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14 Apr 2023

The biggest events, festivals, and exhibitions in Philadelphia in Spring 2023 (partial list)

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April 14, 2023 Category: Entertainment Posted by:

VISITPHILLY.COM

What to look forward to this April and May.

Spring most certainly lives up to its name in Philadelphia.

As the temps get a little warmer and the days get a little longer, Philly seems to add an extra bounce to its step, with big-time events, festivals and celebrations taking place in nearly every corner of Greater Philadelphia all season long.

Spring kicks off street festival season in Philly, with favorite fests like the South Street Festival, Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival, Kensington Derby & Arts Festival and South 9th Street Italian Market Festival converting the city’s streets into pavement party zones.

Back on the grass, the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Union look for returns to championship form in front of raucous crowds at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly and Chester’s Subaru Park, respectively.

Dining deals step up to the plate during springtime culinary celebrations like King of Prussia Restaurant Week and Dine Latino Restaurant Week.

This spring also sees its share of monumental music moments, with Taylor Swift posting up for three packed shows at Lincoln Financial Field and The Roots Picnic welcoming a lineup of legendary performers to the Mann Center.

And don’t sleep on the major exhibitions taking place at Philly museum and attractions this spring — including the can’t-miss magic of Disney:100 The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute.

More events are sure to be announced throughout the spring, so stay tuned. And an important note: Details — including event dates — can change at any time. Always check ahead with event organizers and/or on official event sites to confirm event dates and times.

The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Disney MARVEL Disney/Pixar Pixar & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

Disney100: The Exhibition at the Franklin Institute

Through Sunday, August 27, 2023

The House of Mouse celebrates a century of dazzling audiences with a brand-new exhibition, making its world premiere in Philadelphia. Disney100: The Exhibition opens the vaults for behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the company’s most popular characters, films, shows and attractions, offering 10 themed galleries with interactive installations covering everything from Snow White to Star Wars. Pro tip: Score complimentary tix to the exhibition (plus free hotel parking!) when you book the Visit Philly Overnight Package for stays between February 18 and August 20, 2023.

Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street

Performers at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival in Philadelphia perform in front of blooming trees. — Photo by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival

April 15-16, 2023

When the cherry blossoms bloom in Fairmount Park, spring has arrived. To mark the glorious moment, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia hosts a two-day celebration complete with musical performances, cultural activities, workshops, dancing and more. A return to pre-pandemic form, the expanded festival features a beer garden, food court, marketplace, and Japanese cultural activity center. New for this year: As part of the 2023 festival, catch seven film screenings of classic movies starring acclaimed Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune at the Lightbox Film Center on select dates from April 7 to 29, 2023. Each screening is presented on 35 mm film in Japanese with English subtitles.

Where: Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum, West Fairmount Park

Rothman Orthopedics Roller Rink at Dilworth Park

April 21 – June 16, 2023

Lace up! This spring, the Rothman Orthopedics Roller Rink at Dilworth Park paints the town rainbow with colorful springtime skate sessions. Vibrant overhead art and the checkerboard rink floor bring good times and retro vibes. For more fun, chow down at the Dilworth Park Café, fuel up at the Air Grille pop-up beer garden or hop your way through the Dilworth Park dancing fountain. Advance reservations for hour-long skating are strongly recommended and discounted Matinee Skate sessions are offered Mondays and Tuesdays

Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street

Spring FunFest at Peddler’s Village

April 22-23, 2023

It’s a weekend of springtime family fun at Peddler’s Village, with sidewalk sales, live entertainment, and plenty of food and drink. At 11 a.m. each day, costumed characters lead a half-mile kazoo walk through the village — a noisy and leisurely stroll featuring a number of selfie stops and culminating in a free carousel ride at Giggleberry Fair. Note: Registration is required for each walk. It’s also the final weekend of the ultra-cute PEEPS in the Village display, a celebration of the Pennsylvania-made marshmallow treats that features more than 90 wall art creations, dioramas and sculptures made by local residents and organizations.

Where: Peddler’s Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska

Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival

More than 50 food trucks and neighborhood restaurants line Manayunk’s Main Street during this foodie event, doling out dishes highlighting a classic spring ingredient: strawberries. Also on site: a farm stand, vendors, and live music.

Where: Main Street

Dining Out For Life

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Eat good. Feel good. Every year, Dining Out for Life returns to cities across the globe, including Philadelphia, to help raise funds for local HIV/AIDS services. This year’s Philly event features dozens of the most popular eateries in the city, including a.kitchen + bar, Fork, LMNO, Parc, The Love and more. Participating restaurants donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to the cause.

Where: Various locations including a.kitchen + bar, 135 S. 18th Street

Penn Relays at Franklin Field

April 27-29, 2023

At the nation’s oldest and largest collegiate track meet, high school, college, and professional runners compete at the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Franklin Field. The three-day event features morning, afternoon, and evening race sessions.

Where: Franklin Field, 235 S. 33rd Street

People dancing at a bar during Philly Black Pride — Photo by A. Ricketts

Philly Black Pride

April 27-30, 2023

Visitors come from afar for this four-day event that emphasizes the strength and resilience of Philly’s community of LGBTQ people of color. A host of citywide events — including various nightlife activities — aims to focus on community building. Stay tuned for more info.

