Whether you are seeking liter steins of Bavarian lager or an all-ages afternoon of outdoor games, planning your weekend starts with knowing where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Philly. From historic avenue block parties to intimate beer garden takeovers, here is how to navigate Philadelphia's premier harvest festivities.
Street-Wide Celebrations and Craft Drafts
The Riverwards district is the epicenter of fall beer celebrations. Leading the charge are two giant Oktoberfest celebrations that deliver two entirely distinct experiences across back-to-back weekends:
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Frankford Hall Oktoberfest (Saturday, September 19 | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM): For 15 years, Frankford Hall has shut down the 1200 block of Frankford Avenue for an open-air Bavarian street fair. Attendees can enjoy live music by the Polka Brothers, dancing in the street, oversized Bavarian soft pretzels, bratwurst, and traditional German lagers on tap. The event is free, open to the public, and both family- and dog-friendly.
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Evil Genius Oktoberfest (Saturday, September 26 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM): Shifting to an intimate, 21-and-over format, Evil Genius Beer Company hosts a 100-person ticketed festival inside its newly reconfigured beer garden. Guests receive a commemorative glass stein, access to four exclusive German-style beers (including Every Day I’m Rustlin’ marzen and I Love Lamp pineapple hefeweizen), German eats, and EDM-infused oompah beats by DJ Bob Beast.
Family-Friendly Block Parties & Neighborhood Fun
You do not need a beer stein in hand to take part in Philadelphia's harvest weekend. Running alongside the beer halls on Saturday, September 19, are massive community activations tailored for kids, strollers, and pets.
Consult our family-friendly fall festival guide to map out daytime highlights, which include:
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Fishtown Oktoberfest Family Funfest: Open-air nine-hole mini-golf, pop-a-shot basketball, balloon twisting, and sidewalk pop-up vendors stretching along Frankford Avenue between Thompson and Master Streets from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
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Fishtown Fall Family Festival: A full block party on the 1700 block of North Front Street outside Evil Genius from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, featuring Lulu’s Casita on Wheels play bus, youth craft stations, food trucks, and handmade goods from over a dozen local artisans.
Keep the Season Going Into October
Harvest season extends far beyond September’s opening weekend. Taprooms across the city continue the momentum with drag brunches, charity dog costume parades, live outdoor music festivals, and culinary gauntlets like the 10-sauce "Hop Ones" wing challenge featured on the autumn brewery events roster.
