Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, athletic events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2012*:

January:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2012. phillymummers.com

March:

• The Pennsylvania Convention Center is the site of the Philadelphia International Flower Show, the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind. The annual gardening celebration features top-of-the-line horticulture and landscape design, entertainment and more than 150 vendors. This year’s theme, “Islands of Aloha,” draws from the tropical colors and atmosphere of Hawaii. March 4-11, 2012. (215) 988-8800, theflowershow.com
• The 11-day Philadelphia CineFest showcases more than 135 of the best works in independent and foreign cinema in theaters throughout Philadelphia. March 22-April 1, 2012. (267) 765-9800, phillycinefest.com
• Held at the 23^rd Street Armory, The Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show is nationally acclaimed as the finest exhibition of one-of-a-kind home furnishings that run the gamut from innovative contemporary designs to adaptations of classical stylings. March 23-25, 2012. (215) 387-8590, philaifs.com

April:

• With hands-on events for kids, sophisticated activities for adults and a carnival that takes place along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Science Festival takes science out of the lab and demonstrates the role it plays in everyday life. April 20-29, 2012. (215) 448-1200, fi.edu
• High school and college track stars compete at Franklin Field during The Penn Relays, the oldest collegiate meet in the nation. April 26-28, 2012. (215) 898-6151, thepennrelays.com
• Dealers from across the U.S. offer the finest examples of period furniture, folk and fine art, ceramics, porcelain, silver, jewelry and textiles at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during The Philadelphia Antiques Show. April 28-May 1, 2012. (610) 902-2109, philaantiques.com
• The bars, restaurants and shops in the Fairmount neighborhood turn into galleries for the Fairmount Arts Crawl. This year, 37 businesses host more than 70 exhibits, in addition to live music, dancing, kids’ activities and live demonstrations. April 29, 2012. fairmountcdc.org

May:

• Musicians, dancers, actors, jugglers, puppeteers and acrobats delight young audiences at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts during the 28^th annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival. May 3-5, 2012. (215) 898-3900, annenbergcenter.org
• Equality Forum, the Global LGBT Summit that celebrates the cultural and political legacy of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, includes panels, parties and special events in collaboration with regional, national and international organizations. May 3-6, 2012. equalityforum.com
• Strawberry treats of all sorts, live entertainment and pie-eating contests add to the festivities at the 43^rd annual Strawberry Festival at Peddler’s Village. May 5-6, 2012. (215) 794-4000, peddlersvillage.com
• Spanning 10 miles from Olney to South Philadelphia, the 33^rd annual Broad Street Run raises money for the American Cancer Society. May 6, 2012. (215) 683-3594, broadstreetrun.com
• Taking place on the Schuylkill River, the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is the largest collegiate regatta in the world, attracting more than 3,000 competitors from nearly 150 colleges across the country and Canada. May 11-12, 2012. (215) 542-1443, dadvail.org
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, America’s first school of fine arts and museum, previews the works of third- and fourth-year art students during the 111^th Annual Student Exhibition. May 11-June 3, 2012. (215) 972-7600, pafa.org
• New Hope’s ninth annual New Hope Celebrates Pride includes the Pride Parade, athletic events, family activities, performances, dance parties and more. Proceeds benefit national and local charities. May 14-20, 2012. newhopecelebrates.com
• During the third annual Art in the Open, jury-selected artists working in a range of disciplines create works outside along the banks of the Schuylkill River, while local galleries and cultural institutions add to the festival-like atmosphere with displays offering educational opportunities. May 18-20, 2012. artintheopenphila.org
• The annual South 9^th Street Italian Market Festival features live entertainment, games and food, plus the Italian Market’s dazzling array of homemade sausages, delicious cannolis, imported meats and cheeses, luscious cappuccino, butcher-cut beef and poultry, specialty cookware and fresh pastas. May 19-20, 2012. (215) 545-4543, italianmarketfestival.com
• The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, the country’s oldest and largest event of its kind, features hunters, jumpers, Saddlebreds, exhibitions and an old-fashioned fair at the Devon Show Grounds. May 24-June 3, 2012. (610) 964-0550, devonhorseshow.org
• Outstanding furniture, glass, metalware, ceramics, folk art, quilts and other fine antiques from across the nation are featured at the 40^th annual Brandywine River Museum Antiques Show. May 26-28, 2012. (610) 388-2700, brandywinemuseum.org
• Morris Arboretum’s Garden Railway display features a quarter-mile track with seven loops and tunnels, 12 different rail lines, two cable cars and nine bridges, including a trestle bridge visitors can walk under. May 26-September 3, 2012. (215) 247-5777, morrisarboretum.org

June:

• Philly Beer Week, the fifth annual celebration of the city’s vibrant beer culture, features events ranging from tastings to lectures to beer-pairing dinners. June 1-10, 2012. phillybeerweek.org
• Philly’s own Grammy®-winning hip-hop band The Roots bring together artists from various genres for the day-long Roots Picnic at the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. June 2-3, 2012. livenation.com
• Top international professional cyclists compete against one another at the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship, widely known for its steep half-mile climb up the Manayunk “wall.” During the 14.4-mile race, spectators cheer on the bikers and check out the latest in sports equipment and services at the Expo. June 3, 2012. procyclingtour.com
• The Odunde Festival celebrates the Yoruba New Year, beginning with a spiritual procession to the Schuylkill River and ending with a lively street fair. June 10, 2012. (215) 732-8510, odundefestival.org
• The 23^rd annual PrideDay LGBT Parade and Festival takes place during International Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and features live music, DJs, food, drinks and a festive parade that runs from the Gayborhood to Penn’s Landing. June 10, 2012. (215) 875-9288, phillypride.org
• This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Bloomsday, the day on which novel hero Leopold Bloom made his “odyssey” through Dublin in Ulysses. The Rosenbach Museum & Library commemorates the holiday with a day-long festival of programs. June 16, 2012. (215) 732-1600, rosenbach.org
• Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon participants swim, bike and run through the slow-moving waters of the Schuylkill River and the trails of Fairmount Park. June 22-24, 2012. (610) 687-3955, phillytri.com
• The PECO Multicultural Series on the RiverStage at Penn’s Landing celebrates the diverse cultures that make Philadelphia a distinct city. June-September 2012. (215) 922-2FUN, delawareriverevents.com

