PHILADELPHIA, PA — Four festivals will draw crowds to Fishtown over two September weekends, concentrating three free events on Sept. 19 before a ticketed, adults-only Oktoberfest closes the neighborhood’s monthlong slate Sept. 26.
The 15th annual Frankford Hall Oktoberfest will run from noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 19 on the 1200 block of Frankford Avenue. The free event will feature live music from the Polka Brothers, street dancing, German beer, pretzels, and sausages.
The event is open to families and dogs, with food and drinks sold separately.
Fishtown District will hold its Oktoberfest Family FunFest the same day from noon to 4 p.m. on Frankford Avenue between Thompson and Master streets.
Programming includes face painting from noon to 2 p.m., a balloon artist from 2 to 4 p.m., nine-hole outdoor mini-golf, pop-a-shot basketball, giant checkers and other games. Local businesses, craft vendors and pop-ups are also scheduled along the corridor.
A third Sept. 19 event, the Fishtown Fall Family Festival, will run from noon to 6 p.m. on the 1700 block of North Front Street and at the Evil Genius Beer Garden.
The free block party will include an outdoor play area from Ardmore-based Lulu’s Casita and its Lulu’s on Wheels mobile operation, along with children’s crafts and activities, music from DJ Bob Beast, food and vendors.
Scheduled vendors include Queer Candle Co., Kurious Stitches, Tiger Snake Vintage, Sweet Nostalgia Scents, Weekapaug Woodworks, Lunar Sparkles Glitter Bar, All Glass, No Brakes, Nini B. Sweets, Jrip Juicery, Fishtown Stitch and Murderous Jewels.
Evil Genius Beer Company will follow with its Oktoberfest on Sept. 26, shifting the event into its beer garden under a new ticketed format capped at 100 guests.
General admission costs $30 and includes a glass stein, one fill and admission beginning at 1 p.m. VIP admission costs $50 and includes two fills and entry beginning at noon.
The adults-only event will run until 5 p.m. and feature German-style beers, German-themed food, EDM-infused oompah music from DJ Bob Beast, a best-dressed competition and a stein-holding contest.
Evil Genius plans to serve several German-style beers, including I Love Lamp, a pineapple hefeweizen; Like and Subscribe For Part 2, a Dortmunder; Weird Flex But OK, a hoppy pilsner; and Every Day I’m Rustlin’, an Oktoberfest beer. The brewery also listed a Dunkelweizen and a coffee-infused version of Every Day I’m Rustlin’, with the latter reserved for VIP ticket holders.
The September events precede another series of Fishtown programs in October.
Evil Genius is scheduled to hold a ticketed hot-wing event, Hop Ones, from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2 at 1727 N. Front St. Tickets cost $35 and include 10 wings and a progression through 10 sauces, while spectators must purchase separate spectator admission.
The brewery’s 15th annual music festival is scheduled for Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with 100 vendors, food, drinks and live music planned. The release said bands were expected to be disclosed separately.
Additional events listed for October include the Fishtown October Harvest Festival on Oct. 10, Fishtown Queer Social on Oct. 13, a dog costume contest on Oct. 17 and a Hocus Pocus-themed drag brunch on Oct. 25.
Evil Genius also has a Shrek-themed drag brunch scheduled for Sept. 27.
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