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Greater Philadelphia
Annual Events

Greater Philadelphia has festivities taking place all through the year including concerts, festivals, fairs and sporting events.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

The list below presents an overview of the major events in the Philadelphia area.

January: College Baseball; From the crack of the bat to the slide on into home, NCAA baseball packs a wallop of home run frenzy for what's oft called America's favorite pastime. Diamond action starts in January, continuing through most of June.; Pennsylvania Quakers, Princeton Tigers, Rider Broncos, Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors, St. Joseph's Hawks, Swarthmore Garnet, Temple Owls, Villanova Wildcats; New Year's Day; Climaxing months of drill in a ritual dating to pagan times, some 15,000 Mummers parade along Philadelphia streets, codified into four divisions: Comic Clubs, Fancy Clubs, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades. Call (215) 336 3050 for more information.; Chinese New Year; In Philadelphia's Chinatown, the year starts with New Moon on the first day and ends on the full moon 15 days later with the Lantern Festival. Call (215) 922-2156 for more information.; Philadelphia Chinese New Year; New Year's Day comes twice a year, thanks to Greater Philadelphia's Chinese Lunar New Year at the Asian Culture Center. Call (215) 528-1711 for more information.; Chinese New Year in Wilmington; New Year's Day comes twice a year, thanks to Wilmington, Delaware's Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the Grand Opera House in the Market Street Mall. Call (302) 222-9590 for more information.
February: Philadelphia International Auto Show; The Philadelphia International Auto Show cruises each year into the Pennsylvania Convention Center, produced by the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia with more than 700 classic, luxury, and exotic vehicles. A Black Tie Tailgate Preview Gala benefits the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via the Auto Dealers CARing For Kids Foundation. Call (610) 279-5229 for more information.; South Street Mardi Gras for Fat Tuesday; South Street, Philadelphia's hip strip, is where Mardi Gras is celebrated on Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information; African American History Month; Events throughout the city herald Africa American history. Call (215) 289-6484 for more information.; Tattoo Artists Convention; Seminars by some of the nation's most gifted tattoo artists unfold along with live performances by Dead Meat, Full Blown Cherry and more. Call (800) 541-8239 for more information.; Tattoo Artists Convention; Seminars by some of the nation's most gifted tattoo artists unfold along with live performances by Dead Meat, Full Blown Cherry and more. Call (800) 541-8239 for more information.; Arturo A. Schomburg Symposium; At the end of February, Taller Puertorriqueno graphic arts workshop on 5th street in Philadelphia hosts a panel discussion and program relating to issues of race within the Lainto community. Call (215) 423-6320 for more information.
March: Manayunk in Bloom; Spring brings Manayunk in Bloom, an annual event with fun at Pretzel Park, at Cotton and Cresson streets for the annual Easter Egg Scramble. Merchants stock up with Easter finery and accessories. Call (215) 482-9565 for more information.; Philadelphia Flower Show; North America's largest collection of specimen orchids radiates color at the Philadelphia Flower Show, going strong for more than a century. Festivities surrounding the show start in January. Call (215) 988-8899 for more information.; St. Patrick's Day Parade; Philadelphia's Irish community goes green with more than 100 floats and 10,000 marchers, ranking as the third largest in the nation after New York and Atlanta. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; The Book and the Cook Festival; Cooks share their books and recipes at different restaurants and at the convention center during KitchenAid's The Book and the Cook Festival. Call (215) 545-4543 for more information.; Victorian Boutique Craft & Home Decor Show; In Telford, 13 magnificently decorated rooms of a traditional circa 1893 Victorian-style home showcase stained glass, pictures, floral arrangements, kitchen and bath accessories, and gourmet treats. Original gifts are ideal for spring weddings, graduations, or Mother's Day. Admission of $1 supports area charities. Call (215) 723-5061 for more information.; Sugarloaf Crafts Festival; In mid to late March, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks hosts over 300 artisans who will display and sell their crafts. Gourmet foods, live entertainment and demonstrations will be featured. Call (800) 210-9900 for more information.; The Red Ball; National Constitution Center is the scene for an evening of gourmet dining and dancing at The Red Ball, supporting operations of the one-of-a-kind Red Cross House, providing short-term shelter for families and individuals displaced by disasters. Call (215) 299-5491 for more information.
