Year after year, Philadelphia’s roster of events and festivals provides irresistible reasons for visitors to come to — and fall in love with — Philadelphia.
That a city so rich in history continues to both celebrate and improve on its legacy is a testament to Philly pride and invention.
The 2019 calendar starts with the 122nd Mummers Parade and continues with the world’s largest indoor Flower Show, the food-packed South 9th Street Italian Market Festival, the dazzling Chinese Lantern Festival, the epic Philly Beer Week, a five-day Fourth of July celebration (Wawa Welcome America) and the nation’s oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade, to name a few.
The events below are some of the biggest happenings coming to the city in 2019 – drawing tens of thousands of people. But these mark just a sampling of the hundreds of events that take place in Philadelphia every season. For more comprehensive lists of events and festivals coming to Philly this year, check out our Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter guides.
Here’s a look at what’s going on this year in Philadelphia region.
Center City District attracts winter revelers to the spacious public park neighboring City Hall during its Winter at Dilworth Park programming. Visitors can ice skate at the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, relax with a warm seasonal beverage at the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin and stroll through the seasonal plant arrangements in the lush Wintergarden.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street
Celebrating its 25th anniversary season, this winter wonderland along the Delaware River features fire pits, a game room, a chalet-style lodge with food and beverages, a confectionary cabin, cozy warming cabins, a kids’ lodge with arcade games and plenty more — all centered around a regulation-sized skating rink with fantastic views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Where: Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
The winter edition of Center City District Restaurant Week brings deal-fueled meals — three-course lunches for $20 or three-course dinners for $35 — to more than 80 Center City hot spots, including Barbuzzo, Mercato, Amada, Jamonera, Mission Taqueria and more.
Where: Various locations including Butcher and Singer, 1500 Walnut Street
The Philadelphia Auto Show puts the automotive industry’s latest creations on a 700,000-square-foot display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the showplace for more than 700 concept, classic, luxury and exotic cars.
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street
The Lunar New Year falls on February 5 this year, but the celebrations in Philadelphia run before (and after) the official date. For 2019’s the Year of the Pig, revelers can look forward to a parade through Chinatown, midnight lion-dance performances and special events at Reading Terminal Market, the Independence Seaport Museum, The Rail Park and more. Peruse a guide to the Lunar New Year in Philadelphia here.
Where: Various locations including Reading Terminal Market, 51 N. 12th Street
For 10 days this February, the city’s theater scene gets a festival of its own during Philly Theatre Week. Back for its second year, the event — which features 81 different organizations hosting 100 events and more than 315 performances — promises affordable theater opportunities (all events are either free, $15 or $30 per person) within the Philadelphia region. Events include shows, classes, readings and parties.
The Philadelphia Flyers — who narrowly lost round one of the “Battle for Pennsylvania” in 2017 at Heinz Field in front of 67,000 hockey fans — meet the Pittsburgh Penguins again for round two of the NHL’s outdoor stadium series, this time at Lincoln Financial Field.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way
Diners can experience South Philly’s most sought-after dishes and settings when East Passyunk Avenue restaurants offer three-course prix fixe lunches and dinners (tax, alcohol and gratuity not included) for $15-$35.
Where: Locations TBD, Philadelphia
Themed Flower Power for 2019, the world’s largest indoor flower show celebrates the impact flowers have on society in the year of the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
This annual festival celebrates all genres of film that pertain to or were created by members of the LGBTQ communities, with venues to be announced.
Where: Locations TBA, Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s ever-expanding celebration of the grape features 200-plus events in 60-some restaurants and bars across the city.
Where: Location TBA, Philadelphia
This springtime tradition features a week of citywide cultural celebrations, film screenings, kimono dressing, demonstrations of nihon buyo, traditional dance and martial arts, culminating in Sakura Sunday at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park.
Where: Various locations including Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Lansdowne and Horticultural drives
This annual event includes private exhibits that have never been shown in museums, documentary films, historical reenactments, panel discussions, lectures, workshops, poetry readings, theatrical performances and historical concerts, all at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
At the nation’s oldest and largest collegiate track meet, high school, college and professional track stars compete at the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Franklin Field. The three-day event runs an average of one race every five minutes.
