May 2024 in Philly: The 35+ Biggest Events, Festivals & Exhibitions

Ongoing

Wanna borrow a banned book? Visit Philadelphia’s Little Free(dom) Library initiative, which launched in February 2024 at over a dozen Little Free(dom) Library sites across the city, encouraged visitors and locals to explore banned fiction and non-fiction texts by Black and women authors. Now celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May — and featuring a fresh set of banned works — the updated libraries include books like Under My Hijab by Hena Khan, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang and Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed. Spread the love by leaving a book of your own (optional).

Through May 5, 2024 (select dates)

Catch the last two performances of Opera Philadelphia’s production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at the Academy of Music. The tragic romance is performed in Italian with English supertitles.

Through Monday, September 2, 2024

Everything’s clicking into place. Returning to The Franklin Institute for the first time since 2015, The Art of the Brick displays more than 100 pieces of art all made completely of LEGO — from recreations of masterworks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night and da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to original works of LEGO sculpture, including a 20-foot-long T. rex dinosaur skeleton. Every piece in the hugely impressive display is the handiwork of contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya, the first artist ever to create an exhibition of LEGO art.

Through Sunday, January 5, 2025

In the fascinating Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent exhibition, visitors discover rare documents, inspired works of art and historical objects that paint a fuller picture of the shelter used as George Washington’s headquarters throughout the War for Independence. The tent — the Museum of the American Revolution’s signature artifact — served as the battlefield home, strategic meeting place and office quarters for General Washington, and the exhibition tells the stories of the many individuals who worked to preserve and pass down this vital symbol of the American republic.

May 1 – September 25, 2024 (Wednesdays only)

Alfresco dining is in style this spring and summer in Media as two-dozen restaurants participate in the Delaware County seat’s annual Dining Under the Stars event. Every Wednesday, State Street closes to car traffic from Jackson to Orange so pedestrians can enjoy peaceful evenings of strolling with friends and family, live music, restaurant specials, and outdoor dining, drinking and sidewalk shopping from your favorite local stores and eateries.

Originally known as Wizard World, Fan Expo is Philly’s meeting of all things genre, from sci-fi, horror and gaming to comics, anime and cosplay. Expect plenty of exhibitions, panels, hands-on workshops, screening rooms, red carpets, cosplay and trivia competitions, fan and community group meetups and a quarter-million square feet of exhibitors. Also on-hand: creators, independent artists and game developers, plus a slew of celebs including Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, Chevy Chase, Rainn Wilson, Mario Lopez, Marisa Tomei, Alan Tudyk and more with photo ops, autographs and Q&A sessions available.

Philly’s own singer-songwriter extraordinaire Dave Hause assembles the rock homecoming weekend he’s always wanted — and you’re invited. On the grounds of Manayunk’s Venice Island Performing Arts Center, the three-day Sing Us Home Festival outdoor music fest returns for its second year with a robust lineup including Langhorne Slim, The Jayhawks, Strike Anywhere and Sarah Shook & the Disarmers along with Dave-times-three: performing solo, with his band The Mermaid and as a member of The Loved Ones. Food options from local favorites and national vendors will be available.

Opens Saturday, May 4, 2024 (Saturdays & Sundays)

Attention foodies: The nationally renowned seasonal Southeast Asian Market returns on the weekends to FDR Park. At this massive culinary treasure, visitors can discover over 70 vendors offering traditional dishes, street food and produce native to Asia, plus plants, jewelry and clothing. For the best experience, pack a picnic blanket and don’t forget to bring cash — some vendors are cash-only and there’s no ATM on site.

Talk about larger than life. Watch the world’s best driver-athletes and their 12,000-pound beasts on four wheels put their skills and speed to the test during Monster Jam at Lincoln Financial Field. See legendary monster trucks like Grave Digger, Max-D and Megalodon in action and come early for competition previews, driver interviews, opening ceremonies and more before the official Freestyle, Skills and Racing competitions begin.

South Street’s German beer hall hosts this traditional German spring festival, complete with a maypole, music, dancing, and, of course, plenty of German beer. Food and drink are pay as you go, and menu items include Deutsch favorites like pig roast, bratwurst and speckwurst. VIP packages are available, offering front-of-line perks, a liter mug, six tokens good for a beer or food item each, and access to private restrooms. Prost!

