzy and fermented comes to a foamy head during Philly Beer Week, a regional bacchanal with special dinners, tastings, pub crawls and brewery tours. MORE >>

The Roots Picnic

June 1

The start-of-the-summer event, The Roots Picnic, is set for Saturday, June 1 and boasts an impressive lineup. The Roots, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Solange, Trinidad James, Naughty By Nature and many more artists are set to grace Festival Pier stage at Penn’s Landing. MORE >>

Italian Festival and Craft Beer Day

June 2

During Philly Beer Week, East Passyunk plays up its roots with a daylong Italian Festival and Craft Beer Day, a pub crawl with a distinctly red sauce flavor, offering samples, brewer meet-and-greets and plenty of special deals. MORE >>

Manayunk Bike Race

June 2

Bikers flock to Manayunk on Sunday, June 2 for the annual Manayunk Bike Race, this year called the Philly Cycling Classic. This year’s course is shorter than previous year’s, but still brings bikers through Manayunk, East Falls, Kelly Drive and Fairmount Park. The women’s race begins at 8:30 a.m., and the men’s race follows shortly after in the early afternoon. MORE >>

Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show

June 7-9

Rittenhouse Square’s 82nd-annual Fine Arts Show is slated for June 7 to 9. The art-packed festival boats tents all along Rittenhouse Square that showcase unique pieces of art for sale. More than 100 artists come together to present their finest work for this annual festival. MORE >>

Vendy Awards

June 8

Philadelphia’s food trucks offer some fine food, and on Saturday, June 8, indulge in all the tasty food and beer you want as the food vendors come together for a giant festival known as the Vendy Awards. Now in its third year in Philadelphia, the Penn Treaty Park festival invites some of the most loved food trucks out for a day to determine which food truck is crowned best in Philly. The annual event is also a benefit for the Food Trust. Tickets are expected to sell out, so reserve your spot soon. MORE >>

Odunde Festival

June 9

Based on Yoruba traditions, the Odunde Festival celebrates the coming of another year for African-Americans and African people around the world with a procession, ceremonial offering and African marketplace, along with live music and dance. MORE >>

Philadelphia LGBT Pride Parade and Festival

June 9

On Sunday, June 9, the 25th-annual Philadelphia’s LGBT Pride Parade and Festival marches around the city and keeps prideful spirits on high. The parade begins at noon in the heart of the gayborhood and makes it way down to Penn’s Landing. Penn’s Landing comes alive at noon with festival events for all. MORE >>

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

June 13

The super popular Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns for 2013 on June 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. From 42nd Street to 50th Street on Baltimore Avenue, area vendors will provide discounted items from their shops for just one dollar. Can you say Little Baby’s scoops for $1? We can. MORE >>

Awesome Fest

June 14-August 19

Awesome Fest, the 80s themed film and music festival brings Philadelphia great outdoor and indoor programming all summer long. The festival runs from June 14 to August 19, kicking off with a performance by The Psychedelic Furs at the Trocadero Theatre on June 14 at 8 p.m. MORE >>

Bloomsday

June 16

James Joyce’s masterwork Ulysses serves as the focal point of Bloomsday, and the Rosenbach Museum and Library hosts the Philadelphia outpost of a worldwide all-day festival for literary enthusiasts. MORE >>

Drexel Park Film Series

June 20

As part of the Awesome Fest festival, Drexel Park hosts outdoor movies every Thursday night for the duration of the festival. The first film is the 1980s classic, Revenge Of The Nerds on Thursday, June 20 at 9 p.m. Future (and free) programming includes Adventures in Babysitting and Die Hard. MORE >>

Manayunk Arts Festival

June 22-23

Billed as the largest outdoor juried art show in the region, the Manayunk Arts Festival welcomes nearly 200,000 collectors, buyers and designers to peruse fine art and handmade goods along charming Main Street on June 22 and 23. MORE >>

Urban Beach Party

June 22

Summer in Fairmount begins with the Urban Beach Party, held on the Brown Street lawn at Eastern State Penitentiary and featuring games, music and food for the family. MORE >>