Where: Franklin Field, 235 S. 33rd Street
A pioneering multi-day gathering of people of different races, ethnicities and sexual orientations consists of a diverse array of events known for bringing together thousands of members of the African-American and LGBTQ communities — always the same weekend as the Penn Relays.
With hands-on events for kids, sophisticated activities for adults and a carnival, this citywide event demonstrates the role science plays in everyday life.
Where: Various locations including The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street
South Philly’s buzzing East Passyunk Avenue celebrates its culinary spirit when more than two dozen of the neighborhood’s most popular restaurants and bars gather to dish out their goods, and bands, a fashion show and a craft market entertain outdoors.
Where: East Passyunk Avenue between Dickinson and Morris streets
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival illuminates Franklin Square with grand, artistic creations. For two months, the square comes alive with thousands of LED lights strewn across different displays of intricate, handcrafted lanterns constructed by lantern artisans from China.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street
More than 25,000 business leaders, tech geeks and the technically challenged participate in more than 100 events, including a variety of programs, interactive activities and workshops that celebrate and highlight emerging trends, advances and innovating uses of technology.
Thousands of revelers take part in alfresco family fun, spanning Headhouse Square and along South Street. The event always includes a giant Maypole, a few dozen concerts, eating contests, a kids’ zone, nearly 200 vendors and Maifest, Brauhaus Schmitz’s German beer and dancing extravaganza.
Where: South Street and 7th Street
The famed 40,000-runner, 10-mile run spans the Logan neighborhood to South Philly — a raucous yet serious 40-year-old tradition.
Where: Race takes place on Broad Street
Beginning with an Equality Flag ceremony on Saturday, May 11 and continuing with a weeklong celebration, this LGBTQ tradition spans the hamlet of New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey. The fest concludes with a Pride Parade that crosses the bridge from Lambertville to New Hope, the site of a fair featuring outdoor performances and events.
Where: Various locations in New Hope
This sweet tradition returns for the 41st year! Village shops stay open late as guests enjoy two days of events centered around fresh, locally grown berries. Treats take the form of pastries, jams and chocolate-dipped bites, and strawberries are also available for purchase by the pint. The Strawberry Festival also includes a craft show, live entertainment, kid crafts and more.
Where: Peddler's Village, 2400 Street Road, New Hope
A come-one, come-all street fest transforms the Rittenhouse neighborhood with live music, outdoor shopping, fashion events, international entertainment and food from some of the city’s most renowned restaurants.
Where: South 18th Street and Walnut Street
This annual festival features live entertainment, games (including a greased pole-climbing contest) and food, plus the South 9th Street Italian Market’s dazzling array of homemade sausages, delicious cannoli, imported meats and cheeses, cappuccino, beef and poultry, specialty cookware and fresh pasta.
Where: 9th Street Italian Market, 9th Street and Washington Avenue
Over a weekend in May and June, the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival showcases feature films, shorts, youth films, animations and documentaries in English or Spanish with subtitles by established and emerging Latino and Latin American filmmakers. Workshops and discussions round out the offerings.
The 12th annual celebration of Philadelphia’s vibrant beer culture takes over the city and region for 10 days. Events include tastings, lectures, beer-pairing dinners and more.
May – October 2019 (select dates)
This popular pop-up street festival unites Philly’s top mobile food purveyors with the city’s most enthusiastic eaters and highlights a different neighborhood during each event (typically four per year), with live music and entertainment. This year, the Night Market heads to El Centro De Oro (May 9; postponed from May 2), Overbrook (June 20) Fairmount Avenue (August 15) and Point Breeze (October 3).
Where: Various locations including El Centro De Oro, 5th Street and Lehigh Avenue
May 2019 (TBA)
Enthusiasts of riverside chilling enjoy the hammocks, patio games, boardwalk pizza, floating gardens, draft beer, cocktails and cool breezes at this popular Penn’s Landing pop-up.
Where: Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
A five-minute walk from Spruce Street Harbor Park, Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest offers a roller rink, a boathouse-styled lodge, a play area for kids, carnival-style fun, food and drink options, events throughout the season, a Ferris wheel and carnival games.