April: Major League Baseball; Nothing signals advent of spring more than baseball with a capital B, tightly meshed into American culture with historic firsts, icon performances, record-setting events, and traditions from hot dogs slathered in mustard to unexpected curveballs, and seventh-inning stretches. Books and movies about baseball are fine and dandy, but nothing beats Major League Baseball action, playing out each season from April through the World Series.; Philadelphia Phillies - To book seats to root for your Philadelphia Phillies, click here.; Spring Splash on South Street; Celebrants parade down South Street in Easter bonnets. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Baseball Season Opens; When the Phillies were formed in 1883, the team was on its way to becoming the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of the professional sports. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Philadelphia Furniture & Furnishings Show; Showcased are furniture and accessories by more than 250 juried artisans, a Design Smart Seminar Series, Art of the Home devoted to residential architecture, artisan building services and green smart products, plus hands-on craft demonstrations. Call (215) 832-0060 for more information.; Champions on Ice; During the first week in April, check out the First Union Center in Philadelphia which hosts the annual exhibition of the U.S. Figure Skating Association and the International Skating Union. Call (215) 336-3600 for more information.
May: Broad Street Run; The venerable Broad Street Run's 10-mile course starts at Broad Street and Somerville Avenue, ending in the Philadelphia Naval Business Center. (Not for Runners Only Health & Fitness Expo is at the Cruise Terminal, Pier 1, near the finish line.) Call (215) 235-7481 for more information.; Mother's Day Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; On Mothers Day weekend, help put an end to generations of fighting, and start living in a world without breast cancer. Register, team up, and fundraise. Call (215) 238-8900 for more information.; Annual Canal Day; Attracting crowds along Main Street, this long-standing neighborhood event celebrates the 1823 opening of the Schuylkill Navigation System, part of the Manayunk Canal. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Dad Vail Regatta; The second week of May brings crew teams from schools across the U.S. to compete on the Schuylkill River in the nation's largest collegiate regatta. Call (215) 886-1123 or (215) 483-2909 for more information.; Jam on the River; Enjoy music on the banks of the Delaware River on Memorial Day weekend. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Trenton Avenue Arts Fest; In mid to late May, volunteers of the East Kensington Neighbors Association host an arts festival for thousands of visitors and hundreds of local artists displaying and selling handmade creations, local food vendors, and live entertainers, in the 2000 block of Trenton Avenue, between Dauphin and East Norris Street. Call (215) 621-9927 for more information.; Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival; The chic Rittenhouse area celebrates spring with music, dance, outdoor and indoor sales and displays by area retailers, gallery exhibits, and more on Walnut Street from Broad to 19th, and within Rittenhouse Square. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.
June: Philly International Great Beer Expo; During the first week in June, Philadelphia Navy Yards hosts over 50 domestic and international breweries presenting over 100 beers. Call (631) 940-7290 for more information.; First Union U.S. Pro Cycling Championship; The First Union men's pro cycling championship is the nation's longest running, richest single-day race on the Pro Cycling Tour. The Amateur Wall Climb has cyclists pedaling up the Manayunk Wall, a stretch of road at a 45-degree angle. The race starts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Call (215) 482-9565 for more information.; State Street Blues Stroll; Towards the middle of June, restaurants along State and Plum Streets in downtown Media, as well as local outdoor concert venues, host the best blues talent in the region, sponsored by a local radio station. Call (610) 566-5039 for more information.; First Union Liberty Classic; International women cyclists compete in the First Union Liberty Classic, the only World Cup Cycling race event for women in the U.S. and the world's richest single-day women's event. Call (215) 482-9565 for more information.; Manayunk Arts Festival; As the largest outdoor arts and crafts show in the Delaware Valley, the juried Manayunk Arts Festival features more than 250 artists from across the nation while attracting a quarter million spectators. Call (215) 482-9565 for more information.; Sunoco Welcome America; Events start a week before July 4th, with fireworks on the Delaware the Friday preceding the 4th of July fireworks celebration. Call (215) 683-2200 for more information.; Plain & Fancy: A Taste; Fox Chase Cancer Center hosts Plain & Fancy: A Taste of the Greater Delaware Valley, featuring a mouthwatering array of food and beverages from top regional chefs and vendors. Proceeds go to cancer research and prevention at Fox Chase. Call (215) 815-7828 for more information.; Zhang San Feng Festival; At East Stroudsburg University the first weekend in June, the Zhang San Feng Festival & Dao of Health Expo features interactive workshops by day and evening parties with free wine, snacks and entertainment. Call(973) 670-6582 for more information.
