The 9 Weirdest And Wackiest Festivals In All Of Philadelphia You Can’t Miss This Year
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Kim Magaraci
Author
When it comes to unique festivals in Philadelphia, you won’t have to look hard. There are events happening in the city all year long, and plenty of them are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. When you feel like watching scientists blow up trash cans, people eating strawberry pie with no hands, or meeting the mushroom of your dreams, head to any of these events that are sure to leave an impression.
The Philly Science Festival is a citywide demonstration on the role science plays in our everyday lives. Enjoy a science-themed carnival, plenty of hands-on events for kids, and extraordinarily entertaining events for adults. See More.
From South Street to Headhouse Square, tens of thousands of Philadelphians celebrate the beginning of spring with a giant maypole, live music, eating contests, and Maifest, the German beer and dancing extravaganza. See more.
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Kensington and Fishtown are the place to be on the third Saturday in May. You'll love watching from the sidelines (or participating yourself!) as dozens of homemade "kinetic sculptures" go flying through down on an urban obstacle course. You'll see plenty of wipeouts - especially in the mud pit. Afterwards, listen to live music and enjoy local foods.See more.
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Try your hand at the pie eating contests, sample strawberry wines and brews, and enjoy so many sweet desserts and treats! Peddler's Village is a great place to kick off spring, and there's no better fruit to celebrate with.
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The historic Rosenbach Library holds a first edition of the manuscript of the novel Ulysses, and James Joyce fans join together every year to celebrate "Bloomsday". Bloomsday is the date on which the novel's hero, Leopold Bloom, made his odyssey through Dublin. The entire week is filled with Joyce-related activities at the library, and it culminates with a daylong reading. See more.
Watch an incredible parade, meet Harriet Tubman, tour the historic neighborhood of Germantown, and learn about what it really took to get the 13th Amendment ratified. The historical reenactments are fascinating, and the local food and drink make this one of the best festivals in Philadelphia. See more.
Is there anything more fun than sipping local and craft beers while looking at lions and tigers? Nope! That's why I'm so excited that the Philadelphia Zoo is bringing back their wildly popular Summer Ale Fest. You'll catch the best local breweries and food trucks here for one magic evening. Date is TBA. See more.
Be prepared to participate in the reenactments if you attend Bastille Day in Philly! This fun event features cabaret performances, more baguettes than you can imagine, and more fun French-themed activities. The entire day cumulates with Marie Antoinette shouts "Let them eat Tastykakes!" and tosses 3,000 of our favorite plasticky baked goods to the crowd. See more.
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Did you know that Kennett Square is known as the Mushroom capital of the world? Every September, thousands of people come to this small town just outside of Philly to celebrate all things fungus. Don't write it off - you're sure to meet a fungai if you strike up conversation! The food to try is unique, and you'll be able to bring home some rare mushrooms to use in your own cooking. This may be the most unique festival in Philadelphia... but what's a festival without a few mushrooms, anyway?
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What’s on your schedule for the year? This cold spell has to break soon, and once it does, Philadelphians will be back to visiting the best museums in the country and dining at the most delicious restaurants. With a little planning, 2018 will be a year nobody forgets.
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