July:

• Celebrating the nation’s birthday, Wawa Welcome America! is a multi-day party with free events for all ages throughout the city—including concerts, a parade and fireworks. June 25-July 4, 2012. welcomeamerica.com
• At the Let Freedom Ring event at the Liberty Bell Center, direct descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence tap the Liberty Bell to symbolically “ring” it, setting off a nationwide bell ringing ceremony. July 4, 2012. (215) 965-2305, let-freedom-ring.org
• The Philadelphia QFest celebrates all genres of film that pertain to or were created by members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. July 12-23, 2012. (267) 765-9800, phillycinema.org
• WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, brings together musical legends and new performers at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront for the XPoNential Music Festival. July 20-22, 2012. xpn.org

August:

• The 51^st annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philadelphia’s answer to Woodstock, attracts musicians, storytellers and craftspeople for a weekend of song and merriment at Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville. August 17-19, 2012. (215) 242-0150, folkfest.org

September:

• For two weeks of artistic pleasure, avant-garde performance meets street theater throughout the city during the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. August 31-September 15, 2012. (215) 413-9006, livearts-fringe.org
• The 34^th annual Scarecrow Competition and Display at Peddler’s Village features more than 150 larger-than-life scarecrow creations in six categories displayed throughout the village. September 3-October 28, 2012. Each year, Peddler’s also hosts a Scarecrow Festival weekend, complete with scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin painting, live entertainment and pumpkin pie-eating contests. September 15-16, 2012. (215) 794-4000, peddlersvillage.com
• Throughout the Autumn’s Colors festival at Longwood Gardens, unusual gourds, a garden railway, dazzling chrysanthemums and live entertainment convert the floral sanctuary into an autumnal wonderland. September 8-November 18, 2012. (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org
• Thrill-seekers celebrate the Halloween season at Eastern State Penitentiary by visiting Terror Behind the Walls, a spooky haunted house inside an abandoned prison. September 21-November 3, 2012. (215) 236-3300, easternstate.org
• The outdoor Popped! Music Festival at FDR Park features local and national musicians from different genres. In addition to providing great entertainment, this fifth annual event also promotes sustainability. Dates to be announced. poppedphiladelphia.org
• Dozens of fine art galleries gather for the USArtists: American Fine Art Show, an art expo and sale benefiting the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Dates to be announced. (215) 972-7639, usartists.org
• The Liberty Medal is awarded by the National Constitution Center to people who strive to secure liberty for people all over the world. Recipients include men, women and organizations responsible for shaping and guiding the world. Date to be announced. (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal

October:

• More than 150 teams race fiberglass dragon boats, complete with heads and tails, on a 500-meter course on the Schuylkill River during the Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival. The annual fall event draws thousands of participants and spectators. October 6, 2012. (610) 642-2333, philadragonboatfestival.com
• During the 13^th annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, visitors can see local artists of all mediums in their studios, found in neighborhoods throughout the city. October 6-7, 13-14, 2012. (215) 546-7775, philaopenstudios.com
• The 21^st Philadelphia Film Festival showcases the best in independent and foreign cinema in theaters and venues throughout Philadelphia. October 18-28, 2012. (267) 239-2941, filmadelphia.org
• Dozens of fine art galleries gather for the USArtists: American Fine Art Show, an art expo and sale benefiting the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. October 19-21, 2012. (215) 972-7639, usartists.org
• OutFest, part of the National Coming Out Day Festival, is the largest event of its kind in the world. Date to be announced. (215) 875-9288, phillypride.org

November:

• The 41^st annual Apple Festival at Peddler’s Village honors the classic fruit with old-fashioned country apple butter, apple cider, apple dumplings, apple fritters, caramel-dipped apples and pie-eating contests. November 3-4, 2012. (215) 794-4000, peddlersvillage.com
• Handmade textiles, jewelry and housewares of the highest quality are on view and for sale at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. November 8-11, 2012. (215) 684-7930, pmacraftshow.org
• Taking place at various venues throughout the city, the First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art is the only event in the nation dedicated to art based on real-life experiences. The multidisciplinary festival features memoir readings, author discussions, film screenings, performance art, experiential tours, visual art exhibitions, competitions, storytelling and more. November 8-19, 2012. (267) 402-2055, firstpersonarts.org
• Channel 6abc and Dunkin Donuts sponsor Philadelphia’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. November 22, 2012. (215) 581-4507, wpvi.com
• During A Longwood Gardens Christmas, thousands of poinsettias, towering Christmas trees and fragrant flowers transform the indoor gardens, where concerts take place daily. Outside, 500,000 lights glitter in the trees, and fountains dance to seasonal music. November 22, 2012-January 6, 2013. (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org

December:

• Pennsylvania Ballet’s season at the Academy of Music features its annual performance of the holiday classic George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™. December 8-30, 2012. (215) 893-1999, paballet.org

* 2012 dates subject to change. Please verify before publishing.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

Contact(s):

• Rachel Ferguson, (215) 599-2291
• Donna Schorr, (215) 599-0782