July: Fourth of July; The birthplace of the nation hosts more than 50 free events culminating in a 14-hour July 4th extravaganza. Call (215) 636-3300 for more information.; Dragon Boat Races; Benefitting the Fox Chase Cancer Center, the International Dragon Boat Races feature eight lanes of action with up to 100 teams. Call (610) 642-2333 for more information.; Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational; Staged at the William Way Community Center, Asian Karaoke Idol spices up Cult classic highlights of previous years with freestyling and more. Call (610) 931-1785 for more information.
August: Eagles Football Opener; Named the Eagles to symbolize the New Deal's National Recovery Act, Philadelphia's team first played the Chicago Bears in a 3-3 tie. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Laughtastic Sketchopalooza; Towards the end of August, World Cafe Live on Walnut Street hosts a night of improv sketches and stand-up comedy to benefit the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience. Call (215) 222-1400 for more information.
September: National Football League; If it's fall and you're ready for some football, count on the National Football League to deliver non-stop grid action, leading to playoffs, and the incomparable Super Bowl. The NFL has come a long way since its 1920 founding in Canton, Ohio at Ralph Hay's Hupmobile dealership. NFL action was first televised in 1939 when NBC broadcast within New York City. The NFL's Longest Day was on Christmas, 1971, in a playoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, and Miami's 17-0 Perfect Season unfolded the following year. But that's history, and prospects for new milestones start in September.; Philadelphia Eagles - To book seats for cheering on your Philadelphia Eagles, click here.; College Football; NCAA Football, created in 1997 to promote college football ideals, makes no bones about the importance of each game. Losing at any time during the season can thwart a team's chances for postseason action or an NCAA Championship. No wonder NCAA Football marketers have adopted a tagline of "NCAA Football: Every Game Counts."; Temple Owls, Pennsylvania Quakers, Princeton Tigers, Villanova Wildcats; Temple Owls - To cheer on your favorites and book seats for the Temple Owls, click here.; Labor Day Events; Concerts and more mark Labor Day weekend festivities. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Greenfest Philly; In early to mid September, Headhouse Square hosts hands-on activities, organic food, live music, free giveaways and family fun, showcasing businesses, regional green innovators, and nonprofits of all sizes with strong commitments to sustainability. 135 South 19th Street, Suite 300. Call (215) 567-4004 for more information.; Museum of Art Rodin Garden Party; Early in September, Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art gather for the Rodin Garden Party at the Rodin Museum, with opportunity to win prizes in a raffle that funds museum initiatives. Call (215) 235-7469 for more information.; Puerto Rican Week Festival Parade; Running since 1964, Philadelphia's annual Puerto Rican Week Festival (Festival Puertorrique�o Fildelfia) includes Puerto Rican Day (the last Sunday of September), a grand parade (Desfile Puertorrique�o) and the Miss Puerto Rico-Philadelphia pageant. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Philadelphia Fringe Festival; Each September, the Philadelphia Fringe takes over with an extended festival of new art attracting thousands of onlookers to admire works of more than 1,300 artists in theater, dance, performance art, music, poetry, puppetry and visual arts. Call (215) 413-9006 for more information.; Popnoise Festival; At the University of Pennsylvania Rotunda, the Popnoise Festival promotes diverse artistic development with stand-up comedy, art and sculpture, freestyle / urban poetry, and more. Call (610) 517-4645 or (267) 441-6505 for more information.; Annual Sippin' by the River; Sippin' By The River at Penn's Landing, hosted by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, serves samples from more than a dozen vineyards and some two dozen breweries, along with tutored tastings. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Annual German-American Steuben Parade; A parade, gala banquet, ecumenical service, and Octoberfest event are part of the festivities. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; LiveStrong Challenge Series; The LiveStrong Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's signature fundraiser in Philadelphia and other cities, where participants push the limits in walking, running, or riding in the fight against cancer. Call (888) 4-CHALLENGE for more information.; Tails on the Trails; At Core Creek Park near Langhorne, Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue welcomes every dog, every size, every shape, along with dogless people for the hike on a one- or two-mile trail. Registration fee includes hike T-shirt, goodie bag and dog bandana. Call (215) 412-0270 for more information.
