PHILADELPHIA, PA — Ten hours of live music, more than 50 local vendors and a headlining performance from the band behind “Teenage Dirtbag” will spill onto the streets of Fishtown as Evil Genius Beer Company celebrates 15 years in Philadelphia.
The Evil Genius 15th Anniversary Music Festival will take over portions of Front and Palmer streets on Saturday, Oct. 3, for an all-ages block party combining live bands, food, shopping, and two anniversary beer releases. Admission is free, with food and drinks available for purchase.
Wheatus will headline the festival from 8 to 10 p.m., bringing its own anniversary to the celebration 25 years after the release of “Teenage Dirtbag.” Singer and guitarist Brendan Brown fronts the New York-based band.
“Fifteen years ago, we set out with a simple idea: ‘Very Silly Names for Very Serious Beers,’” Evil Genius co-founder Trevor Hayward said. “This festival is a massive thank you to our community, our fans, and the neighborhood that supported us along the way.”
The festival opens at 11 a.m., with music beginning at noon. Kat Rivers & The Second Sight will start the lineup, followed by two sets from 2000s emo and alternative-rock tribute act Tell All Your Friends.
Bethlehem-based Lunar Pools will bring its blend of shoegaze and alternative rock to the stage, while Philadelphia’s Madska will follow with music spanning pop, rock, indie, and alternative influences. Every7years, Disterbenz and Wheatus round out the evening lineup.
“This festival is a massive thank you to our community, our fans, and the neighborhood that supported us along the way,” Hayward said. “We’ve always been rooted in nostalgia and there’s no better way than celebrating with the music that helped bring us all together.”
Event Details
- What: Evil Genius Beer Company’s 15th Anniversary Music Festival
- When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; live music begins at noon
- Where: Fishtown, Philadelphia — Front Street from Cecil B. Moore Avenue to Palmer Street and Palmer Street from Front Street to Blair Street
- Cost/Tickets: Free and open to the public; all ages; food and drinks are pay-as-you-go
- More Info: evilgeniusbeer.com; social media @evilgeniusbeer
Music is only part of the street festival. More than 50 local artisans, makers and businesses are expected, offering everything from jewelry, candles and artwork to baked goods, vintage sports apparel, pet accessories and handcrafted toys.
Neighborhood restaurants are joining the celebration as well. LMNO plans an outdoor taco and margarita bar, while Mecha Noodle Bar will serve hand rolls and sake.
Evil Genius is also marking its anniversary with two specialty beers. “Get In My Belly” is an 11% ABV maple chili barleywine created by aging portions of the original brew separately in maple syrup and hot sauce barrels for three years before blending them back together.
“Look at This Photograph,” available exclusively on draft Oct. 3, is a 6.5% ABV hazy IPA brewed with 15 hop varieties and conditioned on birthday cake.
The festival is family- and dog-friendly, turning the brewery’s milestone into a neighborhood-wide celebration rather than keeping the birthday party inside the taproom.
For Evil Genius, the anniversary brings together two elements that have shaped its identity from the beginning: beer and nostalgia. This time, Fishtown gets invited to the party.
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