Festivals, picnics, races and more, all set to take place across the Philadelphia region in June.
1. Beer Week
Dates: June 3 – 12, 2011Locations: All across Philadelphia and the countryside
The city of Philadelphia has been brewing beer for more than 300 years. So deep are its sudsy roots, Philadelphia has even been called “the best beer-drinking city in America. Each year, we reinforce our rep by hosting Philly Beer Week, a week-long suds fest.
Festival Tip: Make sure to buy event tickets well in advance! Beer Week tastings and dinners have a tendency to sell out quickly.
2. Roots’ Picnic
Date: June 4, 2011Location: Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
The Roots – Philly natives also known as the Legendary Roots Crew — have gathered a diverse lineup of talent for this third annual music festival, including: Vampire Weekend, Mayer Hawthorne, The Very Best, Clipse, Nneka, Jay Electronica, Tune-Yards, Das Racist and more — including a performance by Wu-Tang members Raekwon, Method Man and Ghostface.
Come Prepared: Make sure to pile on the sunscreen. It’s easy to get burnt to a crisp standing outside all day long.
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3. Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show
Dates: June 3 – 5, 2011
Location: In and around Rittenhouse Square
For the last 80 years, Rittenhouse Square has devoted the first weekend in June to celebrating the fine arts. More than 140 artists from the Philadelphia area and around the country circle the square with their artwork.
Shopper’s Tip: There’s so much art here that it’s easy to lose track of your favorites. If you find something you love, make sure to get the artist’s card so you can find them again later.
4. Irish American Festival
Date: June 5, 2011Location: Penn’s Landing Great Plaza
Part of the series of multicultural festivals sponsored by PECO, the Irish American Festival runs 12 noon until 8 p.m. on the Penn’s Landing Great Plaza. Come out for traditional Irish dancing, music, stories, food and more.
Transportation Tip: To avoid parking hassles, take Septa to the festival. Both the Market-Frankford line and the Chestnut Street buses have stops nearby.
5. Schuylkill River Sojourn
Dates: June 4 – 10, 2011Location: 112 miles along the Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River Sojourn is a 112 mile guided canoe or kayak trip on the Schuylkill River. Beginning in Schuylkill Haven and ending in Philadelphia, Sojourn participants register for as many days as they can, or for the entire trip.
For Landlubbers: If the sojourn isn’t your thing, consider walking one of the pedestrian paths that run alongside the Schuylkill to get a taste of what the rowers see.
6. TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship
Date: June 5, 2011Location: From Manayunk to Logan Square
The world’s most competitive cyclists turn their sights on Philadelphia for the annual TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship every June, when about 300,000 fans line an arduous road course to watch hundreds of elite pro cyclists whip through some of Philadelphia’s most beautiful streets.
Best Views: The sidewalk cafes that line Manayunk’s Main Street offer up some of the best race views in the city.
11. Islamic Heritage Festival
Date: June 10 – 11, 2011Location: Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
Join in the annual celebration of Islamic Heritage, part of the series of multicultural festivals sponsored by PECO. This festival runs 2 to 8 p.m. on the Penn’s Landing Great Plaza.
Come Hungry: The many food vendors will tempt your tastebuds.
7. Odunde Festival
Dates: June 10 – 12, 2011Location: 23rd and South Streets
The annual Odunde Street Festival, held every second Sunday in June, brings a genuine taste of Africa to South Street, one of Philadelphia’s oldest, historically African-American neighborhoods. The festival begins with a procession to the Schuylkill River, where prayers are offered and blessings bestowed. The procession then returns to 23rd and South Streets for the start of the street festival.
Come Hungry: Odunde has some of the best festival food in the city, so come with an empty belly and plenty of cash to buy yourself a feast.
8. Flag Festival
Dates: June 11, 2011Location: The Betsy Ross House
Come for the Victorian-style street fair and stay for the Patriotic Pet Parade. There’s also a string bands, plenty of era-appropriate street vendors, face-painting, costumes and more!
Family Friendly: Always a kid friendly attraction, the Flag Festival organizers pull out all the stops to ensure that this event appeals to patriots of all ages.
9. Pride Day
Date: June 12, 2011Location: The Gayborhood to Penn’s Landing
Philadelphia recognizes all shades of gay at the annual Pride Day, with live entertainment, food, drinks and vendors at Penn’s Landing. A parade kicks off the event and makes its way from the “Gayborhood” to the Delaware River waterfront.
Spectator Tip: Station yourself anywhere along the parade route to catch the many fabulous costumes and parade floats.
10. Bloomsday at the Rosenbach
Date: June 16, 2011Location: Outside the Rosenbach, 2008 Delancy Street
This year marks the 106th anniversary of Leopold Bloom’s fictional journey through the streets of Dublin, as imagined in James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses, with the Rosenbach Museum’s day-long celebration of Bloomsday. Local celebrities and area residents take turns reading aloud from Joyce’s work.
Literary Lovers Rejoice: Pack a lunch, find a seat and let yourself be transported to Victorian-era Ireland!
12. Beast of a Feast at the Elmwood Park Zoo
Date: June 4, 2011Location: Elmwood Park Zoo
Visit the Elmwood Park Zoo for a savory safari. Beast of a Feast is an expedition of flavors served up by some of the area’s favorite restaurants. The event also serves as a major fundraiser for the Elmwood Park Zoo, so come hungry and in a generous frame of mind.
Tickets and More: Click here!
13. Summer Solstice at the Kimmel Center
Dates: June 18, 2011Location: Kimmel Center
The Kimmel Center’s sixth annual Summer Solstice Celebration features 15 hours of entertainment in every corner of Philadelphia’s performing arts landmark. The all-day, all-night musical extravaganza begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 — the longest day of the year — with a variety of great family-friendly programming, including dance parties, classical performances, cabaret, great food and world music.
Don’t Miss: The wildly popular Bob and Barbara’s drag show at 11 p.m.
14. West Oak Lane Jazz Festival
Dates: June 17 – 19, 2011Location: Ogontz Avenue, between the 7100 and 7400 blocks
In its seventh year, the 2010 West Oak Lane Jazz Festival features three days of non-stop music on four outdoor stages. Performers at the 2009 festival included WAR, the Average White Band, the Mingus Big Band, Bill Paul, Ron Ayers and Tower of Power. Don’t miss the Vendor Village, which features African-inspired crafts, will complement the music — along with a food court and other family-friendly activities like face and body painting.
Getting There: This three-day festival effectively shuts down the entire neighborhood of West Oak Lane. Consider taking Septa or the complimentary shuttle bus from the Independence Visitors Center instead of driving.
15. Manayunk Arts Festival
Dates: June 25 – 26, 2011Location: Main Street in Manayunk
One of the largest outdoor arts festivals in the Delaware Valley, the Manayunk Arts Festival draws thousdands of people to its historic Main Street for a two-day festival of arts, crafts, music, food and more. The festival features more than 250 artists from across the entire country.
Parking Tips: Consider parking towards the Ridge Avenue end of Main Street and walk in.
Bonus: Wawa Welcome America
Dates: June 24 – July 5, 2011Location: All across the region
Philadelphia, the city where America’s independence was born, is the best place to celebrate Independence Day. The nine-day Wawa Welcome America! festival kicks off on June 26 with a free waterfront concert and fireworks show and continues through July 4 with a full day (and night!) of patriotic festivities.
Click here for a look at what’s going on in Philly for the Fourth!
Best Bet: The fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art are not to be missed!