Cheers! An Epic Sober Festival Is Coming to Philly Next Year

Whether you’re sober, sober curious, doing Dry January, or just want to do something fun sans alcohol, check out Dry Vibes on January 20th. / Photography by Samantha Levi Photography

The start of a new year always gets people reconsidering their lifestyle habits — and when it comes to alcohol, many folks opt for “Dry January,” a wellness challenge that involves going sober for the first 31 days of the year. But cutting down on or completely forgoing booze isn’t just a one-month pursuit. Since the pandemic, an increasing number of individuals — Philadelphians included — have become sober curious, or more mindful about how much, how often, and what they’re imbibing year-round.

If you’re already sober, are rethinking your relationship with alcohol, or simply want to have a good time sans spirits, mark your calendar for January 20th. Why? Well, that’s when Dry Vibes — an all-day event celebrating sober living — is taking place right here in Philly!

Debuted last year in Kansas City, Dry Vibes’ Philadelphia edition — which will run from noon to 7 p.m. at Location 215 in Spring Garden — will feature panels on topics like sober sex, dating, healing, and travel; a tasting lounge with more than 20 zero-proof brands to sip on; N/A cocktail demonstrations; a pop-up bottle shop for you to bring home (or gift!) booze-free libations; a vendor marketplace and “spiritual sanctuary” where you can try a variety of wellness modalities and buy products; and a talk from keynote speaker Hilary Sheinbaum, journalist and author of The Dry Challenge.

You can also expect appearances from Philly-based entrepreneurs, including Sara Silverstein of Inner Light Aura, chef Jen Carroll, Sisterly Love Collective, zero-proof mixologist and menu consultant Jesse Andreozzi, and permanent jewelry and teeth-whitening biz Femme Gemz, among others.

You’ll also want to stick around for the after-party for mingling, enjoying more non-alcoholic beverages, and dancing to music spun by Philly’s own Marissa Le, a.k.a. DJ Yolo Ono.

The fête is curated by Drew Davis, co-founder of N/A bottle shop Gem Life + Bar in Pitman, New Jersey, and SipSteady, a Kansas City-based marketing and PR agency focused on zero-proof brands. Davis tells me that they launched in Kansas City because she “spent many of my heavy drinking days there, so I thought it would be full-circle for my healing to host the first Dry Vibes in that city.” (Davis went sober in April 2020 and launched Gem four months later.)

Davis adds that a lot of Gem’s customers were wondering why she didn’t host the event in Philly and started asking her if she’d ever bring it local. With that in mind, plus the fact that Kansas City saw about 300 people, Davis decided to expand to Philly and Houston for 2024. (Kansas City will welcome Dry Vibes for a second year, as well.)

But bringing Dry Vibes back home was also catalyzed by Drew’s belief that Philly is still finding its footing in the N/A scene. “The Philly market isn’t lacking, per se, but there still isn’t enough zero-proof options compared to other cities like New York, Miami, and LA,” she tells me. “I think Philly has so much to offer when it comes to inclusivity, but there needs to be more non-alc opportunities. Dry Vibes is a way to show the city that you can have just as much fun and connect with others without alcohol — whether you’re sober, sober curious, or just looking for something to do during Dry January.”

You can buy tickets for Dry Vibes Philadelphia here. Prices range from $37 to $73. The event will take place from noon to 7 p.m. on January 20th at Location 215 (990 Spring Garden Street).