One of Philly’s premier street festivals, the annual Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival highlights the Center City neighborhood’s reputation as a food and culture hotspot. Dozens of booths line Walnut Street and the area around Rittenhouse Square Park, offering art, beauty, fashion, family fun, food vendors, and beer and cocktail samplings, plus live music, culinary demonstrations and local artist showcases.

A sweet tradition since 1978, the Strawberry Festival at suburban food-and-shopping hotspot Peddler’s Village in Lahaska features two days of events centered on fresh, locally grown strawberries. Treats take the form of berry-yummy pastries, jams and chocolate-dipped bites along with, of course, actual strawberries available for purchase by the pint. The popular annual event also includes a craft show, live music and entertainment, food trucks, kids’ activities and shop specials. Bonus: Strawberry-themed food and drink specials are available across the village’s restaurants and eateries throughout May.

More than 35,000 athletes traverse a course down the longest straight stretch of road in any American city during the annual Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run, the largest 10-mile race in the nation. Expect a festival-like atmosphere as thousands of spectators dot the iconic course to motivate runners with music, noisemakers and witty signs. The 2024 race sees a return to the original course — from Einstein Medical Center in North Philly to The Navy Yard in South Philly — and an earlier start time, with the first wave of runners starting at 7:30 a.m.

One of the region’s most unusual beer events returns to Sly Fox Brewing Company’s Tastin’ Room in Pottstown. The annual Bock Fest & Goat Race starts with live music, a goat parade and a stein hoist competition before 50-or-so speedy goats hit the track for a 90-minute race to determine which G.O.A.T. will have the honor of having its name adorn the day’s special Maibock, tapped after the race. Join in for bock brews and great eats while you watch trackside or on the Jumbotron. Advanced tickets required.

The Philadelphia Ballet brings a stunning take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the Academy of Music with The Dream. Frederick Ashton’s hour-long take on the classic comedy is paired with a performance of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son set to music by Prokofiev. Matinee shows are available Saturday and Sunday.

This spring and summer, Longwood Gardens’ glorious fountains jet to life during the attraction’s annual Festival of Fountains. Performances include the daily Main Fountain Garden show with 1,719 jets soaring as high as 175 feet; the 110-year-old Open Air Theatre and its 750 jets in changing patterns spinning and dancing to music (daily except Tuesdays); and dazzling nighttime displays during spectacular Illuminated Fountain Performances, plus a cool behind-the-scenes tour (both Thursdays through Saturdays).

Cheer on fanciful kinetic sculptures and contraptions driven by human pilots racing down an urban obstacle course at the Kensington Derby and Arts Festival, an only-in-Philly event along Frankford Avenue between York and Huntingdon streets. Also on the docket: plenty of street eats, regional shopping and live music on stages at either end of the race. Saddle up anywhere along the route for a good view of the event that supports the East Kensington Neighbors Association’s ongoing mini-grant program for local nonprofits and businesses.

Formerly known as the Ardmore Outdoor Beer Fest, the Main Line Outdoor Beer & Wine Festival sets up at Schauffele Plaza across from Ardmore Music Hall and features live music, coffee vendors, food trucks, a barbecue and pig roast (with libations from Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft), and beer and wine from over 20 breweries and wineries, including Evil Genius Beer Company, Workhorse Brewing Company, Fell To Earth Vermouth, Mural City Cellars and much more. Available VIP packages grant early event access, specialty brews, a food voucher and more.

Stroll and shop for one-of-a-kind handcrafted goods at this quirky craft bazaar organized by the local women-owned shop, Art Star. Featuring over 80 vendors, the market offers handmade ceramics, jewelry, prints, clothing, home decor, paper goods, accessories and more. Visitors can also enjoy pay-as-you-go food from Philly Taco, a cash bar and interactive make-and-take craft activities by Nimble Craft and Project Joy. The bazaar is free to enter and pets are welcome on a leash.

Drawing more than 15,000 spectators annually for almost 20 years, New Hope Celebrates PrideFest welcomes visitors from Pennsylvania and New Jersey (and beyond) for one of the nation’s first Pride events of the year. The festival features the only Pride Parade that crosses a state line — beginning in Lambertville, New Jersey, before crossing over a bridge into New Hope — with a hundred-foot Rainbow Equality Flag and 1,000 participants in marching bands and on floats, plus a Pride Fair with vendors, games, food, an outdoor concert and a Best Cocktail Contest.

The Brewerytown, Sharswood and Fairmount communities come together to host the annual Girard Avenue Street Fest outdoor festival, a free-to-attend family event along West Girard Avenue between 26th Street and 29th Street. The fête features over 100 vendors and service providers, food from Brewerytown area restaurants, games, live local bands and even a kids zone with bounce houses.

