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Annual Philadelphia Events

March 13, 2023

Plan your Philadelphia visit, meeting or event around one of these can’t-miss annual experiences, including parades, cultural celebrations, concerts, sporting events, and more. Check out these annual Philadelphia events.

Mummers Parade

Annually on January 1

Watch this annual Philadelphia tradition as the charismatic Mummers strut along Broad Street, celebrating the New Year for the Mummers Parade. The colorful and extravagant costumes and performances are judged at the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Gold confetti is thrown in the air. A large float to look like a bear is in the middle. A man in a colorful costume stands on top of the float. Other performers in colorful costumes surround the float during the annual Mummers Parade. Some costumes are white, pink, blue, and purple. One performer appears to have a headpiece to look like a horse. American flags hang off of buildings in the background.

2020 Mummers Parade. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB.

Lunar New Year Parade and Celebrations

Annually in January or February

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an authentic dragon parade and enjoy traditional food and festivities in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

Performers wearing yellow sweatshirts and dark-colored pants perform a traditional lion dance in the street in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Paradegoers line the street to watch.

2020 Chinese New Year Parade. Photo by A. Lee.

Philadelphia Auto Show

Annually in February or March

At the Philadelphia Auto Show, hundreds of vehicles showcasing the latest models and trends will be on display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

A shiny blue car is off to the left. The carpet inside of the Pennsylvania Convention Center is made to look like a road with the double yellow lines running down the middle. Other shiny cars are on display in a line.

Philly Auto Show at Pennsylvania Convention Center. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB.

Philadelphia Flower Show

Annually in March

The largest and longest running flower show in the nation features acres of dazzling floral displays and gardens, with a new theme each year. After being held outdoors in the spacious FDR Park in South Philadelphia for the past two years, the Philadelphia Flower Show returned to its long-term home at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in 2023.

Elaborate and colorful floral displays appear to hang from above. A large floral arrangement is in the center of the frame. People are walking around it, admiring the flowers. Purple lights cast a glow on the displays spread throughout the space.

The 2023 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show’s theme was ‘The Garden Electric.’ Photo by Pel Productions for the PHLCVB.

Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Annually in March

A Philadelphia tradition since 1771, Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, noted as one of the best parades of its kind in the U.S. by Thrillist takes place annually on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) to honor the patron saint of Ireland and to celebrate Irish heritage and culture. Spectators line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to watch the event.

A large group of men dressed in black and green march down the street in celebration of Saint Patrick's Day. One man off to the left appears to lead the group. He has his arms stretched out and his hands in the air. All of the men are wearing hats to match their outfits. Green, orange, and white confetti has been tossed in the air.

Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade is hosted by the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association. Photo by D. Foley for Irish Philadelphia.

Philly Home and Garden Show

Annually in March

Held inside of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Philly Home and Garden Show offers busy homeowners a one-stop shop. With more than 200 booths to discover and learn from, attendees will find everything they need to inspire or complete their next home project, as well as expert advice.

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival

Annually in April

Celebrate spring and Philadelphia’s rich cultural connection to the art, music, food and beauty of Japan with the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival that culminates in Sakura Sunday at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park.

More than a dozen men dressed in black perform on a stage. Large drums are in front of them. The men have their arms in the air with their hands holding drumsticks. Behind them, a large green and pink banner reads Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival.

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival takes place annually in April. Photo courtesy of Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia.

Penn Relays

Annually in April

At the Penn Relays, watch high school, college and masters-level track stars as well as Olympic athletes compete in the oldest and largest track and field competition in the U.S. — and one of Philadelphia’s signature annual sporting events — at Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

Several female athletes are running on a track. They are running toward the camera. Each one is wearing a number on her school's jersey.

April 2022 – Penn Relays. Image © Ross Dettman. Photo courtesy of Penn Relays.

The Philadelphia Show

Annually in April

A premier showcase of the country’s top dealers of antiques and fine art, The Philadelphia Show features 41 exhibitors and a brilliant selection of art from the 17th century to the present.

Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run

Annually in May

The Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run is a 10-mile race along historic Broad Street, attracting local and international athletes for over 35 years.

Runners are shown running down a street with Philadelphia's City Hall behind them during the annual Broad Street Run.

Broad Street Run. Photo by D. Gehosky.

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival

Annually in May

An annual festival highlighting fashion, arts, eats, and shopping at businesses and restaurants in Rittenhouse Square. 

Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains

May 11 – September 24, 2023

During Longwood Gardens Festival of Fountains, daily performances at the Main Fountain Garden are set to music with water jets shooting 175 feet into the air. Visit in the evenings on weekends to experience the fountain shows paired with colorful lights.

A massive fountain comes to light with bright colorful, yellow, red, orange, blue, pink, and purple lights during Longwood Gardens' Festival of Fountains. Water shoots into the air and pools below the main fountain.

An illuminated evening fountain show at Longwood Gardens. Photo by B. Mathias.

Dad Vail Regatta

May 12 – 13, 2023

The Dad Vail Regatta is an annual collegiate regatta that draws participants from more than 100 North American colleges and universities.

Three boats of four rowers are shown in the river during the Dad Vail Regatta. The four women in the boat closest to the camera are wearing visors, the first and third women are wearing red visors, the second and fourth women are wearing pink visors. Water splashes up from their oars in the river.

Photo by K. Rossi for Dad Vail Regatta.

The South 9th Street Italian Market Festival

May 20 – 21, 2023

Take part in The South 9th Street Italian Market Festival, an annual tradition where delicious Italian favorites, both sweet and savory, are available along with great music, shopping and more.

People are shown walking down a street during the Italian Market festival. It's a bright spring day, the sky is blue. Vendors outside of storefronts line the street in the open-air market.

