A Guide to the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival in Philadelphia

Highlights

The ultimate block party, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is about as “Philly” as it gets.

While the market’s culinary gems rightfully take center stage, there are a ton of only-in-Philadelphia traditions, competitions, activities and performances to keep you entertained in between bites.

Here’s a taste of what to expect:

Food & Drink

Mangia! It’s all about the food during this festive weekend:

• Enjoy two days filled with grab-and-go Italian American delicacies (think: pizza, pasta, cannoli, roast pork, sausage and peppers, and more) as well as fare from many of the excellent Mexican and South American restaurants located in and around the South 9th Street Italian Market.
• Quench your thirst with soft drinks and adult beverages on offer.
• Don’t miss dozens of other vendors and varying pop-up food competitions.

Art, Entertainment & Competitions

Besides chowing down, there’s lots more to see and do along Ninth Street all weekend long:

• Dance off a few of those calories in front of the festival’s two main stages, where DJs and local bands pump out the tunes all day.
• Witness feats of strength (or sign up to participate yourself!) in the greased-pole-climbing competition, where teammates work together to climb to the top of a 30-foot-tall lard-covered pole to retrieve meats, cheeses, money and other prizes.
• During the John Marzano Halfball Tournament, watch a lineup of the city’s best halfball players pay homage to the iconic street game and the tournament’s namesake neighborhood legend.

Procession of Saints

A Roman-Catholic tradition in many areas of Italy and Mexico, the Procession of Saints in Philadelphia dates back to at least the 1920s. During the procession, statues of saints and religious figures are carried through the streets by members of the community.

The procession starts at the historic Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi Church, pauses for a blessing of the market, proceeds north along Ninth to Christian Street, and concludes at St. Paul Catholic Church.

The Procession of Saints takes place on Sunday each year.

Getting There

The South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is a free event with pay-as-you-go food and drinks.

Street parking near the Italian Market is tight even on a non-festival day, so if driving is a must, aim for one of the nearby parking lots, including lots at 7th & Christian Streets, 7th & Fitzwater Streets, and 8th Street & Passyunk Avenue.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

For everyone else, public transportation is the way to go. Attendees can get to the festival via a number of SEPTA bus routes or by hopping on the B (Broad Street) subway line and getting off at either the Lombard-South or Ellsworth-Federal stations. From there, the Italian Market is just a short walk east.

For more information about the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival, including a list of participating vendors, scheduled events and more, click the button below.