Philadelphia, PA - With spring in full gear and summer on its way, the Philadelphia region will keep bellies full with a delicious, mostly neighborhood-centric lineup of food and drink festivals.
May through the fall features few empty weekends on the calendar—some are even double-booked. The Food Trust’s popular Night Market returns with four dates over the next six months. Other highlights include Philly Beer Week, the 9th Street Italian Market Festival, 2nd Street Festival and many more. Here’s a chronological list of the region’s top food and drink festivals:
June 1-11, 2017
PHILLY BEER WEEK. As part of the newly rechristened Philly Loves Beer initiative, the city’s 10-day beer week kicks off its 10th year when the famed “Hammer of Glory” smashes open the first keg at The Fillmore. The ensuing days and nights are filled with tastings, dinners, beer Quizzo, tailgate Olympics, happy hours (and naked happy hours), outdoor bashes and more. phillylovesbeer.org
June 24, 2017
PHILADELPHIA ZOO SUMMER ALE FESTIVAL. This 21-and-older event turns part of the country’s oldest zoo into the country’s most fun zoo too—with beer, entertainment and food to benefit the animals who dwell there. (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org
July 13-23, 2017
UNIVERSITY CITY DINING DAYS. When students clear out, noodle restaurants, barbecue joints, steakhouses and artisan pizzerias do deals—three-course, fixed price meals in the $15-$35 range—for a whopping ten days of dinners. (215) 243-0555, universitycity.org
July 15-16, 2017
BLUEGRASS AND BLUEBERRIES FESTIVAL. Live country and bluegrass music and berries—and the treats made with them—combine for a weekend-long midsummer celebration in lovely Bucks County. (215) 794-4000, peddlersvillage.com
August 6, 2017
2ND STREET FESTIVAL. The yearly festival on 2nd Street in Northern Liberties is as much about art and entertainment as it is food and drink, though there’s plenty of all that to go around, with food trucks and the local bars and restaurants along the boulevard as enthusiastic participants. 2ndstfestival.org
August 13, 2017
PHILLY S.E.E.D FESTIVAL. Sustainable Everyday Edibles and Drinkables is what the acronym stands for and the new vegan craft food and beer festival will cater to omnivores at Rivers Casino Casino, where those 21 and older can sample vegan food and drink from some Philadelphia’s best restaurants and breweries. phillyseed.com
September 2-4, 2017
CANSTATTER VOLKFEST. Every Labor Day weekend, the Canstatter German society in Torresdale hosts a three-day Oktoberfest party with crafts and lots of German food and beers in a festive, family-friendly environment. (215) 332-0121, cannstatter.org
September 9-10, 2017
KENNETT SQUARE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL. Always the weekend following Labor Day, the “mushroom capital of the world” puts the fun in fungi with outdoor culinary exhibits, contests, games and much more in a countryside Chester County borough. (610) 925-3373, mushroomfestival.org
September 23, 2017
PHILLY’S CHEESESTEAK AND FOOD FEST. Citizens Bank Park (CBP) will replace the Phillies for the day with Philly staples: cheesesteaks, hoagies, roast pork sandwiches, pretzels, water ice and beer. And, of course, no party at CBP is complete without the Phillie Phanatic on hand. cheesesteakfest.com
September 30, 2017
South Philly Sausage Fest. Passyunk Avenue between Broad and 15th Streets closes to traffic for this eight-hour festival featuring sausage-themed food and drink with live music, arts and crafts vendors and a play area for kids. (267) 571-9280, spsausagefest.weebly.com
October 6-8, 2017
OKTOBERFEST AT BRAUHAUS SCHMITZ AND 23RD ST. ARMORY. South Street’s authentic German restaurant, Brauhaus Schmitz, plays host to Oktoberfest celebrations onsite and across town at the historic 23rd Street Armory, turning these Philly venues into mini Munichs. (267) 909-8814, brauhausschmitz.com
October 14, 2017
BLOKTOBERFEST. Building on eight years’ of success, this neighborhood bash returns for year nine, once again shutting down the west side of South Street for plenty of loud music, great food and lots of drinks. bloktoberfest.com
November 4-5, 2017
APPLE FESTIVAL. Before popular Peddler’s Village turns into a Christmas-shopping getaway, the Bucks County destination celebrates the harvest with live entertainment, and apples galore—including a seriously sporty apple pie-eating contest. (215) 794-4000, peddlersvillage.com
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