'Tis The Weekend For Festivals In Philly!
This is apparently the weekend in the Philadelphia area for festivals. From the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival to Delaware River Day to the Italian Market Fest—just to name a few!—there's a slew of fun activities to hit up, all within driving distance. -Chelsea Karnash
Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival
Saturday, May 19th; 1 – 5 p.m.
$45 in advance, $50 at the door, $5 for designated drivers
If beer's your thang, get thee to the 12th Annual Brandywine Valley Craft Brew Fest, taking place at the Media outpost of Iron Hill. Enjoy beer from Flying Fish, Lancaster Brewing Co, Sly Fox, Stoudt's, Triumph and more, plus live music from Lord Jive and Chorduroy and food from Iron Hill. All proceeds go to the Media Youth Center, so you're literally drinking for a great cause.
Clemente Fest
Saturday, May 19th; 2 – 6 p.m.
FREE
Help support this playground, built in honor of Roberto Clemente back in '73, at the third annual Clemente Fest. The festival is all ages, and there will be a ping pong tournament, a moon bounce, raffles and live music from Puerto Rican ensemble Bomplé, electric-folk artist Gregory Morgan and experimental jazz musician Kaligata. Plus, it is a playground, so the kids can expend some energy running around.
Delaware River Day
Saturday, May 19th; 12 – 6 p.m.
FREE
Spend the day on the Delaware at Penn's Landing, where there will be family-friendly happenings like face-painting, life-jacket fittings, free sailing trips, tours of a giant Army boat, the Delaware River Tug Fest and interactive mascot Coastie the Safety Boat. Kids can also get $5 off admission to the Independence Seaport Museum.
Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & The Trenton Avenue Arts Festival
Trenton Ave (between E Norris St and Frankford Ave at York St)
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.trentonaveartsfest.blogspot.com
Saturday, May 19th; 12 – 6 p.m.
FREE
Last year, this giant outdoor festival and sculpture derby attracted more than 10,000 people and 170 vendors to the Kensington section of the city—impressive. Check out the super-cool Kensington Sculpture Derby, a design competition that features human-powered floats, and vote for your fav, then enjoy food from a number of eateries (Little Baby's Ice Cream, Memphis Taproom, Krakus Polish Market, etc), arts and community vendors and more.
Philadelphia On Parade
Saturday, May 19th; 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
FREE
Kick-off this family-friendly day of live music and entertainment with the amazing 150-person marching band made up of students in the Girard Academic Music Program. The day's musical fun will take over five stages and includes more than 800 acts, plus the Cigna Children's Pavilion mini-circus, food, art and more. Grab your blanket and settle in for seven hours of community and fun!
LOVE Your Park Week
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.loveyourpark.org
Saturday, May 19th; 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
FREE
Philly's LOVE Your Park Week comes to a close with numerous farmers' markets and activities in parks around the city. Make your way to Reyburn Park (2020-250 W Lehigh Ave) for a flea market, art sale and children's activities, or stop by the Washington Avenue Green (1301 S Columbus Blvd) for Eco-Fest, featuring green crafts, scavenger hunts and more.
Barnes Foundation Opening
Saturday, May 19th
$10-$18
It's heeere—the Barnes Foundation's new Philadelphia digs are finally opening to the public this Saturday! Explore the world's largest collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modern paintings--including tons of works by Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, van Gogh and Renoir—inside this new 12,000 square-foot gallery.
Penns Woods Winery's Wine & Jazz Festival
Saturday, May 19th; 12 – 9 p.m.
Prices vary
Vino connoisseurs should make a trip to Penns Woods this Saturday for the 2nd Annual Wine & Jazz Festival. In addition to numerous wine tasting events, there will also be a catered gourmet lunch, seminars, vendors and (of course) live jazz. Proceeds benefit the Little Rock Foundation, which aids blind and visually impaired children.
Radnor Hunt
826 Providence Road
Malvern, Pa.
www.radnorhuntraces.org
Saturday, May 19th; first race at 1:30 p.m.
$50/car and up
The Kentucky Derby might be over, but Philly's Radnor Hunt is on for this weekend! Don your Lilly and Ralph Lauren and mix up a pitcher of juleps (okay, cans of beer will suffice as well) for these old-fashioned steeplechase races. While the first event starts at 1:30 p.m., plan to get there early—and to make your exit by 6 p.m.
Italian Market Festival
9th St between Fitzwater and Federal Sts
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.italianmarketfestival.com
Saturday, May 19th; Sunday, May 20th; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FREE
Cue the visions of cheesesteaks, tacos and cannolis—the two-day Italian Market Fest hits the city this weekend, and it's truly a feast for the senses. Stroll through six blocks of live music, games and entertainment, making frequent pit stops, of course, for the food! Then, on Sunday, watch the traditional Procession of Saints, starting at Saint Mary Magdalen (at 712 Montrose) and continuing to 9th & Washington. And did we mention the food?!