The Philadelphia Show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

April 28-30, 2023

One of the nation’s leading art and design fairs returns to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the second time in its 60-plus years. Staged on the museum’s East Terrace, the show features over 40 U.S. exhibitors specializing in fine art, collectible design, and antiques.

Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Broad Street Run Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Blue Cross Broad Street Run

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Broad Street transforms into a runner’s paradise for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run. During the 40-plus-year-old 10-mile race, participants run from the Logan neighborhood in North Philly all the way down to The Navy Yard in South Philly — with spectators hooting, hollering, and hoisting fun signs all along the way.

Where: Broad Street

East Passyunk Flavors On The Avenue

Sunday, April 30, 2023 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Showcasing the culinary offerings of East Passyunk Avenue, Flavors on the Avenue is a food-lover’s delight. Neighborhood restaurants — ranging from barbecue to dim sum — dole out special dishes, while boutiques bring their goods to the curb for sidewalk sales. Stay tuned for more info.

Where: E. Passyunk Avenue from Broad Street to Dickinson Street, East Passyunk Avenue

Sing Us Home Festival in Manayunk

May 5-6, 2023

Philly’s own Dave Hause (The Loved Ones, The Flacon) assembles the rock and roll homecoming weekend he’s always wanted — and you’re invited. On the grounds of Manayunk’s Venice Island Performing Arts Center, the Sing Us Home outdoor music festival offers a robust music lineup including Kathleen Edwards, Drive-By Truckers, Lydia Loveless, and, of course, Dave’s own band The Mermaid. Parking is very limited, but the venue is along several bus routes and close to the Manayunk-Norristown Regional Rail station. (Maybe even grab yourself a brew along the way.)

Where: Venice Island – Manayunk, 7 Lock Street

Dining Under the Stars outdoor dining series in Media — Photo courtesy Destination Delco

Dining Under the Stars in Media

May 3 – September 27, 2023 (Wednesdays only)

Alfresco dining is in style all summer long in Media as two dozen restaurants participate in the town’s annual Dining Under the Stars event. Every Wednesday, State Street closes to car traffic from Jackson Street to Orange Street so that pedestrians can enjoy peaceful evenings of outdoor dining, drinking, and shopping. This year, keep an eye out for local favorites such as Fellini Café Trattoria, Rye BYOB and Azie Asian Fusion.

Philly Tech Week

May 5-13, 2023

Featuring both virtual and IRL events, Philly Tech Week celebrates all-things technology and innovation within the Greater Philadelphia region. On the docket: networking events, coding, and gaming sessions, and, of course, parties.

The crowd at the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival — Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Back in action after a mini-festival last year, the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival highlights the neighborhood’s reputation as a food and culture hotspot. Dozens of booths line Walnut Street (closed to vehicular traffic!), offering art, beauty, fashion, family fun, food, culinary demonstrations, and beer and cocktail samplings.

Where: Walnut Street from the Avenue of the Arts to Rittenhouse Square

South Street Festival

Saturday, May 6, 2023

South Street’s grandest block party ushers in the height of springtime when revelers take part in alfresco family fun, food, and music, spanning Headhouse Square and along South Street. The event typically includes a giant Maypole, a few dozen musical performances, eating contests, a kids’ zone, vendors and Maifest, Brauhaus Schmitz’s German-beer-and-dancing extravaganza. Stay tuned to the South Street Headhouse District’s site for more info on this year’s event.

Where: South Street

Strawberry Month Kickoff Weekend at Peddler’s Village

May 6-7, 2023

Move over raspberries and blueberries — it’s all about the strawbs this May at Peddler’s Village. Strawberry Month kicks off Saturday and Sunday with a free-to-attend celebration offering strawberry treats galore, live entertainment and family activities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. And each day in May, village restaurants join in the festivities with strawberry-themed food and drink specials.

Where: Peddler’s Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska

Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival

Sunday, May 7, 2023 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

There’s no better place for a home and garden event than Philly’s Garden District. Home design, garden décor, and hand-crafted furniture and accessory vendors — 150 in all — line Germantown Avenue for this annual daylong festival, creating an outdoor marketplace full of vintage goods, terrariums, garden art and much more. In between shopping, enjoy the live music or plant yourself at one of Chestnut Hill’s many eateries.

Where: Germantown Avenue from Rex Avenue to Willow Grove Avenue

HBCU Festival at the Mann Center

Saturday, May 20, 2023 | 11 a.m.

The first-ever HBCU Festival celebrates the rich culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities while offering a full day jam-packed with free events. Marching bands, special guest speakers, food trucks, family activities, music classes, panel discussions, a drumline battle and an HBCU college fair are just some of the many festivities on deck. Note that entry is first-come, first-served so have your ticket ready in advance.

Where: The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue

Crowds during the Italian Market Festival in Philly — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

South 9th Street Italian Market Festival

May 20-21, 2023

Famous for its delectable cuisine, the South 9th Street Italian Market puts on a boisterous weekend of food and culture, including the very-Philly greased-pole-climbing contest. The real spotlight here though is on the food: homemade sausages, delicious cannoli, imported meats and cheeses, cappuccino, beef and poultry, and fresh pasta.

Where: South 9th Street Italian Market, 919 S. 9th Street

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