Where: Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
The annual music festival curated by and named for Philly hip-hop band The Roots returns to the city with an all-star lineup that includes Lil Baby, 21 Savage, H.E.R. and a host of other acts. The 2019 event, which is also a celebration of The Roots’ Things Fall Apart album, is held for the first time ever at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts with multiple stages inside the Fairmount Park venue.
Where: The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue
The East Coast’s largest African-American street festival, now in its 44th year, begins with a week of events and culminates with a spiritual procession to the Schuylkill River to ring in the Yoruba New Year, followed by music, dance and vendors along South Street.
Where: South 23rd Street and South Street
Now in its 31st year, Philly’s pride events take place during International Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and feature live music, merchants, craft vendors, DJs, food, drinks and a parade that runs from the Gayborhood to Penn’s Landing.
Where: Parade starts at South 13th Street and Locust Street
Historic Germantown honors the ratification of the 13th Amendment with special festivities along the Avenue and a day of historical reenactments, tours, children’s activities and food and drink at the Johnson House Historic Site.
Where: Various locations on Germantown Avenue including the Johnson House Historic Site, 6306 Germantown Avenue
June – September 2019 (TBA)
The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing celebrates the diverse cultures that make Philadelphia a distinct city during a free festival series that includes the Hispanic Fiesta, Islamic Heritage Festival, Irish Festival and Brazilian Day Philadelphia, among others.
Where: Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia honors the ratification of the 13th Amendment with special festivities in Center City, beginning with an “Honor Our Ancestors” breakfast followed by a parade and music festival in West Philly. The parade starts at 52nd and Jefferson streets, moves south on 52nd Street and ends with a music festival at Malcolm X Park.
Where: Various locations including Malcolm X Park, 1575 N. 52nd Street
More than 300 artists from around the nation set up shop along Manayunk’s Main Street for the region’s largest outdoor juried arts festival.
Where: Main Street in Manayunk
Philly’s multiday birthday party hosts free events for all ages throughout the city, including outdoor concerts, museum days, a patriotic parade, block parties and fantastic fireworks.
Where: Various locations including the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Benjamin Franklin Parkway and North 22nd Street
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) presents the Concacaf Gold Cup every two years for teams in the regions of North and South America and the Caribbean to compete for the championship title. In summer 2019, soccer fans can experience a doubleheader — part of the event’s quarterfinals — at Lincoln Financial Field.
Mid-2019
The 60-story Comcast Technology Center, the tallest building in Philadelphia, welcomes a luxury occupant in 2019. Guests take a high-speed elevator to the 219-room Four Seasons’ top-floor sky lobby. Among the hotels’ amenities: a spa, fitness facility and infinity pool on the 57th floor; restaurants by award-winning chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Greg Vernick; and more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space, including two fifth-floor ballrooms.
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at the Comcast Center, 1 N. 19th Street
More than 30 eclectic University City restaurants take part in this three-course, three-price dinner promo featuring $15, $25 or $35 meals (not including tax, alcohol or gratuity).
WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, brings together musical legends and new performers along the Camden Waterfront. The 2019 lineup includes Hozier, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Blondie, Japanese Breakfast, Killiam Shakespeare and more exciting acts.
Where: Various locations including Wiggins Park, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
The annual showing of look-but-don’t-touch vintage classics, hot rods and more line South Philly’s East Passyunk Avenue, as do food trucks and craft vendors.
Where: 1904 East Passyunk Avenue
Summer 2019 (TBA)
The 180-year-old fountain and centerpiece of one of Center City’s original public squares, as envisioned in the 17th century by Philadelphia founder William Penn, gets a dramatic $2 million update. Day and night, the free choreographed shows will feature dancing water, lights and music from Philadelphia artists.
Hailed by Ebony magazine as “the black Sundance,” this film festival screens artistically excellent independent films about the global Black experience and films by people of color.
The Made in America music festival returns to take over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia, with an epic lineup featuring Cardi B, Travis Scott, James Blake, Kaskade, Jorja Smith and more established and up-and-coming musicians.
Where: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway
For two weeks, avant-garde performance meets street theater throughout the city during Philly’s take on Edinburgh, Scotland’s live arts festival.