Music, food trucks and craft brews? Say less. Roxborough pulls out all the stops for the annual Roxborough Spring Fest taking over Ridge Avenue from Lyceum Avenue to Leverington Avenue with over 50 artists and crafters, dozens of food trucks from local shops, craft beer, boozy and non-boozy beverage stands, kid-friendly activities, and a main stage with jams by Philly-area performers.

The popular Made on American Street Festival sipping-and-sampling event returns to North American Street (between Master Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue) for its 18th year, hosted by Punch Buggy Brewing, Wissahickon Brewing Company and Home Brewed Events. Besides plenty of craft brews, cider, cocktails and wine, the fest offers Libertee Grounds mini-golf, live music, pay-as-you-go food trucks, streetside tables at restaurants and cafes, maker vendors, and more. Tickets include unlimited drink samples and a tasting glass. VIP upgrades offer early access, reserved beer specials and food truck tastes.

Hosted annually by Philly’s famous century-old sidewalk curb market, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival offers a boisterous and delicious weekend of food, art, music and culture, including over 100 craft vendors, live music on three stages, the Procession of Saints parade, the John Marzano Half Ball Tournament, the very-Philly greased-pole-climbing contest at 9th & Montrose Piazza and, of course, delectable cuisine up and down the Italian Market’s seven full blocks of great deals on homemade sausages, decadent cannoli, imported cheeses, cappuccino, fresh pasta and more.

Coming this May to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the new Mary Cassatt at Work exhibition celebrates the Philadelphia-raised impressionist artist who explores gender, labor and feminine agency through over 130 prints, paintings and pastels. Also included: new findings about the advanced processes and materials the painter — who began studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at age 15 — used in the early 20th century. This is the first major showing of Cassatt’s life’s work in over 25 years.

DIY’ers rejoice! The Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival returns this May, bringing over 200 home, garden, vintage/collectible and artisanal vendors to Germantown Avenue (between Rex and Willow Grove avenues). Shop for your spring and summer project needs or gather inspo from experts and artisans during live demonstrations in the festival’s Makers Village. Bring the whole family: Crafters, non-crafters (no judgment here) and kids can look forward to live music, a Kids Zone, and plenty of Chestnut Hill shops and eateries to explore as you stroll.

The spring edition of the popular triannual Northern Liberties Night Market returns to the bustling corridor of North 2nd Street for a family- and dog-friendly nighttime festival full of eating, shopping, performances and all-around revelry. Expect food trucks, craft and boutique vendors, kids activities, games, live music, and plenty of brews and cocktails from popular NoLibs eateries and drinkeries like Standard Tap, Urban Village Brewing Company, Bourbon & Branch, North Bowl, El Camino Real and more.

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with a delicious seven-course tasting menu prepared by talented vendor chefs from the Southeast Asian Market. Enjoy complimentary drinks and a seated dinner featuring diverse cuisine from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Throughout the evening, the chefs share their personal stories of immigration, resilience and cultural heritage. Plus, attendees take home a goodie bag of gifts from AAPI-owned businesses courtesy of Visit Philadelphia. Tickets are required.

The beloved Devon Horse Show is an annual equine tradition dating back to 1896 — the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse competition in the nation — which features equestrian disciplines, open-air exhibitions and special events (including a dog show and Memorial Day tribute) at Chester County’s famous Devon Show Grounds. Alongside is the old-fashioned Devon Country Fair, itself an institution since 1919, with a half-dozen pop-up restaurants and plenty of fair food stands, over 60 boutique shopping and souvenir vendors, an art gallery, and a Midway featuring a Ferris wheel and a carousel.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Philadelphia Cup Regatta returns to the Delaware River waterfront. Hosted by the Liberty Sailing Club, the regatta — featuring over 100 sailors from clubs from across the region — features all types of watercraft from dinghies to keelboats racing down the Delaware from the Ben Franklin Bridge to the Washington Avenue Pier, with the best spectator views from Penn’s Landing.

Film buffs and fans of Latino culture can celebrate a dozen years of cinematic grandeur from established and emerging Latino filmmakers at the annual Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival. The lineup includes feature films, shorts, animations, web series and documentaries, along with workshops and discussions such as the festivals’ Luz Programs (including a work-in-progress lab and filmmaker Q&A sessions), and the 10th annual LOLA Awards which honor filmmaking achievements in the Latino and Latinx creative community.

