The weather is getting warmer, the sun is finally shining. This could only mean one thing: it’s beginning to look like spring in Philadelphia.
There is always something to do in the City of Brotherly Love, and this season, it’s going to the next level with these amazing festivals and events. From beer and food to science and nature, there is a type of event for every festival-goer. With all of these upcoming events, you’ll be sure to enjoy the outdoors this season to say goodbye to winter and get hype for spring.
These are all the Philadelphia Festivals this spring:
March
Philly Craft Beer Festival
Where: The Navy Yard
When: March 3
$46 to $75
Summoning all beer lovers, here’s a festival for you. Philly’s biggest beer festival is ranked in the top 20 beer festivals in America. This craft beer tasting will let you try a variety of over 200 of the best craft breweries in the country. Doors open at 1:30 pm for general admission and 12:30 for VIP.
Philadelphia Flower Show
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center
When: March 3 to 11
$30
At the Philadelphia Flower Show, you will be surrounded by the beauty of the best and most modern gardening designs. This event will fill you with awe (and definitely those oos and ahhs) this spring. Lasting only a week, this event is a great way to get those spring spirits high. You will definitely want to try to mimic these displays for your own garden at home.
East Passyunk Restaurant Week
Where: Participating Restaurants
When: Through March 9
$15 to $35
Who doesn’t love a great meal? You have the chance to try different flavors from the best of East Passyunk through three courses for a discounted price.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Where: Center City
When: March 11
Free
The shenanigans are just getting started. For over 245 years, the St. Patrick’s Day parade has been a lasting tradition. Groups and floats will parade the streets with performances in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Marching from City Hall to Penn’s Landing, the parade is from noon to 3 pm. If you’re looking for something else to do to celebrate the holiday, check out the Philly Views guide to St. Patty’s Day.
Philly Wine Week
Where: 23rd Street Armory
March 22 to 29
When: $48 to $90
Philly couldn’t host a beer festival without having a festival for the winos as well. For $48 to $90 you can get general or VIP admission to the opening ceremony of Philly Wine Week where you will be able to sample over 100 wines and delicious catered foods. This is it’s 5th year running. Pop those corks and enjoy some of the best vino. Check out the participating bars and restaurants.
qFLIX Philadelphia
Where: Various locations
When: March 19 to 25
$6 to $10
This LGBTQ+ Film Festival is ready to celebrate 24 years of tradition. The opening night gala in March 19 from 6 to 11:30 pm. Through this festival, qFLIX aims to preserve the tradition of LGBTQ+ films through education and entertainment to push our community forward.
Game Masters
Where: The Franklin Institute
When: March 31 to September 3
$8 to $30
This event showcases over 30 designers in an interactive journey through games. At this festival, you will be challenged to get high scores on over 100 games from antique to modern.
April
Cherry Blossom Festival
Where: Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
When: April 7 to 15
Free
With spring’s return, what a better way to celebrate then by decorating our city with plants and flowers? This festival began in 1998 to focus on planting trees. The goal is to plant more Cherry Trees throughout community parks after successfully planting over 1,000 cherry trees in Fairmount Park in 2007. Make sure to attend the signature parade on April 14 from 10 am to noon.
Spring StrEAT Food Festival
Where: Manayunk’s Main Street
When: April 15
Free
From 11 am to 5 pm, this festival dedicated to the best of Philly foods is back. There will be over 50 food vendors that will all highlight this year’s spring ingredient: strawberries. Also, this week is Manayunk’s Restaurant Week where you can enjoy three-course meals for $15, $25, or $35. It’s a week for food.
Philadelphia Science Festival
Where: The Franklin Institute
When: April 21 to 28
Price TBD
The Philadelphia Science Festival will demonstrate the impacts of science, engineering and technology in everyday life. This festival will also provide hands-on activities for kids and adults, guest speakers and a carnival full of experiments, live entertainment, and games.
Philly Tech Week
Where: Various Locations
When: April 25 to May 5
Depends on event
This is the festival’s 8th year running. With interactive workshops, this festival is meant to celebrate technological advances with over 100 events. Even if you aren’t tech-savvy, you can learn the newest trends. The signature event is on May 4 from 7:30 to 10:30 pm for $30 to $50.
May
South Street Spring Festival
Where: South Street Headhouse District
When: May 6
Free
Back for its 6th year, South Street’s Spring Festival is ready to kick off the season with food, drinks and free activities. This event is rain or shine. There will be 40 bands, 30 restaurant venues, and artisans.
Philadelphia Taco Festival
Where: Sugarhouse Casino
When: May 12 to 13
$10 to $70
This event is full of tacos, tequila, and tunes. With admission, you have access to live music, including authentic mariachi bands, access to over 25 taco vendors, tequila sampling, margarita bar, and a chili pepper eating contest. There will also be a kid fun zone with games, moon bounces, face painting, and more.
Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival
Where: Trenton Avenue in Fishtown
When: May 19
Free
With live music, food, an arts market, and a parade, people from all over the city are bound to flood the streets for this three-mile obstacle course of human-powered mobile sculptures. This festival is from noon to 6 pm.
Italian Market Festival
Where: Philadelphia’s Italian Market
When: May 19 to 20
Free
¡Mama Mia! This is a day for everyone to be Italian. Live entertainment, crafts, and endless food will be available. This festival is from 11 am to 6 pm.
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Where: Blue Cross RiverRink
When: Memorial Day Weekend
Free
This Memorial Day, take your friends and family to Philadelphia’s only outdoor skating rink. Roller skating, games, rides and concessions will also be available for additional costs. The RiverRink will be open 7 days a week from 1 to 11 pm through the week, from 11 am to 1 am on Saturdays, and from 11 am to 11 pm on Sundays.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
Where: Penn’s Landing
When: Opening Date TBD
Free
Spend the season laying on colorful hammocks, eating fresh food from local vendors or admiring the lights hanging from the trees at Spruce Harbor Park. This annual, summer-long event opens again this spring. Like always, it will consists of a boardwalk, floating gardens, and hammocks. This is a perfect gathering space for all of Philly to enjoy this season.
June
Philly Beer Week
Where: Various Locations
When: June 1 to 10
Free
With June’s hot weather, nothing is better than an ice cold beer to pair with it. This is one of the largest beer celebrations in the country full of festivals, food, bar crawls, and home-brew competitions. The first day of summer is right around the corner, so this is the perfect way to spring forward to the next season.
Philly Pride Day
Where: The Gayborhood
When: June 10
Free
Started in 1988, this is the 30th year of Philly Pride Day, which gives even more reason to celebrate. The parade starts at 11:30 am in Philly’s Gayborhood.
Odunde Festival
Where: June 10
When: 23rd and South Streets
Free
This festival will give Philly a taste of Africa and its culture through a variety of food, drinks, entertainment, and vendors. This festival is from 10 am to 8 pm.
Note: This list may be added to as more festivals are announced. Please send all inquiries to Breanna@phillyviews.com.