Where: Various locations including FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Boulevard
Kennett Square, the “Mushroom Capital of the World,” puts the fun in fungi during the town’s 34th annual weekend of music, food, contests, exhibits and activities in celebration of the mushroom.
Where: 101 South Union Street, Kennett Square
Three city blocks transform the old Gallery mall into a retail, dining and entertainment destination. Retailers Asics, Columbia, Forever 21, H&M, Levi’s, Polo Ralph Lauren, Skechers, Zales and Zumiez join already open Century 21 and Burlington stores. Other newcomers: an AMC theater, Dallas BBQ’s first location outside of New York City and the seventh location of City Winery, offering fine dining, concerts and food and wine classes. Market Eats, a collection of quick-dining options, adds to stalwart tenant Tiffany’s Bakery.
Where: Fashion District Philadelphia, 1101 Market Street
Kicking off each year with the Feria Del Barrio, this monthlong celebration of the Latino community continues with the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Mexican Restaurant Week and festivals throughout the region. Stay tuned for more info on specific dates and events in 2019.
Where: Various locations including the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard
September 20 – November 9, 2019
Thrill-seekers celebrate the Halloween season by testing their nerves at Eastern State Penitentiary’s annual haunt, one of the country’s most popular, inside an abandoned prison.
Where: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue
Fall 2019 (TBA)
An autumn reprise of the January event offers three courses at dozens of the city’s top eateries cost just $35 for dinner and $20 for lunch, where available (tax, alcohol and gratuity not included).
All month long, Mural Arts Philadelphia honors its approximately 4,000 works of public art with trolley tours of neighborhood gardens, mosaics and a lineup of free and pay-what-you-wish events.
Music, food, sidewalk sales and other festivities take Midtown Village’s neighborhood block party to an ultra-fun level.
Where: South 13th Street and Chestnut Street
Philly’s part of National Coming Out Day Festival is the largest event of its kind in the world. The 10-block Gayborhood party packs in the fun with drag shows, games, bar crawls, music, shopping and a main stage featuring live entertainment — including a high-heeled race.
Where: South 13th Street and Locust Street
Artists, makers, designers, entertainers, restaurateurs and historians all come out to celebrate the neighborhood’s creative spirit throughout several blocks along North 3rd Street and Arch Street, where activities, exhibits and programs appeal to both families and the over-21 crowd.
Where: Arch Street & North 3rd Street
For the 28th year, this 10-day festival shows the best in independent and foreign cinema in theaters and venues around Philadelphia. Attendees take in short films, feature-length films, animated movies and special guest appearances.
October 2-13, 2019 (select dates)
The entire city celebrates the nation’s oldest festival of its kind, with over 85 events that highlight local to global designers. The Center for Architecture and Design hosts exhibits, lectures, workshops and demonstrations focused on architecture, interior design, industrial design, multimedia and urban design at venues all around town.
Where: Various locations including Center for Architecture and Design, 1218 Arch Street
Rowers and landlubbers look forward to the one of the nation’s largest and most festive rowing events featuring athletes of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to Olympic-level racers.
Where: Kelly Drive and Fountain Green Drive
Philly’s fast course winds through the city’s historic downtown, past the stunning Philadelphia Museum of Art and along scenic Boathouse Row, and is one of the country’s premier — and most scenic — running events. The weekend also includes the Rothman Institute 8K race, a half-marathon, a Kids Fun Run and the two-day Health & Fitness Expo.
Where: Benjamin Franklin Parkway & North 21st Street
The Army Black Knights take on the Navy Midshipmen in this epic collegiate rivalry, celebrating its 120th year in 2019 and returning to Lincoln Financial Field.
December 2019
As temperatures drop in the history-rich, tradition-steeped city of Philadelphia, holiday spirit spills from shops, theaters, restaurants and parks. Every must-do holiday list includes visits to Macy’s Christmas Light Show, the skating rink and carousel at City Hall, the Academy of Music for a performance of The Nutcracker and Broad Street for the Mummers Parade.
Where: Various locations including City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
Hamilton on stage, the opening of the Fashion District, the Four Seasons, public art and more...