While the unusual story of a clown imagining his own burial doesn’t sound particularly uplifting, Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo is a long-running production from the international contemporary circus ensemble that’s not nearly as gloomy as it sounds. Instead the show — presented in Philadelphia for the first time — embodies effervescent joy, light-hearted comedy and daring acrobatic feats in a Carnival-like celebration of life on display across the 104 feet long stage at Temple University’s Liacouras Center on North Broad.

The popular annual Philly Beer Week event returns this spring with 10 days of events, tastings, happy hours, pub crawls and foamy fun. Pouring brews since 2007, the regional tradition brings together breweries from around the city and countryside and from across the country to show us all why Philly is one of the best beer cities in the world. Keep an eye on the official calendar and the Philly Loves Beer Instagram page for Beer Week events, announcements and lists of participating breweries as they are revealed.

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier takes over Camden’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion for his Unreal Unearth Tour, bringing with him soul-stirring hits like Take Me to Church, Someone New and Work Song along with tracks from his new pandemic-penned album Unheard,including the single Too Sweet.

Honor women in your life with the Mother’s Day Gospel Celebration concert at Temple University’s Liacouras Center featuring some of gospel music’s biggest names. Donnie McClurkin, The Clark Sisters, Ricky Dillard and more put on a powerful show praising mothers, daughters and matriarchs of all types.

The Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B herself, Ashanti — along with contemporaries Mya, Lloyd and newcomer Maeta — headline 100.3 WRNB’s RnB Fest 2024 for a night of infectious early-aughts singles like Foolish and Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) and more with a celebration hitting North Broad’s The Met Philadelphia.

Get ready to move past Spring Cleaning into Hot Girl Summer as superstar Megan Thee Stallion turns up the heat at the Wells Fargo Center along with fellow hottie GloRilla, Meg fans can count on a fire show for the rapper’s first headlining arena tour, featuring hits like Body, Savage and Girls in the Hood.

In Philly, it’s not hard to find great live music every day of the week. Peruse our guide to concerts and music festivals for the latest on your next live music experience.

Through Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (select dates)

May means the start of hittin’ season as superstars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Kyle Schwarber heat up along with the weather as the Philadelphia Phillies take the field at Citizens Bank Park. Expect more bedlam with key home series against the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, plus important early-season divisional matchups with the New York Mets and Washington Nationals. Check out the Phils’ online schedule for dates and times.

Through Saturday, October 19, 2024 (select dates)

Dooooop! The Philadelphia Union kick into May as Dániel Gazdag, Kai Wagner, Andre Blake and their teammates start their run towards the MLS Cup Playoffs with midseason home dates versus Orlando City SC (Saturday, May 11, 2024), New York City FC (Wednesday, May 15, 2024) and Toronto FC (Wednesday, May 29, 2024) at stunning soccer-specific Subaru Park in Chester under the Commodore Barry Bridge.

Mid to late May is the best time for birders and bird enthusiasts to enjoy birding during the peak northward migration of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, tanagers, buntings, grosbeaks, orioles, vireos and other songbirds from wintering in the tropics on their way to breeding grounds further north. Get the best views of the voyaging avians at parks and preserves like John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Pennypack Park, Bartram’s Garden, Cobb’s Creek Park and across Fairmount Park.

Philly brew, beats and bites lovers have waited all year to get outdoors and enjoy the streets and neighborhoods that come alive in May as outdoor music festivals, beer fests and food festivals kick off the season, including the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, Kensington Derby and Arts Fest, South 9th Street Italian Market Festival and New Hope Celebrates PrideFest, plus tons of neighborhood fairs and community fests across Philadelphia and its countryside.

April’s showers certainly portend May’s flowers, making the month the perfect time to get out and enjoy colorful late spring post-bloom shows across the region at spots like Morris Arboretum, Bartram’s Garden, Barnes Arboretum, Awbury Arboretum, Scott Arboretum, Chanticleer, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Tyler Arboretum, Peace Valley Lavender Farm and Longwood Gardens, which includes the ongoing Spring Blooms festival and the attraction’s Festival of Fountains celebration.

Philadelphians are blessed to enjoy three gorgeous open-air amphitheaters, and May is the kick off of outdoor show season. The Camden waterfront’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion holds 26,000 in seats and on the lawn with across-the-river views of the Philly skyline and Ben Franklin Bridge. West Fairmount Park’s Mann Center for the Performing Arts has a pavilion and lawn capacity of 14,000 (plus 7,500 at the Skyline Stage) with just-as-stunning skyline views from one of the city’s highest hills. And the beautiful Dell Music Center in East Fairmount Park hosts up to 5,300 spectators.

