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40 Festivals, Fairs, and Carnivals for Philly Families this September

Photo courtesy of Peddler's Village
Photo courtesy of Peddler's Village
8/25/19 - By Kristen Sullivan

Summer 2019 comes barreling to a halt this month, which can leave Philly families conflicted. How has summer flown by so quickly? We weren't finished with our Summer Bucket Lists! But, despite the fact school and fall activities may be upon us, Philly parents and kids alike can try to keep summer fun alive in the first half of September (technically it's summer until September 21), while welcoming fall towards the end of the month with some amazing festivals, fairs, and carnivals. After all, who doesn't love pumpkin-flavored everything?

There are festivals to surely satisfy your appetite and make your mouth water. There are festivals that celebrate the culture and traditions, whisking you to Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Poland all while staying in the Delaware Valley. Other events feature classic carnival amusements and still others prepare for the change in season with scarecrows, pumpkins, and fall fun.

Keep reading for family-friendly events that will help your crew celebrate September.

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Philadelphia

Blue Corn Green and Organic Festival

September 1, 2019
The Blue Corn Green and Organic Festival gathers communities together to focus on embracing a sustainable lifestyle which blends both old tradition and new ideas. The festival is held at the Walnut Plaza at Penn's Landing and features artisans, food, and musicians. READ MORE

Superhero Saturday

September 7, 2019
Guests to Please Touch Museum can expect a spectacular day filled at its superpowered-themed Family Festival. Grown ups and kids alike can enjoy the Museum's many activities. All activities are included with paid admission. READ MORE

Brazilian Day Festival

September 8, 2019
Visitors to the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing celebrate Brazil's Independence Day with food, music, and dance. READ MORE

St. Gregory Church Carnival

September 11-14, 2019
St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in Philadelphia hosts a family-friendly fair which features rides, games, entertainment, food, and fun. Unlimited ride armbands are available each night for $25 each. READ MORE

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

September 12, 2019
Presented in association with the Baltimore Avenue Business Association (BABA), Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll showcases its businesses with $1 bargains from neighborhood favorites. This event is held on University City’s Baltimore Avenue between 43rd and 52nd Street. READ MORE

Mexican Independence Day Festival

September 15, 2019
Get ready to celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing. Families can expect kids' activities, music, food, traditional arts and crafts, and dancing. READ MORE

¡Fiesta! : Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

September 21, 2019
Please Touch Museum celebrates Hispanic Heritage month with a special fiesta! Visitors can expect to experience this rich culture by exploring new and old traditions through music and dance. READ MORE

South Philly Sausage Fest

September 21, 2019
South Philly SausageFest festival goers can expect an event filled with music, food, and fun. The festival is held in the Newbold/West Passyunk neighborhood and features diverse restaurants, local craft breweries, live music shows, arts & crafts vendors, and an entertaining kids' play area. READ MORE

Mighty Fest

September 28, 2019
This literary festival for both children and teens alike takes place in Aviator Park. Participants can expect a main stage with writers and musicians, as well as engaging activities to complete their MightyFest passport. READ MORE

Puerto Rican Festival Parade

September 29, 2019
Celebrate Latino culture during the annual Puerto Rican Festival Parade, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Crowds can expect to hear traditional Latin music and poetry, see dancers, and more performances. READ MORE

Suburbs

Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show and Country Fair

August 31-September 2, 2019
Families can enjoy rides, games, face-painting, pony rides, a costumed pet parade, and car show at Ludwig's Corner Horse Show and Country Fair all weekend long.  READ MORE

Polish-American Family Festival & Country Fair

August 31-September 2, 2019
So much is in store for festival-goers at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Children can expect midway rides (additional fee for extreme rides), a dunk tank, and live entertainment such as dance ensembles, bands, and major performing artists. READ MORE

Philadelphia Honey Festival

September 6-8, 2019
Get a sweet start to the fall season at the Philadelphia Honey Festival. Throughout the weekend, guests are invited to celebrate at two different locations featuring a variety of activities, including a honey tasting, children's carnival, and demonstrations. READ MORE

Mushroom Festival

September 7-8, 2019
Kennett Square's annual mushroom festival promises culinary events, growing exhibits, children’s entertainment, vendors, and mushroom art. READ MORE

Wings N' Wheels

September 7, 2019
It's the annual Wings N' Wheels event! Families can enjoy a wings, wheels, and aviation history, including unique displays of vintage and military aircraft, new planes and classic and antique cars at Wings Field. READ MORE

Annual Caln Community Day

September 7, 2019
Hatt's True Value Hardware and the Downingtown Library present the 13th annual Caln Community Day. Guests can expect live entertainment, food, free mini golf, an escape room, bounce houses, obstacle course, pie eating contest, vendors, and fireworks. READ MORE

Bryn Mawr Day

September 7, 2019
Families can enjoy this free event which features fire truck rides, face painting, circus performers, stilt walkers, and a petting zoo. READ MORE

Haverford First Fest Music Festival

September 7, 2019
The Haverford First Fest Music Festival is a family-friendly event to honor the first responders from the 9/11 attacks on this 20th anniversary. Guests can expect live music, food booths, beer gardens, children's activities, and other summer fun. READ MORE

Whoopie Pie Festival

September 7, 2019
2022 information is being confirmed. Take a ride to Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn for its annual Whoopie Pie Festival featuring over 400 different flavors of Whoopie Pie, games, bounce houses, face painting, and interactive exhibits. Admission is free; however, VIP packages are available. READ MORE

