Fall Festivals Galore
Fall is upon us and that means beer fests, pumpkin fests, and Oktoberfest fests that all roll up into one giant festival fest. Luckily for you, we have the best of the fests all sorted out for you, from fall harvests to beer-soaked extravaganzas and everything in between.
McGillin’s Old Ale House has begun its celebration of fall by putting Oktoberfest beers from Stoudt, Dogfish Head, Yuengling, Sly Fox and more on tap along with updating their menu with German foods like bratwurst and potato salad. Saranac Pumpkin Ale is also for sale alongside pumpkin martinis and pumpkin bombs. This celebration runs through the Midtown Village Fall Festival when McGillin’s will turn Drury Street into a giant beer garden.
This weekend Hop Angel Brauhaus will be holding a Pumpkin Festival on Saturday the 22nd at 3 p.m. and a Pumpkin themed brunch on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday’s outdoor tent party will include keg bowling and an all-ages pumpkin carving contest. Pumpkin beers like Manayunk Yunkin Punkin and Philadelphia Kenz O’Lantern will be on tap. A pumpkin dinner menu will be served Saturday and Sunday.
This Saturday, September 22nd the Philadelphia Horticultural Society will be holding their Fall Garden Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Navy Yard. Free admission leads guests to garden tips and demos, crafts, games, plant and craft shopping, and cooking demos from The Chew co-hosts Daphne Oz and Carla Hall. Of course no PHS fall festival would be complete without their Garden Giants contest for the biggest pumpkins and more.
The Institute Bar will also be having an event this weekend. The 12th Street Arts & Brews Conservation Education Block Party will be this Saturday the 22nd from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Vendors selling arts and crafts will be lined up along the block while DJs and live music play. The bar’s second floor will be full of art work from Old Philadelphia highlighting the city’s brewing history and Philadelphia Brewing will be taking over the tap system.
This weekend also continues Frankford Hall’s massive Oktoberfest celebration. Saturday includes a street festival and a ceremonial keg tapping which begins at 12pm. Frankford Hall will have their own food tent set up alongside the many tents of German and local brewers. A family area will be included in the street festival as will live music. Everyday from Saturday until Sunday September 30 Frankford Hall will be holding Oktoberfest activities like a Beer Olympics and a special day of children’s activities.
Brauhaus Schmitz will be hosting their 4th Annual Oktoberfest Block Party on Saturday, September 29 from noon to 8 p.m. The fair will shut down South Street for live music, German beer, and a pig roast. The week leading up to the big party Brauhaus will be hosting events like an Oktoberfest flight night, German beer quizzo, and a bratwurst eating contest.
The King of Prussia Mall’s inaugural Beerfest Royale is set to take place on Friday, October 5 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday October 6 from 12:30-8:30 p.m. The celebration of local craft and German beer will feature two beer tents, live German music and a plaza filled with food vendors in the mall’s large parking lots. Tickets are required but the price includes access to all concessions.
The 7th annual Midtown Village Fall Festival block party will be on Saturday, October 6 this year from noon to 8 p.m. stretching down 13th from Chestnut to Locust. Food from local restaurants like Barbuzzo, Jamonera, and Sampan will be aplenty, of course, and there will be a beer garden, rain or shine. Arts and crafts, shopping, a dunk tank, and sumo wrestling will also be involved.
The Institute’s 4th Annual Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin Beer Festival will also be on October 6th. At 9 a.m. brunch opens up and for $15 you get your meal and early access to the pumpkin beers on tap, which are pay as you go. At 11 a.m. Green Street will be closed down for seating and the sidewalk turned into concession stands when the festival opens to the public. The Institute will be serving a 4-item pumpkin menu with 45 pumpkin beers and ciders rotating on tap all day. Most importantly, the first 20 guests to drink 6 pumpkin beers win a pumpkin pie.
October 7, City Tap House will hold its second annual Pumpkin Smash from 1-6pm. Elysian Brewing Company will be providing brews for the biggest pumpkin beer festival you’ve ever seen, with over 25 pumpkin beers on tap. Elysian’s founder Dick Cantwell will be there and there will also be a pumpkin pie eating contest. Live music from Predator Dub Assassins begins at 1 p.m.
