Looking for Halloween happenings? Look here!

 

School’s back in session, and soon the weather will (finally) be cooling off. Pumpkin spice lattes have the audacity to be sold, so that must mean fall will soon be upon us.

 

Before we get started, just a word of advice: if you’re bringing kids, a lot of these fairs get more crowded as the day goes on, so coming early is the way to go. Also, double-wide strollers are just roadblocks for tipsy selfie-takers to trip over, so exercise some judgment, OK?

 

Also, don’t despair that the myriad pumpkin-themed festivals filling up Halloweekend are missing—they deserve their own post, so let’s not get prematurely pumpkin while it’s still 95 degrees outside (looking at you, Starbucks).

Philadelphia Honey Festival

September 7—9

Glen Foerd on the Delaware (Grant Avenue and Milnor Street) on September 7; Wyck historic home (6026 Germantown Avenue) on September 8; and Bartram’s Garden (54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard) on September 9

 

The Philadelphia Honey Festival brings three days of sweet activities to three different historic locations—Glen Foerd on the Delaware, Wyck historic home, and Bartram’s Garden. The festival has fun for all ages, with honey sampling, beekeeping demos and talks, live music, children’s activities and parades, food and adult beverages, vendors, and much more. Read all about this buzzy festival in our preview!

Delaware River Festival

September 15, 10 am—4 pm

Philadelphia and Camden Waterfronts

 

For the first time ever, PDE’s Pennsylvania Coast Day and AWE’s River Days are coming together for a “coast to coast” experience. Cross the Delaware River over the Ben Franklin Bridge on foot or bike, or take advantage of free ferry rides from one event to the other. There will be educational fun for families, on-the-water activities, games and crafts for kids, face painting, music, beer garden, fishing opportunities, and much more!

Mt. Airy Village Fair

September 16, 11 am—4 pm

Greene Street and Carpenter Lane

 

A community day of celebration with interactive events for all ages, live music on two stages (including a kids stage), a petting zoo, local makers and businesses, food trucks, and fun for the whole family.

Spruce Street Harbor Park Fall Fest

September 22—23

301 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard

 

SSHP closes out the season with a weekend of fall fun, including live music, farmers market and apple cider press, face painting, crafts, pumpkin carving, and more. For adults, there will be a wide variety of seasonal brews too!

Philly AIDS Thrift Block Party

September 22, noon—6 pm

710 S. Fifth St.

 

Enjoy celebrity dunk tank, moon bounce, games, food trucks, face painting, carnival games, magicians, dancing in the streets, shopping, a pie eating contest and more. There will also be entertainment in the form of a DJ spinning tunes, sword swallowing with MacKenzie Moltov, circus performance by Squidling Brothers, live music, a mini-Halloween parade, and other surprises.

Manayunk Harvest Fest in Pretzel Park

September 29, noon– 6 pm

4300 Silverwood St.

 

Celebrate the fall season with us at the Manayunk Harvest Fest! Bring your family to enjoy a full day of live music, seasonal activities, food vendors, and all things fall in Pretzel Park.

Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival

September 30, 11 am—5 pm

Germantown Avenue, between Willow Grove and Rex Avenues

 

This festival welcomes the season by bringing together the community as well as artists and vendors from around the county. Enjoy a day of live music, delicious food, and fun for the family including craft activities and rides for children.

Night Market: Point Breeze

Thursday, October 4

20th and Federal Streets

 

Food trucks come out en masse for this street fair highlighting different neighborhoods throughout the season. This year, Night Market closes out in Philly’s Point Breeze section, so you can eat your way through the neighborhood one last time.

Fall Family Weekend

October 6, 10 am – 3 pm

Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.

 

The highlight of this festival has to be the scarecrow walk. Visitors can enjoy a display of handmade scarecrows built around a yearly theme. There’s also opportunities to build your own scarecrow, decorate a pumpkin, and sample different apple varieties.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

October 6, noon—8 pm

13th and Chestnut streets

 

Kick off October with shopping, amazing food, live entertainment, and more. There’s plenty of activities for kids to do and see, and you simply can’t leave without getting a Budino from Barbuzzo!

