Homesick Philly®

Homesick for Philly? Yeah, we thought so.

That’s why we’re inviting former residents and students back to the region to reconnect with and rediscover the neighborhoods, food, arts, culture, history and sports they adored when they lived, worked or went to school here.

This is where you’ll be reminded of those strong Philly ties and plan for your next trip (and hotel stay!) to reconnect with the city you have so much affection for.

So, what do you miss? We hear you that you’re homesick for Philly’s neighborhoods and walkability, the four seasons, the authenticity and the arts and culture.

Of course, love for the city’s iconic foods (cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, Tastykakes, Wawa hoagies) and sports teams (Go Birds! Go Phils!) majorly pull on those heartstrings, too.

So come on back — for festivals and special events, family or friend reunions and a great hotel package.

Homesick for the Holidays

Folks who are homesick for Philadelphia can enjoy a free classic Philly snack on one special day, thanks to a partnership between VISIT PHILADELPHIA and Philly Pretzel Factory. On Wednesday, December 19 at more than 75 stores from Texas to Massachusetts, Philly Pretzel Factory gives one free pretzel to in-store customers who say they are “homesick for Philly.” The Homesick for the Holidays giveaway hits nationwide stores at least 40 miles outside the city.

Check Out Homesick Philadelphians

Former Philadelphians miss their city, and VISIT PHILADELPHIA is welcoming them home with Homesick Philly. We asked three former Philadelphians in New York and Los Angeles about the Philly sights and sounds they remember and long for.

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Homesick Philly On The Road

VISIT PHILADELPHIA took the best of Philly on the road in the summer of 2018 to promote Homesick Philly, and draw former residents and students back to the region to reconnect with and rediscover the neighborhoods, food, arts, culture, history and sports they adored when they lived, worked or went to school here.

The road trip included a six-week presence at iHeartMedia’s Broadway in Bryant Park in New York City and a Philly-inspired food-truck tour that included stops in Washington, DC, Baltimore and Boston.

iHeartMedia’s Broadway in Bryant Park

We curbed that longing for Philly at iHeartMedia’s popular Broadway in Bryant Park music series on six consecutive Thursdays, July 12 – August 16, 2018. Each week, VISIT PHILADELPHIA popped up onsite at Bryant Park with giveaways, a contest and an activation space that Mural Arts Philadelphia artist Felix St. Fort used to paint a What You’ve Been Missing mural. The completed piece will be installed temporarily at Philadelphia’s Cherry Street Pier, managed by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.

Homesick Philly Tour

The Homesick Philly Tour kicked off in Philadelphia’s Dilworth Park on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 before heading to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Boston, the Homesick Philly Tour — a roving Philadelphia-branded food truck — encouraged festival- and event-goers to reminisce about their time in Philly by enjoying the foods they miss and other culinary creations (think candy cakes, chicken-cheesesteak kebabs and meatballs over polenta) from three Philadelphia chefs: Jennifer Carroll and Billy Riddle of Spice Finch; Kurt Evans of SOUTH; and Marcie Turney of Lolita, Barbuzzo, Bud & Marilyn’s, Little Nonna’s and Jamonera fame. The tour appeared:

• Tuesday, July 31, 2018, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Homesick Philly Tour Kickoff, City Hall’s Dilworth Park, Philadelphia
• Thursday, August 2, 2018, 5:30 p.m. – WTMD’s First Thursday Festival, Canton Waterfront Park, Baltimore
• Wednesday, August 8, 2018, 11 a.m. – LIVE! Concert Series, Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Washington, D.C.
• Thursday, August 16, 2018, 5 p.m. – Boston Calling Block Party, Dewey Square, Boston