May’s springtime temps are perfect for enjoying the region’s scores of parks, green spaces and riverside urban trails. Philadelphia features over 150 hiking paths covering 800 miles at spots like Pennypack Trail and Forbidden Drive, plus 11,000 acres of parkland, from Fairmount Park to Wissahickon Valley Park to Ridley Creek State Park. For fans of urban hiking, the Delaware River Trail offers four miles of scenic city-side access from Pier 70 to Penn Treaty Park and the Schuylkill River Trail stretches 10 miles from South Philly to Pottstown.

Now that spring is in full bloom, the weather is perfect for eating outside before summer heats up as restaurants, bistros, cafés and diners offer open-air seating at patio tables, street enclosures, rooftop decks and parklets. Check out spots like Suraya, LMNO, Sunset Social, Independence Beer Garden, Alma del Mar, Liberty Point, Love City Brewing and more.

Honor the heritage of Philadelphia’s Asian American, Pacific Islander American and Native Hawaiian community during AAPI Heritage Month in May. Enjoy cuisine from James Beard Award winning chefs at Nok Suntaranon’s Kalaya Thai Kitchen, Ellen Yin’s Fork or Jesse Ito’s Royal Izakaya. Celebrate the arts with the Asian Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists. Discover collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Department of East Asian Art and Penn Museum’s Asia Galleries. Or explore Philadelphia’s Chinatown, one of the oldest and largest in the world, and its 40-foot-tall Friendship Gate.

Since the first Jewish immigrant’s arrival in 1701, Philadelphia has been an important Jewish cultural city with one of the world’s largest Jewish populations. Celebrate Jewish-American Heritage Month with a visit to the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History offering a collection of 30,000 objects celebrating the Jewish experience in America as well as a robust events schedule. Continue with a visit to circa-1740 Mikveh Israel Cemetery, the city’s oldest Jewish cemetery, B’nai Abraham, Philadelphia’s first purpose-build synagogue originating in 1910 or Elkins Park’s Beth Sholom to see the only synagogue designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The weather in May in Philadelphia is relatively mild. At the start of the month, daytime high temperatures run around 70 degrees Fahrenheit with overnight lows around 50. But by the end of May, those average highs jump to 78 degrees, bottoming out at night near 60. May offers around seven hours of sunshine per day, with moderate rainfall averaging around 3.5 inches. Brief scattered spring thunderstorms are fairly common, especially toward the second half of the month. The record high for May came in 1991 at 97 degrees.

Philly is a great destination any month of the year, but May is one of the best and busiest leading up to the Memorial Day weekend holiday and the end of the school year. Pre-summer temps are pleasant as many city attractions begin to open for the season, including Spruce Street Harbor Park and Independence Blue Cross River Rink Summerfest, plus the start of festival and beer garden season.

With reasonable temps and open-air events starting in earnest, May is one of the best months for the dining, bar and nightlife scene in Philadelphia with more outdoor, street and rooftop dining spots back to life across the region, and bar and brewery beer gardens opening their gates for the season. If the forecast calls for dry conditions, May is the perfect month to dine alfresco, drink outdoors, or hit up a great food festival or beerfest.

Cold snaps are gone for the year and daylight hours stretch longer come May in Philadelphia and it’s time to get outside and experience all of nature’s colors from flowers, plants and trees springing towards summer across the region at preserves, parks, botanic gardens and arboreta like Morris Arboretum, Bartram’s Garden, Barnes Arboretum, Awbury Arboretum, Scott Arboretum, Chanticleer, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Tyler Arboretum, Peace Valley Lavender Farm and more.

Many locals would target the sports scene in Philly in May as one of the best as summer nears and once again baseball’s Phillies have center stage all to themselves as the football, basketball and hockey seasons take their breaks, enjoying a full month of games at Citizens Bank Park in perfect baseball weather. Not to be outdone, the MLS’ Union continue their quest for the playoffs as midseason approaches at Subaru Park in Chester.

If you enjoy outdoor concerts in Philadelphia, you’ve been waiting all year for May. This is the month that Philly’s two largest open-air amphitheaters — Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in West Fairmount Park — kick off their concert schedules for the year. As well, with the warm spring weather comes festival season and live music can be found at music, food and beer fests across the city.