October: National Hockey League; The National Hockey League's rough and tumble world packs a motherlode of milestones, from 1917's NHL opener, to when Maurice Richard was first to score 50 goals in one season in 1944-45, to when Clint Benedict was the first goalie to put on a mask after a shot knocked him unconscious, to when Manon Rheaume made headlines in 1992 as the first woman playing in one of the four major sports leagues, goaltending for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the St. Louis Blues. From October on, it's non-stop action in the world of hat tricks -- three goals in a game by a player -- and sudden death overtime.; Philadelphia Flyers - To book for the Philadelphia Flyers, click here.; Columbus Day Parade; Philadelphia celebrates Columbus Day with a parade on the second Sunday in October along Broad Street. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Fright Fest Blood Drive; Early in October, Six Flags Great Adventure hosts a blood drive and chance to win admission to the Fright Fest, at the Employment Center. 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Neptune, NJ. Call (732) 928-2000 for more information.; Fishtown River City Festival; 5K River City Run in the morning followed by live music, eats from Fishtown Restaurants, historical presentations, children's activities and more! Penn Treaty Park.; Philly Neighborhood Food Week; In mid October, over 30 neighborhood restaurants, located in Manayunk, Northern Liberties, East Passyunk, Penn's Landing and Chestnut Hill, showcase their creations with 3 and 4 course meals offered at special prices. Call (610) 624-4596 for more information.; Philadelphia College Festival; Events include College Day on the Parkway, a concert and expo. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Manayunk Annual Antiques & Collectibles Festival; The festival showcases goods of more than 250 professional dealers from across the nation. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Zen Weekend Country Retreat; In Wilkes-Barre, at Endless Mountain Zendo, the Zen Beginner's Weekend Country Retreat includes orientation, outdoor walking, dawn chanting, and vegetarian meals. Call (570) 925-5070 for more information.; Global Gala; With Eurocircle joining Young Friends in festivities, the Global Gala unfolds at the Museum of Archeology & Anthropology, with magical entertainment, lively dancing, and exotic African cuisine. Silent auction prizes range from gift baskets to trips to Japan and Monserrat. Call (215) 895-6536 for more information.; Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza; At the end of October, the Union League Club of Philadelphia hosts an evening of dinner and tastings provided by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America, featuring over 120 rare single malt whiskies, a dinner buffet, imported cigars, and presentations by representatives from each of the respective distilleries. 140 South Broad Street. Call (800) 990-1991 for more information.
November: National Basketball Association; Toronto, Canada was the site of the National Basketball League's first game on Nov. 1, 1946, with the Huskies hosting the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. Thirteen original rules were drafted by Dr. James Naismith, creator of basketball. Pro basketball suffered in popularity in the early 1950's, but one rule change -- that of the 24-second clock -- transformed the sport from a dull, stalling game to an exciting, offensive showcase. Icons along the way, from Bob Cousy and Wilt Chamberlain to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, have immortalized what's now the National Basketball Association's game, creating long-standing rivalries from coast to coast.; Philadelphia 76ers - To book seats to root for your Philadelphia 76ers, click here.; College Basketball; First devised by James Naismith in 1891, with the first recorded collegiate game in 1893, legions testify there's no sound so soothing as a basketball whooshing through the net after a flick of the wrist. NCAA basketball brings grass roots hoop dreams to an entirely new level each fall, building toward March Madness, the NCAA Division Basketball Championships.; Rider Broncos, Villanova Wildcats, Drexel Dragons, Pennsylvania Quakers, Princeton Tigers, Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors, St. Joseph's Hawks, Swarthmore Garnet, Temple Owls; Rider Broncos - To book seats for the Rider Broncos, click here.; Villanova Wildcats - To book seats for the Villanova Wildcats, click here.; Philadelphia Marathon; The annual Philadelphia Marathon starts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Call (215) 685-0054 for more information.; Thanksgiving Day Parade; Dating to 1920 as the nation's first Thanksgiving Day parade, Philadelphia's spectacle now lasts three hours and features more than a dozen marching bands, floats, a youth choir and more. Santa shows up at the end, launching the Philadelphia Holiday Festival. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.
December: Holiday Light Show; Since 1956, a multi-media holiday light show has unfolded with water fountains, organ music and more in the Grand Court at Center City. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; 12th Night Celebration Dinner; Colonial holiday customs unfold at this 12th Night Celebration with singing, dancing and entertainment provided by a tavern keeper and a band of eccentrics, creating an evening of spoofs and jocularity. Call (609) 680-4654 for more information.; COSELI Jewelry Trunk Show; At the Village Coffee House, this trunk show provides a leg up on gifts holiday gifts. Call (215) 923-1992 for more information.; New Year's Eve; Fireworks on the Delaware are a focal point of festivities. Call (215) 965-7676 or (800) 537-7676 for more information.; Matzo Ball; From a humble start in a Boston bar, Matzo Ball bashes in more than a dozen cities including San Francisco and Washington D.C. have arrived a the Philadelphia Glam as a holiday party for Jewish singles on the night before Christmas. Call (267) 671-0840 for more information.

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Greater Philadelphia Annual Events

Greater Philadelphia
Annual Events