Guide to Spring Festivals in Philadelphia

Spring in Philadelphia is a beautiful time. The flowers are blooming, there are people out enjoying nature and Philadelphia’s festival season begins. There are festivals year-round; however, the spring festivals draw much bigger crowds and get Philadelphians ready for a fun and enjoyable summer. Each festival is unique and it’s worth attending as many as possible to fully enjoy the city.

One of the newer festivals, at only 6 years old, is the hugely popular South Street Spring Festival. Anyone who knows Philadelphia has heard of the infamous South Street, an area known for parties and good times. Many visitors shop in the cute boutiques as well. Since the area is already popular, it makes sense to throw a festival to continue the party. The festival takes place Saturday, May 4.

Not to be missed is the Italian Market Festival. Each year, hundreds of people come out to attend this gathering. There’s live music, arts and crafts, exhibits and, of course, lots of delicious food. The food is what draws people to the festival. Tasting the different foods is a great way for lesser-known restaurants to get more attention and attract customers. It takes place May 18–19, 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Philadelphia has its own version of the Cherry Blossom Festival, which celebrates the flowering Japanese cherry trees in Fairmount Park, planted in 1926 as a gift from Japan. The festival includes origami sessions, sushi-making classes and live traditional music