Italian Market Festival. Photo by K. Kuo.

Philadelphia Latino Film Festival

May 28 – July 9, 2023

The Philadelphia Latino Film Festival is an annual festival that showcases the innovative work of emerging and established Latin American and Latino filmmakers.

PrideDay

Annually in June

One of the largest celebrations of LGBTQ pride in the nation, PrideDay attracts more than 25,000 people each year to the city’s Gayborhood.

Philly Beer Week

June 2 – 11, 2023

Philly Beer Week gives you a chance to try locally made brews and participate in beer tours, prix fixe beer-pairing dinners, pub crawls and hundreds of events in restaurants and bars across America’s Best Beer Drinking City.

Independence Dragon Boat Regatta

June 3, 2023

Watch teams (from novices to experienced racers) compete along the Schuylkill River in the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta to help raise money for a number of worthy charities during this spectacular annual tradition.

Roots Picnic

June 2 – 4, 2023

Held at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the Roots Picnic is a weekend of music and performances handpicked by Philadelphia natives: The Roots.

Odunde Festival

Annually on the second Sunday in June

With live entertainment, 12 blocks of vendors along South Street, arts-and-craft booths, and African and Caribbean soul food, Odunde Festival is a huge festival that celebrates the Yoruba New Year.

Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival

June 18, 2023

Juneteenth, now a federal holiday, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Celebrate freedom at the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival, which is the largest Juneteenth celebration in the nation produced by Pennsylvania Juneteenth Initiative.

Wawa Welcome America

Annually June – July

During Wawa Welcome America, celebrate America’s Independence with a multi-week-long festival featuring family-friendly fun, free concerts from chart-topping entertainers, and a patriotic parade traveling past America’s most historic sites, all capped by a spectacular fireworks show above the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Fireworks shoot into the sky above the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is packed with people gazing up at the sky.

4th of July fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

Annually June – August

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival transforms Philadelphia’s Franklin Square at 6th and Race Streets into a dreamlike garden filling it with massive lantern displays that celebrate the cultural traditions of China.

A brightly colored lantern in the shape of a large bird, possibly a chicken is on display in Franklin Square for the Chinese Lantern Festival.

Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB

Made in America Festival

Annually on Labor Day Weekend

The Made in America Festival is an exciting music festival curated by Jay-Z and featuring dozens of artists across three stages along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, including a main stage at the base of the iconic Rocky Steps. Please note the 2023 Made in America festival has been canceled, but will return in 2024.

A crowd forms in front of a stage at the Made in America concert, as one woman in the crowd sits on top of a man's shoulders. Another man nearby is wearing a Phillies jersey. An American flag is projected onto the backdrop for the stage.

Made in America 2018. Photo by H. Brink.

Fringe Festival

Annually in September

More than 1,000 experimental performances take over neighborhoods throughout the city during Fringe Festival, an annual arts festival. Performances include theater, dance, comedy, visual arts, spoken word and more.

Opera Philadelphia Festival O

September 21 – October 1, 2023

Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O includes over a week’s worth of opera across Philadelphia from the world-renowned and cutting-edge Opera Philadelphia.

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary

Annually, on select evenings in late September through early November

From the creators of the famed Terror Behind the Walls haunted attraction, the new Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary fills the cellblocks of America’s most historic prison with 15 attractions, including two haunted houses, four immersive walk-through environments, two live performances, four themed bars and lounges, and a new Steve Buscemi-narrated audio tour recorded especially for Halloween Nights.

A man holds a drink out in front of him. The glass is shaped like a skull with a red light inside of it. a white and black straw is shown in the glass. The man tilts his hat forward with his other hand. a pink and purple creepy, illusion-inspired hallway appears behind him.

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary. Photo by Erin Davis, courtesy of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

Ciao Philadelphia

Annually in autumn

Greater Philadelphia has one of the largest Italian-American communities in the United States. Ciao Philadelphia is an annual festival that celebrates Italian cultural heritage and connects the city with contemporary Italy.

Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival

Annually in October

Hundreds of paddlers gather to race down the scenic Schuylkill River during the Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival, a 2,000-year-old tradition that involves beautiful boats, drumming and more.

OutFest

Annually in October

Outfest celebrates “National Coming Out Day” with the largest event of its kind in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood.

U.S. Open Squash

October 8 – 15, 2023

International teams compete in the Professional Squash Association’s annual championship, U.S. Open Squash, hosted by Drexel University.

Philadelphia Film Festival

Annually in October

The Philadelphia Film Festival is a world-renowned annual event hosted at various locations, premiering everything from Oscar contenders to breakthrough local films.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show

November 3 – 5, 2023

The Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show is held inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center and features close to 200 talented artists.

Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend

November 17 – 19, 2023

The Philadelphia Marathon is one of the fastest courses in the country and a great way to see America’s Historic Mile while making some history of your own.

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

Annually on Thanksgiving Day

For more than 100 years, Philadelphia has kicked off the holiday season with this family-friendly parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway featuring giant floats, balloons and marching bands from across the country.

A large float with a turkey wearing a hat rolls down the street. Women dressed as pilgrims walk beside the float and wave. Philadelphia's City Hall is in the background. More people are seen marching behind the float during the annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

2019 Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront

Annually on New Year’s Eve

Philadelphia continues the tradition of two sets of fireworks on New Year’s Eve at 6 p.m. and midnight over the Delaware River. Launched from barges in the river, the New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront are choreographed to unique soundtracks that can be heard from Penn’s Landing.

A large tree lights up in purple to the left. Red and gold fireworks soar into the night sky. People gather on an ice rink below, gazing up at the fireworks. Lights are strung nearby the ice rink along with festive winter holiday decorations.

New Year’s fireworks at the BlueCross River Rink. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB.

 

Events

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