Roxtoberfest

October 6, noon—6 pm

Ridge Avenue and Green Lane

 

One of many Oktoberfest celebrations in Philadelphia this year, this Roxborough festival includes live performers (including polka, of course!), food trucks, vendors, carnival games, and more. Of course you’ll enjoy some traditional German food and a wide selection of beers. There will be a variety of activities for children, so bring the whole family!

Revolutionary Germantown Festival

October 6, 10 am—4 pm

Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Ave.

 

A day of family entertainment, food, music, and re-enactments of the Battle of Germantown at this historic site.

Subaru Fall Festival at Greensgrow Farms

October 6, 10 am—4 pm

2501 E. Cumberland St.

 

Enjoy live music, local food and drink, crafts from local vendors, visit the farmstand, and bring the kids to partake in a variety of children’s activities including run-the-sack race, bobbing for apples, and scarecrow-making. Taste samples from or compete in the festival’s annual Chili Competition or Apple Pie Competition, where the public is asked to submit their best recipes to be crowned champions.

Old City Fest

October 7, 11 am—6 pm

Third and Arch streets from Market to Race Streets, and Arch Street from Second to Fourth Streets

 

Celebrate fall and culture on America’s most historic square mile. Activities will include a festival stage with live music, circus artists, runway fashion shows, a family fun zone with performances and colonial chocolate demonstrations, pop-up street performances, dozens of food and drink options, street art, craft and retail shopping, and over 100 Old City vendors.

Gorgas Park Harvest Festival

October 7, 11 am—5 pm

6300 Ridge Avenue

 

Enjoy a day of family fun, like scarecrow making, face painting, kids’ rides and games, treats, music, and more.

Reading Terminal Market Harvest Festival

October 13, 10 am—4 pm

51 N. 12th St.

 

Reading Terminal Market will shut down Filbert Street with a mini farm, hayrides, pumpkins, arts and crafts for kids, live music, a beer garden, and of course plenty of food.

Awbury Harvest Festival

October 13, 11 am—4 pm

Awbury Arboretum Agricultural Village, 6336 Ardleigh St.

 

Celebrate fall with hayrides to the AdventureWoods sustainable natural playground, face painting, live entertainment, cider pressing, meet-and-greets with the goats from the Philly Goat Project, fall produce for sale, fruit tree giveaways, and much more family fun.

Fishtown RiverCity Festival

October 13, noon—6 pm

Penn Treaty Park, 1301 N. Beach St.

 

This annual festival in Fishtown includes live entertainment, food, and plenty of craft beers. Kids can enjoy field games, crafts, bounce houses, face painting, outdoor exploration, yoga, and much more.

Applefest at Fox Chase Farm

October 20, noon — 4 pm

8500 Pine Road

 

Get a taste of the country at this lovely event at city-owned Fox Chase Farm. Enjoy a day of cider pressing, apple butter making, hayrides, seasonal games, pumpkin painting, music, and more. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids.

Parkway Soirée

October 26, 5—10 pm

Benjamin Franklin Parkway

 

To close out the yearlong Parkway 100 celebration, honoring the Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s centennial, a block party will take over that iconic place, featuring a giant birthday cake, food and drink from Night Market Philadelphia, and 100 family-friendly activities and experiences up and down the Parkway! Several Parkway museums and cultural institutions will offer extended hours and special programming, including the return of Dino Dancing at the Academy of Natural Sciences!

Hawthorne’s Great Harvest Cider and Beer Festival

November 3, 11 am—8 pm

738 S. 11th Street

 

This all-day, all-ages free block party takes place on 11th street in front of Hawthornes, from Fitzwater to Catharine. In addition to loads of tasty bites and over 75 ales, lagers, and ciders, the festivities will include a family fun zone, apple-bobbing competition, pie eating contest, live entertainment, DJs, and much more.

 

Looking for Halloween events? Look here!

 

Looking for fall festivals on the Main Line? Look here!

Lead Photograph courtesy of Old City District.

Casey Kallen contributed to this report.