Doylestown Art Festival

September 7-8, 2019
This rain or shine event features live music, art, and delicious food. There are children's activities such as tile-rubbing at Mercer Museum, pottery demos,and art related activities at Michener Art Museum. READ MORE

Brandywine Festival of the Arts

September 7-8, 2019
Visitors can enjoy seeing the beautiful artwork created by the artisans at this annual rain-or-shine festival held at Brandywine Park.Admission is good for both days of the festival. There is a special tent with kids' activities. READ MORE

Mother of Divine Providence Church Carnival

September 11-14, 2019
Mother of Divine Providence Church hosts a special carnival complete with games, both kids and family rides as well as a variety of food options. Purchase your unlimited ride armbands through September 10 for only $20 each. READ MORE

Archaeology Festival

September 14, 2019
Visitors can participate in archaeological activities such as assisting with three different excavations, sifting, cleaning and processing artifacts. This year's festival is held in conjunction with the Delaware County Planning Department. READ MORE

Annual New Jersey Storytelling Festival

September 14, 2019
Storytellers from the tristate area offer bales of laughter, wit, and wisdom with farm-related stories for young and old alike. This year's event is held at the Amphitheater in Community Park North. READ MORE

Scarecrows in the Village

September 14-15, 2019
Peddler's Village hosts its annual Scarecrow Season, where the life-size creations are up for your vote across several categories. Over 100 scarecrows line the brick pathways of Peddler's Village. Some are inspired by famous characters, some are humorous, some are scary – but all of them are carefully handmade by Philly-area residents and organizations. READ MORE

CFHS September 11th Battle at Chadds Ford

September 14-15, 2019
Commemorate the Revolutionary War's Battle of Brandywine. Families can journey back to September 11, 1777 when the British army battled Washington's troops. Guests can expect three timed skirmishes during the day as well as demonstration, live music, and food. READ MORE

Faerie Fest

September 15, 2019
Put on your fairy wings and fly to Rockwood Park & Museum for games, bubble making, stories, enchanted crafts, faerie and gnome parades, children's museum tours, and a faerie house and gnome home contest. Some details are still being confirmed for 2019. READ MORE

Radnor Fall Festival

September 15, 2019
Guests can expect plenty of excitement for the family, including the Top Dog contest, food, vendors, and music, when the Wayne Business Association hosts its annual Radnor Fall Festival. READ MORE

Mill Open House

September 15, 2019
Due to COVID, the Fall Mill Festival is now an open-house event. Guests can step back in time to celebrate traditions from times past. Visitors can take a tour of Montgomery County's only water-powered gristmill and experience hands-on, family-friendly demonstrations such as a blacksmithing and corn grinding. READ MORE

St. Madeline's Church Carnival

September 18-21, 2019
St. Madeline's Church hosts a special carnival complete with games, both kids and family rides as well as a variety of food options. READ MORE

Bucks County Dragon Boat Festival

September 21, 2019
This festival brings together dragon boat teams from across the tri-state region for a day of friendly competition, cultural demonstrations and family fun with the overarching goal of paddling out hunger in the community. READ MORE

Scarecrow Festival

September 21, 2019
Nothing celebrates the season of fall like creating your very own scarecrow to chase the birds away. Kids of all ages are invited to build a scarecrow at Floral & Hardy of Skippack. Just bring an outfit to dress your scarecrow and Floral & Hardy take care of the rest. READ MORE

Korean Festival & Harvest Celebration

September 21, 2019
Explore Korean culture at the Delaware Art Museum's Korean Festival and Harvest Celebration. Participants can learn about both traditional and modern Korean culture through art activities, food sampling, and martial arts demos. READ MORE

Arts & Crafts Festival

September 21-22, 2019
Throughout this September weekend, guests to Linvilla Orchards enjoy live music from local musicians and beautiful crafts created by local artisans. READ MORE

Annual Upper Perkiomen Bird & Wildlife Festival

September 28, 2019
The entire family can enjoy a day of fun and learning at Green Lane Park. Visitors can expect live animal presentations, kids’ games and activities, free hayrides, and live music.  READ MORE

Annual Harriton Farmstead Fair

September 28, 2019
Rain or shine, the Annual Harriton Farmstead Fair features crafts, antiques, sheep herding, pony rides, historic house tours, children's games, muskets and soldiers, blacksmiths, stone carvers, cabinetmakers, spinners, skep [beehive] weavers, music, and falconry and other birds of prey. READ MORE

Old Fashioned Apple Festival

September 28, 2019
Families can enjoy a variety of fun at this old-fashioned festival at Oxford Memorial Park featuring delicious, sweet apples as the star of the show. Visitors can expect live music, silent auction, activities for children in the Kids Zone, and plenty of crafters, vendors, and artisans. READ MORE

Downingtown Fall Festival

September 29, 2019
Held on Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue, the Downingtown Fall Festival offers food, vendors, and entertainment. Adults can enjoy a beer garden located next to the lake on Green Street. READ MORE

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

Weekends all month long
It's time for the annual Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope Estate. Guests can experience themed entertainment, foods, participatory contests, and activities. Tickets should be purchased in advance to guarantee admission. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Walnut Plaza at Penn's Landing
Great Plaza at Penn's Landing
St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Philadelphia
Great Plaza at Penn's Landing
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa
Grounds of the Historical Society
Floral & Hardy of Skippack
Mount Hope Estate and Winery