Philly Festivals

       Philadelphia has dozens of events each year, but which ones are really worth going to? You can visit the event websites or visitphilly.com for descriptions, but you won’t get a sense of what it’s really like. That’s where I come in! Read my synopsis the events I’ve been to and the type of person who would enjoy them. 

*The ones I loved the most* 

1. The Villain Arts Tattoo Arts Festival at the Pennsylvania Convention Center

• What it’s like: set in a large section of the Convention Center, you watch well-known tattoo artists from all over the world permanently place their ink on convention-goers. 
• Who would enjoy it: a fan of all things body art! This is also a great opportunity to shop for tattoo artists, who all have business cards at their table. This event also features tattoo competitions and distributes awards for Best Black & White, Best Color Tattoo, and more. 

2. Philadelphia Auto Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center

• What it’s like: this annual event also takes place in the Convention Center presenting all different makes and models of cars. There are a few different sections of the show including one for famous movie or television cars (like the Mystery Machine), a roped off section for luxury vehicles, and a large section of open floor where you can sit in dozens of different cars.
• Who would enjoy it: you don’t even need to be a car fanatic to enjoy this event, but it certainly helps! I know absolutely nothing about cars and had a blast at this event sitting in (and pretending to race) different cars and also watching the impressive display of extreme off-road capabilities of Jeeps at Camp Jeep. 

3. Food Truck Festival hosted by Kamp for Kids Chocolate Pretzels (location changes)

• What it’s like: food trucks from all over come to Philly to give you a taste of what makes them so great! 100% of the proceeds benefit children with autism. There is also live entertainment and activities for kids (henna & face paint, bouncy houses, and inflatable soccer with the Philadelphia Union Soccer League).  
• Who would enjoy it: someone who is hungry! If I could have tried every item without exploding, I would have. When I attended this event in 2019, it was beneath a bridge in the Riverview Plaza, and it was so worth getting lost for 20 minutes to find it. There weren’t a lot of people there, making the lines move quickly. The standout item of this event was the Lobster Tots from Cousins Maine Lobster. 

4. Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show at Rittenhouse Square

• What it’s like: many varieties of fine art are displayed in booths along the exterior and interior paths of Rittenhouse Square. Since the work displayed is in the ‘Fine Art’ category, expect high prices. There are many large pieces and not many smaller pieces, so if you intend to go to this festival to purchase artwork, make sure you have a way to get it home. 
• Who would enjoy it: no art lover too big or too small should shy away from this event. I love this festival because it is like an outdoor museum in the middle of the city. You can simply view the art or speak with the artist in their booth about their creations. Since it’s conveniently located in Center City, you can attend the festival then dine at the many locations close by (some of our favorites are Goldie, Bar Bombón, DIG, and Bao Nine). 

*The ones that were underwhelming*

1. Jack’s Pumpkin Glow at Fairmount Park

• What it’s like: ⅓ mile long pathway featuring jack o’lanterns of all shapes and sizes. Disclaimer: if you’ve been to The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in Cortlandt Manor, NY… Jack’s Pumpkin Glow is a little underwhelming. While it’s fun to see all the different types of pumpkin carvings, the event is shy of larger enchanting displays. There were also no additional events or food to make it more entertaining. The most you could do was buy a regular pumpkin at the end of the trail that you could carve at home.
• Who would enjoy it: a lover of Halloween! This event is very family-friendly since the walk is on flatter terrain and only ⅓ mile long. Usually held in Fairmount Park, it is easy to get to. 

2. PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

• What it’s like: keep in mind I went during the second weekend of the first ever outdoor flower expo. Due to Covid concerns, PHS decided to have an outdoor event instead of hosting it indoors at the Convention Center. This wasn’t good for the plants. The lack of control on weather conditions resulted in many displays being wilted and not in preserved condition. Luckily, the PHS folks think the same thing, and in 2023, they will return to the indoor style of the Convention Center. 
• Who would enjoy it: an admirer of horticultural creativity! Despite the flowers being in a less favorable condition, the displays were intricate and lively. There were also tons of vendors for fashion & accessories, gardening supplies, and more! They also had a butterfly garden, but unfortunately tickets sold very quickly for that feature and I was unable to participate. I will definitely be returning to the Flower Show when it is indoors. 

3. World Oddities Expo

• What it’s like: vendors fashion tables with their products including taxidermy, spooky artwork, preserved skulls & skeletons, furniture, and more (yes, I said taxidermy).
• Who would enjoy it: not someone who is extremely squeamish. They don’t use the term ‘oddities’  lightly, especially when it comes to taxidermy & the use of animal hides and bones in artwork. It’s not so much ‘in your face’ or like you’re in someone’s creepy basement, but there are plenty of creepy crawlies laid about the tables. There wasn’t a lot of live entertainment or other things to do besides shop tables. Shout out to Crawly Things and Butterfly Wings for their beautiful display of insects (we purchased a gorgeous butterfly wing in a jar, and it’s ethically sourced too)! 

*The ones I won’t be returning to*

1. Philadelphia Taco Festival at Xfinity Live!

• What it’s like: this event sold out faster than any other ticketed event I have ever been to. All day passes were so quickly snatched up that the event holders had to create more tickets for shorter time slots. While the taco stands, trucks, and other vendors were outside, there were bars and seating areas inside as well. The event included lots of entertainment to keep you in the spirit of tacos (WWE wrestling match, pepper eating contest, live music in multiple locations, etc). 
• Who would enjoy it: someone who likes to party… and no, you don’t even need to like tacos. This event seemed less about the tacos and more about drinking and socializing. While the first drink is free, it’s quite pricey to enjoy this festival, which is why I won’t be returning. Not only did the tickets cost $20 each (I was able to purchase a ticket for Saturday from 5PM-8PM), it cost $20 for a sheet of 5 vouchers. You can not purchase anything with money except more food voutures or alcohol at the designated bars. Some of the food cost more than one voucher and by the end of the night I must have spent over $100 and did not eat or drink nearly what that would have cost me at a regular taco place. The tacos were also fairly underwhelming as there weren’t any widely known or upscale vendors. Overall, it was loud, there was barely any shade or seating, and if you wanted to cool off inside with the A/C, it was just as crowded with blaring music.